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Date: 10/5/2022
CHICOPEE – Owner Lori Jerusik of Mutt Rescue Inc. provides essential services for abandoned animals searching for a new home.
Jerusik always showcased an unwavering passion toward animal care. She worked in the past as an animal groomer, dog obedience trainer, a dog behavioral specialist and the owner of a doggie daycare. After operating the doggie daycare for 20 years, Jerusik shifted her focus on aiding animals that were disregarded in their environments.
“When I discovered the many, many animals that were abandoned unnecessarily, thrown out, abused, kept outside chained with two feet of movement room with no food or water, homelessness and seeing them in high-kill shelters where they were not given 24 hours to find a new family. This broke my heart and gave me numerous sleepless nights to which I knew I needed to help,” said Jerusik in her mission statement.
Jerusik started her nonprofit operation by purchasing a truck and small camper to transport up to 25 animals from Arkansas. Initially, she would secure dog health certificates and help the animals find a new home via adoption events at PetSmart. Jerusik soon after developed a space in Chicopee lined with heated tents before the construction for a permanent facility on the business’ 102 Grove St. location in September 2017.
The new facility allowed Jerusik to expand her services, hosting over 50 dogs on average in a month. Over the course of five years, Jerusik aided in the rescuing of over 2,5000 dogs and puppies.
“I always have dogs circulating … it’s quite the process just to get the dogs here,” said Jerusik in an interview with Reminder Publishing. Each dog entering Mutt Rescue undergoes extensive procedures before finding their new home. Jerusik shared that the dogs receive heartworm testing, detailed exams and other medical procedures to ensure healthy conditions. While the dogs travel to Mutt Rescue’s headquarters, Jerusik showcases each upcoming dog on her website for interested applicants to apply for potential ownership with a $50 deposit.
Jerusik shared that she possesses big aspirations for expanding her space. She recently leveled off part of her property to host a small food truck park. With the ongoing development of a new sports complex in the area, Jerusik said the trucks will provide a reliable outlet packed with eclectic food options.
“We’re going to have a lot of families and a lot of hungry people,” said Jerusik.
All funds raised from hosting the food trucks will be utilized to further support Mutt Rescue’s mission – including the purchasing of a hot tub for hydrotherapy. Jerusik said this typically expensive program will be offered for free.
“It’s all going back to the dogs … I’m going to get a hot tub and put the dogs in the warm water and help them with their crippled legs for free,” said Jerusik.
Jerusik aspires for the new programing and her established offerings to continue to rescuing animals disenfranchised by their prior environments.
Readers can learn more about Mutt Rescue at https://muttrescueofmassachusetts.org/.