crIsp PROGRAM BENEFITS
CRiSP provides the following benefits to the five principal constituents - vulnerable canines, dog-owners, re-homers, rescue facilities, and hospital patients - all who collectively help alleviate the current humanitarian and animal crisis:
Most important, the overwhelming benefit is to the beloved pet dogs who can now live in a comfortable loving home, instead of being abandoned or placed in an animal shelter.
A solution for those dog owners who become physically handicapped or unable to care for their pet dog for non- financial reasons; or encounter other situational changes that make it difficult or impossible to care for their beloved pet dog. This preserves the lifelong bonded relationship that would otherwise not occur when the owner is incapable of caring for their pet dog.
Advantage to the re-homer, who may otherwise not be financially able to afford and maintain a pet dog but is now able to have one with full expenses covered. The re-homer will only need to provide regular visitation to the owner in exchange.
Together, this would help alleviate the current crisis facing many communities by reducing the number of dogs surrendered to rescue facilities or abandoned, while simultaneously increasing the pool of available re-homers.
Benefits to the rescue organizations facilitating and coordinating this “marriage” by being the intermediary and potential beneficiary of future opportunities for endowments, contributions, etc., especially from grateful owners’ that are part of the Legacy Memorial program.
Important overall benefits to society with the community features in the Legacy Memorial program for owners planning their end-of-life estate.
CBF intends to financially encourage the re-homer, who no longer would be providing visitation upon the owner’s demise to alternatively, provide comfort services to patients in hospitals, veterans facilities, and other medical centers.
The re-homer would be directly rewarded financially by the rescue organization with the increased grant award provided by the CBF.
It is the hope of the Caplan-Bensley Foundation that the success of this program will encourage more families to rehome and enjoy these lovable pet dogs by welcoming them into their homes.
In doing so, many dogs would be saved from being placed in animal shelters and spared from the otherwise unfortunate and unmentionable consequences. Alternatively, these wonderful dogs would live out their lives in a beautiful and loving home environment.
Unfortunately for many, life’s difficulties, personal tragedies, and the ravages of illness and age do not always allow the luxury of enjoying the close-proximity human-pet bonding relationship. Dog owners who are handicapped or become physically incapable of caring for their pet in their own home, cannot enjoy the close bond relationship with their beloved pet dog.
People in rehabilitation centers, independent or assisted living facilities that don’t allow dogs-in-residence or those facing end-of-life situations, have the similar challenge of finding a comfortable, safe and loving home for their pet dog.
Without a family member or friend to house their beloved dog, it is extremely difficult or impossible to provide a loving and caring home that will not only shelter the dog but also continue to maintain the strong bond between the owner and their pet.
With this in mind, the CBF seeks to maintain this human pet-dog bond relationship by establishing the Canine Residences in Supporting People (CRiSP) grant program.
CRiSP awards grants are available to canine rescue and animal welfare organizations that identify households who qualify as dog re-homers for owners who are physically or otherwise unable to keep their pet dog for non-financial reasons. These re-homers provide the opportunity for pet dogs to have a permanent loving home, rather than being abandoned or forced to live in an animal shelter.
Re-homers will have all expenses covered by the owner, in exchange for providing regular visits to the owners’ dwelling to maintain their life-long bond together. Re-homers will also provide homes for dogs of owners who are planning or facing end-of-life decisions and have no suitable alternative home, through friends or family, for their beloved pet dog.
CBF will offer rescue facilities additional grants that encourage re-homers to provide voluntary emotional support services upon the owner’s demise. They would visit patients in hospitals, veterans and other facilities to provide therapy services with the dog’s jacket displaying the owner’s name as a Legacy Memorial.
The CRiSP grant initiative gives dog owners total comfort knowing that their beloved pet and lifelong friend will be well provided throughout the remainder of its life.
Keeping dogs out of shelters not only saves the life of the dog but also brings huge relief to the owners who can still visit with their beloved canine companions.
CRiSP grants will be available to support rehoming programs that accommodate Living Owners with physical disabilities who are incapable of caring for their pet dog or facing other non-financial hardships. It is also available for dog-owners looking to establish a Legacy Memorial, or for those preparing for end-of-life and without friends or family to take care of their lifelong beloved pet dog.
The Caplan-Bensley Foundation is establishing a grant initiative for a prototype CRiSP program with Providing Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) in Jackson Hole, WY. This will serve as an example for other canine rescue organizations to follow by encouraging families to welcome and re-home these lovable pet dogs while providing the incapacitated dog owner continuity in their lifelong relationship.
”Bring me your incapacitated, your lonely, your most vulnerable,
in search of companionship, dignity, and respect.
Along with these devoted, affectionate, close-bonded canines seeking to live peacefully with their lifelong soulmates in this tumultuous world.
Send them, your handicap, your helpless, your less fortunate to me.
I lift my inviting arms for you to embrace and live comfortably,
eternally together within our Golden Sanctuary”
Inspired by the Emma Lazarus sonnet on the Statue of Liberty