Stephanie's K9 mission
Jávea woman uses her skills to help get more abandoned dogs rehomed
Resident uses her skills to help get more dogs rehomed
DOG lover Stephanie Paige Cooper is on a one-woman mission to get more rescued pooches re-homed with loving families.
Using training and behaviour skills – both with four and two-legged friends – she aims to help bridge the gap to boost numbers of animals starting a new life.
Since October last year, Stephanie has dedicated her free time to working with dogs living at animal sanctuaries and in people’s homes as adopted pets settle in to their new environment. The mission was triggered by the bad press rescued dogs are given on social media sites, creating a misconception about offering an animal a fresh start – and the numbers of dogs needing a home.
“It seems everyone has a bad perception of rescue dogs; that they are aggressive and shouldn’t be around children, which is just generalising – it’s all rubbish,” Stephanie told CBNews. “I thought rather than get involved in a long debate, I would set something up.
“Some people get pedigrees from breeders and think they will get the perfect dog; it’s not always the case.”
Speaking before another training session at Jávea-based animal charity APASA, she added: “There are pedigree dogs here, a Rottweiler, a Labrador and a Yorkshire terrier – you really don’t know; it’s always worth going to a shelter first to see what type of dog they have.”
Stephanie also works with dogs rescued by AKIRA, its home is on the Benissa industrial estate, and Pego’s APROP.
Her website and Facebook page is also a place where people can ask questions or appeal for help, in return for a donation which is reinvested in her mission, Stephanie lends a positive hand.
Adoption
“Because so many people were having problems with newly adopted dogs, I set up a post, saying ‘if you are having problems, send me a message and I will help to make sure the dog can stay in his new home’.
“I go around to people’s houses and train people’s dogs. I ask for a donation and that was the main way I was making money, which is 100% reinvested.”
Kennel life can be ‘very stressful’ for a dog used to living with a family. Stephanie said: “There is noise from the other dogs, limited social interaction with humans – which can be difficult if they then go to a family with children. Also, they cannot do their business, especially difficult when they have been house trained but are now in kennels.”
Stephanie, who lives in Jávea, works in sales and marketing for a safety company, and underwent a shelter training and enrichment course on how to provide specialist training for rescue dogs.
A recent victory was a ‘begging letter’ to Kong – manufacturers of an ingenious rubber toy that is stuffed with hard to get treats. She received dozens from the company and uses them to entertain rescue dogs.
“They are good because they are an unusual treat the dogs don’t often get; it takes the dog a while to get the food out – they provide stimulation and distract them from the noise and stress.”
And Stephanie also takes videos of her at work with the dogs for her rescue mission. “I use tricks – dogs absolutely love them – because I want to try and show them as individuals rather than just taking pictures through a fence.
“Sadly, many dogs are returned within a week or a month. I ask people if they did any training, they say they didn’t have the time or make another excuse.”
She said she had always been involved with rescue dogs – growing up with pets in the family and wanted to encourage people to help solve the ‘dire situation in Spain’ with the amount of strays.
Find out more about Stephanie’s mission and meet some of her canine chums at website www.stephaniesrescuemission.com or Facebook page Stephanie’s Rescue Mission.