There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation surrounding COVID-19. Don't worry — our friend, Dr. V, hosted a live video stream where she shared what the veterinary community is saying about this pandemic and how you can and your fur family can stay safe. Keep reading for a recap of Dr. V’s live stream, or watch the recording above for yourself.

What To Know About COVID-19

• Pets should practice social distancing too.  The biggest unknown right now is how long the virus can cling to a dog or cat’s fur. 

• When walking your dog, stay at least 6 feet away from any other people or dogs. A dog is an extension of the person who is holding their leash.

• We still do not know how this virus reacts under specific conditions. Experts believe that it survives on smooth surfaces the best, such as doorknobs or railings.

• COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, which means it was initially transferred from an animal to a human.

• This virus loves people — experts do not believe at this time that dogs and cats are really at risk of getting sick. The medical community is more concerned about your health and helping you manage your pets so you can continue staying safe.

How A Virus Can Affect Animals

When a virus encounters a new animal, it can do up to four things: 

1. A virus can have no effect. This happens with most dogs and cats.

2. A virus can linger with your pet, although they are asymptomatic. This was the case with two dogs in Hong Kong who tested positive for COVID-19, but did not seem sick.

3. A virus may get into an animal and make them sick. This is newly developing — as of this recording there has only been one cat with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Ferrets have also proved to be susceptible to the virus.

4. A virus can be passed from species to species. This is NOT the case with COVID-19, but it is the worst case scenario when it comes to viruses.

Vet Changes

• Many vets have discontinued non-essential services, meaning they are only accepting immediately sick or injured animals. Plan to postpone any upcoming grooming or booster shot appointments.

• If you do have to take your pet in, many vets are offering curbside service, where someone will come meet you at your vehicle and bring your pet into the office.

• Emergency clinics are very busy right now — teams are working their best to treat everyone!

• Although the FDA has loosened restrictions on telemedicine for pets, vets still must get permission from the state they practice in.

• Teleadvice can be a helpful tool, though it is not the same as telemedicine. Asking for teleadvice is simply receiving a professional’s opinion. A vet can diagnose or prescribe medication through telemedicine.

Shelters & Rescues

• With adoption numbers down, the number one thing you can do is to direct people to correct information. The worst case scenario is someone thinking their pet can get them sick and surrendering them to a shelter.

• Many shelters are offering fostering of pets. If someone is stuck at home alone during this time, fostering may be a great option for them.

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It’s important we all do our part in being informed with accurate updates as we navigate this  pandemic together. To watch Dr. V’s entire live stream, watch the video attached to the top of this blog, or click here.

 

If you’re among those who are searching for ways to help others through the tremendous impact coronavirus has had on jobs and businesses, we have a company we’d love for you to meet.

Our friends at The FruitGuys are an amazing bunch of people.  For 22 years they’ve made it their mission to do right by their customers, farmers, the environment, and the communities they serve.  Like us, they are a private Evergreen company working to make lasting change in the world. In short, we’re proud to know them.

Use our exclusive LIFE25 code at The FruitGuys checkout for a 25% discount on your order!

Here’s Where You Come In!

Home Delivery:
The FruitGuys deliver fresh fruit and snacks straight to your home.  You heard that right!  In a time when so many of us are craving fresh, healthy produce and want to avoid a trip to the store, these folks are packing an array of fresh, farm-sourced fruit and healthy snacks, and bringing them straight to you. You can also send a box of fruit to a friend or loved one who doesn’t have access to produce. They deliver nationwide from 15 regional distribution hubs with local farm and supplier relationships. 

Remote Staff Support:
If you’re an employer, consider their Remote Staff Delivery boxes for your staff who are working from home.

Nourish Our Heroes:
You can also contribute to their Fruit for Heroes Campaign, which is supplying hospitals, food banks and other charities with fresh fruit for the people who are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. So far, over 111,000 servings of fruit have been donated by people just like you.

Why Now?

