This video story was reported and produced by Demi Asensio.
A sunny morning often means a nice cup of coffee and something nice to eat such as eggs or pancakes for breakfast.
For Mandy Figarola, it involves more barking, meowing and cleaning. She makes sure every animal that is in her care are treated, has clean water and some food to eat first thing each morning. She makes sure to especially look after the ones who are sick.
Figarola runs Ziggy’s Legacy Rescue, a pet rescue, in Brooksville, and she said she has rescued over 8,000 animals in the past 10 years.
Her mission started when she worked for the Animal Services of Hernando County for eight years.
According to the ASPCA, one and a half million shelter animals are euthanized every year. Figarola is working to save as many as she can.
“When I was over there, I saw the amount of animals that were coming in and I used to rescue there a little bit. Then I left there, and I married doc, and we just had more of a capability of helping the sick ones,” Figarola said.
Figarola’s husband also shares the same love of animals. He is a veterinarian and they co-own A.S.A.P Animal clinic, where they also treat many rescued animals and animals in the community.
Many of the rescues have been abused or neglected in their past. One dog named Jack was dumped at a shelter by his owner because of infections in his eyes. Figarola saved him from a euthanasia list, and although he’s now blind, she’s giving him hope again.
Figarola said she could not even touch Jack for five weeks because he was too scared. After about a year he has become comfortable and ready for a home.
“It’s sad to see them come in the condition that they’re in, but you know, watching them leave, healthy and happy and socialize, that’s definitely the best part,” said Figarola.
A majority of Figarola’s rescues have a similar story and have been saved because of injuries like Jack, while others are strays brought to her by people in the community.
COVID-19 has brought more time and less interaction for many but pets have kept people from feeling lonely. Figarola says the pandemic has increased adoptions at the rescue.
“We’re actually busier because people are home more. So a lot of the teachers from local schools and stuff have been inquiring about adopting dogs whereas before, people would be at work and they weren’t sure if they wanted a puppy,” Figarola said.
Ziggy’s Rescue does much of their work finding homes for the animals online as well. Their Facebook page has 27,853 likes and 30,432 followers with many posts about the furry friends they have up for adoption.
Figarola lives by the quote “Love is the answer” and she lives up to it by showing these animals love so that they may find their forever home.
