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North Texas Nonprofit Finds Homes for Dallas Dogs

The Street Dog Project
Woman and a dog. | Image from The Street Dog Project

A nonprofit in North Texas is on a mission to get stray dogs into loving homes and off of the streets. The Street Dog Project has successfully found families for around 600 dogs in Dallas, CBS reported.

According to the organization’s cofounder, Rekka Melby, the first rescue they had was a dog named Siri that Melby saw about to run across the interstate.

“We fed her,” she told CBS. “She tried to eat the whole rotisserie chicken and then we got a leash on her, and she led us about a mile to her puppies.”

Siri led the rescuers to her eight puppies that were in an abandoned house. She was later named Siri due to these navigation skills, according to CBS. Melby ended up adopting Siri herself.

The Street Dog project was started in 2016, and since then they have taken thousands of dogs off the streets of Dallas and placed them with families.

According to their website, a lot of the dogs taken in by The Street Dog Project have been injured, mainly from being hit by cars or shot. Many of the dogs are also suffering heart-worm, mange, or other injuries and illnesses. Once a dog is rescued, they are taken to an emergency veterinary office immediately to be treated.

One woman that initially went to the organization to foster a dog spoke to CBS about the dog she ended up adopting.

“I just look at her and I think ‘I can’t believe that she was about to be euthanized,’” Jessica Cobos said about her rescue dog Pippa. “And without [The Street Dog Project]… I mean, they have saved so many dogs.”

While Cobos initially just wanted to foster, she told CBS that after five months she had adopted Pippa. According to Street Dog Project, Pippa was hit by a car before being rescued.

“She’s crazy, drives me crazy, ruins a lot of my pants by chewing on them, her hair is everywhere, but no, she’s great, and I’m just so thankful that they saved her,” Cobos told CBS. “I really can’t imagine our lives without her.”

Another rescue dog named Happy Gilmore was left with only three legs after being shot, but according to Melby, he is currently happy in his forever home.

“Happy Gilmore survived the winter week on the streets, a Good Samaritan was feeding him and then he showed up limping, and then we found that a bullet had shattered his femur, so he had to have his leg amputated,” she explained.

Melby added that there are still some rescue dogs that haven’t been adopted yet. Two dogs, Buddy and Jovie, were rescued after being left tied to railroad tracks, and they are still with the organization.

“There’s just so many wonderful dogs like Buddy and Jovie, prime examples of the dogs at shelters that are so sweet, and they just need a chance,” Melby told CBS.

The pair of dogs recently had nine puppies, all of which can be adopted after mid-January.

Melby said, “We just want to play matchmaker and make it a lifelong match.”

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1 Comment

  1. Mary Strong

    Thank you for caring

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