HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Recently, the doors of Sanctuary Rescue in Southern Florida have been closed. Founder Palena Dorsey has left behind over 100 animals in conditions of neglect. For several days, I have wrestled with this post, at times deleting the entire thing because of various emotions of anger, disgust and disappointment on many levels. Several dogs have infections, including staph infections, conjunctivitis, or masses in addition to malnourishment. Others are heartworm positive.  The most important thing is to prevent these incidents from happening in the future. Hopefully, those involved in sending animals to this facility will step up to help. Some of these dogs originally came from Heard County Animal Control in Franklin, Georgia, and many originally came from elsewhere.

WPBF in Florida has posted a video and article HERE about the situation. Check the website, as I was unable to imbed it.  As it stands, Animal Control is involved and rescue groups are being called upon to help take some of the canine prisoners and get them into an appropriate environment where they have a chance of getting adopted.

According to Donna Deppen of Shy Wolf Sanctuary, Deppen writes: I didn’t see any that I felt were permanent “sanctuary” animals – and we have lots of experience with those types.  Some will need extensive TLC to move into a home.”

What can you do?

1) Donate to legitimate organizations who are assisting in this matter.

They include:

Humane Society of St. Lucie County (They have set up a Help Hope fund to help the dogs and cats from the Sanctuary) PO Box 3661, Fort Pierce, FL., 34948 (Designate the donation to the “Help Hope” fund.

Rescue Adoption, Inc. (From reports they have taken 6 of the dogs). They are not openly solicited donations from any sources I am abreast of, but it would be nice to donate in the name of the Sanctuary Dogs they have taken in if you are looking for another legitimate source to donate to: http://www.rescueadoption.net/

Shy Wolf Sanctuary. I don’t know if they have taken animals, but legitimate sanctuaries need to be supported for dogs who are unadoptable and need extensive rehabilitation. Shy Wolf mainly caters to exotic animals, including wolf dogs.

I will have more recommendations as soon as the info comes in and I have a chance to screen.

2) If you are a rescuer, crossposter or transporter, never agree to send animals to a “Sanctuary” you have not yourself visited or know someone trusted that has. And make sure it is visited regularly. Ask the hard questions. Who is caring for the dogs if the principle works full time? Do they have a limit of the number of dogs that they bring in based on what they can financial handle or do they seem to bring in as many as the real estate can physically hold? Why are healthy, adoptable dogs at the sanctuary not adopted out? Do they have an agreement with a foster-based rescue to insure that adoptable dogs get adopted? Do they have a rehabilitation program or are dogs warehoused? In the emotion of “time up at the pound,” people are neglecting this! There are too many Palenas out there – “well meaning people” who lose their way and therefore other people have to re-rescue the animals or they suffer a horrible fate.

3) If you are from a legitimate, licensed rescues and have the financial means to just take one or two dogs, please contact Karen Taylor or David Robinson.  According to Deanna Deppen, Shy Wolf Sanctuary, here is the list of available animals as of 4/24:

Subject: FL Sanctuary Animal Refuge – animal list as of 04/24/11

CONTACT FOR RESCUE:  KAREN TAYLOR AT 772-528-0265 (VET REFERENCE & SITE VISIT MANDATORY)  BACKUP CONTACT DAVID ROBERTSON AT DROBERTSON@HSSLC.ORG OR 772-519-0714

Previously, I reported on Heard County Animal Control’s need for supplies. This is not a nokill shelter, but it needs to receive food and basic medical supplies to keep dogs and cats healthy while they are there.  If the condition of the animals can be maintained, adopters and rescues are more likely to step forward to help them.  A full belly and being parasite free can entice a rescue to save “just one more” because they won’t have to quarantine a dog far away from others when room is limited.

Emily, who frequently volunteers to spread the word about the dogs and cats at the shelter, has the opportunity of buying 10 cases of Halo canned dog food for $75.00. The food normally runs $35 a case, so this is definitely a great opportunity. The money is not going to a nonprofit organization, but to an individually who is picking up the food, so you will not receive tax credit for donating.  I just thought I would be upfront about that.  The previous source of donated food has dried up. A chain of pet food stores that used to donate daily food is no longer doing it, so the two staff members at the shelter are scrambling to feed the dogs there.  There have been previously pleas to donate food, but since no one has done it, a few volunteers are trying to pick some up, even though funds are limited. The shelter is located in rural Franklin, Georgia.

