Two boxer sisters, a white Maltese, a brindle boxer and a shy bichon-poodle mix crowded the foyer of Shannon Ceccoli's Scranton home.
The adoptable crew wagged and wiggled as Ms. Ceccoli, 39, and Debbie Stezar, 60, passed out treats, calling each of the pups by name. Ms. Ceccoli's bulldog Jack, the 110-pound "lovebug" she rescued, made his presence known with a few jealous barks before he quickly joined the four-legged party.
For the two foster dog moms, it was just a typical day.
"I just go with it at this point," Ms. Ceccoli said.
Mrs. Stezar founded One Life to Live, a nonprofit pet rescue and adoption organization, in 2009 after working with other similar organizations. Since then, she and her all-volunteer team have rescued about 700 dogs.
"Most of the dogs come from high-kill shelters," she said.
Many of those shelters are in southern states. She said there are many more people willing to rescue dogs in the north.
"The alternative is they would probably be put to sleep," she said.
Though the two women love the dogs they foster and relish finding each one a permanent home, they say there is more to rescuing than meets the eye.
Thinking of the alternative keeps both of their homes filled with foster dogs and keeps One Life to Live busy. Mrs. Stezar said they are always looking for volunteers to foster dogs. They also accept donations of supplies, even old towels.
"We're a different breed of people," Ms. Ceccoli said, sharing her armchair with Jack. "You can't bear the thought of the dogs being hurt."
All of the dogs being fostered by One Life to Live can be viewed on at www.onelifetoliverescue.com, but they are also shown off at adoption events. The charitable organization also hopes to promote its pooches with several upcoming fundraisers.
They will have several dogs and a free obedience demonstration at the Festival of Ice in Clarks Summit today from 2 to 4 p.m.
There are also plans for a flea market on March 1 at the Connell Building in Scranton and promoting dogs at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders' Bark at the Park night on May 11.
Before it received their charitable nonprofit certification last year, the organization relied solely on adoption fees to stay afloat. The women hope these additional events will allow them to reduce the $250 adoption fee and help foster families more.
"Foster homes are the heart of rescue," Mrs. Stezar said.
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter