animal rescue

No Animal Left Behind

Each year Wayide Waifs rescues thousands of  abandoned, abused, and homeless animals. Our FEMA certified Rescue Team partners with regional and national animal welfare organizations across the country to bring animals to safety and provide the life-saving medical care, behavior modification, and care they need. Our team has responded to natural disasters, animal hoarding situations, dog fighting rings, and puppy mills.

How it started

In the Fall of 2011, Wayside’s Rescue & Response Team responded to a call from the Andrew County Sheriff’s Department to help with an animal hoarding situation in rural Savannah, Missouri. Although the team has witnessed extreme circumstances, nothing prepared them for what they found. The call was originally for 18 animals but when the team arrived there were more than 30 dogs living in deplorable conditions. Without food or water, the animals were malnourished, dehydrated, and were restricted to small wire pens and shacks. It was not fit for humans to live in, let alone animals. Because of limited resources at the time, Wayside had to leave behind some of the animals. Eyes filled with tears and crouching nose to nose, our team promised, “We will be back for you.” And we kept our word – rescuing the remaining dogs and bringing them back to safety.

A short time later, a Rescue Team member share this heartbreaking story with two very special donors, Harold & Mariyln Melcher. Upon learning about this story, the Melchers made a generous gift funding the rescue transport equipment.

The state-of-the-art 28 foot trailer allows Wayside to safely transport up to 50 animals in a climate controlled space. It can also operate as a make-shift shelter in times of natural disaster.

Once the dogs from Savannah arrived at Wayside Waifs, for the first time they had a clean bed, toys, nutritious food, clean water, and love. Most of all, they received the kindness of a human being and life-saving medical care. And life only got better from there. They took their first steps toward finding forever homes. But the mission is far from over, There are still thousands of homeless animals waiting, silently suffering. Thanks to the support of animal lovers like you, the Wayside Rescue & Response Team continues to answer the call for help to make sure no animal is left behind.