Saving our Pets and Their People!
Saving Pets and their families
Providing food and other necessities for our Furry Families!
An Interview With Lauren Fox from All Breed Rescue
We sat down with All Breed Executive Director Lauren Fox to find our more about this award-winning Colorado Springs Rescue and training center, as well as learn what their immediate needs are. We wish to thank Lauren for taking her time to meet with us.
How did All Breed Start?
All Breed was founded in Colorado Springs in 1994 by Kat Percival after she realized there was a need to focus on shelter dogs. There were other rescues in the Springs, but they were focused on owner-surrender dogs. So in 1995, she lauched her 501(C)(3) with five foster homes for small shelter dogs.
In 1997, I was working at a vet clinic, but I knew I wanted to work with rescue dogs. One day at work I noticed two brochures advertising shelter dog rescues. I called the first one, and said I wanted to foster and they said "great," so they came to my home and did a home and property check and then said, "go get your first dog!" So I went to the Humane Society and picked out a Border Collie Pit Bull mix, and that was the beginning for me.
Then, in October of 1997, the founder asked if I would take over as Foster Adoption Manager, and I was thrilled to do so. I took All Breed from five homes to 20 homes and we began our focus on all dogs, large and small.
In August of 1998, our founder was forced to move to Florida because of medical issues and she asked me if I would take over as Executive Director, and I have served in that position ever since.
How many dogs do you hope to place each year?
About one hundred throughout the state of Colorado. We have other partner trainers in other parts of state, but the adopting families need to reside in the state of Colorado.
Have you seen many Covid dogs returned from adopted homes?
Not with our area of expertise. What we have seen is a tremendous increase in demand to take dogs in from shelters. We probably average about 25 requests a day!
We don’t have the facilities, or foster homes for those numbers and it is harder now than pre-COVID to find foster homes. Everyone wanted to foster during COVID. But today, it is the hardest I’ve seen in 25 years to find foster homes.
You have won the Best of The Springs Dog Trainers winner 9 years in a row. Why do you think that is?
We are very thankful to our community for these awards and I think it’s because of our state-of-the-art training as well as our commitment to relationship building. We don’t believe in harsh training of any kind.
What is your greatest need?
Monetary donations and foster homes who willing to drive to the Springs for all the necessary introductions and training.
You have your Annual Bone-Appetit Gala coming up October 1. Tell us more about it?
This is our big fundraiser and it is very special! We have a plated-dinner with multiple courses, wine, a cash bar, three presenters, a keynote speaker and a dessert auction with 14 of most delicious desserts in all of the Springs! These are unique, custom desserts from 14 different area pastry chefs! It is something you will not forget!
We have three presenters at the Gala. Our first one will detail their experiece with All Breed and how our rescue has enriched their life; the second one will share their experience in adopting a dog from us; and our last presenter is a new foster home for a dog that has been with us since 2015. Yep, for seven years, and now will have a forever home.
Our Keynote speaker is Dr. Erin Dickson, an emergency Vet at Animal ER Care here in the Springs. She will share some facinating stories as well as talk about the emergency practices since the ending of the pandemic.
Of all the dogs you have placed in 25 years, which one stands out in your mind and heart the most?
Shane. He lived with us at our rescue for six years. He was a Scottish Deehound mix who came to us after he was forced to live in a basement for months. He went to a foster home, did ok with the family for a while, until he got into serious altercation with another dog. When he came to us, we had over 100 dogs at our facility because of the Black Forest fire. It was a crazy time. Shane didn’t like me at all and I needed to figure out if he could be live successfully in a home, so I started working him. I took him to my home and set up a whole room just for him. He loved my daughter and she took care of him. Slowly, I introduced him to my other three dogs and soon he was ready for his forever home. We found single man who wanted Shane and when Shane first saw him, he jumped into man’s car. They have been a team ever since.
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In The News
Big Dog Ranch Expands!
These are Macon County Kennels, the largest no-kill rescue shelter in the U.S., and newly opened in Alabama to help combat a pet overpopulation crisis in the southeastern United States.
It was renovated from an old greyhound training center into a facility that has the capacity to save, rehabilitate, and adopt out up to 5,000 dogs per year.
Located in Macon County, the intention of the founders were to service a region encompassing eight states including Florida, and to help dogs find new homes across America.
“The opening of a second Big Dog Ranch Rescue location is something I’ve prayed for over the years,” Big Dog Ranch Rescue Founder and CEO Lauree Simmons said. “It’s a great day for us and, more importantly, it’s a great day for the dogs.”
Ironically, Big Dog Ranch Rescue hasn’t always had this big dog ranch. Since starting their work in 2008, they estimated they’ve saved 53,000 dogs from being euthanized.
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