Bonaparte's Retreat
Programs
Description
Our volunteer program benefits our adoptable dogs, our marketing & promotion & fundraising efforts, as well as the individual volunteers who support us. Our volunteer opportunities are publicized on our website, social media, & via e-newsletters. We solicit volunteers to serve as foster parents, to provide dog-walking, socializing, & training throughout the week, & to assist at our meet & greet adoption events and larger special events. The volunteer program teaches individuals the unique qualities needed to work with 'shelter dogs,' including patience, compassion, & gentleness. The program also teaches volunteers the basics of obedience training--so that they can help to train our dogs, which increases chances of successful adoptions. Volunteers also assist or learn about event planning, grant opportunities, website or other technology needs, general office, data entry, or administrative assistance, marketing & publicity.
Category
Animal Related - Animal-Related, General/Other
Beneficiaries
Adults
Program Areas Served
None
Our volunteer program benefits our adoptable dogs, our marketing & promotion & fundraising efforts, as well as the individual volunteers who support us. Our volunteer opportunities are publicized on our website, social media, & via e-newsletters. We solicit volunteers to serve as foster parents, to provide dog-walking, socializing, & training throughout the week, & to assist at our meet & greet adoption events and larger special events. The volunteer program teaches individuals the unique qualities needed to work with 'shelter dogs,' including patience, compassion, & gentleness. The program also teaches volunteers the basics of obedience training--so that they can help to train our dogs, which increases chances of successful adoptions. Volunteers also assist or learn about event planning, grant opportunities, website or other technology needs, general office, data entry, or administrative assistance, marketing & publicity.
Category
Animal Related - Animal-Related, General/Other
Beneficiaries
Adults
Program Areas Served
None
Description
We are a small foster-based dog rescue organization. At one foster home, we house up to 4-5 dogs, while other foster parents nurture & provide for one dog at a time until they are placed in permanent homes. We ask that our foster parents treat the dog as if he/she were their very own pet--while at the same time socializing the dog, teaching basic 'house manners,' how to walk on a leash, & training basic obedience commands such as Sit, Stay, Down, & so on. Our challenge is always to recruit more foster parents & to provide them the tools & training materials they need to help transform a shelter dog into one who will be successfully adopted. One strategy to recruit & retain new foster families or individuals is special short-term initiatives: weekend sleepovers, bow-wow breakouts, weekend camping or get-aways, & "home for the holidays" during Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Years, where our shelter dogs have opportunities to stay in real homes even for a limited time.
Beneficiaries
Families
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
We are a small foster-based dog rescue organization. At one foster home, we house up to 4-5 dogs, while other foster parents nurture & provide for one dog at a time until they are placed in permanent homes. We ask that our foster parents treat the dog as if he/she were their very own pet--while at the same time socializing the dog, teaching basic 'house manners,' how to walk on a leash, & training basic obedience commands such as Sit, Stay, Down, & so on. Our challenge is always to recruit more foster parents & to provide them the tools & training materials they need to help transform a shelter dog into one who will be successfully adopted. One strategy to recruit & retain new foster families or individuals is special short-term initiatives: weekend sleepovers, bow-wow breakouts, weekend camping or get-aways, & "home for the holidays" during Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Years, where our shelter dogs have opportunities to stay in real homes even for a limited time.
Beneficiaries
Families
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
Description
A partnership with the YWCA of Middle Tennessee to establish a SHIP-type program (Strategic Humane Interventions Program). For parents & children recovering from domestic abuse, we provided humane education curricula & shelter dogs to teach them how to train dogs basic commands via clicker training. Families witness & participate & quickly see the benefits of positive reinforcement. The program, in concert with humane education, teaches positive people interaction skills to parents & children suffering from domestic violence, & teaches families how to reward positive behavior & ignore negative behavior, first with dogs, which then transfers to interactions with their children & each other. (Program currently on hiatus.)
Beneficiaries
Families
Victims
Adults
Program Areas Served
None
A partnership with the YWCA of Middle Tennessee to establish a SHIP-type program (Strategic Humane Interventions Program). For parents & children recovering from domestic abuse, we provided humane education curricula & shelter dogs to teach them how to train dogs basic commands via clicker training. Families witness & participate & quickly see the benefits of positive reinforcement. The program, in concert with humane education, teaches positive people interaction skills to parents & children suffering from domestic violence, & teaches families how to reward positive behavior & ignore negative behavior, first with dogs, which then transfers to interactions with their children & each other. (Program currently on hiatus.)
