Katie Onheiber
Karen Kubarek and Nate Page saved Lefty – and vice versa.
Katie Onheiber
Oh Be Dogful Rescue board members with one of the available pooches.
us in our home. He never went back. We just kept him from day one.” Oh Be Dogful Pet Ranch’s blossoming non-profit rescue program strives to connect people to pets and provide “forever homes,” like in Lefty’s case. The Rescue, which sprouted in December 2012, complements the pet care offered by Oh Be Dogful, as adoptable cats and dogs mingle with customers’ pets. Many of the cats and dogs arrive at the Rescue from overcrowded, large city shelters that euthanize a huge population of potential pets. The Humane Society of the United States reports a heartbreaking 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are put down in shelters across the country each year —about one every 11 seconds. “All the animals that have been brought to us from shelters have been very well-mannered, sweet and healthy,” said Leigh Butcher, Oh 50
Be Dogful Rescue director and board president. “Although this seems insane that such animals are put down, it happens daily, and we wanted to prevent it as much as possible.” Cats and dogs are shuttled to the Rescue by generous volunteers committed to saving their lives. “These people drive hours through poor weather conditions and over dark passes,” Leigh said. “They do it all for the sake of the animals, with a mere ‘thank you’ in return.” Through the Rescue, Melissa and Tim Essig adopted Rosie, an energetic and petite pooch who came to the Gunnison Valley from Texas. Likely a Staffordshire terrier and Jack Russell terrier mix, she was affectionately dubbed “Rosie Russell.” “There’s something about Rosie that feels like we’ve had her all along,” said Melissa. “She fits into our family so seamlessly, it feels like we’ve known her forever.” Last August, Animal Control found Rosie roaming around a golf course in the Lone Star State. “They tried to locate her owner and discovered a woman who used to own Rosie but claimed she had given her away months earlier,” Melissa said. “The woman said she couldn’t remember who she gave Rosie to. That’s just so sad to me.” Rosie was placed in a shelter, and euthanization loomed as no one claimed her. Leigh found out about Rosie and offered her sanctuary in Crested Butte. Some of the Rescue’s residents arrive because their owners simply aren’t able to care for them any more. For some of the elderly relinquished dogs, the Rescue becomes their final home. “We had