Local dog rescue a labour of love

By Christine Foshaug Times Contributor

When Kyla Janes and her husband Michael took over Alpine View Pet Spa almost two years ago, they didn’t plan to incorporate a dog rescue into their business.
But the fact that Janes had been finding homes for dogs for about eight years made it a natural progression.
“For some reason, people I knew would just bring me dogs to be re-homed,” said Janes, who added that she found homes for about 10 dogs before they even bought the boarding kennel. “After we bought the business, clients started asking if we were a rescue, too. So we thought we might as well just do it.”
Rescued Paws @ Alpine View opened six months ago and has found homes for four dogs so far.
“We rescue dogs from unfortunate situations, like the death of an owner or a family finding themselves with a dog that’s much bigger than they’d expected,” explained Janes. “We’ll only take a dog if it’s been a pet and has no major health concerns.”
They’ve also partnered with the Animal Care Centre of Strathmore to ensure their rescue dogs are in good health when they’re ready to be adopted.
Socialization is a big part of the rehabilitation process for the dogs Janes takes in.
“We won’t take human-aggressive dogs, and we work hard at getting our dogs socialized so we can get them into play groups,” said Janes.
At the moment, Rescued Paws is home to two dogs that are available for foster or adoption: a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois named Django, and Bucky, a two-year-old dachshund/retriever mix.
Unlike many rescues, Janes will only keep a maximum of five rescue dogs at one time. Finding a good home for each dog is the most important thing, and applicants undergo a thorough screening process.
“We have to make sure we find a suitable home for our rescue dogs,” said Janes. “A family can tick most of the boxes, but if they don’t have a fenced yard, we can’t place a dog with them.”
Volunteers and foster families play a big role in helping the rescue dogs reach their potential. An ideal foster home would provide a dog with the basics of food and shelter, but also with regular walks, lots of love, a fenced yard and a genuine desire to help find the dog a forever home.
“Our volunteers help out in any way they can, but the best thing they can do is give our rescue dogs the love and attention they crave,” stressed Janes. “Our dogs need human contact, they need to be loved, and our volunteers spend a lot of time playing with them and walking them.”
At the end of July, Strathmore’s Jim Baxter contacted Rescued Paws and adopted a two-year-old husky named Mickey. Mickey’s transition was seamless, and he’s a perfect addition to Baxter’s family.
“Kyla went above and beyond – way beyond – to make sure I got a healthy dog and that Mickey got a good, safe home to go to,” he said.
Rescue Paws and Alpine View Pet Spa are located 10 minutes southwest of Strathmore. If you’re interested in volunteering, fostering or adopting a dog, check out their Facebook page or call 403-934-6635.