If you cannot see the widget in the left hand corner of this posting, please visit: http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/2397e4f2ba0ba6e2

Thanks to alert readers, I have been informed that the Georgia SPCA is in grave danger of closing.  They have been very hard hit with the influx of flood victims and have lost a major donor. Because of this tolling combination, they need your help now more than ever.

It has been publicized very little across the nation, but there are still many people who have not been able to return home, particularly Northwest of the city of Atlanta.  Their homes have been condemned, some have foreclosed as the financial cost of repair is insurmountable, or families are waiting for approval to repair their home. Many shelters have closed and families have nowhere to go.  They want to go home, but some of their homes have been condemned.  The Chattahoochee has come over its banks again, and the weather doesn’t seem to give residents relief, not to mention what effects Hurricane Ida will have.

Pets who have been extracted from the water were taken to several local shelters such as the Georgia SPCA, and Cobb and Fulton County shelters.  The SPCA also acted as an emergency shelter during the crisis. Unfortunately, since they have been shuffled around, there are many pets who are out of time, never having found their families, or the families are homeless and have no way to claim them.  The Georgia SPCA has held on to some animals in hopes of reuniting them with their families, but the extra refugees and the slow adoptions have taken a toll.  The Georgia SPCA is very important for us to keep open. They not only have provided refuge to flood victims, but has saved some very nice dogs and cats from death row at local county pounds on their last day.

The Georgia SPCA has also lost its biggest sponsor, Charter One.  If it doesn’t somehow replace the funding, there will be no money to pay the ten employees, keep the lights on, and keep the dogs and cats fed.

What you can do:

• Donate money.  No amount is too small.  If every reader donated $5-10, it adds up.  Please dig deep if you can. You can go to their website and click “donate online.” It is going to take many $5 to replace major funding, but if enough people do it, it can make a difference.  If you live in the area, consider donating in person also to save Paypal fees.
• Adopt.  If you live in Georgia and have been considering a new family member, check out the dogs and cats that are available and waiting for new homes. Here is a current list of dogs and cats awaiting a home. 
• Donate vaccines and heartworm preventative.  Common vaccines can be obtained from veterinary supply companies, and sometimes wholesale pet supply catalogs and vet offices.  Heartworm preventative can be obtained on the internet, feed stores and vet offices.
• If you do not have the ability to donate money, donate miscellaneous supplies like pet safe cleaners and dog food. Any little bit will help.

Warren, Michigan is contemplating a Pit Bull ban, or more technically known as Breed Specific Legislation.   The reasoning is that if there were no Pit Bulls, there would be no attacks involving Pit Bulls.  Actually, when you look at statistics, dog attacks involve a large sampling of breeds.  The most common Pit Bull attack involves a male, unneutered dog, and typically an irresponsible owner.   The answer is not to remove the right of every person to own a pit bull, but to crack down on animal welfare, to prosecute the rotten apples that are ruining it for the responsible dog owners, and to also encourage people to consider what breed best matches their family.

Once a trusted friend to children, the pit bull in the past two decades have been demonized, chiefly because of overbreeding and greed.   A Pit Bull is a sturdy dog that needs a high amoung of exercise and mental stimulation.   Tossing them in a small pen day in, day out does not satisfy their need.  Of course, some Pit Bulls are couch potatoes, but many need long hikes with their owners, or running in the yard with their people.  The ban will hurt families, forcing responsible owners to uproot their family to another town in order to keep their beloved pet, or an influx of good family pets will end up in shelters.  Some towns with bans euthanize the dogs on the spot, regardless of temperment, or if they truly are the breed in question.

A long while back, I invited people to Spot the PitBull.  Most people could not do it.   It only proves that when bans go into effect, it can be a veritable witch hunt for any dog that people THINK resembles a pit bull.

Let your voice be heard.  If you are in Macomb County, Michigan, please contact a member of City Council and let your voice be heard.   I encourage also cool headed people whose towns found benefit from not enacting a BSL to contact them also.  I ask that if you live on the other side of the world and are not a constituent in the area to mobilize your friends that are.   A council is more likely to listen to their constituents than folks who are in another country.

If you can volunteer your time to write a letter or make a phone call, here is a list of individuals to contact.

