Couple operate pet rescue
At any one time, South Hills Pet Rescue and Rehabilitation Resort in Washington County is a haven to more than 50 dogs scheduled to be euthanized. They get a new lease on life when their paws cross the threshold of the center in Union.
A temporary home to various breeds, the center is attached to a ranch-style house along a portion of Old Route 88 near the Allegheny County border. About half of the operation is dedicated to saving pit bulls.
Since the start of the year, more than 237 canines have found homes through the adoption process there. The process includes a background and home check of prospective adopters.
On a recent Saturday, cars lining both sides of the roadway near the shelter displayed bumper stickers touting the vehicle owners’ favorite breeds. One car sported a “My dog barks Black and Gold” sticker, demonstrating a combined love of Pittsburgh sport teams and canines.
Inside the center, volunteers worked with animals, and prospective adopters discussed the process over the din of barking dogs, which are housed with access to the outdoors.
“We don’t really advertise that we’re a rescue, but from word of mouth and Facebook, we get the flow of people in here,” said Nick Ferraro of Jefferson Hills.
He and his wife, Ashley, have been operating the facility as part rescue, part kennel for the past two years. The center recently received nonprofit status but continues to offer day care for dogs to help support the shelter.
The center uses more than 110 pounds of dog food each day. Its veterinary bill tops $5,000 each month. Plans to refurbish the kennel to ease cleaning and to install a therapy pool carry a hefty price tag.
The rescue depends heavily on volunteers, donations and fundraising. Over the weekend, a pet parade hosted by Robinson Parks and Recreation, a volunteer group associated with the Allegheny County township, raised more than $1,000 for the center. Volunteer Marisa Boff Haney, a Montour graduate who handles community outreach and events for South Hills Pet Rescue, coordinated with Robinson for the event.
She now lives on Neville Island with her husband, Steven, and their chihuahua, Sarah, a rescue from South Carolina, where the dog had been given 12 hours to live because she had heartworm. The tiny dogs are euthanized in large numbers in other areas of the country, Mrs. Haney said.
She became involved in animal rescue efforts a few years ago when she discovered local social media pages dedicated to animal rescue while she was recovering at home from medical issues. She said until that time, she had not realized that healthy, well-behaved dogs were euthanized daily.
“Shelters reach out to us when dogs are being euthanized for no reason other than space,” Mr. Ferraro said. They also receive calls from police and humane and animal control agents.
Mr. Ferraro, a Montour graduate, said he didn’t get his first dog until he was 23. Growing up in Robinson, he said, he counted among his pets animals he found and brought home, including fish, turtles and snakes.
“Once I got my first [dog], I was all in. I cashed in my 401(k) and took training. It’s been all dogs, all day for 12 years now,” he said.
He and his wife, a graduate of South Park High School, have four dogs, including Willow, a rescued pit bull who is their 3-yearold son’s best friend.
Dogs arrive at the rescue from all over the country through a volunteer network, Mr. Ferraro said. Some have come from as far as Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and California.
“Some dogs are here a couple of hours. Some dogs are here for a couple of days. Some dogs we have a couple of months, and some dogs live here as they are not safe to go into the community,” Mr. Ferraro said. The center has three such dogs now.
“I have a [dog] back there that was abused his whole life. Should he die because he doesn’t trust the general public or should he have a chance to live?”
Donations may be made to: Paypal to shpr88@yahoo.com or South Hills Pet Rescue, 109 Shelbark St., Jefferson Hills, PA 15025.