Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)3 non-profit public charity,
where we are
KEEPING IT ABOUT THE DOGS!
DON'T MISS OUR BRAND-NEW VIDEO ON YouTube!
It tells the story of the neglected Malamute puppies shown below, complete with an uplifting "GOOD NEWS" update at the end! DONATIONS ARE STILL NEEDED, but a big "thanks" to all of you who have helped them along the way!
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to see the their story, including the UPLIFTING UPDATE! (Have your Kleenex Handy) |
WELCOME! Navigate our Site Using Links Below:
You can meet adoptable dogs from the Indy area
from 12:00-4:00 PM on the first and third Saturday of every month at
PETCO -
7565 US Highway 31 South
| URGENT DOGS IN SHELTERS | Email Us for Links to Urgent Dogs in Immediate Need of Adoption from Shelters |
| PROFILES ON ADOPTABLES | Click Here to see Detailed Listings on Our Available Foster Dogs |
| PHOTO ALBUMS ON ADOPTABLES | Check Out Individual Photo Albums of our Available Dogs |
URGENT: NEGLECT CASE
In late July, working in cooperation with our local animal control agency, five 8-month-old purebred Alaskan Malamute pups, all unaltered males, were surrendered to us by their owners. The owners had been cited for neglect for having 10 Alaskan Malamutes on their inner city property, with food and shelter enough to care for only 5 of them. They faced charges if 5 of the dogs were not removed from their property immediately. Sadly -- and not surprisingly -- the owners didn't want to relinquish their 2 breeding pairs and the other 1 adult, unspayed, female. The pups were selected for surrender. Though there is nothing we can do about it, we have to assume the next unwanted litters are just around the corner ...
At any rate, though we had neither foster space for 5 big Malamute puppies nor extra funding lying around to care for them, this was an urgent situation. We feared how the dogs might be disposed of if we didn't step in to help. In addition to the risk of the dogs being dumped somewhere or simply let loose to fend for themselves, dog fighting is a reality in Indianapolis. Northern breeds are prized as "bait dogs" because of their high pain tolerance, their stamina, and their non-aggressive natures ... and our boys were located within the area specifically targeted by Indy's dog fighting task force. Any "word on the street" or "free to good home" signs might place them in an unspeakable situation. And of course, even if they were passed off to other owners, this might have put 5 unaltered males approaching maturity on the streets or in the hands of the next person who only needed a female to start his/her own "business".
When the pups were surrendered to our vet facility, we were horrified -- not just at their physical condition, but at the fact that they acted as if they had never been around human beings! They had been fed, but nothing else. Without shelter or any semblance of care or attention, they are basically feral. When they came to us, they had to be carried in. They cowered in the far ends of their kennels in fear when approached, and they "went limp" if handled. They are infested with parasites, one has a bad eye infection, and what should be beautiful fluffy, puppy coats (despite the fact that they've only been alive for 8 months!) are beyond are matted to the skin with filth and neglect. They are beyond grooming, and we will have no choice other than to clip/shave them and start over.
THEY NEED YOUR HELP!
The pups are coming around slowly but surely, but each of the 5 will need to be anesthetized just to be heartworm tested and to have his coat shaved (and what's left, washed), his ears cleaned, toenails clipped, etc. As expensive as "putting them under" and the special grooming is going to be, they will then need to be anesthetized AGAIN, at a later date, for neuter surgery. We are lining up fosters capable of handling and socializing them when they are ready to be placed in homes, but this requires a level of patience, experience and commitment you simply don't find every day. In the meantime, while we get them ready for foster homes, we are paying kenneling for all five, every single day.
Even a little bit goes a long way ... $4.50 will pay for a month of heartworm preventative ... $5 will pay boarding for one pup for one day ... $10 will pay for standard immunizations, bordatella, or a rabies vaccination. If you have a bit more to give, $21 will pay for a basic worming ... $25 will pay for a heartworm test ... and $80 will pay for neuter surgery, including antibiotics and pain medication.
WE RECEIVE NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING ... Amos, Ambrose, Argus, Adrian and Axel need YOUR HELP to become the loving family members they were born to be. Checks can be mailed to: NLSDR, PO Box 642, Westfield, IN 46074. Or donate online RIGHT NOW:
Your donation will go specifically to help the puppy of your choice.