The FruitGuys have facilities across the United States and are certified with top scores for food safety by Primus, a 3rd party auditing agency.  In this unprecedented moment, The FruitGuys can safely pack your box of fruit for delivery so that it is both convenient and helpful to you. By trying out The FruitGuys home delivery service, you can help support farmers and staff while getting something you love at the same time!  

“Lester (CEO of Life's Abundance) and I met through The Tugboat Institute and realized how similar our world views of businesses were.  As both an Evergreen and B-Corp business, we strive to bring delicious fruit and snacks to folks while also helping those in need and small farmers across America.  I love the care that Life’s Abundance gives to their customers and we love to bring that same spirit and support to those who order our fruit.”  

--Chris Mittelstaedt, The FruitGuys Founder/CEO

 More Reasons To Support The FruitGuys:

• Right now many supply chains are disrupted and it can be difficult to find the fruit that you want from online grocery delivery services or at the store.

• The FruitGuys share values similar to ours as a people-first business that is in service of your health and happiness.

• The FruitGuys Community Fund is their nonprofit, founded in 2012, to provide annual grants to small farms and agricultural nonprofits. They fund sustainability projects that have a positive impact on the environment, local food systems and farm diversity. They are about to announce their class of 2020 grantees.

• The FruitGuys GoodWorks Program makes sure all their excess or imperfect fruit is donated to local food banks and charities each week — they’ve given more than  15 million servings of fresh fruit since 2000!

• Fruit mixes change each week — check out this week’s local fruit and snack mixes here.

During this time of need, we think it’s important to look out for one another when possible. The FruitGuys are an amazing company that is giving back to communities across the country and truly making a difference in the world. 

Use our exclusive LIFE25 code at checkout for a 25% discount on your order!

Sometimes an unforeseen event can force you into a home office situation you might not be fully prepared for. When making the transition to working from home, some parents get caught short on one vital thing — how do you entertain the kids?

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered — at least for a week! We’ve come up with five weekday activities you can do with the whole family when your kids are home from school — one for each day of the work week:

Monday: Have an ABC Day

Choose a letter and plan the day around that letter. For the letter G, you could eat Granola, drink Greens Blend, play in the Garden, and make drawings of Giraffes (you get the idea!). Set them on a scavenger hunt for things around the house that start with “G”. Keep a list of how many “G” related things you can accomplish in one day. This is a great teaching activity for parents with young ones, but it’s still a fun game for any age!

Tuesday: Grow Fruit Trees & Reuse

This simple project will encourage you to practice your green thumb while teaching kids about seed germination. Save up the seeds from your apples, oranges, or any fruit that you have in the house, along with the cardboard from your toilet paper rolls. Toilet paper rolls make excellent seed starters; they are compostable and can be directly planted into the ground. 

Instructions:

1. Cut the toilet paper roll in half.

2. Make four cuts in the roll, 1/3 of the way up.

3. Fold the cut area on the bottom like you would close a box.

4. Fill your new seed pots with a light potting soil, plant the seed and pack it down with your thumbs – it's that simple.

5. Place outside in a sunny spot or inside a window sill and watch it grow!

 Wednesday: Spring Cleaning — But Make It Fun!

If you’re guilty of having a Pinterest board with organization ideas but no time to implement any of the tips and tricks you’ve been saving, this one's for you! Collect all reusable jars in the house and start transferring the contents of your pantry into them. Add a little fun to this project for kids or adults by getting crafty with your labeling. Use an eco-friendly cleaner to wipe down the insides of your pantry once you’ve taken all the contents out!

Thursday: Dance Party

Create a music playlist for the family and have a dance party! Movement is important for the mind and body, and dancing is a wonderful way to have fun and connect with your family while moving. We love this activity because it’s something you can do even if you are alone — this is your chance to dance like nobody's watching! 

Friday: Start A Book Club

Start a book club with friends and schedule video chats to discuss. Book clubs promote reading, critical thinking and healthy socializing in kids. And with today’s technology, it’s easy to hop on a group video call and stay connected. Keeping up with a book club doesn’t end when they go back to school — this is an activity that can be permanently ongoing! 

