In April, three El Paso County animal rescue groups each received a $500 check from St. Paws Thrift Store in Colorado Springs.Great Pyrenees Rescue near Falcon, Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue in Ramah, Colo., and Safe Place for Pets in Colorado Springs were the lucky recipients.St. Paws is an all-volunteer organization founded by Vicki Doerfler. “Our mission is to sell gently-used clothing, books, appliances, jewelry and furniture and donate the proceeds to local animal rescue groups,” said St. Paws volunteer Stephanie Richter.The April donations were the first since St. Paws Thrift Store opened last fall.”We hope to donate $300 to $500 to multiple animal rescue groups several times a year,” said volunteer Linda Hoover.There are at least 50 animal rescue groups in the area eligible to receive donations from St. Paws, Richter said.Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue“We would like to thank St. Paws not only for the generous check to Ruby Ranch Horse Rescue but for their mission to serve animals in need through the local animal rescues,” said Pat Miller, co-founder.Miller said she plans to spend RRHR’s $500 check on Rocky, a 5-year-old pony who has a stifle joint problem. (The “stifle” is the equivalent of the knee in humans.) Rocky needs X-rays and treatment.”Rocky is very friendly and fun to handle,” Miller said. “When he gets his sticky stifle taken care of and some more training, he’ll make a very nice child’s pony,” Miller said.Great Pyrenees RescueJohn and Linda Kryder operate Great Pyrenees Rescue a few miles north of Falcon. They got involved with the breed when they adopted their first dog, a puppy, in 1994.”John was 65 years young, so any age is right to get your first dog,” said Linda Kryder.They formed Great Pyrenees Rescue in 1996 and have rescued one or two dogs a week on average for a total of more than 1,200 dogs so far, she said.”We plan to spend this very welcome donation on Cheyenne, a delightful Pyrenees mother who came to our rescue with seven 3-week old mix puppies and a limp in her front right leg,” John Kryder said.When Cheyenne was spayed, the veterinarian also X-rayed the leg and diagnosed her with osteochondrosis dessicams disease in the right shoulder. She’ll need surgery, possibly in both shoulders, costing $1,200 to $2,400, so the donation from St. Paws will significantly help make the surgery possible. When Cheyenne is well, she has a new home waiting for her, John Kryder said.Safe Place for PetsSafe Place for Pets in Colorado Springs solves a different problem for the region’s pets: what to do when an owner becomes terminally ill and can no longer care for a pet.According to its Web site, Safe Pace was started in 1996 by a hospice nurse; and, since then, has found new homes for more than 500 pets in the Pikes Peak region.DonationsSt. Paws Thrift Store is located at 3275 E. Platte Ave. in Colorado Springs and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.St. Paws accepts donations of used items from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days the store is open. Donations are tax-deductible.The three rescue groups listed above also accept tax-deductible donations. Their Web sites are www.rrhr.org, www.pyrescue.org and www.safeplaceco.org.
