Dog rescue needs volunteers so it can help more animals

Juneau, Tracker, Lila, Peace Lily and Gemini Zod are all the “goodest” boys and girls and are looking for endless belly rubs with their forever families.

Polka Dogz Pet Rescue has these dogs — and dozens more — at its Lake County shelter and in foster homes and is hoping to find good, loving homes for them. But to keep the nonprofit organization operating, it needs help — in the way of monetary donations and, more importantly, volunteers.

The rescue was started in Winter Garden in 2015 in a small travel trailer in Winter Garden. Heidi Hardman and Aaron Stein had been working at other animal rescue organizations for about 15 years and thought they could do a better job, so they created Polka Dogz for rescued, abused and neglected dogs.

In 2023 alone, the group spent $142,000 on veterinary bills. An estimated $300,000 is needed annually to keep the rescue operating.

Hardman also is the owner of Polka Dotz, a jewelry and accessories store in downtown Winter Garden. One section of the shop is dedicated to the rescue, and all proceeds go to Polka Dogz. Last year, $12,000 was donated to the nonprofit.

‘A NEVER-ENDING STRUGGLE’

“It is a never-ending struggle, but we are committed to saving dogs no matter their physical conditions,” volunteer Christopher Cooper said. “We have placed dogs with various disabilities in loving homes.”

Stein takes special care of each one that comes through the door.

“We do everything and anything the dogs need,” he said. “We spare no expense: shots, spay, neuter, surgeries, microchip, literally everything.”

Cooper has driven dogs to the University of Florida to see a specialist, and an eye veterinarian in Maitland often sees Polka Dogz canines.

Dedicated volunteers are also at the heart of keeping the organization running. More than 100 people are registered as volunteers, but only about 20 of them are available on a regular basis.

“You can have all the money in the world, but without the help it doesn’t matter,” Cooper said.

“Right now, I’m going to have to cut back on total dogs until I get help,” Stein added.

Volunteers might have to do a little cleaning, but most of the job entails hanging out with the dogs and loving on them.

Experienced fosters also are needed to handle the more challenging dogs that come in. Stein said one dog currently at Polka Dogz has special needs and should be in a foster home instead of at the rescue site.

A few others have temperament issues but are trainable, he said.

“We’ve never euthanized a dog for temperament, and we never will,” he said. “And I will always stand by that. Every dog … is workable if the owner has the time and patience and consistency.”

The dogs in Polka Dogz’s care are categorized in one of three ways, Stein said.

“You’ve got the ones who are young and playful and they’ll stay because they’re happy here,” he said. “Usually dogs won’t stay more than a month or two. And then you have the dogs that are a little older and are healthy but don’t like the craziness, so they stay until they get vetted and then they get into foster. And then we have the dogs that are special needs.”

Stein said he gets dozens of emails each day from people or organizations wanting to place dogs with the rescue. Occasionally, a request will come in from another rescue that has 100 dogs.

“There also are plenty of situations where people get into hoarding,” he said. “I’m very strict about the number of dogs I take here. … That’s probably the hardest part of doing this. I get so many requests from people, surrender requests; one day I had 19.”

About 200 dogs are placed through Polka Dogz each year.

Potential families must go through an extensive adoption process; Stein visits every home before leaving a dog there.

“We have adopted out over 1,700 dogs, and we’ve been to over 1,700 homes, each and every one,” he said.

HIGH VISIBILITY

One way to get more dogs into the right homes is to make frequent community appearances. Every other Saturday, Polka Dogz volunteers take several dogs to the PetSmart in the Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves. Dogs also are shown off at most downtown Winter Garden events and Winter Garden Police Department-sponsored gatherings.

Stein said the dogs come from several main sources, including animal services departments and owner surrenders. The dogs that arrive from animal services are typically seniors, special needs, those that might need surgery and those that possibly have heartworm — the dogs most likely to be euthanized, he said.

“We have the best interests of the dogs,” Cooper said.

One pooch that has been with Polka Dogz the longest is Maverick, who was found injured on the side of a road as a puppy and taken to rescuers. He now lives with Hardman.

Maverick, who is about 9, has become the group’s mascot and can get around quickly with the customized wheelchair for his hind legs.

“Normally, he sleeps 22 hours a day, but if you take him to an event, he’ll be in his wheelchair for hours zooming around,” Stein said. “If you get him out in the public, he’s a big showoff.”

Volunteers are needed for the public events as well.

“With all our volunteers, most of them are retired and they feel now it’s time to give back,” Cooper said. “My mom was (with a) greyhound rescue, so I’ve spent my whole life in rescue.”

Stein continues his rescue work because he is passionate about animals.

“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Be the change,’ and I firmly believe in that,” he said.