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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Wags to Riches making a difference to animals

No-kill shelter serves Yakima area

Yakima Herald-Republic

YAKIMA – They’ve seen puppies stuffed in garbage bags, dogs riddled with bullet wounds and unwanted cats living on bugs and rocks.

To help these and other animals, a group of about 25 residents recently formed a pet rescue group called Wags to Riches, a nonprofit no-kill shelter serving Central Washington.

“We wanted to fulfill our own vision,” said board chairman Roger Vandiver. “People really did want us to be different.”

Wags to Riches launched in July to rescue and adopt stray, abused and surrendered animals and find them permanent, loving homes.

Although most animals come from throughout the Yakima Valley, some are adopted out to people living in Canada, Oregon and Idaho – provided they make the drive to pick up their new pet.

Until the animals are adopted, the organization supplies them with food, veterinary treatment and foster care. It’s run by volunteers who have a combined 10 years of experience with animal rescue work.

“We knew what we were doing,” said volunteer Juanda Krebs. “We really hit the ground running.”

In the past six months, the group has rescued 114 animals, and they’re distributing newsletters throughout the community.

The group’s success stories evoke pride among members. Krebs’ daughter, Kim Wertenberger, remembers being called to the Naches area in September to help find a 10-year-old Akita mix named Copper. The dog had been thrown from a vehicle during an accident five days earlier, and his owners feared he was dead.

For four days, others had unsuccessfully tried to find Copper. But Wertenberger and her team found him. They watched as Copper clawed his way to the top of a 150-foot embankment toward rescue.

“To find him alive and to bring him back to his family was just amazing,” said Wertenberger. “To be a part of that was so worth it.”

Bob Chism agrees. Now caring for a half-dozen 4-week-old shepherd-mix puppies rescued from Wapato, he is eager to do what he can to support Wags to Riches’ mission. Still, he said, the need for more volunteers is great.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. It really is,” he said. “It’s all for the animals.”

The group’s long-term goals include bringing fourth-year veterinary students to the area to learn how to spay and neuter rescued animals alongside qualified professionals.

It wants to start an education program to teach children how to care for, respect and rescue animals, and it wants to own its own sanctuary outside of Yakima city limits within the next five years.

The group’s needs have been fulfilled so far, and it’s optimistic the future is equally bright.

“You can accomplish so much more when you have many people working together to accomplish a single goal,” Vandiver said. “The further along we get, the more interesting it becomes.”