Community Corner

Watertown Woman Fosters Dogs for Broken Tail Rescue

The non-profit group aims to save animals in danger of being euthanized, and will have a fundraiser on June 26.

Colleen Ryan has taken in so many dogs that she can't remember how many pooches she has helped. The Watertown resident fosters dogs through Broken Tails Rescue, a non-profit group that seeks to help animals in danger of being euthanized.

Right now, Ryan has two foster dogs, a pair of long-haired chihuahuas named Honey and Paco.

"They came in together, and should be adopted out together," Ryan said. "They are mother and son, we think."

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Ryan first started fostering dogs in January 2011, and has cared for them for a few days or as long as three months.

"These dogs really get attached to us and it is hard to let them go, but always bittersweet. It can be very emotional," Ryan said.

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When she lived in Central Massachusetts, Ryan volunteers at the Thomas J. O'Connor (TJO) Animal Control and Adoption Center's shelter in Springfield. She said her dog Benny is the reason why she started to foster dogs.

"The shelter can be stressful, and I know that without rescues and foster homes I would not have my dog Benny," Ryan said. "Due to a history of abuse he does not like men, and he would have certainly been euthanized in a shelter situation if not for rescues."

Broken Tail pays any vet bills and food for the foster dogs, Ryan said. 

"I just give them a warm and loving place to hang out until their forever home comes along," Ryan said.

The foster parents try to find a permanent home for the dogs, she said, and she will take them to pet stores and adoption events so they will meet people who might take them in.

Ryan even has a Facebook page for her foster dogs, http://www.facebook.com/EinsteinForAdoption, which she started for Einstein and now has information on Honey and Paco. Einstein was found tied to a fence in Central Mass., Ryan said.

Broken Tails is having a spaghetti dinner fundraiser dubbed the "Spay-ghetti and No Balls Dinner" at , 249 Pearl St. in Somerville. Tickets and are available at this website: http://spayghettiandnoballs.eventbrite.com/


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