Purebreds, mixed breeds, puppies: Expanded rescue group has all

As a result of a match made in doggie heaven, area residents now have “the pick of the litter” when it comes to adopting their perfect pet. This month, long-time dog owner and dog rescuer Michael Broe and his wife, Janine, of East Haddam teamed up with BarkTown Dog Rescue & Sanctuary in Georgia to bring the best in dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds to adopters in East Haddam, New Haven, Middletown and Hartford, as well as Newark and Elizabeth, N.J. As part of the BarkTown commitment, these lovable dogs were saved from death row at Georgia high-kill shelters and granted a new leash on life.

The Northeast group now has regular adoption days at Pets Supplies Plus in Wethersfield, with other events planned throughout Connecticut and New Jersey. Later this summer, it will expand into Pennsylvania and New York and, by August, into Massachusetts and Rhode Island. For specific dates/times, click here.

To see BarkTown’s adoptable dogs, visit www.barktowndogrescue.org or https://www.facebook.com/BarkTownDogRescue/. To inquire about a specific dog, email info@barktowndogrescue.org.

“We have someone for everyone, from labs and beagles to German shepherds and boxers to chihuahuas and terriers of all kinds. Whether you’re looking for a puppy, an exercise buddy or a laid-back pet, we’ve got the dog that’s right for you,” Michael Broe said. “And all of our dogs have been in foster homes first, so we can tell you all you’ll need to know about each one’s personality and behavior so that you can make the best choice.”

The Broes, who have volunteered in nearly every aspect of rescue - fostering, transport, fundraising, events, marketing, board member, even helping save 50 Great Pyrennes from a hoarding case – said they chose to partner with BarkTown Dog Rescue because of its incredible work.

“I had seen a post a year ago for a dog in terrible condition that BarkTown was rescuing and I donated to help. I liked the way the team kept us posted on the dog's progress and how they appeared to run the rescue. I had also developed a relationship with several Georgia shelters and they all spoke highly of BTDR,” he said.

When he and Janine decided to work with another rescue, they did informational interviews with 10-plus rescues across the country, including BarkTown, which they ultimately chose.

“We are thrilled to be working with co-founder Kim Murphy and the BTDR Team,” Michael Broe said. “It was a perfect match as we firmly believed in the rescue's mission statement, ‘We are dedicated to rescuing all breeds of dogs from those most in need, to those readily adoptable, from any shelter situation where their life may be in danger. We are committed to finding each of these dogs a loving and caring family to be their forever homes.’”

For Murphy, it was a win-win. “Our goal is to save more dogs from euthanasia. This partnership opens another door for us,” she said.

The Northeast group also is looking for volunteers to help with events, transport, marketing, graphic design, fundraising, photography, social media, grant writing, creative writing, video production, transportation logistics and illustration. Anyone interested should complete a volunteer or foster application on the BarkTown website at www.barktowndogrescue.org or https://www.facebook.com/BarkTownDogRescue/ or email info@barktowndogrescue.org.

“When you volunteer or foster with us, you not only save a dog’s life, you also help bring years of companionship and happiness to the dog’s forever family,” Janine Broe said. “Please volunteer today and make that difference.”

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About BarkTown Dog Rescue

BarkTown Dog Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that envisions a compassionate world where all dogs reside in responsible, loving homes. Dogs in BTDR’s care are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped and receive all appropriate veterinary care and treatment that is needed. The dogs are then placed in nurturing foster homes while they await placement into their permanent home. The rescue group remains interested in and committed to the welfare of the dogs beyond the adoption process. Its goal is to help dogs in distress without regard to age, breed, size or ease of placement. To the extent BTDR’s finances allow, dogs in the greatest need take priority. Finally the rescue group strives to work with area shelters and other rescue groups to develop a network of supporters and volunteers to create a better world for homeless dogs.