We Believe in Second Changes

Believe WE IN SECOND CHANCES

by Brooke Ezzo | photos courtesy of Cherie McCorvey

“I AM APOLLO.

Join me in my mission to rescue others."

If you live in Justin or surrounding areas, it’s likely you’ve at least heard of Apollo Support and Rescue. But did you know on any given day they support over 250 animals?

Over eight years ago, Danielle Stewart, founder and president of Apollo, decided she wanted to foster a dog on her birthday. She asked a local rescue to give her the “worst” dog — the dog no one wanted to take. The rescue gave her a female dog that was pregnant. The mother ended up killing all of the puppies except one, a puppy Danielle named Apollo.

From that day forward, Danielle decided she wanted to do all she could to help all of the dogs that were being neglected and abandoned in the shelters. She found five acres of land in Justin, and over the last eight years has created and expanded Apollo Support and Rescue.

On top of the rescue, she helped established a street team that feeds and vaccinates dogs that live in homeless camps in Fort Worth. A local veterinarian who donates her time quarterly goes down with the street team to distribute the rabies vaccine.

Currently, the facility is housing around 90 dogs, and over 120 dogs are living with foster families. But it fluctuates. Last year, Apollo created a cat team, and many of those cats are with fosters.

One of the biggest needs the rescue currently has is fosters. Although there is a facility, Apollo is a no-kill rescue, meaning they are constantly full. The rescue supplies everything a foster family would need to house an animal; puppy pens, pee pads, food, treats, and toys.

“Fostering is so rewarding,” said Cherie McCorvey, Apollo Vice President. “We just need people to open their homes and give them a loving place until they can find their new home.”

A lot of animals are taken in as strays and owner surrenders. Cherie believes the main issue for these two problems is the lack of education. Many people get animals and don’t understand the why behind getting them spayed or neutered.

“It’s warm in the south, so breeding season is pretty much all year long,” Cherie said. “Spay and neuter is the best thing to do down here. There are health reasons to do it as well as preventing over population and the amount of animals that are being euthanized in shelters.”

Texas is number one in euthanasia. This could easily be changed if education about spaying and neutering was more prevalent in our area and new dog owners researched their animals before bringing them home. “Research the breed of dog you want, research the lifestyle you have and how that animal fits into it, and research training that breed,” Cherie said. “A dog becomes part of your family, so just as much as you prepare for a family, prepare for your dog, too.”

Apollo has good relationships with shelters all over Texas and the nation, but they work a lot with the Fort Worth shelter. This relationship is in place so Apollo can be the rescue and support for the animals that won’t make it in the shelter. Apollo will pull the animals and get them set up in the facility or with a foster family.

Last fall, Apollo teamed up with Project Freedom Ride, an organization that organizes transferring dogs out of the south. Since joining forces, Apollo has been able to find amazing homes up north for many of their dogs.

“We’ve partnered with shelters in the north where there are lines of people waiting for dogs because their shelters are empty,” Cherie said. “We are all USDA certified, we follow all of the rules and requirements to safely transport animals out of Texas.”

Apollo Support and Rescue is not a shelter — and there is a difference. Where a shelter cannot say no, they take the animal in and euthanize as needed to make room. Apollo is a no-kill rescue and cannot take in animals when the space isn’t available.

Apollo is not a dumping ground for unwanted pets but a resource for families who need help.

“We’ve helped families with dog food, especially during COVID-19,” Cherie said. “We can provide resources, guidance, and help. Dog rescue never takes a day off.”

Apollo Support and Rescue operates on community donations, volunteers, and medical partnerships. To donate to Apollo or to learn more about fostering, visit www.ApolloSupportandRescue.org.