Today we’d like to introduce you to Beverly Mercer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started the rescue in 2010 when I learned that 33 puppies at Memphis Animal Services would be put to sleep that day because they were showing symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. Which is totally treatable.
I ran to the shelter and took home 11 puppies that day. Sadly, not all 33 made it out of the shelter. Once they were treated and healthy, I knew I couldn’t take them back to the shelter. I had to find them a good home on my own. So I began working with another local rescue to find them homes.
All were adopted quickly to the Milwaukee area. Eventually, we broke off from the other rescue and formed Mercer Animal Rescue. We have bases in Memphis and Chicago.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Rescue is never smooth. It’s hard. Really hard. But it’s rewarding and helping dogs find loving families is something one never gets tired of. Happy endings are wonderful.
The sad side is that we cannot save them all. We can’t. There are just too many. And seeing the way many dogs are treated, inhumanly, is very difficult.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Prior to working in dog rescue, I worked in advertising. For more than 20 years. My last position was with Archer/Malmo in Memphis.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m definitely a risk-taker. Transitioning my farm from a horse farm to a dog rescue was scary. I didn’t know if I could do it.
I knew nothing about dog rescue in the beginning. I have always been an animal lover but that did not prepare me for the world of rescue. There are so many facets. I did learn what was needed most, to be successful, is other people. Find the helpers. Fosters, adopters, and supporters.
Another risk was finding a base location in Chicago. I knew little about the city but I did know it was filled with friendly, dog-loving people who wanted to help.
And there were so many Memphis dogs that needed help.
Contact Info:
- Email: merceranimalrescue@gmail.com
- Website: www.merceranimalrescue.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mercer_animal_rescue/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/merceranimalrescue/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCTG99jVRAXAQ_KnXpCxbOvw
