Montreal-based dog rescue at risk of closing

RAD or Rescue All Dogs a Montreal foster-based rescue that helps abused, forgotten and neglected dogs are asking for the public’s help in keeping their doors open.

“We wouldn’t be able to keep saving lives,” says Laure Warda, Communication Manager at Rescue All Dogs on if the rescue had to shut its doors, adding “the direct consequences of this would be dogs losing their lives.” 

Rescue All Dogs started in 2018 and evolved into a rescue organization that tries to rehabilitate and give dogs a second chance. They have helped thousands of dogs so far, with their partner Beta taking care of 800 dogs currently.

 “We’ve pretty much seen it all, which is the saddest part of what we do, and that’s why we know it’s so important to keep going,” says Warda.

 RAD takes care of all medical expenses, including any and all surgeries needed for dogs in their care, and that includes dogs rescued internationally as well as in Montreal. But with most of their funding coming from donations, Warda says there isn’t enough coming in to keep up with demand  

“The economy, the inflation of prices…the donations are dropping, but it’s really hard for us because we rely only on those donations,” she says.

During the height of the pandemic, the rescue says they saw a spike in the amount of individuals adopting dogs, but now many are giving them up.

“The rescues are all overcrowded at the moment,” Warda says. With bills piling up, the rescue announced it is currently close to 35 thousand dollars in debt and that it would be forced to close their doors indefinitely to new dogs, so that they can keep helping the dogs currently in their care. 

 

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“It broke our hearts because RAD is meant to save lives… that’s why we’re focusing on raising money, so we can keep going and save more dogs,” Warda says. 

“She definitely adds a lot to my life, a lot of love, a lot of life, a lot of fun,” says Alyssa Ashworth, who adopted Chip a rescued by RAD and their partners after being abandoned on the streets of Lebanon. Ashworth says the possibility of RAD closing their doors would mean others may not get the chance to meet a dog like Chip the way she did.

“The shelters and the rescues are just overflowing with dogs, and it’s a sad reality. If RAD shuts down, it would be devastating because a lot of dogs lose that second chance,” she says.

Currently fundraising to keep their doors open, the rescue says any amount helps so that they are able to continue rehabilitating and finding dogs like Chip forever homes. 

For more information on how to help, you can visit their website or Instagram.