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You can tackle these projects in the order your family wants to. Remember, assigning projects to kids at home is a great way to keep them engaged, entertained and finding success when they’re home from school. It also helps keep them on a schedule and gives everyone something to look forward to each day!

 

In a news release on March 24, 2020 the FDA announced that “it intends to temporarily not enforce certain requirements in order to allow veterinarians to better utilize telemedicine to address animal health needs during the pandemic.” Learn more about this positive development and how it might affect pet parents below.

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News Update from Dr. V:

I think it was maybe four years ago when I started asking my colleagues if we could start talking about veterinary telemedicine. The answer was a near-unanimous “no!” I lectured to empty rooms about this topic I’m passionate about and wrote articles no one understood.

Sure, maybe a few veterinarians here and there showed some interest in a telemedicine app, but the chances are pretty low that it’s something you’ve used with your vet. Well, that’s all about to change.

Until COVID-19 shut down entire states and even countries in a matter of weeks, we’ve always assumed that if your pet had a problem, you would take them to the veterinarian. As a profession we are very married to the idea that unless you have your hands on the pet, you won’t get a complete picture of what’s going on and wouldn’t be doing right by the pet.

What is a VCPR?

Legally, a hands-on examination has always been required for us to create what’s called a VCPR- a valid client patient relationship. Without this VCPR, a veterinarian cannot diagnose or prescribe medication to your pet. While each state defines this VCPR, they’ve all been pretty consistent in requiring this.

Let’s pause here for a moment because the next thing I’m about to say is super important.

Once you establish that VCPR with a veterinarian, it is good for a specific amount of time- usually a year. During that period of time, in almost every state, your veterinarian can do telemedicine visits with you, including follow ups and prescribing medication. I’m not saying they will do it, but they could from a legal perspective — and that’s been the case for quite a long time, actually.

What people are talking about right now is that the FDA has temporarily removed the requirement for the veterinarian to be in the same location to establish a VCPR. In this case, you could have a telemedicine visit with a veterinarian you’ve never met, and they could make a diagnosis and prescribe a medication without ever seeing you. It happens all the time in human medicine, but those laws are very different.

So does that mean when you get up tomorrow you can google “online vet” and get some heartworm pills for your dog with a remote visit? Probably not. Here’s why:

The FDA is a federal organization. But the rules surrounding the practice of medicine are determined by the state. In this case the state laws take precedence. In only a handful of states, such as California, they have made an emergency exemption where a California veterinarian can establish a remote VCPR with a California client. I can’t tell you what other states this is happening in, because the laws are changing quite literally daily. It’s astounding.

But to get back to what I said earlier, even if you can’t establish a relationship with a new vet online, you’ve likely already been able to conduct a telemedicine visit with your current one. It’s just that very few were willing to do it. That’s what’s changing.

How is COVID-19 going to affect you as a pet parent?

1. You may be asked to do drive-up medicine. Although you’ve probably heard that two dogs did test positive for COVID-19 in their system, there is no evidence they get sick from it or can infect others. The health precautions we are taking have to do with keeping both you and the veterinary staff safe, and that means practicing social distancing. Many clinics are asking clients to remain in their cars or limit the number of people in the exam room to one. We don’t like it either, but it keeps us safer.

2. You may be asked to postpone wellness care. Again, it’s to keep us all safe. In addition, many veterinarians are donating as many masks and gloves as they can to help the doctors and nurses keeping us safe in the hospitals. This is a community effort.

3. You may find your vet is suddenly offering telemedicine. I’m biased, but I think this is great. It’s important to note that telemedicine is only useful in some situations. An emergency will always require a visit to the ER. Pets will still need surgeries and bloodwork and x-rays and get hurt, and we’re doing all we can to stay open and be there for you when you need us. 

So when are veterinarians using telemedicine?

Most of the time, it’s for things like follow up visits, skin issues like hot spots, recurring ear infections, mild limping, “is this normal” questions, prescription refill requests, flea and tick medications, and general advice. It’s a limited list, but it covers a lot of ground. Again, every veterinarian is allowed to decide for herself if and when they want to offer telemedicine, so there’s no requirement that they do.

