It was in March of 2002 that a group of really dedicated people, who just happen to love
The dog's view from their windows.
animals, came together to establish the BuckHawk Center Animal Rescue. The kitchen table we all sat around was filled with note papers, mostly hand-written. We all had ideas, plans and goals written out for this new organization.
To say that we all love animals is probably an understatement. Passionate may be a better description. We had the passion to no longer see an animal suffer, no longer see an animal homeless, no longer see unwanted animals. Our dream was to provide a home, a temporary one, but a home nonetheless, for animals that were hurt, abandoned, or unloved.
Our goal was to rescue those we could, do what rehabilitation was possible and place each in a loving, caring home. Our hope was that we would not be needed for long.
The BuckHawk Center is staffed entirely by volunteers, including those original passionate folks. Most of us won’t even take reimbursement for expenses paid out on behalf of the animals. We use our own vehicles to transport animals, we use our own computers to do the online work of placing animals for adoption and raising funds, we use our own equipment to build fences.
The volunteers are numerous. Some are truly part time, giving time as they can, some are nearly full time, giving up all their leisure to help out. Everyone is truly appreciated. Everyone is loved by all the animals in our care.
We are a registered Missouri non-profit organization with US tax exempt and publicly-supported charity status under IRS code 501(c)(3). Our facilities are located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of South Central Missouri.
Although we are located in a somewhat off-the-beaten-path place, we always welcome potential adopters, visitors, volunteers and interested parties. We are proud of our facilities to care for the mostly large breed dogs that we have rescued. All of our animals have large play yards with plenty of running room and large well-protected houses for their comfort. Those animals that are not good adoption candidates, due to prior mistreatment, breed, age or health conditions, have a home here with us for the rest of their lives. They, like all the animals in our care, are treated like treasured pets.
All of us know each animal by name, personality and temperament. We know where they like to be scratched, what their favorite treat is, even whether or not they like to ride in a car. They are individuals to all of us.
