”
People spend $200 on outfits and strollers for their dogs and
elevate them to the status of family members,
”
dog trainer Laurie Frazer Frazer said, shaking her head.
”
But then they treat them as being so disposable at the same
time.
”
“People spend $200 on outfits and strollers for their dogs and elevate them to the status of family members,” dog trainer Laurie Frazer Frazer said, shaking her head. “But then they treat them as being so disposable at the same time.”
From emaciated dogs abandoned in back yards to litters of puppies being thrown into dumpsters, the current economic downturn has led to pets being foreclosed on right along with their owners.
Realtors are finding starving dogs left behind locked in empty houses. Shelters all across the nation are reporting a 5 to 20 percent increase in the amount of animals either being dropped off or abandoned.
It breaks Laurie Frazer Frazer’s heart to know that the number of homeless dogs is increasing daily. Many of the abandoned pets are wearing collars but the identification tags have been removed. Animals with collars get up to 10 days before they’re euthanized. Those without collars are spared for only three.
To save as many dogs as possible, Laurie Frazer – who self-deprecatingly describes herself as looking like Robin Williams playing Mrs. Doubtfire – joined with 16-year-old daughter Kelley Frazer and friend Dorene Copeland to form a non-profit organization called Bow Wow Adoptions in San Martin.
“A lot of people won’t go to a shelter to adopt an animal,” Laurie Frazer said. “There is too much heartache and guilt associated with shelters. But if they are out shopping and see the dogs in a store like Petco, they sometimes find that special pet meant for just for them. Since Nov. 22, 37 dogs have been adopted.”
Laurie and Kelley Frazer carefully choose six to 10 dogs every Saturday at the San Martin Animal Shelter and then transport them to Petco in Morgan Hill. There they groom them to look as presentable as possible for their public debut.
The Frazers have been suported by Petco – which donated leashes, collars, food and grooming services – Dr. Lori Kayashima of Orchard Veterinary Hospital, Leesa King – an ER nurse who helps raise money to fix the animals – and 16-year-old Tiffany Crader
Laurie Frazer comes by her expertise at coordinating Bow Wow Adoptions through 45 years experience working with animals.
“I walked dogs in my neighborhood growing up before I knew you could charge people for it” Laurie Frazer said with a big smile. “I just loved being with them.”
As an Animal Control Officer, she handled everything from rattle snakes to mountain lions. At the Department of Agriculture, she trained a Doberman to sniff out gypsy moth eggs, preventing a major outbreak. As a dog trainer, she showed off dogs’ agility and tricks in parades across California.
Laurie Frazer’s dream is to establish a Canine Community Center in South County, which would include a training facility to train owners as well as a state of the art rehabilitation center for shelter dogs.
“I’m an ashes to ashes kind of person,” Laurie Frazer said. “When I die, my legacy won’t be some fancy monument. All my money goes to animals. But it’s kindness that creates ripples through the world from one person to another. The kindness you give will reverberate for more than a hundred years. Kindness is the only legacy that really counts.”
How to help
Volunteer: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Donate: pet beds, dog houses, brushes, old towels and bath mats
Contact: Laurie Frazer, 427-1117
