Etosha was named after a salt pan and wildlife preserve located near Namibia, South Africa. Our founding director chose the name to honor her first love since childhood -- a Rhodesian Ridgeback, whose origins are So. African. Once considered rare, the Ridgeback is now a popular companion for many Americans and, unfortunately, also a target for unethical breeders and puppy mills. Texas currently has eight Ridgeback puppy mills that we're aware of, more backyard breeders than any other state, and tops the list for the highest number of purebred Ridgebacks in rescue. Etosha saves and finds homes for hundreds of Ridgebacks every year.
Etosha was established in 1988 as a sanctuary for homeless Ridgebacks, Greyhounds, Mastiffs, Great Danes, abandoned hunting dogs and other large breeds. In 1990, Etosha became an all-breed 501c3 rescue that accepted mixed breeds, domestic cats, and exotics such as ferrets and guinea pigs. We also occasionally rescue injured or orphaned rabbits, deer, raccoons, birds and farm animals. Wildlife is returned to its natural habitat or transferred to other sanctuaries as soon as possible and farm animals are eventually moved to other, more appropriate facilities as well.
Like most grass roots organizations, Etosha was created in a rural setting by simple country folks. What set us apart in the early years was a diverse membership that included dog show fanciers, hobby breeders, horsemen and women, environmentalists and volunteer firefighters. Having a diversity of personality and character in its membership was exactly what Etosha needed as a fledgling rescue to instill a sense of purpose and dedication which has served us well for more than twenty years.
Etosha has evolved over the years to become one of the largest no-kill shelters in Texas, with the ability to house and care for up to 300 dogs and 100 cats year round. We are one of only a few organizations in a five-county area to offer immediate assistance for animals displaced by natural disasters. In the aftermath of hurricanes, Etosha typically rescues enough dogs from coastal areas of Texas to put us at maximum capacity for at least two months. Seasonal flooding in Guadalupe and surrounding counties also increases our number of animals once or twice each year. As a group, we invested many years in building relationships with other rescues and volunteers nationwide, which now allows us to place pets in permanent, loving homes in almost every state in the U.S., and a fair number in Canada as well. Etosha is forever grateful to our rescue partners, foster homes, foundations and animal lovers all over the country that believe in us and support our cause.
Mission and Vision
Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and find the best homes available for our dogs and cats. Adoptable pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, micro-chipped and free of disease (including heartworms) prior to adoption. Dogs receive basic obedience training as well as socialization through the Etosha Foster Care Program. We promote state-wide educational events which focus on the importance of spaying or neutering, humane treatment for all animals, and workshops to teach children the basics of responsible pet ownership. Etosha is dedicated to maintaining a high success rate (about ninety-five percent) for placing companion animals in forever homes. We achieve this by carefully screening prospective adopters and knowing which dogs or cats are most likely to be a good match for them.
http://www.etosha-rescue.org/index.html
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