New group aims to shelter animals when animal shelter is closed

Tandi Brayson-Foster was walking last Memorial Day weekend when a “poodle-esque” puppy wandered onto her path on the South Hill.

The dog had a collar but no tag. She found the animal shelter’s phone number, but it was closed.

She did eventually, hours later, reunite animal and owner. But something else happened as a result of that interaction with that stray dog: STAHR was born.

Short Term After Hours Rescue, which is launching after three months of work by Brayson-Foster and other animal lovers, is the first after-hours rescue nonprofit in Spokane or anywhere else.

The group’s mission is to provide rescue and short-term foster care for up to 72 hours for lost, found or displaced pets during hours when Spokane Regional Animal Protection Service, or SCRAPS, is closed.

As it turns out, that’s most of the time. SCRAPS is open only 41 hours per week and will only dispatch a staffer if the animal faces a medical emergency.

The other option for would-be dog or cat rescuers is the Pet Emergency Clinic, which will reunite owners with their pets only if the latter is chipped. And if not? That’s when it’s STAHR’s time to shine.

Brayson-Foster and her group are partnering with SCRAPS, which during off-hours will provide would-be rescuers with a contact number for a STAHR volunteer.

Once called, the volunteer will arrange for a driver to pick up the animal and bring it to the home of another volunteer until SCRAPS reopens.

“We want animals to remain safe, because when they’re on the loose, they have the potential to be harmed,” Brayson-Foster said. “This is really exciting; it’s moving really quickly and the pieces of the puzzle are coming together.”

The core group of nine volunteers was formed during a meeting on July 2. Federal 501(c)(3) status is pending for the nonprofit group.

Brayson-Foster hopes for more pieces – people, rather – to assemble Saturday afternoon at Manito Park. From noon to 2 p.m., STAHR will hold a formal launch fundraiser at the North Pavilion, just east of Mirror Pond.

“We want to get out the word about who we are, how people can help and what our needs are,” said Brayson-Foster, who threw in another enticement. “We’ll be serving Blue Bunny ice cream.”

Mostly, the group is seeking a base of volunteers – call-takers during the hours SCRAPS is closed and drivers to pick up and transport animals to their temporary home.

When contacted by Brayson-Foster this summer about the program, SCRAPS regional director Lindsey Soffes replied, “Great idea.”

According to SCRAPS, it handles roughly 10,000 domestic animals every year, including about 3,000 dogs. That’s 60 dogs per week on average.

STAHR also will care for cats, though Brayson-Foster noted that “with cats, who knows sometimes if they’re actually lost.”

Some dogs are repeat offenders, which is where the fundraising piece comes in. STAHR plans to offer free fence repair for owners who need it. Brayson-Foster also envisions using funds to help pet owners pay their impound fees.

“We want to use the money for a good cause,” she said.

STAHR also is seeking what Brayson-Foster calls “social-media stars” – people who can connect with pet owners on Facebook and other social media sites to reunite animals and owners.

That’s how STAHR got its start on Memorial Day weekend. After several hours of posting on social media, the owner was found.

“The night we found that dog, I said to my husband, ‘This is what I’m supposed to do,’ ” Brayson-Foster said.