Connection, Not Correction, in North Carolina

By Devon Krusko, Director of Field Services –

In March, we kicked off our first Community Programs deployment of the year, returning to Henderson, North Carolina to partner with Dogs Deserve Better Piedmont (DDBP), a local outreach group dedicated to improving the quality of life for pups and their families. DDBP focuses on unchaining outdoor dogs and providing them with safe enclosures to move freely, comfortable dog houses, enrichment items, and veterinary care.

Meeting families where they are, not where we want them to be, is vital in gaining trust, building community, and providing resources. This means asking what folks need, listening to their stories, and not judging situations or decisions that may be different from ours. As SPARC (Supporting People and Animal Relationships for Change) thoughtfully guides, “There are three issues with educating people: 1) Information is rarely the only barrier, 2) “Our way” isn’t the only right way, and 3) Connection -not correction- is what works”. We couldn’t agree more.

Blue Before

Blue After

On this trip, we met many multi-generational families caring for beloved pets- some they had found, others that had found them, and even dogs that were inherited when a family member had passed. A common theme was their gratefulness, many who couldn’t believe that RedRover Responders volunteers had flown from all over the country to help them, some folks who have never left Henderson in their entire life. When our two day collaboration was over we had built fencing for 22 dogs and provided lightweight tethers, enrichment, and dog houses for countless others. As often happens when working with people and pets, our work is organic and sometimes leads us right where we are meant to be. On this trip, it led us to Blue, a pup not originally on our list, but in desperate need of support, food, and dewormer. Now part of DDBP’s outreach program, Dogs (and people) do Deserve Better, and we’re working together to do just that.

Ready to help pets and people in crisis? Sign up to become a RedRover Responders volunteer through our free online training program >>

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Connection, Not Correction, in North Carolina

Ready to help pets and people in crisis? Sign up to become a RedRover Responders volunteer through our free online training program >>

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