The BuckHawk Center, Inc. Animal Rescue

In March, 2002, a small group of folks sat around a kitchen table and hashed out a set of by-laws to govern our new organization. We were volunteers then with a passion for helping animals in need. Nothing about that has changed.

We incorporated in the State of Missouri for the purpose of rescuing animals in need, providing rehabilitation where possible, returning animals to the wild or placing them in loving homes, or giving them a permanent home with us when other placement was not possible. We also wanted to provide education to those wishing it. The BuckHawk Center is a 501(c)(3) organization.

The BuckHawk Center, Inc., is located on beautiful hills in the Ozarks Mountains of Southern Missouri. We have grazing land for a small herd of horses and cows, ponds for ducks and water fowl and numerous large fenced yards for dogs. We even added a house for our three elderly chickens and their rooster. There is a large house on the property, built to allow permanent caregivers a home as well as to provide office and meeting space for the BuckHawk.

The official BuckHawk website is: www.buckhawk.org. There you can gain more info about us, meet some of our adoptable dogs and read their story, learn about our education programs and fund-raising efforts, as well as offer a donation - always welcome.

A group photo...we're trying. It's harder than it sounds. All of us at the BuckHawk are volunteers who give whatever time we can to help out. It's rare when we have very many volunteers in the same place at the same time. Some give their time only during summer, when so much needs to be done. Some give up all or part of their weekends while others give time during the week.

I'm the Center Director, Susan Kennedy, and the main contact for the BuckHawk. I'm also the only full-time (does 100 hours a week count as full-time?) volunteer. But let me add the names of so many others:

Barbara, Paul, Jeannie, Alyson, Mathew, Bridget, Lori, Ranae, Dan, Katrina, Graci, Reanna, Matt, Kristie, Dayva, Sandy, Mark, Dave, Lauren, Gina and Cheryl.

That's me in the photo, feeding one of 4 baby squirrels that came to us this past spring.

This spring was harder than usual with the addition of the babies. We feed in the late afternoon. And it's a regular routine that everyone knows well (the animals especially). Good, nutricious food and fresh water are first priorities, then some good old-fashioned scratching behind the ears and rubbing bellies. A good scratch over the hindquarters is usually added. A game of fetch for those who like it, and a good brushing especially for the long-haired ones.

The chickens, of course, refuse the brushing, but they don't mind the attention, too much.

Most of the dogs are in outside yards with houses that measure 6 ft x 6 ft by 5 feet tall. They are grouped in small packs which are monitored for "getting along-ness."
Each dog has spent some time being an inside dog, joining us in the house to live, eat and sleep. Three of them are currently residents with us, a Great Dane, a Sheltie and a Yorkie. Yes, life is interesting around here!

The cats all reside inside. And each of the six has his/her own special routine. All love to dose in the sun, but Lexie has to be part of the office when I'm working at "office stuff." As I write this lens, she is sleeping on the printer. Cinder thoroughly believes my bed is her bed. And, Dolby, our only boy cat, prowls the house, doing his job as "mouser extrodinaire."

Great, great and wonderful. We want most for each animal to go to a loving home.

We only ask 2 things of our adopters. First, that you understand what it means to have a pet in your life. That includes a strong commitment to their well-being for the rest of their lives. Second, that you allow us to help you make the right match. We are strongly against impulse adoption. The idea of "oh, isn't that one cute. I'll take her." Pets are a part of your life and the right match into your life will help assure a life-long love.

At BuckHawk, we spend alot of time with all the pets. We get to know things about them. Things like their personality, their temperment, even whether they like to ride in a car!

Too many pets are turned into shelters or abandoned because they just didn't fit into their owners' lives. We don't want any of our animals to become another statistic.

So we'll talk to you, find out about your life, what you like to do, how much time you can really devote to things like grooming, exercise, play. Are you a couch potato, who wants a pet to curl up with you and watch TV? Are you a camper who loves to hike and wants that great companion to join you? Do you have that 9 year-old son who adores dogs and wants his own?

To have a happy match between you and your pet is our true goal. That's why we spend time writing details about the pets. What are they really like to have around the house? We've had them around the house, each one, and we know. We even know where they loved to be scratched the most!

This photo is Tacoma in his "sigh pose." He loves so much to be scratched behind his ears that he closes his eyes and, almost audibly, sighs. But this is no couch potato. Tacoma is an active, playful boy!

The BuckHawk Center has been funded by donations. But this year brought a change for us.

BuckHawk Designs has been making and selling greeting cards with all proceeds donated to the Center. And the cards are now online!

BuckHawk Designs is now opened for business. All the cards are created by volunteers. We have artists in the fields of graphics, design, photography, and writing all donating their unique talents to help create greeting cards and note cards that will benefit our animal rescue center. Along with greeting cards, we have totebags, t-shirts, and other, as yet unknown, items.

With the economy the way it is, just asking for donations is not enough. We wanted to offer people a way to get something back for their donation.

Why Greeting Cards, you ask? Simple. One of our volunteers is a professional greeting card designer. She has her own business and has generously guided us through this whole process. Sandra Rose Designs, we thank you. And, as soon as we understand how this whole process works, we'll be linking to you.

Little DC, our injured dog, (read more about her below) has gone to her own home!.

A wonderful, loving family has adopted DC. They live close to BuckHawk and on a large plot of land. They've had experience with special needs dogs and a good relationship with a good vet. DC is in a home with a 10 year old boy and 2 other rescued dogs, but she and her "Mom" immediately became great friends. They call it a "match made in heaven." And we couldn't agree more.

BuckHawk and DC thank all of you for your great support and wonderful well wishers! This is the kind of success story that makes all the heartache we suffer worth it.

Look at our great new TOTEBAGS -

Original designs and easy ordering through
BuckHawk Designs
(www.buckhawkdesigns.org)

Plus FREE SHIPPING!!!

Every purchase helps us help animals in need so get plenty for family, friends and yourself.