Would you pay hundreds of dollars for an animal's vet bill if he wasn't your own? It's 11:30 pm and the veterinarian has just told me it will cost $180 to remove an abscess from the bunny's side. The abscess wasn't noticeable while the rabbit was at the Peninsula Humane Society, but has been growing steadily since I brought her into my home. She had been dumped in a field by her previous owner. Domestic rabbits do not fare well in the wild, and the caring humane officer who brought her to the shelter probably saved her life. I pay the bill and go home, to get up for work in six hours. This rabbit is under the wing of the House Rabbit Society; providing for her veterinary care is just part of being involved in this rescue organization.

Rescue involves an entire network of kind-hearted people who realize the value of each animal's life. Rescue organizations typically "serve" a specific breed or type of animal, from bulldogs to shelties to pugs, from Persian cats to rabbits, from guinea pigs to hamsters. Rescuers are there for the animals: the unwanted ones, the elderly ones, the sick or injured ones, the not-so-cute ones that most adopters pass by. Rescue steps in and gives these animals a helping hand.

Rescue groups work closely with animal shelters to find these special animals find permanent, loving new homes. Each year the Ohlone Humane Society publishes a comprehensive list of rescuers. Using this list, as well as a network of shelter staff and volunteers, the Peninsula Humane Society's adoptions supervisor, Patty Schaffer, can match animals to a rescuer and approve their adoption through the rescue group. If there is an especially sweet terrier, for example, who has been at the shelter for several weeks without being adopted, Schaffer can place a call to terrier rescue to see if they have room. In another case, she may call a rescue group as soon as an animal becomes available for adoption, placing that animal with the specialists on their breed -- and opening a cage or kennel for yet another homeless animal.

One of PHS' chief cat rescuers is shelter veterinarian Melissa Mathews, DVM. Dr. Mathews started rescuing while still in vet school; since coming to PHS last December, she has rescued close to 80 cats, finding homes for 62! In addition to the many breed-specific dog rescuers, PHS works with CAPE (the Center for Animal Protection and Education), a mixed-breed rescue organization that focuses on older and disabled animals. Bunnies in need are served by the House Rabbit Society -- and by Lee Ann Kearns, a PHS customer service representative who has helped many rabbits find a new home. PHS' animals are fortunate to have so many people looking out for them.

Rescue is wonderful for the animals, but costly for the rescuers. Even after charging an adoption fee, most rescue groups only rarely break even. These caring people pay out of their own pockets for vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, vet visits and grooming. (Some are lucky to work with generous veterinarians who give their homeless charges a special discount.) And of course all rescuers spend many, many hours calming and socializing the animals, exercising them and teaching them that there are some very loving humans in the world.

Rescue work is extremely fulfilling, but it exacts an emotional toll. Ask rescuers the most difficult part of this "job" and you will hear, "I wish I had room for more animals, and that there was a home for all the animals who need one. I rescued this one animal, but until he is adopted, he is my responsibility. It hurts inside to see the others needing rescue, but having none." As to the rescuers' wish? That would be that all people would spay or neuter their animals, that there would be no more unwanted litters, that we would take another big step toward ending pet overpopulation.

If you are interested in adopting a specific animal, please call PHS at 650/340-7022, ext. xxx, or visit the shelter. We'll be happy to put you in touch with the right rescue organization. Many rescue groups also have websites, so check out the internet as well.

(Margie Wilson is an educator and rescuer with the House Rabbit Society.)

Anya's Story

She wasn't young anymore.

The greying on the underside of her muzzle gave her away. Her black-and-tan coat was dull and flaky, clumps of shedding fur adding to her unkempt look. Her ears were being treated for infection. But her eyes were bright and her scruffy tail wagged hesitantly when I stopped at her kennel. I stuck my fingers through the wire, "Hi, girlie!" She cringed a little, but then she licked me.

She'd been picked up as a stray. A German shepherd with no collar, no ID. And no owner to claim her, though nearly a week had gone by. The shelter staff had checked her over, vaccinated her and guessed her age at about five or six years.

With many people coming to PHS looking for cute, cuddly puppies or young dogs, it was questionable whether this girl had much chance of being adopted. At this particular time, lots of puppies were being surrendered, and when the shelter gets tight on space, staff must make some tough decisions. Older dogs are more often the ones who have to be euthanized.

"Okay," I said, "we'll take her." Patti Schaffer, the shelter's adoptions supervisor, stamped a big "R" for Rescue on her card. She was now officially under the wings of German Shepherd Rescue.

I named her Anya.

She was spayed at the shelter Monday morning and my husband and I brought her home that afternoon. She took refuge in a big crate in my front hall, a quiet place to recuperate. I kept her separate from my own three energetic dogs -- two German shepherds and a little white Lhasa-mix -- but they knew she was there and barked every time she moved! They sniffed me thoroughly up and down, their noses asking, "Who did you bring home this time?"

As of today, Anya has been with us two weeks. She has recovered enough to go on walks with me and spend time in the backyard on sunny afternoons. My dogs have met her, and like her! Her ear infection has cleared up. Good food, a bath, an application of Advantage®(for her fleas) and a lot of brushing have made her coat start to shine. She is learning that she doesn't have to cringe when people come near her.

And I am learning about her. That she is quiet, calm, eager to please and craves attention. She walks well on a leash and sleeps happily in the crate at night. Katy and Sara, my four- and five-year-old granddaughters, came for a visit and Anya showed us that she is good with children.

Now all Anya really needs is a home of her own. So Mike Murray and the other people I work with at Diablo Valley German Shepherd Rescue will swing into action, sorting through applications, networking, calling until we find her just the right adopter.

Then, all too soon, there will be another German shepherd picked up by the humane officers at PHS...another foster dog who needs temporary refuge in that crate in my front hall.

I like what I do, but someday I hope I won't have to do it.

In addition to her work with German Shepherd Rescue, Linda Vartanian volunteers in the lost & found department at PHS. She has rescued six shepherds from PHS this year alone! After two months with Linda, Anya was adopted. She now shares the home of a wonderful couple in Belmont.