06/17/2026
For those of you who would like to read Andie’s speech here it is -
Good evening everyone,
My name is Andie Wise, and this little guy here is Bear. We are here tonight on behalf of Carter’s. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share the rescue’s story.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Carter’s, it is a dog shelter located just outside Bracebridge. Unlike rescues that operate exclusively through foster homes, Carter’s is a shelter-based rescue. We maintain a physical shelter where all of our dogs reside and receive care.
Carter’s is 100% volunteer based. We do not receive government funding and rely entirely on donations, fundraising efforts, and the generosity of our community to continue our work.
The founder Brenda couldn’t be here tonight because she is at the shelter caring for the dogs. Brenda’s journey into animal rescue began many years ago through wildlife rehabilitation and fostering with Aspen Valley. Over the years, her home became a safe haven for animals in need. She cared for injured and orphaned wildlife, including squirrels and even a raccoon named Martha, who lived with her for years.
Helping wildlife naturally evolved into helping domesticated animals. What started with fostering eventually grew into something much larger: a rescue dedicated to giving dogs a second chance.
Like many rescue organizations, our story isn’t really about us. It’s about the animals who have nowhere else to go. Today, Carter’s has been serving dogs and the people of this community for 18 years.
Now there are really two sides to the shelter.
The first, which is what most people think when they hear dog rescue, is our rescue program. These are dogs who come to us from all different circumstances—whether they’ve been abandoned, surrendered, neglected, or simply need a safe place to land. We provide medical care, rehabilitation, and ultimately help them find loving forever homes.
The second side is our sanctuary.
Not every dog that comes through our doors can be adopted out. As a sanctuary, we provide lifelong care for animals that may not be adoptable due to age, medical conditions, or special needs that require ongoing care and make finding a suitable home difficult.
These animals still deserve safety and comfort, and for these dogs, Carter’s becomes their forever home. They live out their lives surrounded by people who love them, receiving the medical care and dignity they deserve—whether that’s for months or for years.
There is another part of Carter’s that many people don’t know about.
Over the years, Brenda has stepped in to care for dogs whose owners were facing some of the most difficult times in their lives. This includes people admitted to hospital, individuals receiving mental health treatment, women staying in shelters here in Muskoka, people dealing with temporary housing challenges, and even dogs brought to us through local police services when owners are unable to care for them due to emergencies.
In many of these cases, people are desperately trying to keep their pets but simply need someone to care for them while they get back on their feet. Rather than forcing them to choose between getting help and keeping their dog, Brenda provides a safe place for their pets during that difficult period.
Sometimes rescue isn’t just about helping animals. It’s helping people too.
Now, we’re finally starting to move past the years of what many rescues referred to as the “COVID surrender” era. During the pandemic, many people brought home dogs while working remotely and spending more time at home. As life returned to normal, rescues across Canada saw a significant increase in surrender requests from owners who realized they no longer had the time or resources to care for their pets.
While those types of surrenders have slowed down, they’ve been replaced by a new and equally heartbreaking reality.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in dogs being surrendered who are seniors, or over the age of 10. Rising food costs, increasing veterinary expenses, housing challenges, and changes in family circumstances have left many pet owners struggling to provide the care their animals need.
No matter the reason, the requests never stop.
Every week, we receive between 10 and 15 surrender requests.
Sometimes it’s a family facing circumstances beyond their control. Sometimes it’s a dog that has been neglected, abandoned, or left behind. Sometimes it’s a senior dog whose owner has passed away. And sometimes it’s an animal that has exhausted every other option and is literally out of time.
What many people don’t see is what happens after we say yes.
The moment an animal enters our care, the expenses begin immediately.
The first stop is often veterinary care. Many animals arrive needing vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, dental work, medications, bloodwork, and sometimes immediate grooming due to severe neglect.
Veterinary expenses alone can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for a single animal.
For every dog adopted through Carter’s, we ensure they leave our care spayed or neutered, microchipped, fully vaccinated, and medically assessed. This is the standard every animal receives before they find their forever home.
But many animals require far more than the basics.
One of those dogs is Morty, a sweet and curious French Bulldog currently in our care.
When Morty arrived, he appeared to have what looked like a relatively minor eye infection. In many cases, a course of medication and eye drops would solve the problem.
Unfortunately, that is not Morty’s case. His vision has worsened and he is now in need of a double eye removal.
For most organizations, stories like Morty’s are difficult because they force you to make decisions based on finances.
For us, the decision is simple.
If an animal needs care, we provide it. The challenge isn’t deciding whether they deserve help—the challenge is finding the resources to make that care possible.
Blu is another example.
Blu is a fun, goofy girl who quickly became a favourite among our volunteers. When she arrived, we quickly noticed she was suffering from a bladder infection.
What initially seemed like a simple issue turned into months of testing and trying different combinations of antibiotics and specialized food before we finally found a treatment that worked.
Today, Blu is healthy, happy, and thriving in her adopted home.
For animals coming into the sanctuary, the costs associated with care don’t end after a few weeks or months. They remain with us for the rest of their lives. That means providing daily care, food, medications, veterinary appointments, grooming, enrichment, and a safe place to call home for as long as they need it.
While these animals may never leave for a forever home, they will never have to wonder where their next meal is coming from, where they will sleep, or who will care for them. They have already found their forever place with Carter’s.
One of those dogs was Lou.
Before coming to Carter’s, Lou had been at an animal shelter in Toronto. When he arrived in our care, he weighed just 60 pounds. He was severely emaciated with little fur and had clearly not been cared for.