I may be biased, but I hope they all decide to do so! If they’re not offering telemedicine services, it never hurts to ask if they will consider it. It can get put into place very quickly. In fact, I’ve spent the last two weeks working behind the scenes with my colleagues to pull together resources to help those in the profession get onboarded with telemedicine as quickly as possible- so if you see my name out there, say hi! 

I do this because I believe in helping pet owners in any way I can, and this is my way of serving the community in time of crisis. 

Thinking of you all and hoping you remain safe and well,

Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, DVM

 

We’ve all been there. You wake up in the morning, take a quick glance in the mirror, and see it — a pimple that wasn’t there the night before!

But before you start blaming hormones or genetics, it is important to figure out if you’re just having a skin purge or if you're breaking out. Here's everything you need to know:

What is Skin Purging?

This essentially means that your body is “purging” the toxins that you’ve ingested or used in skincare products through your pores. It can happen when you make significant diet changes or try a new makeup brand. Stress or a lack of sleep can also be a trigger.

Skin Purging vs. Breaking Out

Location is key when trying to determine the difference between a skin purge and a normal breakout. Breakouts associated with general acne tend to happen in areas where your skin is already pretty oily, like your nose or around your mouth. Blemishes caused by purging can show up anywhere and usually do in places you wouldn’t normally get a pimple.

How Long Does Skin Purging Last?

In most cases, skin purging should only last a few days as you continue to use your new product. However, it should never last more than a month total. If the issue worsens dramatically or lasts more than that time frame, you might want to look into talking to your doctor or dermatologist.

It’s also important to pay attention to see if your skin purge is really just irritation in disguise. If blemishes are accompanied by redness or swelling, it would be a good idea to talk to your dermatologist and find the culprit of what’s happening.

How Do You Know a Skin Purge is Over?

This one is simple — you’ll notice your skin clearing up and blemishes disappearing without any new ones taking their place. You can also tell the end is near when you’ve continued to use your new products and are seeing results associated with their intended use.

Why Your Skincare Ingredients Matter

Making the change to using skincare products with organic ingredients is worth it. As you can tell from the consequences, the ingredients in the skincare and makeup products you use matter greatly. If the brands you are putting on your face contain a high level of harsh chemicals, there is a greater chance you’ll see a skin purge after you’ve stopped using them as your skin forces toxins out. 

Are you ready to see for yourself what a regime of high-quality products can do for you? Shop our collection of premium skincare products to see for yourself. You’ll love our effective, luxurious and clean formulas designed to keep your skin looking and feeling spectacular.

 

Did you know that more than half of the dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight? All that extra heft puts our beloved pets at-risk for many serious health conditions.

The good news is that solving your companion animal’s weight problem might be easier than you’d expect!

Check out these helpful pet weight loss tips to ensure your beloved friend will live an even healthier and happier life:

1. Select A Wholesome Diet 
   

   One vital measure towards curbing weight is also a simple one — selecting the perfect food. Choose a diet that states an animal-specific protein source (such as chicken or fish) as the number one ingredient. Avoid foods pumped up with corn, wheat and glutens, as carb-loading will sabotage any weight-loss efforts. Our wholesome dog foods and cat foods provide a complete spectrum of nutrition that your pet needs to thrive at a healthy weight.
   
   If you have a hefty dog at home who is ready to drop some pounds, try our Adult Weight Loss Formula — this recipe is enhanced with L-carnitine to support a healthy metabolism and weight management.
   
   

2. Use a Measuring Cup for Portion Control 
   

   Did you know as few as 10 extra pieces of kibble can lead to excess weight gain in smaller dogs? Just by measuring meal portions, you can help your dog or cat shed unwanted weight! Each pet’s metabolism is different, so it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian — they can calculate your pet’s ideal daily intake.
   
