North Idaho Woman Giving Dogs A Second Chance

COEUR D’ALENE — A rise in foreclosures in California is pushing people out of their homes and many times, pets get left behind. Now one North Idaho woman is trying to find a good home for those pets.

Bonnie Whiting is on a mission to save dogs. She started Alternative Rescue three years ago and now her passion is taking her to California where she says there are too many abandon dogs and not enough good homes.

One of those dogs is Chance who, coincidentally, needs a second chance.

“Chance is from California, Chance is a Snoodle which is a Schnauzer and a Poodle,” Whiting said.

Chance is also the last of 17 dogs Bonnie drove up from California in May.

“He was a stray wandering around in Chula Vista and his hair was matted to the bone so he had to be completely shaved,” she said.

Bonnie began rescuing small dogs from California as the phone calls for help escalated.

“There’s a lot of floods and foreclosures and a lot of people leave their dogs just to begin with because the houses are smaller, there’s a lot of apartments, there’s a lot more people, and a lot of people in transition down there,” she said.

Since May Bonnie has received 6 more dogs from the Golden State with six more expected to arrive in Idaho in two weeks. Right now she has 15 people on a list waiting to adopt dogs.

“It’s very rewarding and it’s something I’ve been working on for 25 years so it’s everything put together,” she said.

Chance still needs a home and you can visit him at the Coeur d’Alene Pet Resort. If you’d like to donate to Alternative Rescue or get on the waiting list you can call Bonnie at 208.667.1423.