Meet Rachel Saulnier

We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Saulnier recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

From a young age, I always loved animals and loved being around them. When I was 7 years old our pastor told us to write down our hearts desire on one of the offering cards. I wrote “A Puppy” my grandpa saw this and the next weekend took me to get my first dog, From there my love of dogs only grew. Eleven years ago, I fostered Rosco through San Antonio Pets Alive. After a week with Rosco I knew I wanted to adopt him. Last month we celebrated his 12th birthday! I hadn’t fostered again after adopting Rosco until five years ago. We fostered two dogs through ACS and sadly both dogs passed due to canine distemper. My husband and I were heartbroken that it happened not only once, but twice. We saw the number of strays in our city and decided to cut out the middleman so to speak and start Rosco’s Rescue. Named after the dog I fostered and fell in love with over a decade ago. Even on the days where I feel like giving up I look over and Rosco and I’m reminded of why I keep rescuing even when it gets hard.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

We are a foster based non-profit so we are always looking for fosters and volunteers for our organization! Our hope is to have an actual facility within the next few years so we can take in more dogs. We primarily pull our dogs straight from the streets of San Antonio and surrounding areas, and have been over capacity for the last year. Our website is www.roscosrescue.com and you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter from there to stay up to date on any events we do, and also check out our dogs! We sell merchandise, and other rescue products at www.roscosrescuemerch.com. All the proceeds from our merchandise goes back into the dogs care, and funding our rescue. We are 100% donation based, and don’t receive any funding from the city. We also send our dogs to training at Pup Pup and Away to help socialize them & train them. Their trainers give us great feedback on the dogs and that helps us figure out what their perfect family looks like!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

One of the most important things I’ve learned in rescue is to not compare my rescue to others. Especially since we’re a smaller rescue it’s easy to feel like I should be doing more, or I should have more adoptions, or more fosters, etc. Every rescue is different, and that’s a good thing! We’re all doing the best we can, with what we have.
Another important thing that’s made a big impact is asking for help when I need it, and setting strong boundaries. It’s extremely easy to get overwhelmed in the rescue world. No rescue ever wants to say “we can’t help” but sometimes you have to, I’d help every single dog I come across in need if I could, but the reality is I can’t. Saying no is hard, but without unlimited space, resources, and funding its inevitable. Lastly working together is key! We’re so much stronger as a whole when we work together. I’ll post other rescues dogs, and share their posts, or even v0lunteer at their events. At the end of the day its about saving the dogs, and if any dog finds their home its a win!!!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed is something everyone in rescue can relate to, especially in Texas. There are daily requests for help, and always dogs in need. It’s important to make time for yourself, family, and friends. It’s very easy to get consumed with rescuing because there’s always something that needs to be done. I constantly remind myself that its ok to take a break for my mental and physical health. My stress relief and my me time, is going to the gym. My day-to-day routine is usually pretty loud and can be overstimulating with all the dogs. Going to the gym gives me at least an hour a day where I can get away from the chaos and also make sure I’m staying healthy. I also like to go to quiet places, like coffee shops or Barnes and noble to read, or just sit in the quiet. I also pray for the clarity I need to continue to rescue and to give me the patience I need to trust that every dog will get adopted by the right family at the right time.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Paws n Poses Pet Photography
Pup Pup and Away
93Media

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