   

   

3. Only Feed Healthy Treats
   

   It feels great to give your pet a tasty treat — but you can feel even better when that treat has a nutritious benefit! Many treats out there aren’t much better than canine candy bars — that’s why at Life’s Abundance, we believe that every treat should have a purpose, and every calorie should have a benefit. Over the years we’ve worked to create the best healthy dog treats and cat treats on the market. Your pet won’t hesitate to scarf down our delicious treats - and get a boost of nutrition at the same time!

4. Short Daily Exercise
   

   Research has proven that the one of the most effective ways to live a healthier and happier life is daily exercise, for both pets and humans! As little as 20-30 minutes of brisk walking can have a remarkable effect on your health and your dog’s, improving cardiovascular health, enhancing mood and boosting immune function. If you have a cat, get them active for 10-15 minutes twice a day, whether it be with their favorite toy or even using a laser pointer.

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Many pets around the country struggle with weight problems — implementing any of these four suggestions could drastically improve the life of any pet, especially if they have a weight problem.  

Be sure to share this post with other pet parents! It just might be the first step in the process toward a better life for a precious cat or dog.

Gut health has been gaining traction in the health and wellness world, and for very good reason. Gut health affects everything from your immune system, to your weight, to your brain function, so it’s really important to focus on what’s going on in your belly.

More and more research highlights the importance of the healthy bacteria that live in your gut.

Having adequate “good” bacteria has been shown to help regulate the digestive system and help support the immune system. Recent probiotic studies connect proper balances with healthy body weight and brain health too!

Here are four ways you can take steps to support your digestive health, a key to your overall well-being and immunity:

1. Take a Probiotic daily 
   Think of this supplement as a bit of an ‘insurance policy’ to help make sure that you’re balancing the bacteria in your gut every day, no matter what. Support your digestive health and immune system with our Probiotic Supplement — it has a proprietary 5-strain blend with 25 billion CFUs guaranteed. Plus, it's made in the USA! 
   
   
2. Add fermented foods to your diet 
   Try adding foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi. They begin with a live active culture and are fermented, giving them the benefit of probiotics.
   
   

   

3. Drink lots of fluids 
   Our bodies need water for skin health, immunity and energy, but also to push things along through digestion. So while we need the bacteria for gut health, we also need the fluids to keep everything moving as it should.
   
   
4. Eat fiber
   Many fibers are considered to be prebiotics. This means that they feed the good bacteria already present in your gut. But different fibers feed different bacterium, so it’s important to get these prebiotics from multiple sources and from a variety of foods.

To ensure a healthy gut, you should take a premium Probiotic supplement for balanced gut health and a supported immune system. You can also include a serving of fermented food each day for extra measure. Once you take gut health into your own hands, you may be surprised how great you feel and become a pro-probiotic fanatic as well!

Deciding to bring a new dog into your family is exciting — it’s also a long-term life decision. It’s important to be prepared before you embark on the journey of bringing a new four-footer into the home!

There are some common problems that folks run into, but once you’re aware of them, you can steer your pup towards a healthy and happy future.

Here are five common mistakes dog parents make:

1. Impulse Adoptions 

   It’s common knowledge that dogs have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. But when those puppy-dog eyes are melting your heart, it can be easy to forget that you’ll need to budget for a decade or more of veterinary bills, food, supplies and grooming. If you have children, the companion animal of a ten-year-old is likely to become yours when your child goes off to college. Sleep on any adoption decision, and do your homework before you bring that pup home!
   
   

2. Failing to Spay or Neuter

   For starters, spaying and neutering drastically reduces the risk of some cancers. These procedures can also reduce behavioral problems, such as roaming, fighting, and mood swings. Most obviously, spaying and neutering reduces dog overpopulation. Your veterinarian will know the best timing for your dog’s spay or neuter surgery.
   
   

3. Poor Training Techniques

   Unfortunately, some pet parents use punishments rather than reward-based training — this can create major barriers to the bond you share with your pet. Instead, concentrate your efforts on setting boundaries to set your pet up for success.
   
