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McKinney resident Karen Hash has personally saved the lives of countless injured and sick dogs.
Hash rescues these “unadoptable” dogs during their last hours of life from local animal shelters. She provides the animals with medical care and a foster home until they are well enough to be adopted.
Hash, who works as a receptionist at the Animal Care Center in McKinney, cares for the dogs on her own time and money. Dr. Teleah Grand, a veterinarian at the Animal Care Center cares for Hash’s sick animals at the clinic, but Hash pays for all the care they receive. Hash takes donations from clients and has donation jars around the office, along with stories about three of her most recent rescues.
Hash estimates that she has saved between 20 and 25 dogs since moving to McKinney 2-1/2 years ago,. Her most recent adoptee, Jasmine, had a puncture wound through her shoulder and was going to be put down. After surgery to repair the wound, Jasmine is doing great.
In addition to the one or two foster dogs Hash cares for at a time, she and her husband own seven dogs of their own, five of whom were rescued from shelters in Georgia. Hash started her rescue project nearly nine years ago in that state. She takes in mostly small dogs because she does not have space for larger ones, although she has taken in a potbelly pig.
Hash said that working at a vet’s office motivated her to start rescuing sick and injured dogs. She mentioned a woman who threw a terrified Chihuahua on the counter and said that her daughter no longer wanted the dog because she was redecorating.
“You wouldn’t believe the kinds of things I see,” she added.
Although Hash’s rescued dogs may not look healthy when she takes them in, she said they are all perfectly fine after being treated. Dolly, another recent rescue, was almost completely bald and covered in fleas when Hash found her. Now Dolly is fully recovered and was adopted by a client at the clinic. Hash said that most of her rescue dogs are adopted by people at the clinic.
“There are so many dogs that don’t have homes and just need a chance,” she said, explaining her motivation. “I guess I’m just crazy like that.”
Hash said she has never encountered any problems with her foster dogs once she takes them home. Her own seven dogs get along with everyone, and after a few days to warm up, the foster dogs fit in perfectly.
Hash said that caring for all the dogs takes a lot of time. Although she does not have to be at work until 8 a.m., she said she is usually up by 4:30 a.m. to take care of the dogs. When she gets home, she works no-stop until around 9:30 p.m.
“I have two jobs,” she said jokingly. “It’s my life.”
