“When South County Animal Rescue (SCAR) was founded at the beginning of 2016, I’m not sure what we honestly expected. We knew that there was lots of work to be done and it wouldn’t be easy, but there was a gap in our communities that needed to be filled and so we began our life’s work, what we almost jokingly call ‘Life Without Parole.’ We are a small group of volunteers, all with regular jobs, but our life’s passion is all about the animals, and so we make it happen. We have accomplished a lot in three short years. Nearly 500 animals have been rescued and rehomed since our inception, mostly due to the generosity of animal lovers and volunteers ….”
Reading back on a piece I wrote in 2019 about our local animal rescue, our commonly known SCAR, I realized that 10 years later, the mission remains the same, the end goal the same, the difficult, sometimes frustrating work the very same. Thousands of animals have been rescued, adopted, transferred, and volunteers have come and gone over the years. Fresh blood and ideas have expanded; new programs evolved and continue to do so. I remain proud that we started this charity 10 years ago and she is still working on her mission as we speak.
I recall the early days of trying to form a charity from the ground up; the paperwork was excruciating, the costs eye-watering and the frustrations considerable. But from the ashes evolved an amazing beast, our very own South County Animal Rescue who has filled many gaps in the rescue community in these parts and made a dent into the problem, which is certainly an issue without end. From partnerships with Petsmart in Salinas, where the SCAR animals receive record adoptions weekly, to the Unchained program at Rancho Cielo and the TAILS program within the prison, SCAR has taken on a life of her own.
Of course, this would never happen without a tribe of Animal Champions who dedicate their lives to the cause. If you are a cat person, you deal with TNR (Trap, neuter, return) and the kittens that come from unwanted litters, fostering, rehoming, etc. If you are a dog person, there’s a lifetime of work to be done for the unwanted and unloved canine creatures that are dumped on roads all over heck. If you’ve ever had a part in fostering or rehoming an unwanted dog, bringing a dog back from certain euthanasia to a happy and fulfilled life, you will know that everything you put into their rescue and rehome, you receive back tenfold.
Education is key and I find myself educating those I come across, without meaning to lecture. I will help people spay, neuter and vaccinate their animals; I copiously explain the reasons why. I encourage them to share this message with others in their communities. My daughter and son-in-law are enormous advocates for the animals and are always picking up strays or taking care of injured creatures as they go about their regular lives. I like to think my kid got the best part of me there. They have almost as many animals as I do at the house.
The Unchained dog training program at Rancho Cielo is one that has had tremendous successes — both for the students and the animals. Our dog manager Monica liaises with the local shelter to pull animals that are in danger of euthanization, and puts them into the training program whereby the students learn the skills it takes to train an animal — patience, consistency, calmness — and in training a living creature, they can gain those very skills themselves. You can only imagine the symbiotic benefit of this program. I attended a graduation over there once and it brought tears to my eyes. Like all the programs at Rancho Cielo, Unchained makes an enormous difference in the lives of the dogs and the students equally. Once they are properly trained, the dogs are much easier to home and there you have it — a multi-fold solution to a complex problem.
The TAILS program is equally satisfying to witness. I wrote a story on the program and went inside the facility to see the operation at work. The inmate trainers are training other inmates to train unwanted dogs. Again, Monica is in charge of pulling the dogs from the shelter that would be best suited for the program and that would thrive in training within that very specific environment. I attended a graduation ceremony at the prison, and it was heartwarming to see the bond between the trainers and the dogs. Oftentimes, the inmates’ families are the ones who adopt those very dogs, once trained, and I’m sure they feel super proud of their family members for completing the program and giving their charge a new life in the outside world. Former inmates have gone on to work with dog training programs on the outside and that is, again, a wonder to witness. The impressive symmetry should not be lost on anyone. I personally adopted one of the graduates from the TAILS program — such a happy little chap who gives me daily joy.
And none of this happens without work on the back end with budgets and grant applications, paperwork and liaising with others in the animal world. There are also informative social media posts that must be made and fundraisers to be planned and worked. Talking of which, the 10th Annual Pinot for Paws is just around the corner — a large money raiser for SCAR to assist with all the above programs, plus spay and neuter and vaccination programs for the animals. On Saturday, Aug. 1, from 12:30 to 4 p.m., at Joyce Winery, 38740 Los Coches Road in Soledad, SCAR will be hosting the BBQ fundraiser with delicious food (BBQ courtesy of the incredible Soledad Lions Club), Joyce wines, music and an impressive silent auction. Every cent raised goes to the care of the animals and they always need your help, so head on over to www.scar.pet and buy your tickets, knowing that it does take a village of Animal Champions to continue the great work that has been performed for over 10 years now.
As the founder of the charity, I’m proud to share that this village of local champions has always supported the important work that South County Animal Rescue does up and down the Salinas Valley. With your help, she will continue to do so. Thank you all so much, in advance, for your generous support.
Lucy Jensen may be reached at lu*************@***il.com.
