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the ANIMAL PAD

By Judith A. Habert

Photos Courtesy of The Animal Pad

I was lucky enough to Animal Pad started rescuing
learn about this amazing dogs from Mexico. They
animal rescue in San Diego. rented kennels in a facility in
Stephanie Nisan, founder of Southern San Diego Coun-
The Animal Pad, had always ty. There, they would house
been an animal lover and dogs that they rescued from
she had always hoped to do Mexico, and in 2020, they
something that would benefit were able to actually open up
animals. When she was on their own facility in La Mesa.
the search for a dog to adopt, This was the beginning
she found an ad for a dog of what today is one of the
and, when she inquired, was greatest animal shelters I
told that the animal would be have come in contact with
killed the following day if not over the past 18 years run-
adopted. She was morti- ning this magazine. What
fied and started researching makes them so great is, of
animal shelters, only to find course, their founder, along
out that some of the highest with over 500 volunteers
kill shelters in the nation are who dedicate their time and
within a two-hour radius of love to help these animals.
San Diego. “When I discov- The Animal Pad is one
ered this fact I knew I had hundred percent volunteer,
to do something. I sent out run, and donation-based,
an email to my friends and meaning nobody is paid in
family and said, okay, I'm the organization. This is a
starting a dog rescue and I’m major fact since everybody
not sure what it's going to be knows that whatever work, dogs in any condition, any their personality and their
called. I'm not sure what it's time, or financial resources age, and any breed. health. The main things
going to look like, but I'm that they contribute to the Lauren Botticelli, Di- they do there are feeding,
starting a corporation. Who Animal Pad is truly making rector of Operations, shares, medicating, and socializing
wants to be on my board? a difference because it's not “A lot of the time, we just go all the dogs. It's the first
Who wants to help me?” going to somebody's salary; down in our van and pick up place that they go to right
Stephanie started her shelter it's not going to some crazy the dogs that need rescue in after wherever they came
focused on getting dogs overhead. It's going directly Mexico. We work with vets from. So, it's a big step up
off euthanasia lists, saving to the care of the dogs. The locally to make sure that these for them. For a lot of the
them before they would be Animal Pad is an equal op- dogs are getting the best care dogs, it's the first time that
put down. In addition, The portunity center that accepts they can, and we prepare they're actually getting fed
them for success before we consistently, and they're be-
bring them to San Diego.” ing loved on by people and
These dogs are there treated with dignity and
for a ten-day quarantine respect. We are then called
period, and their work- by their TJ Rescuer who lets
ers, whom they call their them know that the animals
Glam Squad, will bathe are checked out and are
them, cut their hair, and ready to be picked up.
file their nails while they The Animal Pad had
are there. During this time heard about a dog rescue in
they can also get to know Mexico that had some ques-
more about the dogs; they tionable practices, and they
can get to know more about were hearing some trouble-
Rescues from shut down Mexican shelter
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