Jaime McKnight never likes to give up. No matter how old or sick a dog is, she believes it deserves a second chance at a happy, healthy life.
McKnight’s mission is to save dogs that are least likely to be adopted. She takes in small canines, usually under 10 pounds, that are seniors, have disabilities or severe injuries, or need hospice care. She makes sure they receive all the medical treatment they need and then finds them a good home.
Born and raised in St. Pete, McKnight started her devotion to dogs of all types while cleaning kennels for a veterinarian when she was 15. Later she worked in raising funds for other rescue groups. “I’ve saved the lives of thousands of dogs,” she says.
McKnight has no volunteer helpers and shelters the pooches at her own home. Over the years, she has developed a national following. She has almost 100,000 followers on her Facebook page and 9,000 on Instagram, and she frequently posts stories and photos of the pets she takes in. “People drive and fly here from all over the country just to adopt one of my dogs,” McKnight says.
Donations Keep the Rescues Going
There is no corporate funding for the services McKnight provides, and she doesn’t do enough volume to qualify for most rescue grants. She relies solely on donations to pay for medical care, special diets, and other supplies. “It costs anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 per dog for medical care alone, and I once spent $12,000 to save the life of a Chihuahua who is still with us,” McKnight says. “With rising inflation and housing costs for a lot of people, this has been a challenging year for raising needed funds.”
McKnight saves about 200 dogs a year. She also boards other pets at her home for people who are traveling and need temporary care for their pets.
Only the Best Medical Care
Partridge Animal Hospital in St. Pete has provided medical care since Pawlicious started 10 years ago. “My cases are very challenging and usually require ultrasounds, surgery, extensive dental work, EKGs, and so on,” McKnight reports. The hospital lets McKnight run up a tab, and then she pays it down when donations come in. “As soon as I pay off one bill, I usually incur another soon after,” she says.
One dog named Onyx stands out in McKnight’s memory. Nurse Krista at Partridge contacted her about a dog that had been left at the hospital. It had parvovirus that cost $7,500 to treat, along with a 2 1/2- week stay in the hospital. Krista adopted Onyx, and “today he runs around the hospital every day and thinks he runs the joint,” McKnight says.
Top-Notch Real Estate Services
McKnight works just as hard for her real estate clients as she does for her dogs. Many know about her rescue services and appreciate the effort she puts in to find them a buyer or the right home. “I am always accessible and known to work all hours, day and night,” McKnight promises.
Follow Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For questions about donating, surrendering a dog, or adopting one, please contact Jaime McKnight directly at (727) 430-2491 or [email protected]. You can make a donation through Partridge Animal Hospital at (727) 526-8700. To buy or sell a home, you can reach McKnight at (727) 430-2491 or [email protected].
