Rescuing the Helpless

PHOTO CREDIT: ALEX DEARDORFF

BY ALEX DEARDORFF

Walking into an animal shelter is by far one of the hardest things for an animal lover to do. Between the dogs, who cower in the dark depths of their cages, all hope lost, to the cats and kittens who are deemed feral each and every day simply because they are scared, and don’t take to human contact right away, it is definitely one of the most dreadful things anyone would want to do in their spare time. However, because of 28-year old animal rescuer, Laura Bolinsky, it is something that I have done a few times now.

Bolinsky is the Director of Forgotten Dog Rescue, and has been rescuing animals for over 7 years now. Much like myself, she has shown an overwhelming love for animals from a young age, and has always brought home an animal in need of assistance. From as early as she can remember, she has had Boxers. Bolinsky did not officially get into the “rescue community” until she was over 20 years of age, at which point she was introduced due to her family’s dog dying. When her first dog died, she did not take it too well. Bolinsky decided that rather than mourn her dog in a bad way, she would donate money in the dog’s name to the local Boxer rescue. When she called to make the donation, she was told the Foster Coordinator for the rescue lived only a short 2 blocks away from her house. Rather than just donate the money, she decided she would go meet with the coordinator, and further explore how she could help the rescue save even more lives. From that very first meeting, she knew she could not back down, and went on to become an active member of the “pull team” for the rescue. This basically entailed running down to several shelters, and picking up the dogs that they had put a rescue hold on. She would them travel to the different foster homes around the state to drop off the dogs in their temporary homes. After several months of participating in these rescues, she moved her way up to head of said team. In February 2009, she became the Assistant Director of Coastal Boxer Rescue, and began to organize the “pulls” herself. In 2010, once the Boxer Rescue was stable, she decided to branch off and became a part of Forgotten Dog Rescue, where she could rescue animals of all shapes and forms, rather than only rescue Boxers.

“I loved being a part of the Coastal Boxer Rescue family, and although I absolutely love Boxers, I decided I had to allow myself to explore all of my options, and Forgotten Dog Rescue happened to be in desperate need of some help,” Bolinsky said.