Since Jennifer Taylor, a local, experienced animal rescuer, began Renegade Paws Rescue in 2019, it has been providing a critical need in the community, helping place animals into homes for fostering and adoption. The organization has previously been named Best Non-Profit and Best Animal Organization by Connect Savannah readers in separate years, but this year, they have been awarded the double-billed honor for the first time.
“We are so thrilled and excited about these awards,” said Cody Shelley, proud foster parent, volunteer, and board member for the rescue group. “It shows we’re making a difference in the community for these animals.”
Renegade Paws Rescue is a 501 (c)(3) volunteer-based, foster-based rescue organization dedicated to providing the highest level of care for unwanted, abused, or injured dogs in Savannah and the surrounding Coastal Empire.
“We started as a very small grassroots group with only a handful of people,” Shelley said. “In 2019 to 2020, we had less than one hundred dogs in care. Today, we have over 350 foster families with 600 dogs.”
Backyard breeding, Shelley says, is one of the biggest challenges for rescuers. “[There is] a devastating overpopulation crisis when it comes to dogs and cats in the community. With what we see in the municipal shelter, from our program, and in our sister rescues across Savannah and the South, we can’t guess our way out of this. There are too many unattended litters happening, so we’re trying not only to find forever homes from those in the community, but we want to work with folks with whatever situation may fall into their life whether it’s an unexpected move, a rehousing, or not being able to care for the pet any longer.”
Renegade Paws offers many free services to pets in need. People can go to their shelter where there is a full-time veterinarian; however, the organization goes into neighborhoods free of charge to provide services for animals. “We’re focused on TNSR or trap, neuter, spay, release/return, and let these animals live in the community they’re used to being in,” Shelley said. “With cats, we work with our sister organization, Renegade Claws, to keep cats in their communities, as well, after they are vaccinated. They’re not necessarily feral and are a part of the neighborhood. They deserve to go back to those people feeding and caring for them outside.”
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Another program the non-profit features is supporting the larger animal community when it comes to those who may have to temporarily surrender their pet. “People find themselves in many situations,” Shelley begins. “And, oftentimes, their pets are caught up in those situations. For example, if someone has to go into a homeless shelter for a short time until they get on their feet, they have to be separated from their pet. We have a means in place to where they sign an agreement for us to foster their animal for a certain period. That way, the fear of losing their pet forever isn’t as dire.”
Shelley only needs to glance at the cover photo to share a favorite rescue tale.
“We took in the dog of a woman who was sadly assaulted by her partner and even tried to set her dog on fire,” she says. “When the dog came into our care, he smelled like lighter fluid. We wanted to help out and do everything we could for the woman because she loved her pet so much. She was able to sign a temporary foster agreement and we would check in with her after thirty days. While the woman is now safe, she’s no longer local and was unable to take her pet with her.”
As is apparent from the photo below, Dave, the dog, was able to find a wonderful home … with none other than Shelley.
Laughing, she says, “I foster about five dogs at a time, so it’s great now how Dave is an ambassador and foster dog for others. He gets to welcome other dogs when they come to the shelter. He’s so good at it because these animals all come in with different situations, traumas, fears, etc., and he shows them there’s hope because he’s a colleague and a success case. A true counselor puppy.”
Shelley says Renegade Paws Rescue is always looking for people who want to help out.
“We have several ways for folks to support our efforts. We encourage everyone who can foster, please do so. But, we also have programs for those who want to help out in other ways. Particularly through volunteering or by working with our Mental Paws program.”
Mental Paws is a two-week fostering program that allows dogs within the Renegade boarding system to have the opportunity to be in a home while awaiting adoption or fostering.
“People can apply for our Mental Paws program and then take a dog even for an afternoon to play in Forsyth or be out on a boat,” Shelley says. “Giving these dogs a chance to be in a home environment or social situation lets us know more about the animal, who would be a good home for it, and it also lets them experience new people and new things.”
Which reminds Shelley of Halo’s story.
“Halo was abandoned in a plastic airline crate, in an open field and she seemed to have cancer spots all over her. She was emaciated, had wounds, and her hip bones stuck out. The person who dropped her off was—thankfully—caught on camera and identified. I can’t say more because Bryan County law enforcement is involved.”
“Halo has the perfect name, though… belonging to an angel—and she was coming to us to have a peaceful, comfortable, and loving remainder of her time. She was in such bad shape that everyone, including the vet, considered her to be a hospice dog. We all wanted her to experience real love.”
“Halo had a strong will to live and was happy to be found and have food,” Shelley said of Halo’s recovery. “What we thought was cancer were dirt clods stuck to her. She got fully healthy, moved to a foster to be with other dogs, and now, she’s gorgeous. She was in this year’s Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and she even got adopted by someone she met during the parade.”
“It was incredible to see,” Shelley says with excitement. “We were at this intersection of compassion and what’s humane, but we also wanted to give Halo enough room to show us what she wanted to do. Halo chose to live.”
As for these honors, Shelley says, “I am confident I speak for our 500-plus volunteers when I say this is a profound and meaningful validation and acknowledgment of the blood, sweat, and tears we all put in for the dogs of our community. We couldn’t be more tickled and honored to be included in this amazing honor.”
Dave and all his pals at Renegade Paws Rescue can be found at 2357 Ogeechee Road and at events across Savannah.
Follow them on social media on Facebook and on Instagram.
This article appears in Connect Savannah I April 2024.