Bark! The rescue dogs sing.

Howling hounds throughout the Central Okanagan are in search of a forever home this holiday season.

Many of the pups looking for homes at Paws It Forward, a Central Okanagan rescue organization, are pure-bred pooches that have come straight from breeders.

Charlotte, who cannot share her last name due to harassment threats and safety for the animals, is one of the founders of the rescue, she said that one of the most eye-opening things she has observed is how many pure-bred dogs have come to the organization. Among the mixed and pure-bred breeds, Charlotte said that she含羞草研究社檚 noticed a lot of bulldogs, golden retrievers and doodles needing to find new homes.

Despite the influx of pups, Charlotte said that the non-profit has seen a decline in people looking for pets since COVID health mandates have been lifted and life has returned to what is referred to as the 含羞草研究社渘ew normal含羞草研究社�.

含羞草研究社淵ou saw a lot of people not purchasing anymore. Then, the breeders ended up with all these dogs that they had bred thinking that they were going to keep getting more people to come and purchase,含羞草研究社� said Charlotte.

Those described as unethical breeders don含羞草研究社檛 practice the same level of standards as reputable breeders. A reputable breeder will vet potential owners and have a waiting list for future pups. This ensures that the dogs have a home before they are born.

Whereas unethical breeders focus on breeding as many pups as possible. This was working for them throughout the initial puppy boom during the pandemic, explained Charlotte. However, once that boom came to an end, they were left with a problem, too many pups.

Luckily, Paws it Forward has stepped in and has been working steadily to place these dogs in happy homes. Charlotte said that the need has doubled since last year.

Paws it Forward is based in the Central Okanagan and operates without an in-person facility. The volunteer-based organization relies on foster families in the region to help provide temporary homes for dogs before they are adopted. Paws it Forward provides everything a foster family needs to take care of the dog. Foster families are equipped with crates, food, leads etc, for the dogs.

Some dogs brought into Paws it Forward含羞草研究社檚 care will be experiencing snow for the first time this year. Dogs come from as far away as Los Angeles as well as remote communities in Manitoba-which have limited road access or facilities that care for animals

The team at Paws it Forward will be working hard this holiday season as they continue to grapple with the influx of dogs being sent their way.

If you would like to help Paws it Forward this holiday season (or anytime), check out their and to learn about their volunteer opportunities.

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