We live in a time where altruism can be seen as somewhat subjective. You can’t be nice to strangers, because they could rob you. Trusting people, or rather being naive about it can make you seem stupid, if not like an easy target, and no good deed goes unrewarded has turned into no good deed goes unpunished.
For Regina Nicole Vlasek however, it proved to be exactly the contrary.
Vlasek is the president and founding partner of the Saving Sage Rescue organization. A no kill animal shelter in Miami whose story began from a single act of kindness.
The story began in a call in 2012, Vlazek was working as an animal groomer and while she and her friends often rescued animals who were abandoned at her salon, they were far from an organization.
“A client Judy Sanchez reached out to me about the dog sighting situation” said Vlasek, recalling the day Saving Sage was born “A bunch of dogs were picked up by animal rescue and a little dog was left behind.”
Vlasek and Sanchez raced to where the dog had been sighted intending to make sure he was safe and find a place for him.
“We made a big scene we stopped traffic to get the dog” Vlasek recalled
Despite their best efforts they couldn’t plan or prevent what would happen next. The dog was startled by some nearby children. Skittish and still unused to people it ran from under the house she was hiding in and into a car.
“The dog had very bad injuries” said Vlasek “There were pictures of this dog being picked up on the stretcher. Channel seven picked up the story and it was on the news.”
It was while they had the dog-who they later named Sage on the stretcher that they noticed she was lactating They sent Judy’s child to check under the house and found seven puppies. In her efforts to help Sage and her puppies Vlazek and Sanches contacted Karina Goldenberg who was at the time affiliated with another animal rescue organization named ‘A way for Strays’. She also contacted Dr. Michael Zender, a veterinarian she knew from her days as a groomer. Both Goldenberg and Zender donated money and medical supplies respectively to ensure that Sage and her puppies made it through. It was that tight-knit group that started Saving Sage.
“It grew from there” said Vlazek as she explained how Saving Sage went on to become much more than just saving Sage and her puppies “We went from being girls who just kinda liked helping to meeting this girl who was part of the organization and it grew from there”
Saving Sage took off as a full fledged animal rescue and in their first year alone rescued 198 animals. In their second year they went over double that number.
Sage and her puppies also found a good home.
They don’t limit themselves at dogs either, as Vlazek explained that on any given day dogs cats guinea pigs and snakes all could drop by.
They’ve also started a program called The All About Animals Class, in which they teach children the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, as well as the often forgotten lesson that a pet is not a toy.
“We can’t just condemn people for not knowing any better” Vlazek said “we have to teach them and make a difference. People can go on and on to say that this is wrong but does anyone try to understand? It’s having patience and teaching children from an early age.”
Although they are branching out into education the public, Vlazek says the purpose of Saving Sage remains as always, to save animals that are out in the street of Florida
“Even with animal control and the humane organization” she said “The number if stray animals is so overwhelming any one organization would have a hard time”
It isn’t a placid life to be sure and not one, she says, she ever saw herself having when she picked up the phone in 2012.
“I never dreamed that it would turn into something like this.Sometimes I want my old life back when the phone doesn’t ring all the time, but it’s something I can some day look back and be proud of” ” she said .
It’s also a life that she says come with it’s own reward
“ We’ve saved dogs that were days away from being put to sleep and we get pictures,” she said “develop friendships from the people who adopt them. It will inspire people to get involved and it spreads and I think it feels awesome to be able to express this. Everyone has their own battle, this is the one that I choose”
Saving Sage is located at 212 NE 98th St Miami, FL 33138 for information on volunteering, fostering, or adopting, visit their webpage at http://www.savingsagerescue.org