ALL our dogs are special and deserve a home & family of their own!!
News
UPDATE 2/6/08: Court was re-scheduled to 12/26/07. We were granted another deadline of 2/29/08 to have all dogs indoors. We are at 41 dogs total, with only six remaining outside! So we're making progress. Please visit our dog list and see if one of our kids would fit into your family - we have some GREAT DOGS!!!!!
--> THE BIG NEWS IS THAT MARIAH'S PROMISE IS OPENING A THRIFT STORE IN WOODLAND PARK, AT 213 ASPEN GARDEN WAY (ACROSS FROM SAFEWAY/BURGER KING) WE HOPE TO OPEN SOON. THIS WILL BE A RESOURCE CENTER FOR ANIMAL LOVERS TO HELP ANIMALS. WE WILL HOLD ADOPTION FAIRS ON SATURDAYS SO PEOPLE CAN MEET SOME OF THE DOGS THEIR PURCHASES HELP. WE WILL ALSO HAVE OTHER RESCUES VISIT ONCE A MONTH AND SHARE THEIR WORK AND MEET THEIR RESCUES - GROUPS LIKE MILL DOG RESCUE, SAFE PLACE AND OTHERS. WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THE STORE, INTAKE AND SETTING ITEMS OUT.
It has been rumored that Mariah's Promise is closing - we are trying not to!! Finances continue to be an issue and we are struggling. We are downsizing due to the battle we have had with conspiring neighbors since we began taking FAMILY PETS and puppies when the Pit Bull Ban was reinflicted on Denver citizens and their dogs in May, 2005. Mike & I already had 14 bully's or mixes at Mariah's Promise and just couldn't IMAGINE how we would feel if someone knocked on our door and said your dog must go - or be killed!! That's why we opened up Mariah's Promise to help those dogs and their people. Actually, we started taking dogs in February because some suspected Denver would win in civil court their right of 'home rule' to have Breed Specific Legislation (BSL which results in a breed being banned) after Govenor Owens signed a bill stating that Colorado could NOT ban a breed, and these people began releasing dogs to Max Fund in Denver left & right or dumping them on the streets.
The neighbors read of what we were doing because of an excellent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette by Bill Radford in September, 2005. It wasn't like we were a covert operation - every major news media was here to cover Denver's exiled dogs (CNN, AP, ABC, NBC, CBS, Rocky Mountain News, KRDO, Denver's W-2, LA Times, etc).
In the prior two years of operating Mariah's Promise, we didn't have one complaint. At the end of September 2005, Teller County's new ordinance was implemented and the barking dog ordinance changed from two households complaining to only one, the neighbors just bombarded us. Please note - the subdivision across the road has approximately 45 houses and we very often hear dogs barking in the distance while ours are quiet. Because donations dwindled significantly since Katrina in 2005, it has taken everything we have to keep going and has taken it's toll on our personal finances. In October, 2006, we were court-ordered to reduced our dogs from 85 to 50, which includes our personal dogs and have stayed at 50 since that time. Realize, this tied our hands to help not only Denver dogs, but Hospice, and Victim's Assistance and others that needed help!!
We sold the 40-acre parcel - it was sell it or lose it. While the buyer was tasked with doing the survey prior to closing, they chose not to. The survey was done two weeks after closing and at that time we discovered that we have what's called a 'clouded title' and an encumberance on the 40-acre parcel. A volley of letters between our attorney and the buyer's have proved fruitless - we are asking to buy back the property that surrounds the house (like our kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, septic tank ...). Having a 'clouded title' prevented us from refinancing to comply with the court order that we have a shelter building up by the end of July, 2007. Because we couldn't comply with the court order, the next thing was that I was court-ordered to vacate our home (not my husband Mike, just me) with all the dogs (including our personal dogs) by 10/31/07. For some reason, that just didn't set well with Mike and he searched for a new attorney. Finding one, he reviewed the case and had serious concerns about the way the order was written, so he entered a motion to 'set aside' the previous order and a new hearing was set for 11/29/07. In the meantime, we have also retained a second new attorney to handle the title issue on the current property. (We have been supporting attorneys here lately in addition to the operating costs of Mariah's Promise).
We do not know what the future holds, but trust God that His Will be done for Mariah's Promise. I believe with all my heart that this will be a blessing in disguise ... a PHOENIX RISING!! We appreciate everyone's concern and will keep you posted here until we can find a new web person to update www.mariahspromise.com Thank you!!