Over time, with proper nutrition, veterinary care, and a lot of love, Lou transformed. He eventually reached approximately 150 pounds—a much healthier weight for a Mastiff-Rottweiler mix. He became the definition of a gentle giant and quickly stole the hearts of everyone who met him. Lou loved pup cups and the ladies at Starbucks equally loved him.
Despite this transformation, the damage from his early years could never be fully undone, and we knew he would never be well enough to go up for adoption. Lou lived at the shelter for the last two years until last month, when we had to say goodbye as his autoimmune system finally gave out.
He was loved, he was safe, and he was surrounded by people who were committed to him until the very end.
And now, I want to share Bear’s story with you.
Bear was originally sold as a puppy for $10,000 USD, but was later returned due to being born with “defects” and would not be a good breeding dog in the future. The original breeder was unable to rehome him, and he ultimately entered our care.
When he arrived, Bear had a broken pelvis and an elongated stomach. Because of his size and breeding, surgery is not an option and he requires monitoring and ongoing medical management.
He is now almost two years old. Despite his early injuries and ongoing health challenges, Bear is a happy, bright dog who enjoys his days and takes everything in stride. He can walk, run, and play, but this is always monitored so he does not overexert himself.
He loves attention, he loves people, and he continues to show us just how resilient dogs can be.
Now his condition does mean he will have a much shorter life expectancy. But in our care, that does not define him. He is safe, he is comfortable, and he receives endless attention.
This is what our sanctuary program is designed for.
“One of the questions we’re asked most often—and it’s a fair one—is, where does the money go?”
The answer is simple: it goes directly to the dogs.
Carter’s is entirely volunteer-run. There are no salaries being paid from donations. Every dollar is used to provide care, safety, and a better quality of life for the animals that depend on us.
Our two largest expenses are food and veterinary care.
And both are constant.
Every dog that comes through our doors needs to be fed, housed and cared for properly. With dozens of dogs coming through our care each year, those costs add up quickly.
But we don’t turn away care based on cost. We simply figure it out.
Because once a dog is in our care, they’re our responsibility.
Our volunteers are the ones transporting dogs to vet appointments, grooming, surgeries, hydrotherapy, and other services available in our community. These additional supports make a meaningful difference in the dogs’ quality of life, and every step of that process is carried out by people who show up because they care.
This year, we have seen a significant increase in dogs being surrendered at the very end of their lives.
These are some of the hardest intakes we deal with.
We work closely with Heart With Wings out of Barrie, whose veterinary team supports us in providing end-of-life care. That includes pain management and, when the time comes, humane euthanasia carried out with dignity and compassion.
This is also some of the most expensive care we provide. End-of-life veterinary work adds up quickly.
But regardless of cost, we do not say no to these dogs.
Because at the end of their lives, what matters most is not where they came from—it is that they are safe, comfortable, and treated with kindness until their very last moment.
Beyond the direct care of the dogs, donations also help maintain the shelter itself. The dogs in our care spend a great deal of time outdoors enjoying secure yards and exercise areas, which require ongoing maintenance to ensure they remain safe, clean, and functional year-round.
From bedding to heating, cooling, and everyday repairs, they are all essential parts of providing a comfortable environment.
When you donate, you are helping put food in bowls, providing medical care, maintaining safe shelter and exercise spaces, and ensuring that every dog who comes through our doors receives the care they deserve.
Simply put, your donation directly impacts the day-to-day lives of the animals.
Like many people involved in animal rescue, I never set out expecting this work to become such a significant part of my life. But once you see what it truly involves, it becomes almost impossible to walk away.
I have been with the shelter for seven years this month, and I’m often asked, “How do you keep doing it? Doesn’t it take a toll on you?”
The honest answer is yes, it absolutely does.
It is emotionally and mentally demanding work. Seeing dogs come in from situations where they have been neglected, denied proper care, or outright abused is heartbreaking. Even the dogs surrendered through no fault of their own arrive confused and scared, not understanding why they are no longer with the people they loved.
But the other part of the answer is just as important.
Yes—it is worth it.
Because everything changes when you see the pieces come together.
When a dog who arrived broken and scared finally begins to trust you. When a dog who was starved starts to gain weight and come back to life. And when a dog finally gets adopted into a home where they are safe and loved.
Those are the moments that make everything else bearable.
I have had the privilege of adopting twice from Carter’s, and I’ve seen firsthand the transformation that happens when a dog moves from shelter life into a home.
It is one thing to know it. It is something entirely different to see it.
The shift in their confidence, their personality, and their sense of safety is remarkable.
In the end, the joy of helping them far outweighs the emotional weight it takes to get them there.
And the truth is, tonight I've only shared a small part of what rescue looks like.
I haven't talked about the backyard breeding operations that continue to produce litters faster than homes can be found. I haven't talked about puppy mills being shut down and dozens of dogs suddenly needing somewhere safe to go. I haven't talked about hoarding situations where animals are removed from heartbreaking conditions and shelters are left scrambling to make room.
These situations are happening across Ontario, and every rescue is feeling the impact.
The reality is that there will be another phone call tomorrow.
Another dog with nowhere to go.
Another animal depending on someone to say yes.
For the past 18 years, Carter's has been that yes.
And with the support of this community, we can continue to be.
I’ll leave you with the Philosophy of Carter’s:
“Saving one dog might not change the world, but surely for that dog their world has changed.”
