Help Sophie's Circle Save 17 Dogs from the Redlands

Sophie's Circle is dedicated to rescuing dogs whenever we can, no matter the circumstances of their health. That's why we chose to work alongside the Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dog Project to rescue dogs from Redlands, a dog dumping area. These dogs are in danger of being eaten, dying of starvation and many are frequently found dead soon after being dumped. Our mission was to save as many as possible and we collected 17 dogs with the intent of giving them medical care and finding them a new home.

Now, we need your help to meet the extensive medical needs of these dogs to ensure that they can go on to find a loving family.

What is Redlands?

Most of us know that some people dump dogs they no longer want. While we often try not to think about it, it is an unpleasant truth. Redlands is a place in Miami that has become known as a dumping ground for pets. This means that 'owners' who no longer want the responsibility of their pet will often drive to Redlands, throw the animal out, often without stopping and leave.

These dogs are most often indoor animals, raised around humans their entire lives with no survival skills. In the wild, they become prey for alligators and panthers, are hit by cars and many starve. Their interactions with humans are few and many become feral.

The Redlands Rock Pit Abandoned Dog Project is a non-profit group that aims to feed these mistreated dogs as often as they can with their funds. Unfortunately, there are just too many for volunteers to keep up with and many still die.

The Rescue

On March 10th, Sophie's Circle went to the Redlands in Miami with the intent of rescuing as many dogs as we could. We eventually brought 17 dogs back to our shelter, which only slightly reduced the number of animals at Redlands. Each of these dogs needs medical attention and significant care to recover.

Many have eye infections, severely infected bite wounds with bugs and maggots, fleas, ear infections and even chemical burns. It is our mission to nurse these dogs back to health so that we can find them great homes.

How You Can Help

Each dog will cost us an average of $400 each for spaying, neutering, micro-chipping, vaccination and deworming. Many will cost more for medical treatment for infected eyes, ears and bite marks.

At this time, our biggest need is for monetary donations. This will help us to take care of these animals and get them into good shape. However, if you cannot, please share on your social media so that we can build exposure for the rescue to get these dogs the help they need.

Meet the Dogs!

Paddington – A Chow mix who was initially quite skittish turned into one of the sweetest dogs we caught. Check Paddington's rescue video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni9m_7yhk3Y

El Guapo – El Guapo is one of our most serious rescues and we took him straight to the Animal Emergency Hospital. He was badly burned with chemicals and lost hair around his neck, which has become infected. He is receiving medical treatment daily for the injuries.

View his rescue video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3cIC7aFQJY

Ladybug – Ladybug was our easiest 'catch' at Redlands and one of the sweetest dogs in the shelter. She's crate trained, probably recently dropped and very friendly.

Honey Bee – Honey Bee is a 10 pound Chihuahua with one eye out, who is well behaved, leash trained and ready to adopt.

Jewel – Jewel is a 35 pound pitbull with a sweet temper and well behaved. She's good with other cats and dogs and is ready to adopt.

Sullivan & Sully – Sullivan and Sully are two 12-week large-breed dog mixes.

To see more of the dogs from the Redlands Rescue, visit our Facebook Page, Sophie's Circle Dog Rescue. If you can, please donate to help cover the medical costs for these dogs so we can get them a better life.

Donate Here 

Cypress Creek Elementary Pet Food Drive – Kids Lend a Helping Hand to Their Furry Friends

Sophie's Circle works year round to provide food and rescue to dogs in Volusia County but our pet food bank relies on the generosity of our donors. Sometimes those donors go above and beyond to help out, for no other reason than that they love animals. For that reason, we wanted to call out and thank a special group of kids who worked hard to help animals and collect food for them.

On November 4th, 2016, the Cypress Creek Elementary hosted a pet food drive to collect food for Sophie's Circle, and the thousands of animals we help every year. This food will go towards helping the animals in our shelter until we find them homes, and towards helping families in need keep the animals they love.

The class, from Port Orange Florida, are in the third grade, and collected the food as part of a project under their teacher, Michelle Morrison Phelan.

"I have a lot of dogs that are a part of my family and I love them very much. My reason is so that they can have a home and live in peace. Maybe it's your turn to save a dog and you can be its loving and caring family." - Kendra

"Because I'd never want my dog in the shelter or any other dog to go to the shelter." - McKenna

Sophie's Circle collects pet food year round and we are forever indebted to our wonderful donors, like the third grade class from Cypress Creek.

