Today we’d like to introduce you to Sasha Aghili
Hi Sasha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our mission to rescue and save animals came from the pain of tragedy.
Oct 27th ,2021 our sweet and beloved dog Jack-Jack, a 17-year-old chihuahua with dementia, slipped out our front door when the wind blew it open.
Upon finding the door open our family immediately went into action taking head count of the animals in our house. We had six dogs and two cats at the time and all of them were there except one, Jack-Jack.
We will never forget the pain and panic we felt. We searched on foot and by vehicle right away, hired a pet detective, contacted lost pet rescues, got Jack-Jack on the news and posted our baby online in endless forums, pages, and animal search websites. We spent months putting up signs and handing out fliers in neighborhoods in the surrounding areas. We knocked on over 2000 doors and wanted everyone to know who Jack-Jack was. We went without sleep, we cried, and we saw how hard it was to get your baby back regardless of how hard you try. Along the months of searching though we found ourselves being called to different locations to check for dogs that looked like our Jack-Jack. What we found were dumped and discarded pups in rough shape who needed someone to give them a chance at a happy life.
We brought them in, searched for owners just in case they had a loving owner who was missing them but unfortunately many times we would find solid proof that these babies were dumped so then we added them to what would become Jack Jack’s Pack.
We also found many dogs just by searching for Jack-Jack while driving or walking around. We also ended up helping many dogs on the lost and found pages on Facebook. We cannot take seeing so many hurting souls. We feel in our hearts Jack-Jack’s spirit has led our family to help all of these hurt babies.
Jack Jack’s Pack was officially formed on Christmas Day 2021. Our mission is to save lost pets and return them to their owners, rescue street dogs and find them forever homes, and to help rehabilitate the injured and sick dogs of Central Texas.
We have found the number of dumped dogs increase had a horrible rate since AAC has closed intake. We do our best at helping as many as we can. Since Jack-Jack went missing in October 2021 we have saved over 700 dogs and our pack at home has grown with numerous foster babies; many who have many medical needs. Many of these dogs would have been put down had they entered the shelter system.
We take on cases where dogs have been hit by cars, shot, stabbed, burned, abandoned and abused. Every single one of them is part of Jack Jack’s Pack forever and we know in our hearts that wherever Jack-Jack is in this moment that the love and care that he brought to these fur babies in need is immeasurable.
We will continue to help the forgotten dogs of Central Texas for the rest of our lives in honor of Jack-Jack!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Every day in rescue is a struggle. We struggle to find homes for adoptable dogs, to train dogs who are not ready yet to be adopted, to save dogs from the streets and find approved foster homes for them, and to fundraise to pay for veterinary bills. We have spent over $100,000 in the past 12 months on vet bills alone. With intake continually being closed at local shelters we are finding more and more dogs being dumped and abandoned on the street who need help. There are sections of Austin where you can drive a two mile stretch and find over 100 dogs running loose in wild packs that continue to grow and nothing is being done to stop it. It’s our goal to one day have our own safe haven to be able to work to help address these issues before they grow beyond repair.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Jack Jack’s Pack Street Dog Rescue?
Jack Jack’s Pack Street Dog Rescue operates saving dogs in Central Texas in multiple ways:
1. We help save street dogs who have been dumped, abandoned, and/or abused.
2. We rescue dogs from the euthanasia lists from local shelters.
3. We help reunite owners with their lost pets so that they do not become street dogs.
Saving over 700 dogs in less than three years we have helped keep out more dogs than are in the Austin Animal Shelter houses and the goal is to expand and do even more. We are working to fundraise to start a safe haven for the dogs of Central Texas where dogs can come and learn to be part of a family.
Dogs at Jack Jack’s Safe Haven would not just be thrown into a shelter but have their own doggy condos and get time with dogs and humans for proper socialization and care. Dogs found to be resistant to those interactions would be worked with and taught to understand they are safe and cared for rather than set for euthanasia.
Austin is the largest city in the United States with a shelter that has held on to “No-Kill” status but in order to continue to keep that status we have to do something to implement change. The community as a whole needs somewhere to be able to turn to when they find dogs.
With the support of the community it is our goal to become a safe place where dogs can come and find refuge while an owner is looked for and if one cannot be found then the dog should be given the chance to find a safe forever home through our adoption process which involves an application, meet and greet, home check, and fee to ensure best outcomes for the adopters and the dogs.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
We are no-kill.
We are doing everything we can to move away from being no-kill and soon will end up like other cities around us where they kill 50-60 dogs a day in some cases simply for space.
Pricing:
- We offer the ability to be one time or monthly donors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jackjackspack.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackjackspackstreetdogrescue
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackjackspackstreetdogrescue
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jackjackspack