Mary Kamp
Council President
586-698-2614 (H)
586-863-8616 (C)
mkamp@cityofwarren.org

Donna Kaczor Caumartin
Council Vice President
586-243-9812
586-573-3900 (alternate number)
mcaumartin@aol.com

Keith Sadowski
Council Secretary
586-216-6377
ksadowski@cityofwarren.org

Scott C. Stevens
Council Assistant Secretary
586-486-4438
scs425@wowway.com

Robert Boccomino
Councilman
586-850-5221
boccomino2007@wowway.com

Patrick Green
Councilman
586-524-1315
pgreen@cityofwarren.org

Mark Liss
Councilman
586-558-8767
mark@markliss.com

Kathy Vogt
Councilwoman
586-268-9452
kvogt@macomblawyers.com

Steven Warner
Councilman
586-296-9894
sgwarner1@yahoo.com

An urgent request for help came across my desk.   Are you in or traveling through Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania this weekend.  A young and pretty Great Dane/Catahoula mix of the tender age of 11 months old needs your help.    Puzzle, aptly named for her markings I would imagine, was picked up by animal control with a very embedded collar.   What is an embedded collar?  Usually what occurs is that someone buy a puppy a collar and doesn’t bother to loosen it or get a new one as she grows.  The puppy “grows around” the collar and skin ends up starting to grow around it as the pup’s neck has nowhere else to go.

Puzzle is going from someone who grabbed her from death, and now she is going to a real foster home, where she will have the chance of being adopted.

If you have never participated in a transport before, it is very rewarding.  You will get “paid” with the satisfaction of saving a life, and perhaps even get paid with dog kisses.  If you have ever taken your own dog on a ride, you are pretty much qualified.  Sometimes, the dog may be nervous or scared because he/she is unsure about the whole situation, but in that case, reassuring words, and sometimes a dog crate usually take care of any jitters.

Here is the run sheet.  If you can take more than one “leg” or parts of two, don’t let that stop you from contacting Robin at Robin_Post @yahoo.com!  Puzzle is 70 lbs, so the size of a medium to large lab or other retriever, so not to worry if you have a smaller car and you wonder if she will fit.  The back seat should be just fine!

WILSONVILLE, AL TO RIEGELSVILLE, PA SAT 4/18 – THIS SATURDAY!!!

FROM:
Wilsonville, AL
Contact: Nikki Hyatt
Email address:

TO:
Approved Foster Home
Riegelsville, PA
Catahoula Rescue
Contact: Robin Post
Email:Robin_post@yahoo.com

YOUR PASSENGER:
NAME: Puzzle
BREED: Catahoula/ Great Dane Mix
AGE: 11 months
SEX: Female
WEIGHT: 70 lbs
ALTERED: no
SHOTS: UTD
TEMPERAMENT: REALLY happy
WILL TRAVEL WITH: harness, leash, health certificate, original rabies certificate

Transport Coordinator: Robin Post at Robin_Post@yahoo.com
Ass’t Transport Coordinator: Janeen Jackson At JJ5@midrivers.com

Please respond DIRECTLY TO ROBIN with:
Name
Email address
Home town
Cell phone
Home phone
Description of vehicle (make, model, color)
Leg for which you are volunteering (NOTE. Please let us know if you can take 2 legs……)

This transport will be monitored by Robin 267-475-0541

Leg 1
Wilsonville, AL to Attalla, AL
72 miles 1 hr 40 min
6:00am to 7:40am
NEEDED:

Leg 2
Attalla AL to Chattanooga, TN
77 Miles 1 hr 20 min
7:45am to 10:05pm (time Change Included)
Filled: Thank you Jen (updated 1:25 PM – April 16th)

Leg 3
Chattanooga, TN to Athens TN
63 Miles 1hr 15 min
10:05am to 11:20am
Filled: thank you Ed!!!

Leg 4
Athens, TN to KnoxvilleTN
57 miles 1hr 10 min
11:20am to 12:35 pm
Filled: Thank You Stephanie (updated 1:25 PM – April 16th)

Leg 5
Knoxville TN to Greeneville, TN
80 Miles 1hr 30 min
12:35pm to 2:05 pm
Filled: Thank you Jennifer

Leg 6
Greenville, TN to Atkins VA
87 miles 1 hr 40 min
2:05pm to 3:50pm
Filled: Thank you Jennifer!

Leg 7
Atkins, VA to Salem, VA
85 miles 1 hr 30 min
3:50pm to 5:20 pm
NEEDED:

Leg 8
Salem, VA to Lexington, VA
66 miles 1nr 10 min
5:20pm 6:30 pm
Filled: Thank you Steph!!!