Adopting Your New Best Friend
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to go to the interactive Siberian Husky Compatibility Profiler
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for Breed Information on Alaskan Malamutes & Siberian Huskies
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For a fun way to assess the fit between your lifestyle and your idea of a "dream dog" as compared to what you can expect from a Siberian Husky, click on the link above to go to a very cool, INTERACTIVE profiler. If you have no personal experience with the breed, this is an excellent "reality check" on whether this is the right dog for you!
If the Profiler indicated a purebred Siberian (or Alaskan Malamute, as many of the characteristics are true for both breeds) might be a little more than you bargained for, please CONSIDER A MIX! Quite often, the characteristics of another breed, when combined with those of the Siberian or Malamute, produce a delightful dog with many of the charms that drew you to a Husky in the first place, but with fewer of the challenges inherent to the breed. Husky/German Shepherd and Husky/Lab mixes, for example, are some of the finest dogs we've ever met! And finally, if you're still "on the fence", just Email Us for links to some terrific websites which will arm you - in an entertaining fashion, no less - with all the information you need to decide whether to bring a Siberian Husky or Husky mix into your life.
Note: Northern Lights gratefully acknowledges Chuck Mayfield, developer of the Husky Compatibility Profiler, for granting permission to use the Profiler in the interest of breed education and promoting responsible decision-making on the part of the adopter.
Our Pet List features our foster dogs, but there are also many beautiful dogs in Indiana shelters who are facing euthanasia if not adopted or otherwise rescued. Many of these dogs are almost out of time, and it is ALWAYS our policy to give those dogs in the most desperate situations the first and best chance at getting to safety. Urgent dogs are not in our care only due to lack of space. We take in as many as we can, but the need is far greater than our resources. Please E-Mail Us Immediately for a list of links to dogs who are running out of time and options in shelters. We will get back to you TODAY!
We are always amazed at how many people are unaware of the shattering statistics on the number of animals euthanized at shelters every day. Many are unaware that purebreds are "put down" just as often as loveable mixed breeds. Many believe (or want to believe) that friendly, adoptable dogs in shelters usually find homes. The truth, tragically, is hard to face . . . survival prospects for every dog that is in a shelter which euthanizes for space (or health, or any other reason) grow dimmer hour by hour, day by day . . .
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Click Here
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR A DOG JUST LIKE ALBERT.
Warning: Clip includes disturbing images & is NOT for young children). |
Please note that the direct adoption of Siberians in shelters will be in accordance with that shelter's policies, and that we rely on information supplied by the shelter with respect to temperament, health, etc. Because in most cases we have not had the opportunity to evaluate these dogs ourselves, we cannot guarantee the health and temperament of referral dogs, and will always refer you directly to the shelter for further information about the dogs in their care.
Northern Lights' Adoption Process
The adoption process for our foster dogs consists of a thorough screening including
an
Application, Complete Reference Checks,
Vet References, and a Home Visit.
You must be
18 years or older, able to provide references and willing to have a volunteer
visit your home to be eligible to adopt.
Want to take the first step NOW? To get started, just download the application by clicking on the link below or SEND AN EMAIL to request an adoption application! We will review your application to determine if there is a good match between your family and this dog, and may suggest another if we can offer a better fit in terms of lifestyle, experience, other pets, etc. Your application does not obligate you to adopt, nor does accepting an application represent approval of that application. All dogs are adopted under a contract which assures you of a total commitment to the dog's welfare, and to supporting you should problems or questions arise down the road.
All foster dogs placed for adoption are microchipped, spayed or neutered, up to date on all vaccinations, wormed, heartworm-tested, and on heartworm preventative. Because we keep our costs confined strictly to the dogs' needs, we don't have to "pad" adoption fees to cover overhead expenses such as advertising, display materials, or any other expenditures which do not directly go to caring for rescued dogs. Our requested adoption donations range between $175 and $250, depending on age, breed, any special needs, etc.
to Request an
Adoption Application
You Can Help!
The truth, quite simply, is that "rescue" does not exist without ADOPTERS! We are always in need of qualified adopters to provide loving homes to northern breed dogs in search of that special person or family who will love and cherish them forever. A dog who has found his "forever home" - whether it is one of our loveable fosters, or a dog running out of time in a shelter, is a dog no longer needs rescue!Fostering ... The Gift of Life
Like most rescues, our "life's blood" is our foster families! We desperately need breed-experienced people who are willing to open their hearts and homes by offering temporary placement to Siberians, Alaskan Malamutes, or northern breed mixes who are facing euthanasia or living in unsafe or unsatisfactory environments. Please e-mail us for further information on fostering a homeless husky, or request an application to get the process started right away!
