Lucky Mutts Rescue is a 501(c)-3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to making the world a better place. What makes Lucky Mutts unique is its rock-solid commitment to helping people take responsibility for pets -- through education, outreach, public awareness, training, advice and encouragement -- as the single most effective solution to the triple tragedies of over population, abuse and abandonment.

Lest anyone think this problem does not touch them -- or minimize the risks of ignoring the issue -- the link between human cruelty and animal abuse is indisputable and has been thoroughly documented by the National Humane Society (www.hsus.org). Plainly put: how people treat animals models how they treat one another. Until this link is broken and abuse no longer tolerated, the vicious cycle will continue, and communities like yours and mine will be afflicted by stray, sick, neglected and abused animals.

Lucky Mutts works one person, one pet at a time to educate and raise public awareness of the dangers of ignoring the warning signs of animal neglect and abuse. Staffed entirely by volunteers, Lucky Mutts rehabilitates and sponsors abandoned and unwanted dogs, raises money for educational initiatives and promotes the basics of responsible pet ownership: spay/neuter, diet and training. The goal is to help people -- personally and institutionally -- better understand the role pets play in enhancing their lives and the lives of those around them.

Unlike other organizations that operate on a “save a dog” principle, Lucky Mutts works smart, selecting a limited number of adoptable dogs, fostering them in private homes, and providing training and adoption services. This approach, coupled with a meticulous adoption methodology, makes it possible for LMR to guarantee successful placement.

Lucky Mutts uses the same standard of responsibility to run its operations, using strong fiscal responsibility, a network of able partners and savvy, hands-on management.

Education/Outreach: Partnerships, Training and Community Involvement

Underscoring the focus on responsible pet ownership is an absolute commitment to building community around education and training. Lucky Mutts works with leading trainers in the Central Texas area and provides services to other rescue organizations in an effort to make affordable dog training available to the general public. Similarly, through a remarkable partnership with the Animal Trustees of Austin, volunteers visit disadvantaged schools to teach kids how to care for their pets, so that children from even the most deprived situations have the opportunity to develop positive habits and relationships.

Lucky Mutts has also been active in working with the city, county and state legislature to raise awareness of breed prejudice and the need for stronger laws against abuse and neglect. Codifying responsible behavior towards animals is a complex process, and Lucky Mutts has made it a priority to sit in on hearings, testify before the legislature and work with other community activists to promote a leash laws and other sensible approaches to protect people and pets. Similary, the organization works to raise public awareness of the dangers of legislating against specific breeds and so-called “dangerous dog” laws that simplify the problem and punish innocent dogs and their owners.

Regular, bi-weekly “meet-and-greet” days serve a dual role of community outreach and socialization of the dogs that are up for adoption. Volunteers staff an information table and talk with the public about their pets, community resources, affordable veterinary and training services, and a myriad of other topics. Fosters show off their dogs, and those dogs learn how to behave in public and around other dogs, giving potential adopters – as well as the general public -- first-hand experience in how their pet should behave in stressful situations.

A Rigorous Adoption Creates Advocates for Responsible Pet Ownership

The web site, www.luckymutts.com, is the focus of the adoption process. It features photographs and descriptions of the official lucky mutts, as well as referral dogs -- strays with sponsors or dogs who need new homes. The web site features information on training, behavioral problems, re-homing and adoption. Our policies include:

• All pets are altered prior to placement, unless a medical reason precludes it
• All animals are healthy at adoption and have current vaccinations
• All adopters and fosters adhere to written terms and conditions, signing agreements that insure positive training, housebreaking, crate training and basic commands
• New homes commit to an obedience class to assure the guardian’s confidence and knowledge, as well as promote bonding
• No breed discrimination
• All pets are indoor/outdoor pets and part of the family.

A comprehensive adoption process is designed to turn adopters into advocates. This rigorous step-by-step process is designed to match the Lucky Mutts with just the right home, as well as screen out misguided adoption requests. Starting with an online application, adoption includes references, including a vet check, history -- previous and current pets, information about home and yard are included. To insure consistency, references are checked by one individual. If the references are positive, and the prospective owner has spent some time with the dog, the next step is a home check. Visiting a prospective owner’s home provides an opportunity to discuss expectations, feeding, proper fencing, exercise and interactions with family members, especially children. A successful home visit is followed by an overnight visit with the dog in the prospective owner’s home and if appropriate, a trial adoption period. Generally, adoptions are restricted to local residents to insure the dog can be tracked over time and returned if necessary. Exceptions have been made in unusual situations where the prospective owner was interested in a specific breed or type of dog and could demonstrate success over time. Every new Lucky Mutts owner must take their pet to an obedience or similar training class.

Strays to Show Dogs: It’s Not a Dog Problem; It’s a People Problem

Lucky Mutts was founded in 2001 on the practical understanding that pet abandonment and abuse is really a people problem. Using their experiences with other rescue organizations, a small group of smart people formed a small, foster-based, partner-linked organization with a big heart as well as a head for business.

Today, the organization is run by an active, participating board. Board members manage every Lucky Mutts activity, fostering dogs in their homes, cultivating relationships with the community and participating in fund raising activities. Each comes to the organization by encountering animal abandonment and cruelty, and each believes strongly in the long-term benefits of dog training and care. Bound by this shared belief system, each brings a unique set of skills and relationships to the organization.

Jane Byrd Del Re, founder, is a sales executive with a local technology company. With a background in international marketing, she made the decision to foster dogs for adoption after seeing the statistics on animals euthanized at local shelters. Jane helped found Lucky Mutts as a better solution to shelters and sanctuaries. She is the proud owner of a rescue pot-bellied pig, two “unadoptable” dalmatians and a old hound dog. Jane is a certified dog trainer.

Karen Cole juggles a full-time job as a paralegal for a local technology company and running her own business, a storage facility. Karen’s two dogs have helped her start businesses (a dog bakery). She came to Lucky Mutts after finding (and fostering) a stray pit bull. The loving caretaker of many different kinds of animals – including snakes and geckos – Karen strongly believes that all solutions begin with education; that no breed is bad and adoption is the preferred alternative to “buying” a pet. Her strong business sense and entrepreneurial flair guide Lucky Mutts in its outreach and community educational initiatives.

Marsha Demers is pursuing her doctorate in cellular and molecular biology at the University of Texas, after 10 years as a professional engineer. Her passion for animal welfare began when, as a child in New Jersey, she saw a rabbit in tiny cage offered as a prize at a country fair. Needless to say, at age 4, Marsha became the proud owner of a rescue rabbit. Marsha owns a boykin spaniel and numerous cats and never hesitates to foster “challenging” dogs.

Marissa Little is an engineer who has worked on projects as diverse as the external tank of the space shuttle. She is the talent behind the Lucky Mutts web site, lending her creativity to fundraising initiatives and patience and methodical problem solving skills to helping unhappy pet owners via the Lucky Mutts online help desk.

Melonie Marley is particularly active in public and legislative outreach regarding breed and safety legislation. She leads Lucky Mutts partnership with Animal Trustees of Austin and co-chairs that well-respected organization’s education committee, an outreach initiative into disadvantaged public schools. Melonie has been a horse trainer, vet tech and deep sea diver. Her passion is pit bulls, a tragically misunderstood dog that has been abused and overbred in Texas.