As every pet owner knows, life would simply not be the same without our beloved pets by our side. Pets have a profound positive impact on our lives in various ways. They are more than just companions; they help reduce stress, promote socialization, and encourage physical activity. Furthermore, pets provide unconditional love and companionship, which can significantly improve our mental and emotional well-being.
May is National Pet Month, so what better way to celebrate this month-long holiday than by giving back to animals in need? As a team of animal lovers, the Impact Dog Crates team is committed to doing our part to better the lives of animals nationwide. During National Pet Month, we celebrate the love and joy that pets bring into our lives and honor the bond we share with them. Across the country, there are still countless dogs and other animals in need of loving homes. Adopting a pet brings joy and companionship into our lives, while also providing a second chance to an animal in need.
We recently spoke with Ozzie Albies about the incredible work the Ozzie Albies Foundation does to provide care for animals.
Can you tell us about the Ozzie Albies Foundation and the work you do to give back to dogs in need?
The Ozzie Albies Foundation is dedicated to being an advocate for animal adoption in our community. We provide food, shelter and vet care to those in need, promote spay and neuter to end the suffering of overpopulation and unwanted animals, adoption of healthy animals back into loving homes, and also support local shelters and rescue organizations. We primarily serve animals that are currently in shelters, and in desperate need of a being fostered or adopted, to avoid being euthanized solely because they don’t have a home. We want to make a difference by helping one fur baby at a time.
How did you get the idea to start the Ozzie Albies Foundation?
I've always been passionate about helping animals. In Curacao, where I grew up, I constantly saw dogs who had no other place to live except the streets. These dogs had serious illnesses and required help. I always did what I could to help them. Having a rescue was always my goal and I'm grateful that I was able to start the Ozzie Albies Foundation. With the work the Ozzie Albies Foundation has done so far, do you have any particularly memorable stories or experiences? The most memorable experience has been finding a dog in my backyard. I found Su, short for Sushi, late at night, around 10:30pm, near a very busy street. I was going out to pick up take out sushi, when I heard barking. I slowed down and started to look around to see where it was coming from. That’s when I found Su. She was wondering aimlessly, and very scared. My wife and I actually found footage of her almost getting hit by a car. We are so grateful she decided to turn away. We tried to lure her in with food. It took a while to gain her trust but she finally came closer and we were able to reach her leash. Our first thought was that she must have gotten away from her owner since she was still wearing her full leash. So we immediately got her microchip scanned and received her owners information right away. When we got in touch with her registered owner we were told he had no interest in her and did not want her back. We were heartbroken for her. We couldn’t believe how harsh he was and did not even care to know if she was ok or how we found her. But we are thankful that she made her way to us at the perfect time.
We found Su the same day we announced our Best Chance program. Our goal with this program is to provide an opportunity for homeless dogs to gain confidence and have a successful adoption once and for all. We know many people adopt with the best of intentions only to later feel the need to rehome their pup due to behavioral problems, a lack of resources, or an inability to pay for training. That’s where we are able to help with this program. Dogs that complete the best chance program will have time to decompress and are provided the structure they need to be able to go to their forever home with no surprises. They are fostered by a Mirror Image trainer for 30 days and receive training, care and attention day in and day out. Not only that, but Mirror Image provides on going support once they are adopted. Once Su completed the Best Chance program we were able to match her with the perfect family. She is now living her best life with her parents and fur brother. We’ve been told that she is everything they were looking for and more.
How can animal lovers get involved with or support the work you do?
We love to connect with our supporters. The best way to keep up with our foundation is by following us on Instagram/Facebook @ozziealbiesfoundation or visiting our website www.ozziealbiesfoundation.org.
What goals do you have for the foundation in the next year?
Our goal is to be able to grow our rescue and pull as many dogs out of the shelter as possible, and provide an opportunity for homeless dogs to gain confidence and have a successful adoption once and for all. Our process would be to place them in a 30 day training program with our trusted trainer as soon as they are pulled from the shelter and receive adequate veterinary care. In order to do this, we need more reliable and serious fosters to help us. If they are not adopted by the end of the 30-day training period, we will need to place them in foster homes. For anyone who would like to sign up to be a foster, please visit our website www.ozziealbiesfoundation.org
Thank you to the Ozzie Albies Foundation for prioritizing the welfare of animals in need! For more information about the Ozzie Albies Foundation or to learn more about ways you can get involved, visit www.ozziealbiesfoundation.org.
