When the doors opened to Hope’s Home, our founder, Amy, wanted to share a personal message about the true foundation to Hope’s Home…Bridget Gallagher, the Dog Charmer. Here is what she had to say......

 

“Bridget is a force in rescue that I am humbled to share will now represent Pathway. On a personal level, you can’t find a more loyal, dedicated rescuer than Bridget.  She has devoted her life to misunderstood animals.  Bridget has been dear friend, an inspiration to me for over 10 years and a shoulder to cry on when life and people just aren’t fair to helpless dogs and cats – and I hope we can do the same for her always.  She is fiercely loyal to only ONE thing in rescue – the animals.  Bridget is a woman that I admire and respect, and I still can’t wrap my head around how lucky we are to have her – that she actually said YES!

 

Bridget and I have faced many animal rights adversaries together – she is fearless, devoted and stubborn as hell in an amazing way.  We have sat together late nights trapping cats, in a courtroom defending an animal’s right to live, in a police station filing cruelty complaints and countless hours on the phone discussing desperate animals in need and how we can help.  She has heard me ugly cry when humans have betrayed the trust of innocent animals, and she has always been there for them and for me.  Bridget and I met when searching 24/7 for 8 days and nights for a missing dog – and incredibly we were together when we found and secured him (sweet Rocky).  This search and rescue inspired A Pathway to Hope because of the people who devoted their hearts to Rocky and to the rescue of misunderstood animals.

 

Many of you have met Bridget when you needed help.  She will never (ever) turn her back on an animal in need.  She never says no to another request for help – even training dogs days before going in for double hip replacement surgery and taking calls for help just days out of the hospital.  Bridget will spend hours on the phone and in your home, possessing the patience of a saint, and doing everything within her power to help pet owners to retain their pets. 

 

Bridget also has adopted many hard to place Pathway dogs and cats.  Her angel Odey, formerly Smokey – a dog we were told to euthanized, labelled too aggressive for rescue, who was a big baby and just afraid of more abuse.  Norton, formerly Mickey, who Bridget risked everything to rescue and keep alive against the odds.  Juliet, our fear aggressive pitty girl, who showed up in my backyard one fateful morning and ended up on a neighbor’s roof and forced into a kill shelter.  Countless cats like Izzy, Splash, Chloe, Nikki, Tootsie and so many others that Bridget helped rescue, foster, trap, rehome - and then adopted those that couldn’t find a home.  Animals that everyone else may have forgotten about, but who mean the world to Bridget, and to them, she is their whole world.  

 

It has been a roller coaster the last few months, but we have never wavered from our devotion to found Hope’s Home, along with an incredible group of volunteers.  So, as we open the doors to Hope’s Home, I thought it only appropriate that you know more about Bridget, my dear friend, who made this all possible…because, “when the world says give up, Hope whispers ‘try it one more time.’  We got this Bridget!"