Those of us at H.E.A.R.T. (aka HEART) have found that every once in a
while it becomes important to let the Bedlington folks out there know what
H.E.A.R.T. is all about.
First, the name is an acronym for Health, Education And
Rescue Trust. We are an IRS certified 501(c)3
charitable trust which means that most donations to HEART are tax deductible.
The Bedlington Terrier Club of America gave us the seed
money for start-up and, except for a few very early cases, we have been totally
self-supporting through the generosity of breeders and new owners, not to
mention several folks who are neither breeders or owners, but who felt that we
were worthy of a donation.
We are a transparent group. HEART's board
members always include whoever are the current president and the current treasurer of
the BTCA. Those officers are there to liaison with the parent club
because, although we are totally independent, we wanted to have that
connection so that our affairs would be open to all. In other words, we
don't report to the parent club, but instead we have those BTCA officers who
are privy to all of the information that the BTCA might want to know. We
have purposely kept our other HEART board members not a part of the elected
BTCA officers and directors.
The main reasoning behind this separation is to save the
BTCA funds from liability in case of a lawsuit regarding a Bedlington that was put
into a rescue home and did not work out well. Such
lawsuits have destroyed some other parent breed clubs. We purposely
keep the HEART funds at a reasonable level at all times just in case of a
similar lawsuit.
If the BTCA
collects money for rescue, they are not obliged to give it to HEART as some
have suggested. If HEART needs money for
rescue, we can ask, but have not asked since the very early days, for money
from BTCA Rescue funds. The BTCA Rescue
funds are earmarked by member donations for rescue only. The help that the BTCA gave to HEART in the
early days for rescue was used only for rescue.
Much of the donation money currently given to HEART is not earmarked specifically for rescue and HEART can legally use it
for health and education issues as needed, as outlined in our IRS request
for 501(c)3 status.
When we
applied to the IRS, we were required to state how our working funds and our
time would be distributed. The largest percentage of all funding is
to go to rescue/rehoming. The next percentage is for health. The
remainder is for education. This is the
way that this has worked out so far.
We work very closely with all involved in any rescue.
We've been totally gratified with the response from the breeders that we have
contacted regarding their bloodlines. Every one of them has stepped up to
help rehome those Bedlingtons. A number of them have put their own money
into vet fees and tests to help make the transition easier for the dog and the
new owners.
| We will help anyone rehome a Bedlington, we will help with
health issues and we will work to make everyone happy with the result. We
do not allow those people who are rehoming their own bloodlines through HEART
to sell those needy Bedlingtons. HEART feels that a breeder remains
responsible for Bedlingtons that are their own bloodlines whether they actually
bred the dog or not. HEART's goal is to find a loving forever home in the
best interest of any Bedlington. There
are other appropriate places to advertise a dog that a breeder wishes to sell.
Many rescued/rehomed Bedlingtons have some sort
of issue - maybe they have CT or maybe they're seniors. Most are already
spayed or neutered, but if they're not, we'll get it done ourselves at an
appropriate time. The same goes for vaccines. Sometimes those dogs
are injured or sick. We work with vets and foster homes to take care of
those problems. By the time that a rescued/rehomed Bedlington has found a
new home it's in as good a shape as it's possible to do in a reasonable amount
of time.
We ordinarily don't have many Bedlingtons needing the
services of HEART. We have many more applications than we have needy dogs
and most of those applications want a younger Bedlington then what is the usual
age for dogs in rescue/rehoming. Having said that, we've found homes for
Bedlingtons with CT and/or cancer who are 9 years old and all the way up to 13
years old. We welcome new applications, even if you aren't sure what you have
in mind (old, young, boy, girl, healthy, needy, etc). Let us know if you might consider a
rescued/rehomed Bedlington for your family or if you would be willing to be a
foster home for a limited period of time.
We're working to
make our website up to date on the latest news from HEART and we'll let you all
know when it's completed.
Although we work
willingly with any charitable organization, we are not part of, or affiliated
with, any other rescue group.
The BTCA website has a link to our rescue chair, Lisa
Clarkson. In lieu of actually going to the website, here is her email
address. lclarkson007@gmail.com Lisa's phone number: 860-651-4711
Lisa is doing a truly fine job in that
position and you're welcome to contact her with any rescue issue, especially
when you hear of a Bedlington in need.
Please be aware that most other rescue groups are not always on the mark
when it comes to recognizing a Bedlington or, especially, a Bedlington
mix.
I'll also be happy
to visit with anyone who may have other questions about HEART's work.
Dess June, President
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