Beneficiaries
Families
Victims
Adults
Program Areas Served
None
Description
Our adoptable dogs are rescued from our partner shelter (Metro Animal Control) or shelters in surrounding counties. We at times rescue strays or owner-surrendered dogs. Adoptable dogs are marketed online (website, social media) & are available to meet at adoption events. Dogs are fully vetted (vaccinations, spay/neuter, tested for heartworms & treated or started on prevention, are current on flea/tick prevention). Prospective adopters submit an adoption application & pass a vet reference check (if applicable) to be eligible to adopt. If requirements are met, the dog enters the home for a trial period of not less than 3 weeks, during which we assist, train, provide counsel--anything needed to help the dog & adoptive family adjust. If an adoption is successful, adopters sign an adoption agreement & pay a fee of $125 or $75 (for special needs/senior dogs). We sometimes reduce or waive adoption fees as part of promotions or in cases in the best interests of the adopter or the animal.
Beneficiaries
Families
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
Our adoptable dogs are rescued from our partner shelter (Metro Animal Control) or shelters in surrounding counties. We at times rescue strays or owner-surrendered dogs. Adoptable dogs are marketed online (website, social media) & are available to meet at adoption events. Dogs are fully vetted (vaccinations, spay/neuter, tested for heartworms & treated or started on prevention, are current on flea/tick prevention). Prospective adopters submit an adoption application & pass a vet reference check (if applicable) to be eligible to adopt. If requirements are met, the dog enters the home for a trial period of not less than 3 weeks, during which we assist, train, provide counsel--anything needed to help the dog & adoptive family adjust. If an adoption is successful, adopters sign an adoption agreement & pay a fee of $125 or $75 (for special needs/senior dogs). We sometimes reduce or waive adoption fees as part of promotions or in cases in the best interests of the adopter or the animal.
Beneficiaries
Families
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
Description
SECOND CHANCES (currently on hiatus), a partnership with Sheriff Daron Hall & the Davidson County Sheriff's Office (DCSO). We provided shelter dogs & assisted certified trainer/behaviorist Julie Farris & DCSO staff to teach female offenders to train, socialize, live with, & love the dogs during a 6-8 week session. We provided medical/veterinary care, training supplies, equipment, & food. We marketed the adoptable dogs online (website/social media) & presented them to prospective adopters at adoption events. We secured adoptive homes for the dogs & at end of each training session, the offenders & dogs officially graduated at a ceremony. DCSO offenders received a certificate & learned life & employment skills as a result of their work. Shelter dogs were transformed as were the offenders, learning compassion, patience, persistence & life skills to help at home, with families & in the community. And they acquired work skills relevant to jobs in animal-related fields & nonprofit sector.
Beneficiaries
Women and girls
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
SECOND CHANCES (currently on hiatus), a partnership with Sheriff Daron Hall & the Davidson County Sheriff's Office (DCSO). We provided shelter dogs & assisted certified trainer/behaviorist Julie Farris & DCSO staff to teach female offenders to train, socialize, live with, & love the dogs during a 6-8 week session. We provided medical/veterinary care, training supplies, equipment, & food. We marketed the adoptable dogs online (website/social media) & presented them to prospective adopters at adoption events. We secured adoptive homes for the dogs & at end of each training session, the offenders & dogs officially graduated at a ceremony. DCSO offenders received a certificate & learned life & employment skills as a result of their work. Shelter dogs were transformed as were the offenders, learning compassion, patience, persistence & life skills to help at home, with families & in the community. And they acquired work skills relevant to jobs in animal-related fields & nonprofit sector.
Beneficiaries
Women and girls
Adults
Animals
Program Areas Served
None
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| Although Bonaparte's Retreat can house up to 4 or 5 rescue dogs awaiting adoption at a single foster home, the key to our continued success is recruiting and retaining additional foster homes. Having more foster families is the only way to increase the number of dogs we rescue from shelters and thus adopt into permanent, loving homes. Attracting foster families to join us is an ongoing challenge. |