   Keep them safe using supervision and a controlled environment — use a leash during walks or in a pet-proof room or crate when home alone. Above all, you should provide rewards for good behavior, like healthy dog treats. This will reinforce appropriate behaviors and prevent problems from becoming habits.
   

   

4. Failing to Vaccinate

   This mistake represents a troubling trend - more and more new pet parents are failing to vaccinate their companion animals. Distemper and parvovirus in dogs are still very present in much of the United States and prove fatal for a significant number of pets annually — the bottom line is vaccines do save lives.If you have a new puppy or dog , make sure you provide them with ‘core vaccines’, which includes protection against rabies, distemper and parvo in dogs. If you have rescued an adult who has no verifiable vaccination history, two boosters of core vaccines are advised. For non-core vaccines, such as canine lyme, discuss these preventatives with your vet.
   
   

5. Being Reactive and Not Proactive

   Last but not least, new pet parents tend to be reactive rather than proactive when it comes to their companion animal’s overall health. Obviously, it is important to address health problems with your veterinarian when they arise. However, it is equally important to take the steps now to ensure the long-term health of your furry friend. Remember, a dog’s health starts with their primary nutrition source — their food. Make sure they are eating a high-quality diet that is complete and balanced!
   
   New pet parents need to know that getting off to the right start, including diet and lifestyle choices, can improve the health, longevity and quality of life for their pets. Avoid these common mistakes and you will be well on your way to being a happy pet parent with a happy, healthy new best friend!

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New pet parents need to know that getting off to the right start, including diet and lifestyle choices, can improve the health, longevity and quality of life for their pets. Avoid these common mistakes and you will be well on your way to being a happy pet parent with a happy, healthy new best friend!

We should always be looking for new ways to be kinder to our planet — a great way to start is by making your own home more eco-friendly!

Having an eco-friendly home will help you contribute to a sustainable environment and also save some money. Every step you take helps reduce your own carbon footprint!

Here are seven ways you can put your home on an eco-friendly track:

1. Save Water

   It’s time to get serious about saving water! Installing a water meter, checking your place for any leaks, and even just cutting down on shower time are ways to be conscious of your water consumption. A low-flow showerhead can save over 2,000 gallons of water per person each year! Remember: Use only what you need when it comes to water.

2. Compost Food Waste

   Don’t waste your leftovers — turn your kitchen scraps into compost. Consider investing in a compost bin or building your own to start composting food waste. After breaking down kitchen scraps you will be left with rich fertilizer for your garden and a lot less food waste. Plus you’ll make insects such as worms very happy!
   
   

3. Non-Toxic Cleaning Products

   Harmful chemicals are not only bad for the environment, they can be dangerous if you have pets or kids in your household. Luckily there are eco-friendly cleaners designed with kid and pet safety in mind. Check out our eco-friendly cleaners that are safe for the whole family, including our Bio-Base Floorwash and Bio-Base Biodeodorizer Spray.
   

   
   

4. Proper Insulation and Ventilation

   If you are a homeowner, maintaining the temperature inside your house is crucial to energy management. The latest in insulation and ventilation helps keep your home’s temperature steady during all seasons, eliminates energy waste and saving you money in heating and cooling costs each year.
   
   

5. Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

   This is a simple one — investing in energy efficient light bulbs isn’t very costly and they use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. They also last much longer, which means you don’t have to replace them as often. It’s a no-brainer — save some cash and energy at the same time!
   
   

6. Buy Recycled Items

   Try to buy recycled products whenever you can. From toilet paper to paper towels and napkins, you can find almost any paper-based household product made with recycled materials. You can even buy recycled technology, such as cell phones and video game consoles.
   
   

7. Install Solar Panels

   While it’s a long-term investment, solar panels are an essential feature for an eco-friendly home. Solar panels provide clean electricity — and in many cases you can generate enough energy to sell some back to the electric company. Deciding to install solar is a long-term financial investment. The big upside here is that at a certain point you will break even and be free from continuing to pay your utility every single month. Hands down, solar is one of the best ways to make your home eco-friendly.

