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A PHS Foster Family
Animals, right? Ok, read those three words again, with an emphasis on the second word--humane.
People, right?
You are correct both times: animals and people.
Placencia Humane Society is a non-profit organization and its volunteers are just that: folks who give freely of their time, energy, and finances. Their shared commitment is to provide all animals kindness, care, and loving homes.
PHS is a wonderful union of animals and people. The process of rescuing an animal, restoring it to good health, and placing it in a good home is a long, laborious, and frequently expensive process, but one well worth it, as Keith and MaryAnn Kaye can attest.
Keith and MaryAnn Kaye are the "foster parents" to the majority of the dogs who are rescued by PHS.
They are truly a dynamic and dedicated team.
The Kayes retired from careers in the States that included teaching, owning a pet store, and working for Child Protective Services for the state of Florida. Keith provided protective legal care services for foster children, and MaryAnn worked on funding for the foster homes and health care for the foster children.
Even back then, the Kayes were rescuing dogs. Their first dog walked up the steps of their home in Florida and never left.
Another dog followed MaryAnn home. Daisy is still with Keith and MaryAnn here in Placencia.
One day while driving, they discovered a dog had been hit by a pickup truck and had a broken leg and many other injuries. The owner could not be found, so the Kayes took the dog home with them. Happy owes the Kayes her life, and she, too, is enjoying the good life here in Placencia.
The Kayes found another dog in the middle of the road, staggering from starvation. Keith says, "It was almost as if he was asking for someone to hit him." Roadside Ralph, now half deaf, blind in one eye, and suffering from a number of "senior moments," also has his special place in the Kaye's home here in Placencia.
In June, 2006, MaryAnn volunteered at one of PHS's monthly animal clinics, and that was the end of retirement for her!
It was the beginning of her full-time involvement in PHS.
The Kayes took much time to explain to me what they do and how they do it. When a dog is first rescued, he is put in a "quarantine pen," separate from the other dogs until a vet can examine and treat him. Once the dog receives all the medicine and care he needs to be returned to good health, the dog is then free to roam around the yard. And a lovely yard it is, full of beautiful plants, surrounded on two sides by water. A nice foster home, indeed!
The Kayes keep copious and accurate notes of each and every dog they foster, complete with photos of the dog, its weight, medications, etc., so when the dog is adopted, the new family has a complete record of their new pet. Accountability is a serious matter for the Kayes.
PHS diligently advertises these dogs available for adoption, and the Kayes personally meet potential dog owners and try to make a match that is compatible for both the dog and the owner.
The Kayes explained that currently there is no way to identify a dog if it is lost or injured, unless the dog is known by the person who found it. A lot of the dogs who roam around have rabies tags, but there was no way to match the tag number to anything. Because of the Kaye’s concern, PHS is working on making connections on the computer to identify the dog to the owner. This is being done at the monthly clinics when a rabies vaccination is given. It is not an easy task, but an important one, and will give PHS an owners name when an animal with a rabies tag is found.
Currently, the Kayes have seven dogs of their own, two of them adopted from PHS. And they are fostering three more!
I asked the Kayes why they do what they do. Keith answered, very humbly, "It gives me something to do."
The Kayes are truly an incredible team dedicated to caring and loving all fostered dogs.
In March, I adopted a dog from PHS, and can say personally that the Kayes' loving fostering of Simba made my adoption of him so much easier.
Thank you, Keith and MaryAnn Kaye, for everything that you do for PHS!
When a dog is rescued, PHS pays for all veterinarian expenses, treatment, medications, and dog food while in foster care. Currently they have 3 dogs available for adoption. If you are interested in adopting one of our dogs please contact Mary Ann Kaye at 523-3651 or Pamela Keck at 520-4057 / 625-3123. Costs for rescue animals are high. If you can help PHS in anyway possible, please contact Pamela Keck at 520-4057 or pkeck11@yahoo.com. PHS is always looking for volunteers and foster homes. If you are interested please contact Pamela. Please check out their web address at www.placencia-pets.org. You can also look them up on Facebook.
