Meet the Rescues: Pixie Project
Here for ALL of them
Homeless pets come to The Pixie Project from everywhere -- overcrowded rural Oregon shelters, “Texas, California, strays, owners who can't keep them, it's all a combination," says executive director Amy Sacks. "We're here for all of them."
At this nonprofit animal rescue and adoption center located in NE Portland, adoption is a fun, positive, family-friendly experience that’s all about getting pets into lifelong homes.
"Our dogs and cats go through a LOT of behavior assessment,” says Sacks, “and they are carefully matched to improve the success of a happy adoption.”
Sacks believes a bad adoption can ruin the future for other homeless pets later in a family's life.
"If people get a bad fit they’re likely to go out and buy their next dog or cat. To me, you can save one dog, or save all the dogs that family may adopt in the future if you make a great match."
Sacks and her team are diligent about ensuring every pet they deem adoptable is behaviorally and medically ready to be homed. "Whatever has to be done to get a behaviorally sound dog or cat ready for adoption, we will take care of," she says, which sometimes includes extensive surgery.
The belief that spay/neuter to prevent unwanted births is key in minimizing animal suffering is one reason The Pixie Project also operates The Scott Wainner Pixie Care Clinic, providing low-income and homeless pet owners access to vital veterinary care including spay/neuter, emergency services, dental extractions, amputations, mass removals, and other life-saving surgeries.
"When you have senior people with 12-year-old animals, and you look at resources spent, it's better to address the need of the pet owner and keep that pet home where it is cared for and loved," Sacks says. "Typically that pet has been with their beloved owner their entire life. Why should a senior feel forced to surrender a pet due to expenses? Senior animals have very limited adoption opportunities. Why separate them?"
The Pixie Project team is committed to the adoption process start to finish, interviewing applicants carefully, and discussing what they seek in a beloved companion. They also tell clients up front that a "perfect match" may take time -- but it’s worth it.
"The more we can make adoption an experience people love, the more people can trust this system and the less animals are put to sleep,” says Sacks.
Want to help?
"We always have a need for foster parents, and being in a home setting lets us better assess a dog or cat when it's time to place them." Also needed are donations (including vehicles) and volunteers. Other ways to help include attending a fundraiser or purchasing Fetch eyewear or items on Pixie’s Wish List from Amazon. Learn more at pixieproject.org.
— Christy Caballero
