Myth Buster: Shelter Dogs Are Broken
Are Shelter/rescue dogs broken? This stigma has plagued so many dogs that are in need of homes. In today's episode, executive director of the Agape Rescue, Tanya Willis, will discuss why 'being broken' is not the case. In fact, with the help of more foster care through rescue organizations, rescue dogs can have that chance to live as much a normal life as any other dogs who's had one positive home all their life.
Our second guest in today's episode, Jim Scano, founder of Dog Rescue Shirt Club, has actually worked with Agape Rescue, and continues to help other rescue organizations raise funds. Through their monthly membership services, the club is able to give 100% of the proceeds to a rescue organization every month.
BIO:
Jim Scano, a Texas native, and father of two is a longtime dog lover and rescue advocate. After working in the computer design field for over a decade, Scano sought a change of pace and worked to join the Dallas Fire Department, followed by the McKinney Fire Department. During his time as a firefighter, he introduced Firehouse Shirt Club, a membership service that sends out a featured “T-Shirt of the Month” from a unique firehouse across the country, to the market with huge success. Now a veteran in the t-shirt club industry, Scano selected dog rescues as his next club venture after identifying the need in the market. Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year, of which 3.3 million are dogs, according to ASPCA Scano chose to help make a difference and created Dog Rescue Shirt Club for others to join in, in the hopes that more dogs will find their “furever” homes.
Tanya Willis is the Executive Director of Agape Animal Rescue and has been tirelessly rescuing dogs since 2001. Tanya is married to Josh Willis who also shares her love and passion for helping the dogs in our community. Tanya and Josh are the proud parents of daughters McKenzie, Madelyn, and Marley who are currently Agape volunteers-in-training. Tanya’s passion for rescue was sparked one day by the discovery of a litter of Golden Labrador puppies abandoned in a ditch. The runt of the litter (Mack) touched Tanya’s heart so completely that he soon found his place in her home. All of his siblings found forever homes as well. Due to Mack’s influence Tanya began working with various animal rescues in and around Nashville. In 2004, Agape was born after Tanya decided to forge ahead on her own with the knowledge she had gained as a volunteer.
As Tanya developed her leadership skills and gained valuable experience in the rescue world, Mack progressed as her loyal sidekick and spiritual inspiration for the program. The runt she had found discarded and broken in the ditch eventually grew into a healthy and vibrant 102 pound organizational mascot that she and Josh still care for today. Although retired today, Mack’s career includes certification through Therapy ARC while his human mommy served on their board of directors.
Since the spark of her passion was ignited, Tanya has adopted many other furry children. Currently living in the household alongside Tanya and Josh’s human daughters and Mack are Wallace and Bruce. Wallace, the “awkward child” of the home is a 6 year old Shih Tzu who was found outside a Laundromat in Alabama. After seeing him posted online, Tanya and Josh adopted him that very same day and dubbed him William Wallace Willis named after Josh’s favorite movie Braveheart. Mack and Wallace’s other hairy brother, Sir Robert the Bruce Willis (Bruce) is a Newfoundland who was posted on Craigslist before the family reached out to Agape for support. After fostering Bruce for only a few short weeks the Willis family knew he was meant to be with them forever and they made the adoption official.
Tanya and her family are dedicated to making a different for the animals in our community for many years to come.