Leg 9
Lexington VA to Edinburg, VA
90 miles 1hr 40 min
6:30pm to 8:10 pm
NEEDED:

Leg 10
Edinburg, Va to Hagerstown, MD
83 Miles 1 hr 32 min
8:10pm to 9:40pm
NEEDED:

Leg 11
Hagerstown, MD to Harrisburg, PA
75 Miles 1hr 20 min
9:40pm to 11:00pm
NEEDED:

Leg 12
Harrisburg, PA to Allentown, PA
80 Miles 1 hr 30 min
11:00pm to 12:30 am
Filled: Thank you Michael

Leg 13
Allentown, PA to Riegelsville, PA
26 miles .45min
12:30am to 1:15am
FILLED: Thank you Amanda

Everyone is thawing out now in the north, and the urge to take a hike with the dogs or hop on a quad is very enticing. Sometimes, once you buy an ATV or similar vehicle, you park it in the fall and don’t think much about it. I need to let you know that if you have a Yamaha Rhino, there is a major recall due to the glut of Yamaha Rhino Rollover lawsuits.   The vehicle is considered a “side by side ATV” rather than a utility vehicle.

The problem has occurred due to the high center of gravity of the vehicles. While they may be fine for driving on an even road, if you take a corner a little two fast or encounter some bumps, you may have a hard time righting it. If the passenger instinctively sticks his/her leg out to right the vehicle, as there is no passenger door, they are in danger of rolling it and crushing their leg, or worse.  Some passengers have reported broken collar bones, and spinal cord injury as well.

Of course, one may believe that reckless driving has nothing to do with the way the vehicle is made, but these actions don’t constitute unsafe or inexperienced driving, but the vehicle rolling in normal situations.  It is very similar to the problems early SUV had with high center of gravity, and narrow wheel bases.  Countless people rolled them, as once they rocked a little, they could not compensate.

If you go on a trip this year and the cabin has similar vehicles, or even if you have one in your own garage, don’t ignore the recall notices.  In otherwords, let’s not have someone need to start a nonprofit organization because of the widespread injuries.  It could be the life of a friend, yourself, or your canine companion running alongside that you could save.

I recently reported on Grace’s Law, whch calls for a closure of the loophole that allows some Georgia animal shelters to continue to operate gas chambers.   It was named for a sweet tricolor hound who survived the odds and was alive, barey alive,  when the chamber door was opened and staff of Liberty County Animal Control understood the torture and horror that they had been putting dogs and cats through.

If you can make it to Atlanta monday morning, please read below. Even if you cannot, read also, because you can help spread the word. The more faces that are seen at the hearing, the more likely lawmakers will understand that constituents no longer stand for it.

Here is the very latest from Chamblee Abernethy:

It is likely that House Bill 606 to outlaw gas chambers in Georgia will be put to a vote at the conclusion of the hearing scheduled for Monday at 8:00 a.m. at the State Capitol, room 403.

It will be much more difficult for the Agriculture Committee members to vote NO to HB 606 if they are facing a ROOM FULL of Georgia residents who support the end of gassing. We need at least 50 people there!

PLEASE MAKE WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO BE PRESENT AT THE HEARING MONDAY MORNING!

I am supposed to be at work Monday morning, but I told my boss that this bill is extremely important to me and that I will arrive at work late on Monday following the hearing. He was understanding. Yours will be as well.

Parking is available in the two Underground Atlanta parking decks on MLK.

See letter below about the opposition of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, John Bulloch.

CALL HIS OFFICE to voice your support of Senate Bill 232 to ban gas chambers! (404) 656-0040.

From:
Subject: Senate bill assigned to Ag Meeting
Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 17:21:13 -0500

Senate Bill 232 (SB 232) has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Agriculture. There may be a hearing on Monday at 9:30 a.m. However, the Chairman of the Committee, John Bulloch [(404) 656-0040] is from a county that has a chamber, so he is opposed to the bill.

Important notes: If the bill does not pass the Agricultural SubCommittee, it will be completely dead. It may be too late to call your representative, but it is not too late for us to reach across the internet and the phone line to get some bodies in those seats!

