About the Fuzzies

The Fuzzies were born in 2003 as a collection of currently available dogs that appealed to me as I looked through various rescue and shelter web sites. My hope was that friends would consider a rescue or shelter dog for the next addition to their families once they saw how many adorable ones were out there.

Kim's Fuzzies has grown quite a bit since then but the goal is still the same. I want to present that there are other places to adopt new family members than backyard breeders, puppy mills and pet stores (Please note that I support the aspirations of legitimate breeders to better their breeds without an eye towards pimping their dogs for money). I want to show people that their images of shelter and rescue dogs may be wrong - there are stunning dogs that end up in shelters and move to rescue every day. There are also, unfortunately, stunning and adoptable dogs that get euthanized every day because there are never enough rescues to help solve the problem. Awareness is everything.

Please do not assume that, if you see a dog you like and then they aren't on the next list that they have been adopted. I rotate the fuzzies I include to give the best exposure to a greater number of potential adoptees. Always call the shelter or rescue and ask the status of any dog you find yourself drawn to.

Additionally, if you are drawn to an animal but aren't sure you're ready for the lifelong commitment, please consider fostering (a temporary arrangement that pulls them from the danger of euthanization to live with you for a short time until they find the perfect forever family). It is so incredibly rewarding and addictive. Let me know if you need information about how to do this and I'll hook you up.

The sites that I typically pull these from are as follows, in case you or a friend are seriously considering a fuzzy and want to check out the pre-screening procedures:

San Diego Department of Animal Control - CS
San Diego Humane Society - HS
Chula Vista Animal Care Facility - CV
Rancho Coastal Humane Society - RC
Helen Woodward Animal Center - HW
North County Humane Society - NC
Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care Center - RCAC
Underdog Rescue - UD
Westside German Shepherd Rescue of L.A. - GS
Senior Mutt Match - MM
Labrador Rescues - LAB
Beagles and Buddies - BB
Pit Bull Rescue San Diego
Escondido Humane Society - EHS
Coastal Shepherd Rescue - CSR

Who am I?

My name is Kim Smith and I'm just a person who happens to really love animals. With The Fuzzies, I am trying to do my small part to help out in the world. I currently live with a 3 year old golden (Borrego), a 10 year old grey tabby (Shadow), a 4 year old black tom cat (Tobee) and a tank full of guppies. I foster for multiple rescues as they need me (mostly puppies cuz my Borrego loves puppies), do web work as asked, am the Secretary for the Board of Pit Bull Rescue San Diego, as well as keeping up on Borrego's training and staying current my own animal education. If I don't know the answer to someone's question, I WILL find it out. Oh yeah - I have a full time job outside of the animal world as well.

I started looking through all the rescue and shelter sites when I was looking to adopt my golden a couple of years ago. I was surprised at how many resources there are beyond breeders and pet stores, and I enjoyed looking through the sites and reading the stories.

Unfortunately I had a very bad experience with the rescue organization that I tried to adopt through - they actually told me that I was being irresponsible considering dog ownership since I work full time and there was no way they would consider placing a dog with me. I got furious and irrational and ended up adopting my Borrego from a disreputable back yard breeder to "show them". Don't get me wrong, I love my Borrego to death but, health-wise, she is every argument against backyard breeders. She is highly neurotic, had to have both hips replaced before she was one year old, is allergic to most foods as well as many airborne allergens... In retrospect and calmer emotions, I realized that I had become a part of the problem, not the solution. I started to research rescue organizations that really did have the animals best interests rather than their own egos at stake. Kim's Fuzzies were borne of this research and I started emailing them to friends and family. As the word spread, the Fuzzies has grown to a subscribership of over 200 (free and no obligation) and I get emails and calls from shelters, rescues and private folks for help with whatever level of connection they need. I love it and feel like my little part really is making a difference in some canine lives!

- Kim
borrego@san.rr.com
http://www.dougandkim.net/ourfuzzies/fuzzies.htm