Puppy needs a home: Three SWFL women known as ‘Solin’s Angels’ help canine in need

Three Southwest Florida women have been dubbed “Solin’s Angels,” and for the dog of a homeless man, they most certainly are.

Solin had been living in a truck behind a shopping plaza in Estero since late last year. When Marisa Barry of Estero, first saw him, she began bringing the dog food and water. Last month she realized he needed more than nourishment. She saw Solin tied to a tree and sometimes running loose.

So, she made a post on a Bonita/Estero Facebook page asking for ideas to help the 15-month-old blue nose pitbull.

“I posted: Did anybody know where Solin can be safe during the day?” Barry explained.

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That’s all it took. Kate Mindak and Christine Pence immediately jumped in to help.

“I said we should try to fundraise to get Solin in daycare while his owner is at work,” Mindak said.

"He'd be safe and his owner could get back on his feet. So, I made a post and people just started donating. It was amazing the people that helped and donated. Even the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 38 donated to help with this cause. The community has been amazing. I was so happy to see that with all the turmoil going on in this country, people still have that sense of community and step up to help.”

By the end of the first day, Mindak had raised enough money to get Solin the vaccines he needed to attend doggie daycare. By the end of the first week, about $900 had been donated to help pay for him to go to Pet Paradise in Bonita Springs.

Christy Carle, who owns a dog spa in Bonita, was one of the donors. She gave enough to pay for a week of doggie daycare.

“I care about the animals and I could help him have a safe place and get out of the heat and play,” Carle said. “I just feel bad for the dog. I’ve never seen the dog. I never knew any of these people.

"I wouldn’t know the dog if I walked by him on the street, but I care for animals so much. They are put in situations that they don’t have any control over, so if I can donate a safe place for him to go then that is it.”

Mindak said even with a very busy work schedule she was excited to help.

“I have been involved in animal rescue for 25 years,” Mindak explained. “I haven’t been able to do as much as I would like in the past few years because work and life got hectic. So, this was a way for me to help, and this dog deserves it. He has not had a great life, living in a parking lot and outside in the elements. And he needed help.”

For more than a month the three “angels” communicated only by phone and messaging and didn’t meet until this week. Yet they bonded over this special dog.

“For me, the friendships that have formed have become an invaluable part of my life and so much more than I could have ever hoped for,” Barry said.

The ladies are so thankful that so many people stepped in to help.

“Each and every one of you have touched the world of a man and a dog who will never be the same because of your generosity and caring,” Barry stated. “I could not be more proud to say I am part of a community who made all of this possible.”

Pence said people don’t often think of the situations the homeless face.

“That’s when it really hit me,” Pence explained. “You take for granted that you just leave them (pets) at home and go to work.”

Solin’s Angels did more than help the dog

Until help arrived, the homeless man tied his dog to a tree when he went to work. Solin’s Angels did more than help the dog get out of the heat. They wanted to find long-term solutions. They paid to have the homeless man’s truck fixed, so he could get to work. They bought him food, clothes, did his laundry and even helped find him another job. Their goal was to assist him on the road to a better life, so he could care for his dog.

Even with a great plan, there were problems. Some days Solin was not picked up from daycare and other days his owner never brought him. When Solin was not in day care, he was spotted tied to a tree with no water.

“Our main concern was the dog,” Barry stressed.

With summer heat approaching, the ladies realized they had to take a more drastic approach. They convinced the man to let them have custody of Solin.

“You don’t want to take someone’s dog. It’s heartbreaking,” Pence said. “It’s just very sad. I struggled with taking this dog from him until I heard he was tied to a tree with no water. It was not our intention. But he finally realized he could not provide for him and I promised him we would find him a good home.”

“The man he was living with realized with the rain and the toads and the heat, it was harder than he thought to keep him,” Barry added. “He agreed to give him to our care with the intention of us finding him the right home. He is the sweetest dog and has so much love to give and is so eager to please and will be the perfect addition to the right home.”

None of the “angels” could take him since they all have dogs of their own. So, the plan is to keep him at Pet Paradise until a permanent home can be found.

“He is a great dog with so much potential,” Mindak said. “But he does need training. He is just a big puppy. Whoever adopts him needs to be willing to put some time into him and train him. He loves people and wants attention.”

The ladies will pay for Solin to be neutered. They will do vet references and home checks for potential adopters. There is no adoption fee.

“We will not adopt him out until he is neutered and has a place to recover,” Mindak stressed. “The three angels have dogs who are very old and some are dog selective, so we are not able to bring him home with us. We are even looking for a foster situation now too.”

While daycare was costing them $22 a day, full boarding is $51 per day.

“My hope is to find a home for him right away before we run out of money,” Barry stressed. “Our resources are running out. We just want to see him go to a good home.”

The “angels” have enough funds for about eight more days of boarding, so they need to find a home fast.

“We have done so much to keep Solin safe, but the possibility of him having to go to the humane society is there,” Mindak said. “It's expensive to board. It's not the place for Solin long term as he needs a home environment. But, with his breed and people having trouble affording things for themselves and their family, this is going to be a tough one.

"We are going to do our best because this dog didn’t ask to be put in this situation. Saving him is really all we want to do.”

How to help

If you are interested in adopting Solin, send an email to solinadoption@gmail.com

To help pay with boarding call Pet Paradise at 239-310-5400 and donate for Solin under Kate Mindak’s name or donate via Pay Pal @katemindak.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: ‘Solin’s Angels’ are 3 SW FL women looking to find home for puppy