This week Renee Lancaster, the founder of Rotts of Friends, shares her love and devotion to our four-legged friends. From the Woodland nonprofit's website:
"The creation of Rotts of Friends is the long-term dream of Renee Lancaster. As an experienced breeder of German Shepherds and Rottweilers for police, personal protection, and working companions, she has seen firsthand the growth of abuse and neglect of dogs of all breeds.
"The heart of Rotts of Friends started with the deep love and appreciation of the Rottweiler breed. For more than three decades, Renee has watched as this breed has gone from relative obscurity to public persecution. In 1981, Rottweilers were an unknown breed. By 1990, the misplaced popularity with these dogs caused shelters to swell with increased numbers of Rottweilers and other 'bad-boy' dogs.
"It was the love of the breed which pushed Renee to do more to save the Rottweiler from irresponsible breeding and ownership. With increased space being allocated to taking in these discarded animals, the message became clear that the willingness to help must extend to other breeds going through the same dilemma of abuse, neglect, over-population, and irresponsible ownership. Rottweilers were soon joined with German shepherds, pit bulls, and other large breed dogs that became popularized and promptly persecuted.
"Rotts of Friends strives to educate the public about these breeds and the understanding of what breed, if any, is best for them, preventing pet overpopulation through spay and neuter, and offering programs to properly integrate dogs as a proper part of the family, including those with children and extended families."