our Purpose
The Issues We Are Facing
The Time for Change is NOW!
We cannot wait for tomorrow; the time to act is now! Every day, the number of animals being abandoned and surrendered to shelters increases, adding to their already overcrowded populations. Shelter staff work tirelessly to care for the countless dogs in their care, but time and space are at a premium.
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Animal shelters are meant to provide temporary housing for homeless animals while they await adoption. Although most shelters in New York State are no-kill, their focus is on short stays rather than long-term care. This is because shelters are high-volume facilities that need to turn over cage space quickly. The large population of animals requires a system that works for most, but not all. It is nearly impossible to cater to every dog's individual needs, inadvertently failing those who do not fit certain criteria. For some dogs, prolonged stays in a shelter environment can be detrimental, leading to unwanted behaviors, health issues, and stress-related injuries.
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Waiting for tomorrow to act can mean the difference between a dog needing orthopedic surgery from tearing its ACL due to jumping, spinning, and pacing in a kennel, versus a dog thriving in an active foster home, eliminating those unwanted behaviors. It's the difference between a dog acting out in fear in a highly stressful environment and being labeled as aggressive, versus a dog having a place to decompress and time to trust again. It's the difference between a dog developing barrier aggression, versus a dog having a healthy relationship with barriers.
For some dogs, there is no tomorrow. The examples go on and on. Tomorrow is too late.
How RDO Helps
Rover's Do Over provides placement for dogs needing extra time, attention and resources to prepare for adoption. Through collaborations with shelter partners and municipal animal controls, we work to keep dogs out of shelters and in home environments by utilizing a foster-based approach. This reduces long-term residents in shelters and frees up space for incoming animals. By decreasing the average length of stay for shelter dogs and minimizing unwanted behaviors caused by kennel stress, we enhance their adoptability.
Rover’s Do Over offers a stress-free environment where a dog's true personality can emerge. By minimizing stress, we accurately evaluate dogs to identify any training or behavioral modifications needed. We then create personalized plans to set each dog up for success, streamlining their journey to finding a new home through our "Pathway Planning" approach.
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As a volunteer-based rescue, not a municipal shelter, RDO can limit the number of animals in our care at any given time. This ensures we meet each dog's mental, emotional, and physical needs. Our trained team, along with dedicated volunteers and foster homes, work closely with individual animals to match their specific needs.
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RDO also contributes to ending the euthanasia of companion animals in US shelters by partnering with organizations that have yet to achieve no-kill status. By pulling dogs from euthanasia lists, we help eliminate the killing of animals for space and support struggling shelters in reaching their no-kill goals.
the solution
How you can help
Together, we can make a difference. Coming together as a community is the only way to provide a solution for these animals. Every dog deserves a fair chance and with your support we can give them that chance. In a world full of people who couldn’t care less, be the one who couldn’t care more.
Adopt Foster Donate Volunteer Sponsor
our goals
short-term goals
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To raise funds to build and operate a sanctuary for animals to live out the remainder of their lives if they need to.
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To alleviate the stress on overcrowded, understaffed shelters and municipalities by taking on resource-consuming animals.
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To decrease the average length of stay of shelter pets.
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Create a minimal stress environment for the pets in our care in-order to accurately evaluate and determine if/what behavior modification, training, medical treatments, or other resources are needed to help them put their best paw forward and make sure we find the perfect home and streamline the adoption process.
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To provide an outstanding volunteer program.
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To inspire individuals to join our mission by providing hands-on experience to show that they CAN be the change and CAN make a difference in the life of an animal in need of a "do-over".
long-term goals
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Provide resources to our community that will help keep pets in their current homes and not relinquished to a shelter.
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To lead by example in Central New York by inspiring individuals to come together to create a better tomorrow for the animals.
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To help make New York State a no-kill state.
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To contribute to ending the killing of companion animals in US shelters.
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To make the Mohawk Valley a pet-welcoming community and increasing the amount of pet friendly areas.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The only way we can be successful iS BY COMING together as a community to provide the solution for these animals.
“You can do something big
or you can do something small.
Because whatever you do,
is better than nothing at all.”
— Unknown
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