United animal lovers help disabled Iranian dogs find a home for life in America

Home for Life Animal Sanctuary opens their doors to two disabled dogs from Iran, made possible with the efforts of supporters in both America and Iran.

STILLWATER, MINN.-- Abuse and neglect condemned two Iranian dogs to a shortened life of pain and mistreatment, until Iran’s Vafa Animal Shelter stepped in and changed the course of their lives. With the compassion and determination of Vafa’s numerous volunteers, including the shelter’s U.S. representative, Farah Ravon, these animals are being offered a second chance. The dogs, Venus and Parichaeir, made the long journey to America and recently arrived at their new home. Home for Life Animal Sanctuary, Star Prairie, Wisconsin, will provide Venus and Parichaeir with medical care, shelter and an affectionate forever home.

Venus, a bright German Shepherd, is a victim of cruelty. Someone cut her ears off. Parichaeir, the Farsi word for “angel,” was taken to Vafa due to her limp and a lump on her side. Thanks to the supporters at Vafa Shelter, these two dogs were saved from further abuse and given a safe haven. Venus began to trust the caring volunteers at Vafa, and Parichaeir’s lump was surgically removed. However, because the shelter houses over 500 dogs, the team at Vafa did not feel that these animals would continue to receive the care they needed to thrive. To provide them the very best, Vafa volunteers contacted Home for Life.

Home for Life Animal Sanctuary is dedicated to providing permanent homes to animals who are unable to find homes due to disability, old age, medical conditions or temperament. Animals at Home for Life receive excellent medical care, wide open spaces to roam, warm, well-furnished accommodations and doting playtime. Venus and Parichaeir joined approximately 115 other dogs and 80 cats who have found a home at the sanctuary where their disabilities and diseases are met with caring attentiveness.

“Vafa Shelter in Iran and Home for Life in America have worked together in the past to save dogs who were crippled, abused and neglected,” said Lisa LaVerdiere, executive director, Home For Life. “In 2013, we helped rescue a beautiful dog named Toni, who was hit by a car and abandoned.” Because of his injuries, Toni’s back legs were paralyzed, and he required a wheelchair as well as daily treatments to ease the pain in his joints. Despite his injuries, Toni was still a bright and playful dog. Vafa and Home for Life worked together with a network of animal lovers around the world to get Toni a one-way ticket to America.

“Despite diplomatic and cultural differences between our countries, people who love animals and seek to help them find common ground. The Internet is also an important connection, because Vafa found out about Home For Life through social media, and we keep in touch with the Vafa volunteers and staff through social media,” said LaVerdiere.

Thanks to the astounding effort of the Vafa Shelter, and the compassionate acceptance of Home for Life, Venus and Parichaeir were able to follow in Toni’s footsteps and gain a life free of pain and oversight.

Venus, left, and Parichaeir, two disabled Iranian dogs, arrived recently at Home For Life Animal Sanctuary in Wisconsin, where they will receive lifetime care and affection.

For more information about Home for Life, or to see how Venus and Parichaeir are adapting to their new home, please visit Home for Life’s new website, courtesy of the Nerdery’s Overnight Web Challenge. www.homeforlife.org

About Home for Life, The Animal Sanctuary of the St. Croix Valley

A not-for-profit animal sanctuary, Home for Life provides loving, lifetime care for dogs and cats that can lead quality lives but are unable to find homes due to old age, disabilities or medical or behavioral issues. The animals, including retired service dogs, come from across the U.S. and worldwide. Home for Life is dedicated to giving its residents a home, not a warehoused existence.  Home for Life animals live on 40 acres in Star Prairie, Wisconsin and are cared for by a trained and dedicated 24-hour staff. www.homeforlife.org.  

Lisa LaVerdiere, executive director

                                 Home for Life

                                P.O. Box 847

                                Stillwater, MN 55082

Phone:                      1-800-252-5918

                                 Fax: 888-480-9820

E-mail:                      info@homeforlife.org

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