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.