By Meredeth Barzen

Realtor/foster program founder Chris Hansen with one of his rescue dogs.

When Chris Hansen got into the real estate business, he knew he’d be helping people make transitions in their lives. What he didn’t know was that he’d be helping his clients’ dogs transition from one living situation to the next as well.

Together with former NFL player Corbin Lacina, Chris runs the Lacina Team, a RE/MAX realty group that specializes in “short sales“—situations where homeowners need to sell, but owe more on their homes than they’re worth. Suffice it to say that Chris works with a lot of people who are between a rock and a hard place, and may not be able to take their dogs with them when they move. That’s why he and Corbin started a foster program.

“I have four rescue dogs with my girlfriend, Kim Kallestad, Corbin has a rescue dog, and we started running into a lot of people who were going through this short sale process who had dogs and didn’t know what they were going to do with their dogs when they moved if they couldn’t find new housing that accepted dogs,” Chris says of the idea’s origins. “We helped one home owner with a foster situation for their dog and the idea took off from there. It just happened more or less because there is a need for it.”

Since Chris and Corbin work with people who are trying to sell their homes because they can’t afford them or because some unexpected circumstance has come up, Chris says the Lacina Team helps them determine what options are available, then gets them the right information so they can make the best decision for themselves and their family. “We want to keep the family and the dogs together. If that can’t happen, we want to let the home owner know that we have this program to help them if they need it,” Chris says.

In situations where the owner can’t take care of the dog for a temporary period, the team will help out until the owner gets set up somewhere new. “It helps relieve the stress for the home owner and the dog for that time period,” Chris says. In more permanent situations, they’ll place the dog in a foster home and try to find them a forever home. There is no cost to the home owner, they fund everything themselves and Chris says they are not looking for donations. “We are trying to be a buffer between the homeowner and humane societies and other rescue organizations. Everyone knows those places are too full; we are just trying to alleviate some of the burden,” he adds.

Stories like those of Chris and Corbin’s clients are becoming more common these days. Chris says that financial troubles due to the recession are the No. 3 reason people surrender their pets, and that there’s little hope on the horizon: There will be $4 trillion in foreclosures this year, he points out. “This is just the tip of the iceberg for the problem we are all in. Everyone knows someone in this situation, or has heard of someone that might need help.”

Luckily, Minnesota is home to other organizations that help pet owners in financial trouble. The Pet Project collects food for families having trouble keeping Fido’s kibble bowl full, and MN SNAP provides low-cost spay and neuter services.

“If we can help someone stay in their home and keep their family intact and their dog safe and happy like they deserve, we have done our job. Sometimes there isn’t a paycheck at the end of the day, but there is a home owner that got the right info and possibly will refer someone else to us,” Chris says.

And why would he and his partner go out of their way to help these families and their four-legged family members? “It’s our turn to step up and help,” Chris says. “We want people to see that we have their best interests and the dogs’ best interests before our own.”

By Meredeth Barzen

The crocuses are out, the trees are budding, the dog-friendly patios have once again placed water bowls outside—these signs can only mean one thing: It’s walk-a-thon fundraiser season, and Animal Humane Society’s Walk for Animals is poised to get things started with a “woof” on Saturday, May 1.

A past Walk for Animals participant gets festive.

The folks at AHS have been doing this for 36 years now, and they’ve got the whole camaraderie/pledge-raising/pet-loving thing down to a science by now. The largest Minnesota animal fundraiser and the nation’s largest human/pet walk was created as a way for the community to get more involved in AHS’s work and support the animals that need their help, says AHS’ Carrie Libera. “And, of course, to celebrate the animals in our own lives!” she adds.

If you like numbers, here are some stats from last year: Roughly 8,000 walkers and 4,000 animals participated in last year’s walk, raising more than $1 million to support adoption, rescue, outreach and training efforts at AHS.

This year, AHS’ goal is to raise $1.1 million to support the nearly 35,000 unwanted, homeless, and neglected animals AHS cares for each year at their five Twin Cities locations. Seventy percent of AHS’ operating budget comes from donations, which means the public’s generosity is crucial to the organization’s success.

