But for some, adoption is the first impulse.
In addition to well-known rescue agencies
like MHS and the Milo Foundation (which
relocated from Marin to Point Richmond in
2012), a number of grassroots rescue orga-
nizations have been finding ways, often with
extremely limited funding, to help displaced
animals find loving homes.
From NOLA, With Love
One such outlet, dubbed the Dog Shack by
one-woman-show Saskia Achilles of Forest
Knolls, was founded in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina. Achilles hails from Holland, a
no-kill country with stringent spay/neuter
laws. She has also been known to hop on
the whale-saving, Sea Shepherd boats in
Antarctica in an effort to save the whales.
Needless to say, Achilles supports disen-
franchised animals.
She began her work as an animal foster parent in 1999, initially taking in a mama pit bull
and her litter of 10. “I found homes for the pup-pies over a period of six months,” she says. “After
that there was no end to the amount of mamas
and litters, and I continued to foster through
2005.” When Hurricane Katrina hit New
Orleans, friends urged Achilles to go to the aid of
the thousands of newly orphaned animals.
Achilles fashioned herself a badge that
read “Bolinas Canine Control,” pinned it on
an Humane Society T-shirt, collected donated
frequent flyer miles and was on her way. “I was
in a triage center near NOLA where there was a
horse ranch; the stables were filled with cages
where we took found dogs to get them booked
in,” she says. A group of rogue volunteers and
veterinarians worked to ensure animals were
microchipped, vaccinated and documented
before they were adopted out. After several
weeks of intense rescue work and a narrow
escape from Hurricane Rita, Achilles and her
newly adopted dog, Dingy, made their way back
to Marin where the animal lover decided to
start her own rescue project.
“I decided to call myself Dog Shack because
I had to build a makeshift shack for the dozen
dogs that ended up in my yard,” Achilles says
of dogs later rescued from Louisiana and
shipped here. “I found them all homes. It was
ANIMAL SANCTUARY AND CARE SOCIET Y A no-kill organization, the society has been pairing homeless cats with owners for more than 15 years. Currently, the society is providing or arranging long-term
foster care for more than 50 kittens that were scheduled to be euthanized. ascscats.org
HAPPY HEN CHICKEN RESCUE Proving everyone can make a difference, the rescue was founded by
11-year-old Zoe Rosenberg in 2014. The organization’s efforts has saved hundreds of chickens in the past
year and a half, as well as two pigs, three turkeys, one goose and one peahen. chickenrescue.org
JAKE’S PLACE CAT RESCUE The organization works with overcrowded shelters to rescue and re-home
kittens, to educate and generate awareness about the issues abandoned pets face, and to create companionship and commitment through programs like “seniors for seniors,” which pairs older cats with senior
citizens. jakesplacecatrescue.org
JESSICA’S HAVEN This organization matches small dogs needing love and attention with people who
have difficulty communicating or understanding instructions, are easily distracted, suffer from anxieties,
or experience physical limitations, in the belief that both parties can benefit. jessicashaven.com
MARIN FRIENDS OF FERALS Through its trap-neuter-return program, this organization aims to manage
cat colonies — with the help of volunteer feeders and trappers — to ultimately foster and socialize cats,
and to raise awareness about Marin’s stray and feral cat population through education. marinferals.org
MARIN HUMANE SOCIE TY The society’s goal is to improve the lives of animals and people through
advocacy, education and support. It envisions a better world for all animals and believes that promoting
the bond between humans and animals will create a positive change for both. marinhumanesociety.org
MILO FOUNDATION Founded in 1994, this no-kill organization gives an alternative for homeless pets
throughout Northern California by providing community education, volunteer opportunities, adoption
services and sanctuary for animals until permanent homes can be found. milofoundation.org
NO BOUNDARIES ANIMAL RESCUE A shelter without walls, No Boundaries Animal Rescue sees
that animals are cared for in foster homes, not in cages. Its goal is a simple one: to rehabilitate and
re-home homeless animals that have been abandoned, are forgotten or are running out of time at
local shelters. noboundariesanimalrescue.org
SAVEABUNNY RABBIT RESCUE The
rescue works with more than 30 shelters
to make sure abandoned, abused and
neglected rabbits get a second chance.
The organization also specializes in healing physically wounded and emotionally
traumatized rabbits. saveabunny.org
THE DOG SHACK This foster-only program was founded in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina when volunteers flew
to New Orleans to rescue pets out of
flooded homes. It provides emergency
shelter and temporary foster homes for
dogs that end up on death row in kill
shelters. dogshack.org KASIA PA WLO WSKA
Adoption Resources