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Here at Life’s Abundance, we are focused on reducing our own carbon footprint everyday. Our Florida headquarters is solar powered, our Texas warehouse will be powered by wind, and we’re constantly implementing more sustainable practices throughout our business. Thanks to these initiatives along with our tree planting program we are a climate positive company. Customers are a big part of this impact too. For each skin care product purchased another tree is planted!

Do you have other great ideas for eco-friendly living? Share them in a comment below.

Every three months, our nonprofit agency The Dr. Jane Foundation awards grants for animal rescue groups across the country. From the October 2019 round of funding, we are excited to thank grant winner CAMO Rescue for their continued work in saving dogs from homelessness and the uncertainty of being in a shelter.

Located in Houston, Texas, CAMO Rescue is a nonprofit animal rescue group that works to save dogs in shelters and on the streets. They work with shelters in the area to move dogs at risk of euthanasia into foster homes, and ultimately find their forever family!

“We try to concentrate on euthanasia lists, and dogs on the street or headed to the pound,” said founder Holly Dool. “Last year we rescued over 800 dogs, a few cats and a couple of pigs.”

Holly started helping dogs in her area when she realized how bad the homeless animal situation was. She became an animal advocate, appearing on the local news fourteen times and petitioning the mayor and city manager to reinstate the local shelter committee. Holly even worked to help raise funds for a remodeling of the local shelter.

But a shelter remodeling wasn’t enough for Holly or the animals. There were still a lot of homeless dogs in the area and many on euthanasia lists at shelters.

Holly turned her own shop into a makeshift kennel and started taking in as many dogs as she could. Before she knew it, Holly had about 35 dogs on her property and worked to find new homes for them on the weekends. She knew she had to find an even more efficient way to save a larger amount of dogs.

“I switched from doing it all myself to being foster based,” Holly said. “We probably have about 70 to 80 foster homes spread out among Houston and Dallas.”

Now, CAMO Rescue is an official non-profit that saves dogs that other rescues won’t take due to fearful nature or medical needs. The rescue currently has about 100 dogs available for adoption at foster homes in Texas.

“We tend to take a lot of sick or injured dogs that other shelters can’t take,” Holly said. “To date, we have never euthanized a dog for behavior. We put them with a trainer here in Houston, sometimes for several months and then she’ll tell us what kind of home they need.”

CAMO relies on donations and foster homes to continue operating. All funding from donations and grants goes straight to medical bills, supplies and boarding.

The biggest challenge for a nonprofit like CAMO is finding new foster volunteers. Whenever a dog is introduced to a new foster family, there is a quarantine period where they need to be kept separate from other animals before they are allowed to mingle. Once the dogs go through the quarantine, they are free to live with an available foster family.

“I’m working towards buying a little house or facility so I can keep 10 to 12 dogs in quarantine,” said Holly. “Hard-to-find fosters is our biggest issue and it is with any rescue.”

When the dog is ready to be adopted from a foster home, it’s important that the new family is qualified by CAMO. The rescue group requires references and a homesite inspection.

“We are selective with where we place our animals,” said Holly. “We don’t want these animals to end up right back where they came from.”

Throughout the years, CAMO has had multiple success stories when it comes to saving dogs and finding them a forever home. About three years ago, a tiny, paralyzed yorkie was left in front of a local shelter in a box. The shelter emailed CAMO and Holly picked the dog up right away. Through nutrition, homeopathy and physical therapy, the yorkie was miraculously able to make a 100% recovery.

“I got another picture of a dog who wandered up to a business on the side of a highway who was extremely sick,” Holly said. “He spent two weeks at the vet with fluids and meds and he survived. The foster sent me a picture a year later and it's amazing the difference, it doesn’t even look like the same dog!”

It’s stories like this that drives CAMO Rescue to continue saving dogs in their area. They recognize that dogs are an integral part of the family, should be treated as such and are turning that into a reality for dogs every day. That’s why they received one of the grants for animal rescue groups awarded by The Dr. Jane Foundation! 

If you want to learn more about how we give back, click here and read more!