How Rocket Dog will use the all-new Sprinter to take our rescue to the next level
Our team of volunteers drives hundreds of miles to transport animals and supplies for humans and animals in need.
As effective as we currently are, each cases is a challenge as we scramble to find transport, whether it be volunteers’ personal vehicles or van rentals, this slows down our response time which can sadly result in animals lives being lost.
Having this van will give us the space, reliability, and comfort (for the most precious of cargo, the rescued animals), and the ability to be where we need to be in the most urgent cases, in the most timely manner. And since we would no longer need to rent vans, The money saved can go directly to medical care for the animals.
To date, we’ve saved the lives of over 12,000 animals. If we had a Sprinter van, we could shine even brighter. And to be honest, we’d look good driving this van (and we’d make you look good!)
(Above: 164 animals were rescued from a single-family home in Fresno, CA that had no running water for over a year.)
The all-new Sprinter is ground-breaking and game-changing; a pioneer of the Van world. So what makes Rocket Dog a pioneer in the animal rescue world?
We are an all-volunteer run nonprofit animal rescue organization located in San Francisco, California, and we’re funded entirely by donations. We are often called into help as first responders in neglect, abuse, hoarding, and other emergencies, including wildfires. We are called in on a daily basis for unexpected emergency rescue cases. We’re known as the “rebel rescue” because without a moment’s hesitation, we run into challenging (and often scary) situations to help those in need.
Some of the reasons we are seen as leaders in the animal rescue community, is because we approach every situation with a harm-reduction mindset, and are able to create miracles on a shoestring budget. For instance, because there is a lack of after-hours animal welfare help, we have a 24 hour help line. It’s not uncommon that we will jump in our vehicle late at night to respond to a trauma case. We know it’s a lot, but we know that there are no other options for these animals, and in our hearts, we know it’s the right thing to do. Having the vehicle we need would make it so much easier.
How would the all-new Sprinter will be an upgrade for us?
Right now, we have no reliable transportation for large-scale rescue efforts. We depend on volunteers making multiple trips with their personal vehicles, and often renting a U-Haul van.
The horrible reality is, animals are euthanized in staggering numbers in shelters all over California. We are here, willing and with our hearts wide open to help with these cases. Sometimes we have to turn away rescue cases because we don’t actually have transportation, and it’s heartbreaking. With this van, we can rescue so many more!
Thanks for considering us for your contest!
xoxo, Rocket Dog Rescue