Small Angels Rescue

MARTINSBURG — Michelle Clowe said she’s strictly for the little guys.The Kearneysville woman has been busy rescuing and finding good homes for animals like guinea pigs, mice, domesticated rats, gerbils, chinchillas and hamsters through her organization Small Angels Rescue, which is located in Frederick, Md.

And now, Clowe, who has rescued 1,500 animals since opening her organization three years ago, has been awarded for her work for providing rescue and adoption services for these animals from the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

An independent, nonprofit, no-kill, volunteer organization, Small Angels Rescue is dedicated to rescuing and finding homes for animals referred to as “pocket pets.”

“We just saw there was a need and decided we needed to help fill it,” Clowe said.

“Everyone knows they can adopt a cat and a dog. People don’t realize that adoption is an option for these little guys.”

Clowe, who has always liked animals and who previously worked at the Frederick County Animal Shelter in Maryland, said she always served as the voice for these types of animals whenever they would be brought into the shelter.

“Everytime something small came through the back door, I was the one they let know,” Clowe said.

“I like being the voice for the little ones that don’t have one.”

And Clowe certainly became a voice and caretaker after taking in 20 domesticated rats she found outside a Tyson’s Corner, Va. Petco in two tiny, dirty hamster cages.

Of those 20 domesticated rats, seven females were old enough to reproduce, and 20 rats quickly turned into 81.

Clowe said she was able to place over half the domesticated rats, but that approximately 24 are still looking for homes.

People don’t realize that pet stores can’t and won’t take pets from people,” Clowe said. “They can’t take them even if they wanted to.”

Clowe was awarded the 2006 “Animal Kingdom Kindred Spirit Award” from the Doris Day Animal Foundation (DDAF) in July for the work she has done with helping the domesticated rats.

Clowe was nominated for the award by DDAF’s program director, Vicki Smith, who called Clowe about adopting domesticated rats and heard the story.

“We work really hard so it’s always nice to have your work recognized,” Clowe said. “But we don’t do it for the recognition, we do it for the animals.”

Besides the domesticated rats, Small Angels Rescue currently has 20 mice, 1 gerbil, approximately 40 hamsters and 30 guinea pigs, including one with three legs, that are available for adoption.

The majority of the animals the organization receives come from shelters and are facing euthanasia.

Clowe, along with colleagues Angela Moxley and Sue Wilmot, also encourage the spaying and neutering of the animals.

Clowe especially encourages the spaying and neutering of guinea pigs because they are considered social herd animals and should always live in pairs.

“Having them neutered let’s them live with a lady friend without worrying,” Clowe said.

Small Angels Rescue holds adoption events every Sunday at the Frederick Town Mall in Frederick, Md. from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. outside Boscov’s. Animals will be on site for adoption.

The organization’s animals can also be seen on their web site, www.smallangels.petfinder.com.

Clowe said she hopes this award will bring more attention to the plight of homeless animals.

“We are responsible for a lot of happy endings,” Clowe said.

“Our goal is to go out of business because that will mean there are no animals that are
homeless.”

..so if you or if you know someone looking for a rattie do yourself and the rattie a favor and check out pet rat rescue...

The Journal

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