Meet a rescue All American Mutt Rescue

On a winter-bright Sunday afternoon, Gizmo and I took a trip to Petco in Lynchburg, Virginia to support the All American Mutt Rescue monthly appearance. Giz tagged along to see old friends. I adopted him through AAMR three years ago. I have so much respect for folks who rescue animals. This is no nine-to-five job. Between the worry about funding, the calls day and night, the effort to be sure their adoptees go to the right home, and the sheer physical chores of feeding, watering, and cleaning, it’s amazing anyone would want to do this work.

But people do it and do it well. Danny and Cindy Torrence started AAMR, in the foothills of Virginia, about twelve years ago. “Strays just seemed to show up at our home,” said Danny. They had been active in the Bedford Humane Society for several years before branching out on their own. Twelve years and hundreds of dogs, and a few cats, later, they still love their work. Most of the adoptees stay at Cindy and Danny’s home. Danny joked, “No one sneaks up on our place.” And, AMMR is a “no-kill” rescue. If an animal does not find a new home, they have one at AAMR. “We have a few permanent residents. It’s what we do.”

Once a month they take over the entrance to the Petco with adoptable dogs and volunteers. While Gizmo and I hung out, we watched customer after customer come in and get sidetracked by the adorable, hopeful faces which greeted them. Pomeranians, like my Gizmo, seem to be a popular breed right now. There were three in attendance. Danny commented they are very sweet and often older people prefer the smaller breeds but sometimes can no longer care for them. Also, a breed’s growth in popularity has a darker side; over-breeding. Two of the Poms in attendance were under one-year-old.

AAMR has an extensive website with pictures and bios for the current adoptable animals. An application for potential new owners is available online. The site also has interesting articles on dog care and past success stories of forever homes found. There is an adoption fee. All the animals are given vet care, spayed or neutered, microchipped and groomed. None of this comes cheap, and when there are ten to twelve dogs available at any given time, the bills add up. When matching a dog to a new owner, their primary focus is to find the best fit for both the dog and owner. What is the energy level of the dog? What is the work schedule of the potential owner? Are there children to consider, and is the home and yard right for the dog? The ultimate goal is happy dogs and people. If a match goes sour, the dog is always welcome to come back to AAMR.

Gizmo enjoyed his afternoon. Being such a fluffball has its rewards. Most people can’t resist running their hands over his fur and Gizmo is always ready for a chance treat. And if the light catches his eyes just right, his half-blue irises are startling, ramping up the cute meter. One young girl just wanted to hold his leash. We spent some time touring the fish tanks and small animal area. He watched carefully as the bright fish darted in the tanks. Guinea pigs – meh. They generated little interest.

We adopted Giz after our fourteen-year-old Pom, Max, passed away. Max left a hole in our lives and it took a couple of months before I was ready to look for another dog. But one day, as I browsed the net, I stumbled onto AAMR’s site, AND they had four Poms for adoption. One glance at Gizmo’s pic and I filled out the application without a second thought. We had him home by Thanksgiving. Since I was off work for a few days, the Torrences made an extra effort to deliver him before the holiday. Our love affair was immediate and reciprocal. I am indebted to AAMR. As a small way of giving back, one dollar of each sale of my Kindle eBook Finding is donated to AAMR (click title for link).

So if you are planning a trip to Lynchburg, Virginia, check out the AAMR website for dates of their events or take some time to explore the AAMR site and consider being a Rescue Hero. You won’t regret it.