Boonie Tails

By Grace Keilbach

Boonie Adventures: How Boonie Babies Accidentally Turned Into a Rescue

People always ask us how we find all these dogs. In actuality, they find you. (Especially when you drive around with treats in your car… Maybe that’s our problem…) Although Aria had been feeding strays since moving to the island and had fostered and rescued a handful of dogs, it was never with the intention of founding a full-blown rescue organization that would become our full-time job. The following story details how these dogs took over our lives and everything spiraled out of control—also referred to as the story of how Boonie Babies was born.

As you may know, it began with Aria routinely feeding packs of dogs around the island. As she went about her normal rounds one day, we came across a puppy who had been hit by a car. With one eye bulging out of its socket and the dog’s back legs paralyzed, it was not a pleasant scene. His cries quickly turned into our cries as we attempted in vain to figure out what to do. With no vet on island and the only volunteer-run clinic closed for the evening, we took the dog home, not expecting him to make it through the night and just hoping that his suffering would end sooner rather than later. The next morning, our sweet boy was still with us and we rushed him to the clinic where, with no equipment to actually assess his injuries, he was euthanized. 

Distraught and traumatized, Aria and I headed back to the same spot the next day to feed the injured puppy’s pack. The excitement on their faces and their wagging tails made it impossible not to smile, despite the morning we’d had. We pulled over and began distributing snacks and pets when we spotted an extremely emaciated mama dog, who led us to her five small puppies. Emotions were high, and—knowing the likelihood of survival for these little things was very low if left outside—we quickly loaded them up into a basket along with a slightly older pup from another litter, Smoosh, who decided to tag along.

Overnight, we went from two dogs at home to eight. The next day we went back and brought home an additional two puppies, who we believed to be the siblings of the puppy who was hit and the mama dog. (No boonie left behind!) 

With our new backyard rescue, Aria and I quickly worked to fundraise for their care, plan adoption events, and spread the word. Our dedication and rescue efforts have not stopped since. We miraculously got all of these pups adopted, three of which (Milkshake, Lucy, and Smoosh) now live in the states! 

Since the beginning of this rescue mission, we’ve not only seen change on the individual level—so many dogs and cats now have a whole new life, and every spay and neuter is a victory in itself—but Aria and I also realized that we could actually make a difference. We were able to start making this difference with a little bit of time, dirty dog baths, and a small Instagram following that helped fund the operation. 

Although a lot has changed as Boonie Babies has grown into what it is today, the heart of those two young girls who just couldn't walk away remains the same driving force behind all that we do.

Want even more of this story? Check out this video by the Dodo to see all the boonies from this fateful pack.

Get a stylish, quality pet bed while supporting Boonie Babies!

Boonie of the Week

Despite her wariness, she’s a superstar runner—the fastest among Journie’s nine rescue dogs—and she proves it by doing laps around the others at top speed. It’s no surprise the other dogs sometimes gang up on her; Rizzo enjoys the privilege of indoor life, cozying up with “Mommy” while the others look on. Sharp as a tack and unapologetically particular, Rizzo has embraced her place as the family’s little queen.

Boonie Tails is free to read. But if you liked this post, support Boonie Babies and this newsletter by pledging a monthly or annual donation. Thank you for reading and we’ll see you next week!