Volunteering ... The Gift of Time
Even if you can't foster or adopt, you CAN make a difference for a dog starting today! We need people willing to assist with a variety of tasks including running vet appointments, transporting rescued and foster dogs, writing profiles, conducting home visits, and more! Just tell us where your interests and talents lie, and we will be happy to put you to work! Experience with northern breeds is a plus, but we welcome any dog-lover who has a desire to contribute and a willingness to learn. Below are just a few areas where we can always use your help! Email Us for more information on Volunteering with Northern Lights!
| Pulling Dogs from Shelters | Transporting Dogs to Foster, Vets or Events | Assistance at Petco Adoption Days | Reference Checks & Home Visits | Fostering, Behavior & Training | Accounting, Website Mgmt & Professional Services | Your Imagination is the Limit |
Your Cash Donation ... The Gift of Hope
Northern Lights is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, EIN #14-1981482.
Your donation is tax deductible!
We are always in need of cash donations. The homeless and unwanted dogs we pull from shelters almost always require -- at a minimum -- the full spectrum of vaccinations, treatment for parasites, and spay/neuter surgery. In addition, they often come into rescue with kennel cough, respiratory infections, malnutrition or other conditions associated with abuse, neglect, or life as a stray. They seldom have had the benefit of loving care from a caring owner, and thus rarely arrive in perfect health. Most importantly, we have a limited number of foster homes, so sometimes a kennel fee is the only thing that stands between a dog being euthanized in a shelter and our ability to offer emergency placement. Your donation, regardless of size, is always very gratefully accepted.
Northern Lights' minimal administrative expenses (postage, web hosting, insurance) are easily covered by a small percentage of the income derived from adoption donations. This means that not one penny of your gift will go to administrative or other frivolous costs, and will be devoted solely to the care of the dogs awaiting their forever homes. If you'd like, you can even specify the dog (or dogs) you'd like to help by noting that dog's name on your check. We have volunteer legal and other professional services. Our volunteer base absorbs the costs associated with long distance phone charges, gas for transports, food, toys and treats for the dogs. This means your donation will go to costs directly associated with "buying time" for a dog who has run out of time at a shelter, or helping sick dogs become healthy, strong, and ready for adoption.
Preventable
Accidents Are The Leading Cause of Death & Disability Among Pre-Senior Dogs and
Cats.
We are proud of our sponsorship by
4LoveofPets,
Certified Pet Tech Instructors.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Mention code NLSDR and 15% of tuition fees will be donated to help the dogs
served by Northern Lights!
DONATE - Save a Life!
Can't foster or adopt, but
WANT TO
HELP A DOG TODAY?
For the old and weary dog, who has given up hope ... For the sick and shivering dog, desperate for healing ... For the broken dog, who has known only suffering at the hand of man ... For the cowering puppy crying helplessly for a chance to live ... For the abandoned, the frightened, the suffering,the lonely and the forgotten ...
For those who might die without ever knowing kindness, or love ...
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Donations are greatly appreciated and always needed to help with spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and unexpected veterinary expenses. There is no gift too small to make a difference, and Northern Lights' minimal administrative costs are covered by adoption donations or donated by our volunteers, so you can be sure that every penny of your gift will go DIRECTLY to helping a homeless dog!
Northern Lights is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation, EIN #14-1981482.
Your donation is tax deductible!
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To make an instant donation ONLINE,
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If you prefer to donate by CHECK, mail to:
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The dogs helped by Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue
send you grateful "woo's and wags" for your donation of any size!
At Northern Lights, we're KEEPING IT ABOUT THE DOGS
Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue is a group of committed and experienced rescuers who came together because we wanted to stay true to our shared passion and priorities and keep our rescue about helping dogs. We maintain excellent working relationships with virtually all the leading northern breed rescue groups in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions, including the "flagship" rescue organizations for our breeds, the Illinois Alaskan Malamute Rescue Association (Malamutes) and Adopt A Husky, Inc. (Siberian Huskies). We are also proud affiliates of the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League, a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization recognized by the national breed club, the Alaskan Malamute Club of America.
Our mission is to advocate for and/or rescue stray, abandoned, displaced or abused dogs; in particular, northern breed dogs facing euthanasia in Midwest/Great Lakes region shelters. Our goal is to place Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and northern breed mixes in loving, experienced, and secure homes with people who understand and celebrate the unique characteristics of their breeds.