A friend of mine alerted me to a most heartbreaking tale in Georgia.   Two dogs are left chained outside with no food.  A puppy is inside a trailer (mobile home), and at least has shelter from the freezing rain, but has been alone for days.  It is unknown if there was enough food and water left for the little guy.   The outside dogs are VEry skinny so it is doubtful.  Even if so, water can be tipped over and food only lasts so long.   A local rescue is talking to the authorities, and it turns out that the man who owns these guys leaves for days at a time, leaving them behind with no one coming to check on them.   Since they are owned, the proper channels have to be gone through.

In the meantime, people have chipped in and purchased dogloos for the outside dogs, so at least they have some relief from the cold and rain until the owner returns.  Also, water and food will be provided.  I know it has been suggested before to not leave water and food because authorities could come by and see the water and food and make the assumption that the owner left it.  In this case, the authorities have been kept in the loop that people want to see these dogs kept alive.

The outside dogs are one female (with the ears partially standing up) and one male (in the second photo).  They allow people to approach them, as you can see.

If you are a rescue that can provide a warm place for these dogs, if it should come to pass that the owner surrenders them or authorities deem the person unfit if they do not comply, please contact Please contact Susan at Angel Dog Rescue at 229-334-2148 or Tammy at 860-543-4213 (leave message).

I do not know Gina personally, but really think she deserves to get her sweet dog back.  This is a reminder to everyone to keep their dog in their supervision while they are outside, to knock on the nearest doors first if you see a dog that you think is a stray. Also, keep an id tag on your dog, and also consider microchipping so you can be reunited in case the unthinkable happens. Unfortunately, it is possible that if the dog was taken to a shelter, she is long gone. the best case scenario is that she was adopted, the worst case if she was euthanized, especially over the Thanksgiving holiday. If you have adopted Rosie, please contact her mom.

Hello,

My name is Gina Lunsford, and my dog Rosie went missing on 11/22/2008 from Bald Eagle Road in the Bold Springs Area of Franklin County, Georgia. She’s a red miniature dachshund, full blooded. Spayed female, 9 lbs (when healthy and full, it’s been over a week now), and has short hair. She has some extensive scars on her left side and back from some stitches over the summer and the fur has not grown back. When she disappeared, she was only wearing a flea collar, since her other collar was dirty and I was going to wash it before putting it back on her, and unfortunately she’s not microchipped. She’s very friendly and likes to ride in cars. I believe she was possibly taken by someone driving along my road who may have thought she was a stray since she wasn’t wearing her regular collar. I’ve attached a flyer with her photo, where you can see some of the scars if you look closely—I don’t have a better photo of the scars, but I’m also attaching the photo itself, larger so you can see better. I thought it’s possible she would end up at an adoption agency. Please let me know if you come across her. I love and miss her very much. I am offering a reward for her return! You can email me or call my cell number which is 706-540-6437.

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Sincerely,
Gina Marie Lunsford
(706) 540-6437 (cell)

It looks like that is near Carnesville, but as, you know, dogs can travel far if they were picked up by someone.

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This weekend, when thinking about all the holiday preperations, please take a moment to think of the shelter animals.   Shelters will be closed Thursday so there is one less day this week for a shelter animal to be adopted or get a reprieve.  Some small shelters may even be closed Friday, or at least a lot of people will forget about them this weekend.  Usually, the holiday time is not a good time to get a pet, because of all the plans and commotion.   However, if you have been thinking about adding a new family member for quite awhile and your holiday will be quiet if all the family is in another state, or will be quiet after the big meal, consider taking time away from shopping to visit a local pound or shelter.

It is not just the lack of adopters, but the influx of pets.  There are many people who have been considering parting with their pet, and with boarding kennels full, and their holiday trip coming up, they make the final decision and surrender their pet to the shelter.   It is also close to the end of the month when leases are up.

Dome shelters euthanize many right before a holiday because of the smaller staff that will be able to take care of them with holiday closings, and also in anticipation of the others that will be surrendered.

I urge you, if your heart has been ready for awhile and you have done your homework, to go to your local shelters TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th.  If there are enough adoptions, perhaps it will give shelter managers a sign that they do not need to euthanize or euthanize as many because of the holiday closing.  Or maybe perhaps, the new friend meant for you will be waiting there.  Check the shelter websites or call for operating/visiting hours before you go to make sure they are open.   If you don’t find a dog or cat suitable for your family, go to the next closest shelter.

Of course, if you are reading this late, leading up to Christmas is also a deadly time for holiday closures if you have long been considering a new family member and have what it takes to give an animal that needs to be shown how to love again a great home.