We support other animal organizations, help owners who need assistance with their pets and take in/adopt out animals in need. Back in 2003 I started a group called Illinois Doberman Rescue Plus based out of Barrington, IL. In the 13 years that I was president of the group, about 5000 animals found new homes with the help of so many amazing volunteers. We were a foster based rescue but also had one
amazing boarding kennel as the owner was one of the core volunteers. The thing most people don’t realize, is rescue is all consuming. I knew I wanted to do other things in life besides rescue so I decided to step down and venture on. WeI chose to move to North Carolina to experience life in the mountains. We lived very close to an old town called Lost Cove, which is how this rescue got its name. To read more about the town of Lost Cove click on the link below. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lost-cove-settlement
How Lost Cove Animal Sanctuary got its start is a story in itself. I had opened a small coffee shop in the rural town of Burnsville called Rescue Dog Café. Many people would come in asking for advice or help with animals. One day in the early part of 2018, a woman came in and asked if I could help a rooster who was living small pen and had no way to get out of the cold and snow. He appeared to have frost bitten feet. I had never even touched a rooster before but of course I said yes. So we have Joe the rooster to thank for the birth of Lost Cove Animal Sanctuary. Helping Joe after he lost his foot and toes, just brought back all the joy of helping animals in need again. Once he got the ok from the vet, We worked with AB Tech School in Asheville to try to make a prosthetic foot for him. But, being a rooster, Joe just would not keep it on. Below is a link to Joe in the news. He is still doing fine and now lives with a volunteer in NC. https://wlos.com/news/local/buncombe-county-students-build-prosthetics-for-rooster-that-can-barely-walk
Once the rescue was formed in NC, we took in just a few dogs at a time to try to help the local shelters. We also helped out some local families by getting their dog or cat neutered or spayed if they could not afford to do it. And often we would assist people in placing their pet in new homes if they could no longer keep them. I was happy to be doing rescue again and figured I would stay small but at least I could help a few. Slowly, some of the dedicated volunteers from the past group I ran in IL wanted to join Lost Cove with our mission. This included Kat, who owned the boarding kennel. With Kat on board and willing to run the IL chapter, we are able to take in so many more dogs and cats needing homes. So for a few years we helped rescue larger numbers of dogs and cats, but them Kat decided to sell her kennel and move to VA so she could enjoy a slower paced life. Like I said earlier, rescue takes over your life. We then moved to AZ and Lost Cove's mission changed. We help a few animals at a time. Sometimes buying food or paying medical bills for owned dogs, sometimes helping to spay/neuter stray cats and sometimes taking a dog or cat in and finding a new home. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, we hope you join us by adopting, fostering, volunteering or donating.