There will be plenty of diversions for both you and Rover, including a “Flealess Market” of pet and people vendors, games for you and your dog, the fabulous Radio Disney Dancers, a pet microchip and nail trim clinic, pet contests, recognition awards and more. Plus, you’ll get to mingle with all the other pet-lovers and critters at the event—Carrie says creatures of all stripes attend, from parrots to pot-bellied pigs.

If you’ve procrastinated and think it’s too late to sign up, volunteer, or raise pledges, you’re just plain wrong. You can sign up as an individual or form a team, and you can raise pledges in person or online. “Also, for those people who don’t want to raise pledges and walk, but still want to help out, we also have some volunteer opportunities still available for this year’s walk. We are especially looking for people who are interested in helping out with traffic and crowd control,” Carrie says, pointing out that it takes more than 500 volunteers to organize and produce the Walk.

And if you’re curious (we, being nerdy and trivia-obsessed, certainly are): As of Monday, April 12, there were 2,331 walkers registered for this year’s event—734 more than had signed up at this point last year—with an average of 50 walkers registering each day.

The Deets:

Where: Animal Humane Society, 845 Meadow Lane North, Golden Valley

Route: Begins at AHS, walks north into Theodore Wirth Park and then back; approximately 5 miles, but walkers can turn back at any time.

When: Saturday, May 1, 2010

8:30 a.m.—Registration and activities begin

10 a.m.—Opening rally and walk begins

Post-walk activities run until 2 p.m.

And check out this nifty chart Carrie sent along breaking down your contributions’ impact:

Where a Walker’s Contribution Goes

$10,000—Supports the operating expenses of our Woodbury location for six days

$5,000—Helps fund a cruelty investigation and animal rescue

$2,500—Provides medical supplies and medications for 41 spay/neuter surgeries

$1,000—Gives housing and care to 67 animals in the shelter for one day

$500—Helps three dogs through the Adoption Preparation program which readies shyor fearful dogs for adoption

$250—Provides X-rays for two injured animals

$100—Provides sterilization surgery for two puppies

$50—Two stray cats receive full vaccinations

By Meredeth Barzen

Pets on Wheels volunteer Gracie visits Park Health & Rehabilitation Center in St. Louis Park. "Gracie loves visiting the residents and gets really excited when we round the corner to the building," says her mom Georgene Davy.

Loyal Sidewalk Dog readers know more than anyone that a good doggie cuddle session is more comforting than chicken soup, fleece blankets and roaring fires combined. Unfortunately, not everyone has 24/7 access to a canine comforter. But Pets on Wheels, a local nonprofit that provides pet visits to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, has plenty of surrogates on hand for those who need them.

The group was formed a couple of years ago by Tia Henry-Johnson, who was helping her friend on a research project where she saw firsthand the way pets can alleviate loneliness for seniors and calm those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The concept hit home for Tia, whose mom struggled with Alzheimer’s. Today, Pets on Wheels organizes 29 volunteers, who bring their pets to 25 nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

“With people who are temporarily in nursing homes to recover from a surgery or injury, pets can be a big part in the rehabilitation process,” says Lynne Forbragd, the group’s director. “It helps brighten their days and it can help the patient recover faster. In Alzheimer’s patients, we have seen people break their silence who have not spoken for long periods of time and suddenly start a conversation with the volunteer.”

Winnie, a Pets on Wheels volunteer, visiting with an appreciative friend.

Nursing home residents who meet a Pets on Wheels pooch often strike up a conversation about a pet they used to love and form a friendship with the volunteer, Lynne says. And though the organization currently works only with seniors, they’re looking to expand the program to include hospices and working with children who are hospitalized for long periods of time due to illness, Lynne says.

If you’d like to get involved, the group always needs volunteers and their four-legged friends. Though therapy dogs are welcomed in the program, nursing homes and assisted living facilities often don’t require that your pup be credentialed, only well-behaved and up-to-date on his shots. “Dogs who are gentle, loving and have even temperaments,” make good Pets on Wheels volunteers, Lynne says. “They must be well-socialized with people of all ages and other animals, and listen well to their owners.”

And the reward for your time? Lynne sums it up: “Lots of hugs, smiles and gratitude.”