Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrissie Emmons.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chrissie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have always had a love for animals and helping those in need. My whole family has always been very much into advocating for rescue animals. Through the years I worked as a marine mammal rehabilitator, vet tech, wildlife naturalist, competitive equestrian and of course domestic rescue of dogs and cats. During my time living in San Francisco and while at The Marine Mammal Center I embraced an opportunity to travel to Central America to assist in Manatee and Primate Rehabilitation. During my time there I would help the dogs and cats in the village and subsequently set up subsidized spay and neuter clinics. It is during that time that I came across a starving, emaciated and burned puppy along with his sister who was also emaciated. I decided I could not leave them behind or they would certainly die, we traveled 2 hours on an old school bus over dirt roads to reach a vet. He treated the burn wound and agreed to keep the puppies while I flew back to San Francisco to secure a dog-friendly apartment. After they had a few weeks to gain weight, heal and become strong enough to travel I flew them back from Belize with a dear friend so they could fly in the cabin. Upon arriving back in the Bay Area, we settled into our new life together and it was then that I realized I wanted to move back to Maine and become more involved in animal welfare. I returned about a year later to start Buddy Up Animal Society, with my new pups, Peanut & Carlos, as the catalysts. I also reunited with an old college friend who I worked in Marina Mammal Rehabilitation with and we co-founded Marine Mammals of Maine.
8 years later, MMOME is thriving as is BUAS and I decided I had enough of the frigid winters and relocated to Southern California to be closer to family and start the West Coast Chapter of Buddy Up! We have recently rescued many dogs from Hurricane Harvey, all of those dogs have been transported to Maine where they will find their forever homes, except Gunnar McHuddleston, a wonderful sweet black lab/bulldog mix who was shot point blank with a 9MM leaving him no use or feeling in his hind end. He was also peppered with buck shot and bb’s. A truly heartbreaking case, yet a truly wonderful and happy dog who is very much enjoying his new life in California. He was lucky enough to be medically sponsored by Lance McCuller’s and his wife, Kara. Lance is a starting pitcher for the Houston Astros and he and his wife run an amazing foundation helping animals in need in Houston.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all, the animal welfare world is one of high emotion, compassion fatigue and frustration. With that said, it is also one where you see the very best of people and learn so much through the animals you are helping. It is a humbling endeavor and rewarding at the same time. I have been fortunate enough to have grown so much personally with this adventure. I am so honored to be a part of a wonderful rescue with such compassionate people and deserving animals.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Buddy Up Animal Society – what should we know?
Buddy Up takes last chance animals, animals that have no advocates and will be euthanized due to overcrowding, medical or behavioral issues. We are very dedicated to training and work tirelessly to rehabilitate our animals and set them up to succeed. We spend hundreds if not thousands on the very best medical care for our sick/injured animals and we are constantly following up on our adoptions and remain a constant source of support for our fosters/adopters. We are very careful to take only the number of animals that we can properly focus on and provide for. These animals have been failed before, it is our responsibility to make sure they are not failed again.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have had a tremendous amount of support. My family, friends, clients, colleagues and my husband. They encouraged me to follow my heart, always supporting me from the beginning to end. My husband has been there for the happiest of times to the most heartbreaking of times. I really can’t thank everyone individually because there are hundreds, it really takes a village to do this work.
Contact Info:
- Address: 119 Bishop Street, Portland, Maine 04103
- Website: buddyupanimalsociety.org
- Phone: 415.652.6446
- Email: info@buddyupanimalsociety.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuddyUp/
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