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Dog Tales gives animals a new lease on life




By Mark Pavilons

Helping those who can't help themselves takes some very special qualities.

And those very characteristics are evident in every nook and cranny of a new King Township facility dedicated to rescuing dogs and horses.

Robert Scheinberg and Danielle Eden have launched Dog Tales, following a gala, star-studded celebration Oct. 19 at their beautiful property north of Snowball.

The prestigious facility, likely unrivalled by anything in the world, boasts all the comforts of home, the proverbial “dog hotel” if you will. The couple has spared no expense, for the simple reason that our four-legged family members deserve to be comfortable.

Ask any dog-lover and they'll likely agree that their best friends deserve nothing but the best.

And that's what Dog Tales offers – the best facility, staff, volunteers and care that any animal could ask for. They are not weekend or part-time philanthropists. They live and breath it because it's their passion.

It shows.

Robert is almost overjoyed when he talks about his rescues and what Dog Tales will strive to become – a family destination where everyone enjoys the great outdoors with their furry companions.

Dog Tales has 82 rooms for dogs, complete with plexiglas facades and chandeliers. The facility is large and spacious and includes a mock living room, which is designed to acclimate the animals, some of whom have never been indoors before.

The 48-acre property has plenty of room to roam and the dogs are also encouraged to socialize with one another.

Scheinberg has spent his life in York, largely in King, Richmond Hill and Newmarket and he's happy to “be home.”

Since purchasing the property in the spring, there's been a whirlwind of construction on the site, and it has all come together. Danielle took the reins when it came to designing all of the buildings and features.

Even before the facility opened, Scheinberg said they received upwards of 300 emails from potential volunteers!

The cause is not new to the duo, and Scheinberg has been involved in animal rescue and related causes for two decades.

The idea for this facility began roughly nine months ago when Robert and Danielle wanted to do something “big” and make an impact. They wanted to locate in King and visited dozens of properties before finding the perfect fit on the 19th Sideroad.

The sad reality is cases of animal abuse are still high, both here in Ontario, in Quebec and around the world.

Dog Tales is home to Horse Haven, which offers horses a happy place to spend their final years, along with attention and medical care.

Scheinberg pointed out some 70,000 to 100,000 horses are slaughtered annually in Canada, which has one of the largest horse slaughtering industries in the world. Many thoroughbreds are put down when they break a leg, simply because the cost of care is too much. Horses can live upwards of 40 years so Robert is more than happy to nurture them back to health and give them a new lease on life. They buy horses at auction to save their lives.

He pointed out that in 2013, 16,000 animal abuse cases were reported to officials.

Just recently, they picked up two Akitas from an elderly hoarder and the dogs hadn't been outside in several years. It took only a month and the two are enjoying life, people and other dogs – just as it's meant to be.

“I wake up every morning with a smile. We love what we do. It's not a job, it's a lifestyle,” Robert said.

Dog Tales also works with Let Animals Live, Israel's largest rescue group. The couple has their own gang of four rescue dogs, saved from dire conditions in shelters in Israel.

Scheinberg noted that in Israel, some 100,000 dogs are put down annually at government shelters.

Saving animals is the name of the game, regardless of their country of origin.

“A dog is a dog is a dog,” Scheinberg pointed out.

They're also working with the SPCA in Montreal and they've even rescued a horse from Quebec.

Everything they do is intensive to ensure the animals are well taken care of. Even the adoptive families undergo an interview process and visit.

Scheinberg said they currently have eight dogs, but will soon be home to 80. They can handle up to 30 horses as well.

They built everything at Dog Tales from scratch and everything from heating, air conditioning and insulation is top quality. Custom-made beds and surround sound will welcome the doggie guests.

There's no question the facility is unique and stands out. It reflects Robert's personality and what he expects.

Running an operation like this is a big responsibility. For some animals, particularly the horses, if they aren't adopted, Dog Tales must look after them for the rest of their lives. And paramount is their comfort.

The facility relies on private donations.

For the near future, Dog Tales will hold public adoptions on Sundays. Other visits are by appointment.

Dog Tales will stand as a testament to human compassion and a drive for excellence.

Scheinberg wants everyone in the GTA to become familiar with Dog Tales and to visit with their animals.

Dog Tales is an instant legacy, something that will stand for generations to come.

There are only happy endings, and happy trails at King's newest labour of love.

For more, visit www.dogtales.ca.

 

 

Excerpt: Helping those who can’t help themselves takes some very special qualities. And those very characteristics are evident in every nook and cranny of a new King Township facility dedicated to rescuing dogs and horses.


Post date: 2014-10-22 08:58:13
Post date GMT: 2014-10-22 12:58:13
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