From the Class:

Every participant in the Cypress Creek Elementary Pet Food Drive sat down to write about why they helped, and why they want to help animals. You can find their answers below:

"My first reason is so they can live a happy life. I got my dog from a shelter and we saved his life. He was so happy to have a loving family. In closing, you now know my opinion. It is so important to give back and help as many animals as I can."  - Bradshaw

"Do you like animals? Well I sure do! I feel that animals deserve the very best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason that I'm going to share is animals should have a nice and caring family. I have two dogs that are part of my family. I love them very much. My second reason is I don't want any animals living in a shelter. I got a dog from the shelter and we saved his life. He was so happy to have a loving family" - Jessica

"You think it is important to help animals However, I'll share some reasons why I think it's important. My first reason is sometime animals are in danger. My next reason is so animals don't starve. Animals deserve good shelter and to live like everyone else.  - Sean

"My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are really so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is that every animal can have a home. There are so many animals in shelters. Animals deserve a good life like everyone else. - George

"So animals are protected, there are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is so that every animal can have a home. There are so many animals in shelters. Animals deserve a good home like everyone else.  - Mackenzie

"Animals are nice and friendly creatures so we should help save them. I feel that animals deserve the very best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason is that I'm going to share is animals should have a nice and caring family. I have one dog and I love her very much. My second reason is I don't want any animals living in a shelter. Because I'd never want my dog in the shelter or any other dog to go to the shelter. In closing you can now see my opinion. It's so important to give back and to help as many animals as I can." - McKenna

"Do you like animals? Well, I sure do! I feel that animals deserve the very best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason that I'm going to share is so they don't go to a shelter. I feel this way because animals should have the same respect as people. My second reason is so that they have food and water so they don't starve. " - Anna

"Do you think it's important to help animals? I am going to share some reasons why I feel it is important. My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is so that every animal can have a home, there are already so many animals in shelters. In closing you can now see why I feel it is important to help animals."

"Do you think it is important to help animals? I'm going to share some reasons why I feel it is important. My first reason is so animals are protected. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is so animals don't starve. There are so many animals in shelters. Animals deserve a good life, like everyone else." - James

"Believe it or not, helping animals is very important. I feel that animals deserve the very best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason I'm going to share is that I don't want animals to go to the shelter because that would be really sad. My second reason is so that they can have a happy life" - Joshua

"You might think helping animals is not important. I feel that animals deserve the best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason that I'm going to share is so animals can have a nice and caring family and for they do not struggle. I love them very much. My second reason is so they can survive longer.. When animals live on the street, they struggle to get food and water and when they get a family, it's easier for them. In closing, hopefully you now know why it is important to help animals. Hopefully your opinion is mine." - Sophia

"Do you think it's important to help animals? I'm going to share some reasons why I feel it's important. My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next is so that every animal can have a home. There are so many animals in shelters. Animals deserve a good life, like everyone else."

"You may not think it's important to help animals, I will share some facts why it's important. My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are already some helpless animals. My next reason is so no animals starve. There are so many animals in the shelters. In closing, now you know it's so important to help animals. - Shaun

"Keeping animals safe. You may not think it is important to help animals however I will share some reasons why I believe it is important. My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is some animals don't starve. There are so many in shelters. So animals can have a good home. Animals deserve a good life like everyone else. In closing, now you know why I feel it is so important to help animals" - Trevor

"You might think animals can survive on their own but really they need us. I feel like you should help the poor creatures survive, so I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason that I’m going to share is so they can live a happy life. I feel this way because I have a lot of dogs that are a part of my family and I love them very much. My second reason is so that they can have a home and live in peace. Maybe it's your turn to save a dog and you can be its loving and caring family. Now you know all of my opinions. It's very important to love and care for the lovely and nice creatures. - Kendra

Do you think it's important to help animals? I'm going to share some reasons why I feel it's important. My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is so that every animal can have a home. There are so many animals in shelters, animals deserve a good life like everyone else"  - Audrey

"Do you like animals, well I sure do! I believe that animals deserve the very best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason that I'm going to share with you is animals should have a nice and loving family. My second reason is I don't want any animals living in a shelter. We adopted a dog and we saved his life, and he was so happy to have a loving family. - Andrea

"Do you think it's important to help animals? I'm going to share some reasons why I feel it is important. My first reason is animals are already in danger. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is so that every animal can have a home. There are so many animals in shelters. Animals deserve a good life like everyone else. " - Warren

"Do you think it is important to help animals? I'm going to share some reasons why I feel it is important. My first reason is some animals are already in danger. There are already so many helpless and homeless animals. My next reason is so that every animal can have a home. There are so many animals in shelters. Animals deserve a good life like everyone else." Katherine

"Do you like animals" Well I sure do! I feel that animals deserve the very best. I'm going to share my opinion with you. My first reason is that I'm going to share is animals should have a nice caring family. I have one dog that is part of my family and I love him very much. My second reason is I don't want any animals in a shelter. I adopted my dog from a shelter and we saved his life. He was happy to have a loving family" - Trina