LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk Spring 2015 LOCALadk Magazine 19 significant. When Joshua finally passed at almost 14 years old, Dan wanted to do something in his memory, and to also help other dogs in need whose owners might not otherwise be able to afford appropriate care. The Joshua Fund was born. The Fund, "provides financial assistance to dogs with life threatening medical conditions." One hundred percent of the money raised in the donation jars stays local to support local dogs. No one that works with the fund takes a salary, it all goes to the dogs. "With us, it's all about the dogs, it's not about the people," says Dan, "dogs don't understand money, they don't understand zip codes." According to Dan, approximately 10,000 dogs are euthanized every day across the country. The rescue division of The Joshua Fund saves 250 dogs a year from high kill shelters in the south where the need for rescue is the greatest. The majority of the adoptions take place right here in the north country. He works mainly with labradors; a breed very close to his heart, but he will take other dogs in need as well. In the North Country there is an overpopulation of pit-bulls and pit-bull mixes, which are hard to place into new homes through adoption; he doesn't want to add to the problem by bringing more of that breed to the area. Dan's typical day starts with sorting through hundreds of messages from the scores of different shelters he works with; doing his best to find dogs to rescue that are a good fit for the Joshua Fund and have high probability of finding a new forever home here in the Adirondacks. After "pulling" a dog from a kill-shelter, the dog is spayed or neutered, and microchipped ($150) vaccinated, checked for injuries and illnesses, placed into quarantine for 21 days ($210) to make sure they are healthy and ready for adoption. Dan and his team also handle the logistics of bringing the new Joshua Fund dogs north to Upstate New York, including boarding and transportation ($175) as well as coordinating their adoption with pre-screened, qualified homes. The Joshua Fund's adoption fee of $250 helps cover some of these costs associated with rescuing the dog. An astonishing fact, and testament to the quality of the Joshua Fund program, is that 85 percent of dogs that are brought in are adopted locally within five days. The rescue division of The Joshua Fund is run entirely on Facebook and can raise as much as $5000 in just a few days through fundraisers coordinated on their page. Dan explains that $5000 is enough to cover the cost of rescuing ten dogs, or five dogs that have heartworm. Heartworm takes a long time to treat which means it can take a lot of money too. The Joshua Fund is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that runs entirely on donations from people in the community and around the world. Of course, none of it would be possible without the generosity of Dan Bain and his small team, consisting of his partner Ken and his assistant Lynn. There are now over 30 donation jars distributed in local area businesses with again, 100% of that money staying local for dogs in need of financial assistance for medical care. If you're not near a donation jar you can also visit their website, www. JoshuaFundInc.org, to donate. All donations are tax deductible. In addition to donations, The Joshua Fund has an Amazon.com wishlist where you can purchase specific items that the dogs need like pill pockets and dog toys. If you are interested in adopting a rescue dog, you can find adoption forms on their website as well. All adoption applicants are put through a thorough background check to ensure all of the dogs are able to transition into a strong, stable, healthy new home. So the next time you have some spare change or The lodge Cabins, Restaurant & Tavern (315) 376-6200 BeaverRiver.com Discover our hidden, lakeside, oasis in the wilderness on Stillwater Reservoir the NORRIDGEWOCK LODGE Daily Wilderness Cruise Nightly, Weekend, and Weekly Room & Cabin Rentals in Beaver River From Stillwater to Beaver River! 881 Peaceful Valley Road North Creek, NY 12853 CALL 855-846-7365 G O R E M O U N T A I N L O D G E . C O M EXPLORE OUR WOODS

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