The Atlantic Canadian Dachshund Rescue charity celebrates 25 years of helping dogs in need

The Atlantic Canadian Dachshund Rescue chats about the work they do and celebrating 25 years.

The Atlantic Canadian Dachshund Rescue (ACDR) is celebrating 25 years.

The not-for-profit organization is run by volunteers to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome dachshunds and dachshund mixes in Atlantic Canada.

“I’ve never met two with the same personality, they are so different, so loving, very loyal,” says ACDR president Lynn Davis.

She stopped by the CTV Your Morning Atlantic studio in Halifax Tuesday to introduce two of the puppies in their care.

Uisge Beatha is six-and-a-half months old. Her name is Gaelic for “water of life” and she weighs 5.2 pounds.

She’s a double dapple dachshund, a genetic condition that often leads to significant health concerns.

“So that means that she got two of the dominant genes of the merle coat, which causes blindness, deafness, or both in the dogs that are born with it,” Davis explains.

“She has what’s called microphthalmia, which if you look at her left eye, her iris is actually below centre, and that eye is actually smaller as well, so she has vision issues.”

David Chernin volunteers to foster with ACDR. He’s currently taking care of a seven-year-old dachshund named Frankie.

“I take him to all the events, I give him lots of loves, and the rescue pays for his medical treatment because he’s not adoptable due to his condition,” Chernin says.

Frankie has intervertebral disk disease, and when he’s out of the house, he uses a wheelchair to get around.

Chernin explains the disease is inherent in all dachshunds.

“It’s part of the same gene that causes their short legs,” he says.

When Frankie’s at home, he can be brought out of the wheelchair to cuddle or move around on his own.

“He just scoots around on his front legs,” Chernin says. “It’s very cute. He has his legs out and I call him my little seal.”

Those who want to support ACDR can send an e-transfer to [e-mail] or donate online. They also welcome corporate sponsorships.

“We are a registered charity, which means we can offer tax receipts,” says Davis.

The group also encourages members of the community to foster and volunteer.

“We’re never going to turn anybody away who wants to help,” she adds.