HOOK

12 HOOK the name of rehabilita3on. "It is all in an effort to make the transi3on to their new homes last," says Erin, "We see so many surrenders or dogs that are returned so we really try hard to make sure that doesn't happen to our dogs." The second-floor office serves as the 'puppy's first liv- ing room', with desks, win- dows, a couch, and a table where one puppy at a 3me is welcomed upstairs to hang out so they get a feel for the "home environment." Each dog gets couch 3me to get used to people, all part of the larger re- habilita3on process, a way to make sure the transi3on into their new home is as easy as possible. Sarah explains, "They get to see what it feels like, this could be a living room." But living rooms and lifestyles are not 'one size fits all.' They recently had a puppy come in who was catatonic, with half of her li4er dying prior to her ar- rival. Hudson Paws brought her and her remaining surviving puppies in. She was completely shut down for her first six months at the rescue, even when they tried to coax her to play with other dogs. The res- cue thought the puppy was going to be a long term guest, but someone came in whose home life was generally calm and peaceful and it was a match made in heaven. What makes Hudson Paws unique is their ability to have a na3onal impact from a Hudson, NY home base. They have rescued 184 dogs and house around 30 dogs at a 3me. Uniquely, they do not s3ck to county or state lines when accep3ng new dogs. They work consistently with a group in Alabama, Sylacaga County, who transport dogs who were stuck in overcrowded shelters to them. They take in all types of dogs, everyone from labs, shepherd mixes, bully mixes and more from all over the country. They have some long-term residents, like Lazlo, a five-year-old Chihuahua mix who has been at the rescue for around a year. Their outsized impact originates from their philosophy of never turning away a dog and is realized in a 100% adop3on rate. This includes successfully finding homes for paralyzed dogs and rehabilitated vicious dogs as well as taking in surrenders that other organiza3ons reject. "We've got a reputa3on for taking dogs that no one else wants," Sarah reveals. And the dogs clearly enjoy their 3me here. Sarah recounts two dogs that had pre- viously been adopted, coming back to visit the rescue with their owners and being so excited to be back, a testament to the environment the rescue curates. Hudson Paws' impact extends beyond their dogs and the families they complete. The rescue has a partnership with Perfect Ten, a local Hudson youth program. Through PTen, sixteen girls come and volunteer each week, building their skills in taking care of animals and helping out the shelter. But their community involve- ment doesn't end there, they also host Puppy Pop-Ups once a season where they can conduct rescue work advocacy and provide a chance for adop3on. When asked what Sarah and Erin see as the future of Hudson Paws, they say Uniquely, they do not s3ck to county or state lines when accep3ng new dogs. They work consistently with a group in Alabama, Sylacaga County, who trans- port dogs who were stuck in overcrowded shelters to them. They take in all types of dogs, everyone from labs, shepherd mixes, bully mixes and more from all over the country

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