Rescue group helping homeless people with dogs amid extreme cold

Amid the extreme cold, a non-profit dog rescue organization has a mission to help the homeless population with dogs in Hamilton and Niagara.

R.E.B.E.L. Dog Rescue provides essential supplies for both pets and their owners, including food and sleeping bags.

Sofia was rescued from Texas over two years ago.

“She was in really poor condition, she came from a hoarding case and she basically had no fur when she came up here so she made huge strides.” said co-founder Leah Piccone.

Sofia is currently in palliative care.

READ MORE: St. Catharines shelter looks for donations after dog found in ‘deplorable’ condition

”She does have congestive heart failure as well as kidney disease… so you wouldn’t know it seeing her but yeah she’s going through a lot.”

Piccone and Kathryn Gibbs are cofounders of the non-profit group that has been in operation since 2019. Their goal is to help homeless people who have dogs.

“We decided to take some of those supplies and provide them to the people in the community who are in need especially during the winter months. It’s difficult to get by when you have a pet and you’re displaced.” said Gibbs.

R.E.B.E.L. stands for “Rescue, Educate, Believe, Empower and Love dogs”. It involves a small, but mighty team with around 20 volunteers composing their team.

Since 2020, the dog rescue has adopted over 900 dogs from “high kill” shelters in Texas and local rescues in southern Ontario.

READ MORE: Emergency crews rescue dog from house fire in Crystal Beach

“It’s always been close to my heart and I think that if we have the ability and supplies to help people then we want to be able to do that,” said Gibbs.

She says they need help now more than ever.

“We were running during COVID and we had a really really high adoptions during that time. A lot of people are off work looking for dogs. It has significantly decreased since then. So our need now for adopters and help is bigger than ever.”

The City of Hamilton issued a cold weather alert Sunday night and the group is trying to help people and their dogs in need by providing necessary items where they are, as shelter options are limited for those with pets.

“Most owners provide for their animals before they provide for themselves so i think the risk is probably higher for the humans than it is for the dogs.”

WATCH MORE: Winter storm brings slick roads and power outages to Hamilton, Niagara

Piccone says it’s important to not judge those who are unhoused.

“I think there is a lot of judgment that can be passed on people who are unhoused right now or struggling so the biggest thing is try not to hold judgment on these people, everyone’s trying their best and we’re trying to meet them where they’re at.”

R.E.B.E.L relies on donations and adoptions fees and is now seeking foster families.

The non-profit is set to distribute care packages in St. Catharines on Jan. 21 and in Hamilton on Jan. 28.

Anyone interested in making a donation can visit the organization’s website.