Man gives shelter to unwanted dogs, cats

[DoozyDog]

By Michael Woyton
Poughkeepsie Journal


LAKE KATRINE — Bruce Van Bramer's dogs go through 200 cans of dog food and 50 pounds of kibble a day. His cats consume about 160 cans of moist food plus 20 pounds of dry food in a day.

"Most of the cats are toothless," he said. "The same with the dogs."

Van Bramer operates what he calls the best-kept secret in Ulster County: a place where unwanted dogs and cats can avoid being put to death.

"These are all older animals," Van Bramer said. "People just don't know what to do with them."

They can't be put up for adoption because they are either seriously ill or too aggressive. When the alternative is death, Van Bramer steps in.

"I have trouble saying no," he said. "There is always room at this inn. I can't turn them away."

About 20 years ago, Van Bramer heard about a woman in Coxsackie, Greene County, who was doing pet rescue work.

"Someone asked me to help her," he said, "and I still have the second dog that I rescued — Chris," named because he was found on Christmas Day.

Van Bramer moved to Kingston about 15 years ago with six rescued dogs in tow. Five years ago, he found a 100-year-old inn on three acres.

Lots of roaming room

Almost the entire 3,000 square-foot home is open to the animals. "I have a gate across the kitchen door, so the dogs have the run of the kitchen, my bedroom, the den and outside," he said.

The cats have the entire house, because they can easily leap over the gate.

Van Bramer talks about animals that could melt the hardest heart.

"Little Bear has tumors on his tumors," he said. His veterinarian said he wouldn't last six months; it has been a couple of years now.

"I just lost a Chihuahua [named Hub] who was absolutely brittle," Van Bramer said. "He was starved to death [by his previous owner] so his bones never fully grew.

"He has no jaw because his body absorbed it," he said, and Hub only had one eye.

To feed the pooch, Van Bramer had to puree a can of food Hub would lap up.

"I'm their last hope," he said. "This is it."

Volunteer Rosalia Henry of Hyde Park helps Van Bramer raise money for the nonprofit organization.

"I think it's a much needed shelter," she said, "be-cause it's their last chance.

"It's more humane to keep them in a loving atmosphere, with someone caring for them," Henry said, "rather than disposing of them."

Once a week, Van Bramer drives to Rotterdam, Schenectady County, to pick up pet food donated by Price Chopper.

Still, there's medicine to buy, vet bills to pay and sheets to wash.

"I do a minimum of eight loads of laundry a day," Van Bramer said, "because the 'old ladies' are incontinent."

He won't talk about the number of animals; he prefers to let the amount of food make the point.

"I haven't reached the maximum yet," he said. And, inevitably, there is turnover.

He lost a dog named Maggie Mae on Thursday.

"You don't have time to cry," Van Bramer said. "You are dealing with the death of one, then you get a call from somebody whose grandmother can't take care of her dog anymore."

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/a...0320/1006/NEWS

[Tiffany0204]

That is beyond sweet. It's people like this who melt my heart

[PawNclaws]

I agree- its heart warming to see some one step up to the plate for these animals. We need more people in the world like him willing to take in older/ hard to adopt dogs and cats. Stories like this drive me more and more towards what I want to do, which is either open a small rescue , become a foster and adopt rescues.

[calgal]

I'm not sure if he knows it or does it, but he can say he runs a hospice home and he's entitled to government assistance. That man sure has earned his wings hasn't he? Bless him!

[c0_re]

just lost a Chihuahua [named Hub] who was absolutely brittle," Van Bramer said. "He was starved to death [by his previous owner] so his bones never fully grew.

"He has no jaw because his body absorbed it," he said, and Hub only had one eye.

To feed the pooch, Van Bramer had to puree a can of food Hub would lap up.

"I'm their last hope," he said. "This is it."

OMG I think I"m gonna cry right here at my desk, thats so sad that poor thing how could someone do that to another living being especially one that can't fend and take care fo themselves, thank god for this person who showed some compassion and love to these animals before the head over the bridge.

Somthing tells me there is going to be a whole lot of animals waiting for him when it's his turn.

[Shadowkins]

Just goes to show there are angels on this earth of ours!!

[RIo&Nickysmommy]

This man has taken all the animals that man has thrown away. Bless his heart. Makes you just break down when you listen to how animals are abused and left alone in this world. Its great to see more people stepping up and doing all they can. This man is incredible. Prayers for him and all his animals.
Rio&Nickysmommy