----> There's a fable story about a group of friends having a picnic on a river. They hear the sound of crying and look up to see a baby floating helplessly in the river. They immediately dive in to save the baby, and to their horror see another baby floating towards them. They save that one too, only to see more appear. Soon the river is full of babies and they dive again and again to save these babies from drowning. One of the people gets out of the river and begins running upstream ... the others shout, "Where are you going!?" He yells back, "I'm going upstream to find out who's throwing babies in the water and make them stop". PLEASE spay and neuter your pets to keep the babies from being thrown into the river!! It takes communities working together, not just the shelters or rescue groups, to keep the animals 'out of the river'.<---
Who We Are
Rescue Animal Fund's sanctuary Mariah's Promise was named after a little 5 week old, 4# abandoned puppy that we all fought hard, but lost her battle with parvo while we were negotiating the deal for this sanctuary. Because of Mariah's heart and spirit, we chose to name our sanctuary in honor of her. Mariah represents the hundreds of dogs and puppies that have touched our hearts and lives.
Mariah's Promise is, "all that we can - we will", to help animals. We are a TRUE no-kill sanctuary, a 501(c)3, run by volunteers. Mike & Toni have been in dog rescue now going on 17 years, beginning in D/FW, Texas, then Branson, Missouri & now Colorado. We have yet to find an "unadoptable" dog - we assess each dog that comes to us only to understand their personality and needs, not to determine whether they live or not. Until a dog finds a new home, they have a home with us. Our desire is to give animals the OPPORTUNITY to find the family for them, no matter how long it takes. We take in animals that have been left injured, or neglected, older dogs, those with health issues, bringing them into our home where their needs are met, they are valued and loved. Here, they have a chance to heal and learn to trust again.
Our original 3,500 sq ft outdoor kennel area, which has several over-sized kennels, each with an igloo, more than doubled with the incoming dogs from Denver. The dogs have three huge play yards on three fenced acres to run and play, socialize and mingle with other dogs. We share our home with an average of 30 dogs in the evenings and they take turns coming to work with us or just running errands. We do alot of "hands on" with our dogs because it helps them adjust to different situations and transition quickly into their new homes.
We also assist caregivers with food for their pets and medical as needed. We are priviledged to assist the military people when they need to re-home or need temporary care their animals or when they want to add one to their family! We also take in animals for Victim's Assistance in Teller and El Paso County at no charge while these women and their children get into a safe place and can take back their beloved pets.
~*~ In 2004, 2005 and 2007, through the MaxFund Outreach program, we have held low cost spay/neuter clinics in Teller County. With these clinics, over 200 animals were altered and some 500 animals were vaccinated. That's quite an impact on our small county!!! ~*~
We appreciate the encouragement, support and commitment many people and businesses have given to help the animals that enter Mariah's Promise. We could not do it without them and we thank each of you for your help ~ MAXFUND, Denver; PARK STATE BANK & TRUST, Woodland Park; PURITY FARMS, Sedalia; HUNGRY BEAR RESTAURANT, Woodland Park; JAVA THE HUT, Woodland Park; STARBUCK'S Woodland Park & Colorado Springs; NATURE STATION, Woodland Park; SUNRISE FOUNDATION, LTD, Lakewood; PIKE'S PEAK MAGAZINE, Colorado Springs; PET'S VET OF AURORA/DR. SUSIE WALTERS; Lori Fabry, who does all the boards in Woodland Park (THANK YOU!!); LONG TIME VOLUNTEER, Paula Armenta; Lee Richards; Graeme & Sandy Badger; Elizabeth Ostertag; Laura Petreus of Your Pet's Golden Years; BEST FRIEND ANIMAL SOCIETY of Kanab, UT; Bob Sternberg & Denise Mesecar; Dr. David Volz of THE ANIMAL CLINIC OF WOODLAND PARK; Dr. Shannon Lemons of TELLER PARK VET SERVICE; Dr. Patrick Vall of ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER and many others who have been faithful to our dog friends!!!!!
*~* ALL THAT WE CAN - WE WILL*~*
BUT NOT WITHOUT THE HELP OF OUR FRIENDS!!!!!!
Adopting a friend
Mariah's Promise adoption fee is $100. Blue Lion sets their own adoption fees and policy. There is some confusion about where dogs are actually located - when reading the dogs bio, please note if it requests an email to bluelionrescue@yahoo.com or an alternate phone number or email. We partner with Blue Lion and others to assist in placing dogs and cats, but not all the dogs are at Mariah's Promise in Divide.
All our dogs are spayed or neutered, their shots are current, de-wormed and in good health. We look for homes where our dogs will become part of the family, to love and be loved. We reserve the right to do a home visit and background check on anyone interested in our dogs, specifically the Pit Bulls, Mastiffs & Rottweilers.
Come Visit Us!
Mariah's Promise is located north of Divide, Colorado. Blue Lion Animal Rescue is located on 35 acres in Yoder, CO. We welcome visitors, but ask that you call first. Come, see the potential!!
Mariah's Promise 4027 County Road 5
P.O. Box 1017
Divide, CO 80814
Phone: 719-687-4568 / 719-651-4733
