Nicole Brown, 33, of Boynton Beach , had been volunteering with rescue dog agencies for eight years before she founded In Dog We Trust, Inc., a nonprofit Florida dog adoption service a year ago. The inspiration to start a rescue shelter came after a visit to the Miami-Dade County Animal Care and Control Shelter.
“There were 600 dogs sitting there, 100 of which would be killed that day. I couldn’t see that problem and not do something about it,” Brown said. “Animal Care and Control in the tri-county area euthanize about 55,000 dogs alone each year.”
Three months ago Brown expanded her work moving In Dog We Trust, Inc. from Delray Beach to the former Folke Peterson Wildlife Center at 10948 Acme Road near Wellington with funding from her own savings and volunteer support. The plan is to utilize the 28-acre, 10,000-square-foot facility to house rescue dogs that would otherwise be euthanized in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami -Dade Animal Care and Control shelters.
“We are working to raise awareness and get them adopted into good homes,” Brown said. “Adopting a dog is a great option; the dog is already trained, spayed or neutered and micro-chipped. Plus there is the feel-good factor.”
With the size of the facility Brown is able to operate adoptions, facilitate training and grooming, and provide a host of dog health and welfare services that will include a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. Currently housing 40 dogs, the shelter can house up to 150 dogs with the correct number of volunteers and funding, she said. Each dog that comes into the shelter is seen
“Nicole picks the dogs that are on their death bed, giving them a second chance. They know it and appreciate it,” said volunteer Sue Gould, 54, of The Acreage.
Brown is also using the facility to host educational workshops that will teach youth and pet owners the importance of spaying and neutering pets. The shelters secondary goal is to create public awareness about rescue dog issues. In Dog We Trust, Inc. also invites Boy and Girl Scout troops to come learn
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