Red Hook Dog Rescue Up Against 'Biggest Struggle of All Time'

RED HOOK, BROOKLYN — Red Hook Dog Rescue needs an influx of donations to pay off more than $5,000 in debts and provide medical treatment to three needy dogs, volunteer Vanessa Soderstrom said Tuesday. According to a Jan. 2 Facebook post (embedded below), the non-profit, which works with special-needs dogs, such as those with physical disabilities, is "facing the biggest struggle of all time."

"Soon we will not be able to continue to do what we do everyday - save lives," the post reads.

Soderstrom said the shelter, which is actually a network of area foster homes organized by Red Hook resident Harriet Zucker, currently has 14 dogs under its care. Of those, two are effectively blind and need eye operations, while one has a heart valve problem, Soderstrom said. The medical procedures, while costly, are needed if the dogs have a chance of finding a foster home, she said.

The Jan. 2 Facebook post outlined the overall challenges the Rescue faces on a daily basis.

"Donations have decreased and the cost of vet bills," it reads, while "care and housing for our dogs has drastically increased...We are beyond committed to making our dogs successful for the next part of their journey, but we cannot do it without your help."

According to a donation page on Facebook set up by the Rescue, the organization's costs far outstrip its $250 adoption fees. The post says a week of boarding a dog costs the Rescue as much as $300, while shots can costs $150, and neutering and spaying can cost up to $350.

The post also notes that many of the Rescue's dogs "need costly specialist visits (veterinary opthamologist, for blind dogs. Physical rehab, for injured or disabled dogs. Dermatologists, for mange / skin infection cases.)"

"[Y]our support is crucial to us maintaining a positive financial balance," the post reads.

Soderstrom said that virtually all of the shelter's operations are funded through donations. She also said Red Hook Dog Rescue is determined not to give up on any dog, regardless of its needs.

"If you set the dog up for success, the dog will be successful in their home," she said.

[Editor's note: an earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that the Rescue was in danger of shutting down. The post has been updated for accuracy.]

Top image courtesy of Red Hook Dog Rescue