Backyard Getaway Helps Honor Sanctuary’s Dog Ranch Keep Rescued Dogs Cool and Hydrated

BRADENTON -- Backyard Getaway usually helps local people create that perfect water garden and koi pond. But on Saturday, people toured water gardens around Manatee County to help raise money for a doggy drinking and bathing fountain out at the Honor Sanctuary's Dog Ranch.

David Burns, from left, and Lisa Burns  stand in front of their water wheel in their own "Backyard Getaway" shown on the Saturday pond tour.

People toured local water gardens for charity

There were 200 people who purchased $8 tickets for the “5th Annual Parade of Ponds Water Garden Tour" on Saturday. This annual event, hosted by Backyard Getaway, benefited the Honor Sanctuary and its Dog Ranch in Lakewood Ranch.

“The money raised today is going back to the Honor Sanctuary,” said Lisa Burns, co-owner of the family water garden business. “The Dog Ranch is getting a doggy drinking fountain. With the remaining money, the Honor Sanctuary can buy food and whatever they need.”

The Honor Sanctuary is a non-profit, local, no-kill animal rescue serving Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Its mission is to help the suffering of stray, abandoned, and abused dogs and cats in this area through Nate’s Place and Dog Ranch.

“We’ve been doing this for five years,” she said. “We love getting everyone together and showing them what they can do in their backyard, while also helping the community.”

She added that when they sent out a letter to local nonprofits about their event; the Honor Sanctuary was the first organization to reply that they would like to be the benefiting nonprofit for 2010.

Both Lisa and David Burns, Backyard Getaway owners, were moved to help the organization create a place where dogs out at the ranch could drink water and cool off, especially since summer is right around the corner.

Backyard Getaway was launched 20 years ago in Bradenton, after David Burns realized he had a talent for building ponds and creating the ideal backyard getaway.

Denise Frugere played in the rain fountain during the water garden tour that helped to raise money for rescued dogs.

“We help people imagine a new way of doing their backyard,” David Burns said. “Water gardens are what we do. It just gets bigger and bigger every year.”

One of the gardens on the tour was their own personal pond escape, equipped with rain, several waterfalls and a water wheel. They were one of ten gardens on the charity tour that people enjoyed on Saturday.

“Everything we do is environmentally friendly,” Lisa Burns said. “If you think about it, water gardens reduce lawn space and create habitats for other wildlife like frogs, songbirds, fish and plants.”

On Saturday, Denise Frugere made her way through the tour.

“Well, I have a pond of my own, and I never get to see other people’s backyards,” she said, while sitting under a garden shelter and listening to the water sprinkling down from the rain fountain. “I heard about so many of the creative endeavors and I wanted to see how people use their personal space. This is the perfect serenity.”

Frugere, who is a full-time elementary school teacher, said she is a mom to five dogs.

“I wouldn’t miss an event dedicated to helping out an animal rescue,” she said. “I might be volunteering at the Dog Ranch as a result of this event today.”

Lisa Burns said they were really excited to have sold so many tickets for the tour and thinks the doggy drinking fountain may be ready by the end of June. She added that the Honor Sanctuary is also looking for anyone who may be able to donate a washer and dryer or a lawn mower.

David Burns described that the charity fountain project for the Dog Ranch would be created in the shape of a dog bone. He said that in the center would be a fire hydrant with water coming out so the dogs could also cool down when it’s really hot outside.

Volunteers at Nate's Place

Michaela Oglesby, from left, Jake, and Dari Oglesby hang out with rescued dogs and cats at Honor Society's Nate's Place.

Back at Honor Sanctuary’s Nate’s Place, located at 8435 Cooper Creek Boulevard at University Park, Dari Oglesby and her daughter, Michaela, were cleaning up after the orphaned cats and walking the rescued dogs.

She said it takes about 20 volunteers a day at their facility to help the animals in four shifts. Oglesby is a board member for the organization and also a volunteer.

“It’s just awesome that Backyard Getaway is donating their proceeds from the event to help us out,” she said. “The Dog Ranch can get really hot and now the dogs will have a fountain to drink from and play in.”

Ask her why she dedicates so much time and care to the animals, and she’ll tell you that the Honor Sanctuary animals are their kids.

“We are getting animals in the day before they got scheduled to be put down,” Oglesby said.

She stops for a moment and looks at Jake, a two-year-old lab mix, then bites the bottom of her lip to hold back tears. It’s a tender moment and the silent pause lingers as Michaela holds Jake in a hug.

“We have 35 dogs right now and 125 cats,” she continued. “It is kitten season and every day we get in abandoned kittens. They all need homes and they all need moms.”

She explained that Jake was surrendered after his owners could no longer take care of him, a common scenario these days.

“Every single day we get calls from people who want to bring their animals in because they can’t afford to care for them,” Oglesby said. “We are so grateful that they chose us as their charity this year to help us take care of these guys.”