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Meet Karen Coleman of Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Coleman.

Karen, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston (MSRH)

Founded February 1, 2000

Vision: Every Schnauzer, A Home. One Adoption At A Time.

Mission: Within the organization’s scope and reach, MSRH is dedicated to rescuing every abandoned or lost Miniature Schnauzer that we can and migrating them to a loving forever home. In the interim period, between rescue and adoption, our all-volunteer team provides temporary homes in a safe and loving environment, while we search for the perfect adopter. We never forget that most adoptive families see but a snapshot of our overall organization. As such, we strive to ensure a perfect experience to give that snapshot exceptional clarity. Every perfect adoption experience requires a network of committed volunteers, veterinarians, partners, loving adoptive families and friends who pay the love forward with gifts of time, talent and treasure. We want every Schnauzer to have a home. At MSRH, we make it happen….one adoption at a time!

My first Schnauzer rescue was for myself. Gretchen joined my family in October 1998 and, though I had other pets in the past, it didn’t take long to realize that the Miniature Schnauzer was the breed for me. Unfortunately, just over a year later, Gretchen was ‘welcoming’ the kids home from school when she escaped after someone opened the gate. During the long search, I contacted shelters, boarding facilities, vets and groomers. I never found her….and it broke my heart. But within the tragedy, and through all my contacts, I found my purpose. On February 1, 2000, Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston was born. We are a 501c3 charitable organization made up entirely of volunteers and sponsored entirely by adoption fees and donations.

In the beginning, MSRH operated using funds I had received from an inheritance. In that first year alone, we rescued 75 dogs. Even with this success, the number of rescues continued to grow and MSRH now relies on adoption fees as well as donations from people who love the breed and generously support our continued efforts. Countless donations, in amounts both big and small, help us rescue approximately 300 dogs per year and provide veterinary services totaling approximately $150,000 per year! Since its inception, we’ve rescued well over 4,000 Miniature Schnauzers and helped orchestrate their “New Beginnings”.

Our adoption fees generally range between $150 and $450 though there are certainly exceptions. These fees help cover veterinary services including spay/neuter, shots, heartworm tests (and treatment if positive) and dental work as required. MSRH also coordinates a number of specialty surgeries including portal shunts, gallbladder removal and orthopedics. In short, those who adopt dogs from MSRH can be assured the dog is healthy and thoroughly vetted.

Through the years, I’ve been blessed to work with both individuals and companies whose dedication is immeasurable. Today, Marilyn (Vice-President) and Robin (Secretary / Treasurer), along with our Board of Directors, help oversee a caring, dedicated team of dedicated volunteers that number 30-50 at any given time combined with scores of volunteers that help us with so many other activities like fostering, fundraising and managing our website. There are so many who helped guide and support MSRH efforts from the beginning. Friends like Bev Smith, Vicky Beard, Michele Smith, Evelyn Hoover (Lone Star Miniature Schnauzer Rescue, Dallas), Bolivia Powell, Karen Hoffman (Animal Control, Pasadena) and Laurene Murtaugh gave so much to help bring an idea into reality. In addition, numerous companies have offered their support including Vinson & Elkins (who did our 501 C3 paperwork pro bono), Dr. Tom Dayton of Parker Road Animal Hospital (who provides outstanding veterinary care) and Dogtopia, previously Happy Tails Dog Spa, (who fosters two minis for us and provides certain grooming services). I can’t individually list all the current volunteers, as well as other individuals and companies that have supported, and continue to support, our efforts but please know that you are forever appreciated and that I am eternally grateful. Thank You!

Source: https://www.msrh.org/

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Rescue is NEVER a smooth road. This is a labor of love. Most independent rescues do not have the funds to have a facility or paid employees. Some of the minis we bring into rescue are in very rough shape. We do a fair number of specialty surgeries, such as orthopedics for broken legs, crushed pelvic bones, removal of gallbladders, removal of tumors, and many more.

Sadly, as inexpensive as heartworm prevention is these days, about 10 to 40% of the minis (varies by year) for heart worms. This means putting them on pre-treatment meds for 30 days and then keeping them kenneled (in a home) for 6-8 weeks) while they go thru the treatment. It is hard on their systems and a few are beyond saving as the infestation is so great. We don’t lose many, but it is always difficult when we lose one. We do our best to save as many as we can.

We take not only young dogs, but older dogs and do our best to rehome them. We have even taken in dogs with cancer and put them in foster care until it is their time to cross over the rainbow bridge. For these undertakings, we have to have a lot of wonderful folks with hearts the size of Texas.

I will give you just one example. Onyx was owner surrendered to the Houston Human Society. They tried to place her, but no one stepped up and after having her for about 3 months, they reached out to MSRH. I, personally, picked up this sweet girl and decided to foster her to health. She had ear infections in both ears, a bad mouth of teeth thus infection, a kidney stone, a chronic bladder infection, and was heartworm positive. We got the ears cleared up first. Then we had a dental done and pulled a number of teeth. She was on antibiotics for 2 weeks prior, but still, she almost went septic on us and had to spend 4 days at VERGI in intensive care. Fortunately, our aggressive treatment of the infection brought her through this. She was released and then referred to a specialist, Dr Richard Stone at North Houston Veterinary Specialists who in conjunction with her primary vet, Dr Tom Dayton at Houston Veterinary Hospital, her care of the kidney stones and bladder infection were finally resolved. Because of her system having so much infection, we did conservative heartworm treatment and put her on prevention which was monitored by Dr Dayton. We got lucky and after 6 months Onyx was heartworm negative. It took 10 months to get her health restored. To get Onyx to this point cost thousands of dollars, however, Onyx had 2 guardian angels who covered her stay at VERGI and multiple wonderful folks who donated to her care. Finally at almost 8.5 years old, Onyx was ready for adoption. A lot of folks think 8.5 years is too old, but they are wonderful and add so much to their human’s life. In the end, when she had been with me a year and up for adoption for 2 months, I adopted her as I did not feel it fair to move her into yet another home. She had been through enough.

We have many stories like this. Not all have as many health issues, but it takes a lot of time and vetting to get them ready for adoption. We are blessed to have a wonderful vet who has been my personal vet for 29 years and been with rescue since day 1, Dr Tom Dayton, Houston Veterinary Hospital (formerly Parker Road Animal Hospital) Dr Dayton does all of our critical care and the majority of our specialty surgeries. We have other vets who work with us on our regular vetting, Canfel, Advanced Mobile (rescue only), and Sugarland Pet Hospital. We have others who work with us but the above are our main sources for veterinary care. Our group spends around $250,000 annually in vetting.

We have some very wonderful and loyal supporters, but we still have to do additional fund raising to take care of all our little ones. Once we bring them into rescue, we feel we have committed to do the very best possible to get them healthy, regardless of age.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Miniature Schnauzer Rescue of Houston – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
MSRH takes in the minis that many rescues would pass over due to their health issues. We do not discriminate because of age. Last year we took in a number of dogs between the ages of 8 to 14 years. Currently we have 46 dogs in rescue and 11 of those are 8-11 years old.

MSRH takes in owner surrenders, strays, and shelter dogs. We just got a request to take an 11 year old female because her human mother has MS and cannot take care of her. We will have our vet evaluate her records and once this is done, we will do our best to help her.

MSRH has a great team of volunteers who all work very hard to get these little ones healthy and ready for their new forever home. If their health is such that they can’t be adopted, we find a foster willing to keep them for the time they have left and MSRH assumes the costs of their care,

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Really, our plans for the future are the same as the present. MSRH wants to do the best we can to help these little ones to find their forever homes. Keep on taking the broken and making them whole. It is what we do.

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