Bright Eyes Dog Rescue has some close ties to the Carlyle area. Started in 2009 by Jamie Parker and Karen Filleul, the rescue became a registered charity in 2010, and they haven’t looked back.
With a board of seven and between 50 to 70 active volunteers, they rescue dogs from all over Saskatchewan. Working with local people in LaLoche, South End, Sandy Bay, White Bear First Nations, and other reserves, they are doing everything possible to place dogs that are surrendered to their care, while educating and implementing spaying or neutering of the animals. Dogs surrendered into care are placed in a two-week quarantine in foster homes located in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Carlyle, Ogema, Estevan, Weyburn and Lumsden, to name a few. Working with the local bands, many of which have a SNIP program, they arrange for the spaying of females remaining in their owner’s homes, when the puppies are surrendered into care. During the two-week quarantine, animals receive a veterinary exam, vaccinations, de-worming, microchip and spay or neuter if the dog is over six months of age.
In keeping with their mission of saving/preventing more puppies, each puppy placed has an adoption fee of $350, which includes a $100 spay/neuter deposit that is refundable upon proof of surgery. Dogs over 6 months of age have a $250 adoption fee. On occasion an older adult dog may carry an adoption fee of $350 if there have been additional expenses incurred, such as dental cleaning, which carries a price tag of anywhere from $300 - $1000 and would have eventually been a cost to the new owner.
Some dogs have been on raw foods and are too old to be transitioned onto another food, so they remain in permanent care, with the rescue paying for the cost of the food. Others have health issues that make them difficult to place, so they and their medication costs remain a part of the BEDR budget, until such time as the vet decides there is no longer an appropriate quality of life.
In 2015 the Rescue was blessed to receive a van to be used for rescuing animals. A 2009 Dodge Caravan was chosen, with half the cost donated by Southey Motors and the other half from a bequest from the estate of Mary Ellen Hallam. Mary was born in LaFleche and was placed for adoption, but she never had her forever home. Bouncing around from home to home, she moved into Boscoe Homes as a teenager, where she met some wonderful ladies who took her under their wings and showed her the true meaning of love, belonging and family. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and received services from Phoenix Residential Society, where she loved to visit with one of the staff member’s dog when he came to work with his owner. Mary had a huge heart and wanted to help those in need or without a voice of their own and upon her passing in 2014, she left money to the BEDR to help the animals. The Stripe Shop in Regina donated the wrap for the van.
The folks from BEDR have and continue to work hard for the animals who, through no choice of their own, need rescuing. You can volunteer, make a donation, foster or donate to one of their many fundraisers. For more information go to their website @ www.brighteyesdogrescue.com
