When Charley the basset hound died 14 years ago, Steve and Melinda Lottig thought they’d never have a another pet because the pain of that loss was too great. As children will do, however, their daughter Bella kept after them, and a compromise eventually was reached. Beginning with Ahsoka the German Shepherd in 2021 and ending (so far) with “Sweet” Teava the pit bull last month, the Lottigs have fostered 12 big dogs for Lost Our Home, a Tempe pet rescue. Melinda didn’t grow up with large breeds, but after the joy of dressing her 50-pound fur baby in a Christmas outfit to match Bella’s, she’s smitten.
“I don’t know if I could ever go back,” she said. As Lost Our Home celebrates its 15th year, one of its most critical needs is finding people willing to open their homes and hearts temporarily to, especially, the big dogs. The nonprofit was founded during the 2008 recession by Jodi Polanski, then a local mortgage banker who witnessed the devastating impact a massive housing crisis had on helpless pets. Foreclosures were off the charts — Arizona endured a whopping 203 percent increase in filings from 2007 to 2008 — and Maricopa County had nearly 25,000 eviction filings that year. Polanski heard story after story of dogs and cats being left behind, often without food and water. One report, of 26 Newfoundlands abandoned in a Gilbert home, made the news, and an outpouring of love, help and donations resulted. Polanski acted quickly to set up a shelter in her Scottsdale home and assemble volunteers to do the same. In less than a year, Lost Our Home helped 400 pets, a number that would grow to 2,300 in 2022.
Saving pets and people
Among many happy endings over the years is the tale of Bartley and Baylor, two cats rescued from a disgusting abandoned rental in which 12 dogs also were locked. The bonded pair tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus, and needed to be adopted together, which didn’t happen immediately. “They were cool cats—up on the desk, hanging out, greeting people, not afraid of the dogs, and the staff loved them,” Polanski said. “We had them for two years, and they were adopted by great pet parents who traveled around in their RV. “They lived their greatest life together.” Almost immediately after opening, Lost Our Home established one of the first temporary care programs in the country. To this day, it provides up to 90 days of complete care for pets when their owners experience a life hardship and temporarily are unable to care for them. This relieves owners of the overwhelming fear of losing their pets and, in turn, allows them to focus on regaining stability so they can be reunited. Another service that differentiates Lost Our Home from other rescue organizations is its outreach to victims of domestic violence.
A longstanding partnership with Sojourner Center of Phoenix allows women escaping domestic violence to keep their pets with them, either in their rooms or, if they are at work or at appointments, in day boarding. The pet companion shelters established by Lost Our Home at Sojourner and at A New Leaf help victims heal from trauma. “Animals feel like home,” Polanski said. “When your life and everything you know has been torn apart, and you are staying in a shelter, animals give you that unconditional love you need. They’re your best friend and confidante. They depend on you, and help you heal.” Many domestic violence shelters can’t accommodate animals, so victims are forced to choose between their safety and their pets, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.Up to 40% of victims remain in abusive relationships because they can’t find alternative living situations for their animals, the coalition reported.
A relocation to Tempe and expansion
In 2013, Lost Our Home moved in Tempe, and it has become the community’s go-to place for adopting and fostering animals. As a result of a partnership with the city, Tempe police officers can bring abandoned or stray animals to the shelter 24/7. “Tempe is such a philanthropic city, and the support has been great from the city, its residents and students,” said Polanski, noting Tempe police sponsored a pet-food drive among local schools that gathered more than 10,000 pounds of food.
Lost Our Home recently expanded its space, adding 4,000 square feet, and services. These include a veterinary clinic, so that sick and injured animals no longer need to be transported to outside clinics, an expanded food storage area and a play room, for dog training and people meetings. Polanski said Lost Our Home always needs more foster parents for the bigger breeds, but acknowledged fostering can be difficult for some because of fear of the unknown. Others worry they will get attached to a foster animal and won’t want to return it when it is reunited or adopted.
“I’ve been fostering for a bazillion years, and I fell in love every time,” she said. “But the reason we keep doing it is we know these pets are going to go to good homes and it opens up space for us to do more, to help other animals.” Despite its expansion, Lost Our Home already full with 180 animals, cats in the community cat rooms or playpens, and dogs in separate dog suites or in dog groups and with buddies. Lost Our Home is flexible with foster parents, allowing them to return animals that are not good fits and, if they on vacation, to bring them back to the shelter for temporary care until their return.
The Lottigs have decided to continue fostering the blood hounds, like Gonzo the fetcher, the lovable pit bulls (they’ve had three), and the other big dogs as long as they can. “We like helping someone else while they’re struggling, when they maybe aren’t able to get into a place where they can have their animals,” he said. “It’s still difficult in most cases to give the dogs back, because you grow attached to them and them to you, but it makes it a lot easier to know you’re helping someone.” Other needs and ways to support Lost Our Home also needs consistent volunteers to be trained in everything from answering phones and doing office work to being advanced behavior trainers or event volunteers. In-kind contributions are appreciated, but cash donations give the organization flexibility to meet its changing needs, Polanski said. Watch for an open house at Lost Our Home later this year, as well as a special anniversary edition of its annual fundraiser, “Paws for Celebration! Sit. Stay. Brunch.,” scheduled for Dec. 3.