Northern Lights is the largest rescuer of Northern Breeds in Indiana. Since our inception in January, 2004, we grown in leaps and bounds, having placed literally hundreds of dogs. All of our Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, and northern breed mixes are adopted to homes that are thoroughly screened and investigated to ensure the best possible match for each individual dog in terms of the new guardian's experience, lifestyle and home environment.
At Northern Lights, we continually "work smart" to save lives. Our scope and range is not geographic in nature, and is limited only by our own creativity, persistence, commitment, and bonds built within the solid network of knowledgeable and hard-working volunteers and rescue partners we have in surrounding states. The fact is that -- despite the growing rescue movement in the Great Lakes region (Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan) -- the number of abandoned, surrendered and suffering dogs is far too staggering for rescues to handle, particularly if the effort is limited to the confines of individual rescue programs. One of the toughest struggles in rescue is accepting that we can't save them all, but we refuse to quit trying, and we work diligently and creatively toward saving as many as we can by tackling the problem from every angle. We work in concert with our rescue partners in the Midwest/Great Lakes region every day to ensure the most effective placement of the greatest number of dogs. If a dog is adopted into a great home, we don't care "whose" dog it is -- we're just happy that dog has been saved and that his or her rescue slot can be given to another in need! If you adopt a dog directly from a shelter, that is a double win, as it frees that spot in a shelter and also preserves a spot in rescue for another dog! Finally, if we can assist in ensuring (through posting and screening) the responsible placement of a found or owned dog who will otherwise face the trauma and uncertainty of being dumped in a shelter, we are here to help. This is not a "fee for service" proposition, and we will not solicit a donation for just doing our job. It's about helping dogs.
If you don't see the dog who
might best fit yourself and/or your family on our Pet List,
we encourage you to visit other
area rescues and shelters on the web
or in person. We'll be happy to provide links to those rescues or shelters
upon request -- a good place to start is with the
Illinois
Alaskan Malamute Rescue Association
and
Adopt A Husky, Inc.
as cited in the introductory paragraph. Why do we refer you elsewhere? Because the bottom line is
helping dogs.
Helping You Keep Your Dog
Let us go to work
for you today, whether you want help finding the dog who is the best
fit for you, or you need assistance with issues to help you keep your current
dog, or you need help for a dog who would be better cared for in another home.
Can't imagine giving your dog up, but need a behavioral or training issue? Click the button at left below for free training videos courtesy of Animal Planet PetVideo.com
What are the most common reasons people surrender dogs to
shelters? Surprisingly, they include easily-resolved issues such as "no
time", "doesn't get along with other pets", "can't housebreak", "barks",
"allergies", "moving" ... the list goes on and on. If you are considering
giving up your pet for any of these reasons, there's some great practical advice
(and even more links) that can help you keep your dog in the loving home he or
she already has! Just CLICK
HERE to go to "Can we help you keep your pet?"
Northern Lights is Not a Shelter. We are a rescue organization and have no physical shelter. The dogs in our direct care are placed in foster homes. The majority of these homes are in the Indianapolis area; however, we also have foster homes in other Indiana communities, as well as in the Cincinnati and Chicago areas.
Urgent Shelter Dogs are posted on a referral basis. In the vast majority of cases, these dogs have a VERY limited amount of time to find an adoptive home. We welcome your inquiries, and while we cannot attest to the health, history or behavior of dogs in shelters, we will be pleased to provide you with contact information for the appropriate shelter where you can acquire the most accurate available information.
NORTHERN LIGHTS IS PROUD TO WORK IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIANA PROACTIVE ANIMAL WELFARE, INC. Please
visit their website for the latest news on Indiana animal welfare issues, a
broad range of educational materials,
links to other rescues, and information on how YOU can get involved!
Click here: Indiana Proactive Animal Welfare, Inc. (Indiana-PAW) - Get
Involved
Northern Lights representatives shown at Petco
with Amy Van Ostrand, Esq., Founder & Executive Director of Indiana-PAW
Northern Lights Sled Dog Rescue
PO Box 642
Westfield, IN 46074
Adoptions: AdoptASledDog@aol.com
General Info, Fostering & Urgent Dogs: Katylied2@aol.com
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to Request an Adoption Application |
to see photos of Northern Lights "alumni", now in forever homes ... or scroll below!