HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

No, Gladys Knight is not involved in this venture, but Midnight is and Georgia is.  Midnight is a sweet little kitten with a severely broken leg.  While the sweetie doesn’t seem to be in much pain, the leg needs to be broken and reset or amputated, depending on if the vet can save it.  A rescue has agreed to take this kitten in, but a ride needs to be arranged.  The journey is far, but if everyone drives just a little bit, Midnight will be transported from the county pound to a rescue, where medical treatment can occur and a good family an be found.

The following are the legs of the journey needed.  Check back for updates:

The journey will occur on Saturday, July 24, 2010 from Franklin, GA to Hattiesburg, MS.  A volunteer form the Maine Coon Rescue will meet the last person on the transport. Are you on this route? Can you help drive just an hour or two? Contact details are below. Contact my friend Emily to help out.

THIS POST WAS UPDATED 7/21 at 4:58 PM

View Larger Map

SATURDAY July 24, 2010

15 minutes has been added to each leg for handoffs
All legs are flexible!

Leg 1 Filled – Thanks Heather!
Depart: Franklin GA 8:30 am EDT, 7:30 am CDT
Arrive: Oxford AL 9:45 am EDT, 8:45 am CDT
1 hour 15 min

Leg 2 Filled- Thanks Kris!
Depart: Oxford AL 9:00 am
Arrive: Birmingham AL 10:00 am
1 hour

Leg 3 Filled — Thanks Debbie!
Depart: Birmingham AL 10:15 am
Arrive: Tuscaloosa AL 11:15 am
1 hour

Leg 4 NEEDED
Depart: Tuscaloosa AL 11:30 am
Arrive: Meridian MS 12:30 pm
1 hour 30 min

Leg 5 NEEDED
Depart: Meridian MS 12:45 pm
Arrive: Hattiesburg MS 2:15 pm
1 hour 30 min

End of Transport – Foster will drive to rescue

TRANSPORT COORDINATOR:
Emily Cherry Goff (cherryharley)
cherryharleysavinganimals @ yahoo.com
(334) 744-5590

PLEASE PROVIDE:

Day and Leg(s) you are offering to take
Name
Address
City/State
Home #
Cell #
Can you receive text messages?
Email
Do you have email access after 5 pm and on weekends?
Emergency Contact phone #
Vehicle Desc
License Plate #

THIS POST WAS UPDATED 7/21 at 4:58 PM

Bingo, the sweet orange tabby cat does a little dance. He “sits up” like a dog and slaps the air. This kitty almost didn’t have much to dance about. He and his mom and siblings were at a county pound. Thankfully they were rescued, but many other cats at the shelter don’t get as lucky.

On YouTube, there are video commentators that say that this particular shelter, Heard County Animal Control in Franklin, GA, is not such a bad place. It is true that the tiny two person staff, Kaylene and Angela, DOES care, but the situation is always very dire for cats. Just like any other county pound, when the shelter is bursting at the seems with cats with no takers and the cats have passed the time of their stray hold, euthanization occurs. Please don’t take any shelter that you “think” doesn’t have the same problem for granted. Spay your pets to avoid unwanted litters. Adopt dogs, pups, cats and kittens from a shelter or rescue group instead of purchasing one. Some of the best and some with the most personality are waiting for a chance. Of course, do not do so if you don’t have time for or the means to take care of a pet.

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

Heard county animal control in Franklin, Georgia is in need of a few items to assist with the care of the animals impounded.  Some folks don’t like to help a county pound because when the shelter is full and the pet has been there for some time, they might be euthanized.  However, if the condition of the animals are good, a rescue group is more likely to return to spring another dog or cat from there.   Also, if someone adopts a dog and they are covered with fleas, their neighbor may remember that versus the actual personality of the dog, and will refrain from adopting there themselves.

Items that are needed:

Flea shampoos and flea repellants
Regular dog shampoo
Dog food (Petsmart used to donate food, but have discontinued the practice)
Chew treats such as pig ears
Towels and blankets

Sometimes, there are Grocery Coupons for dog food in the paper, or when you go to manufacturer websites. It may bring down he price of food you may buy for a donation. Do not send them a check, as it will go into the general fund and will not be earmarked for food and supplies. The small staff of two is not able to hold it aside.

Also, if you are not near enough to the shelter to take it there and you find it too prohibitive to mail items, please spread the word.  Also, help is needed to spread the word about this handsome Labrador Retriever that is there.  He is very sweet and friendly, and his id number is 87309.  He is slated for euthanization and could really use an angel.  Please contact the shelter right away:

Heard County Animal Control Center
11818 Ga Hwy 100
Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: 706-675-3570

Oria had a family once.  They couldn’t take care of her anymore, so now she is a damsel in distress. Her owner lost her job and has no means to take care of her.  She is sitting, uncertain of her future, at a kill shelter in Georgia.  There is a rescue that is nice enough to want to save this sweetheart.  Unfortunately, they are having a little bit of a dilemma with transportation.  The rescue is in Illinois, and they need volunteer drivers to bring her a bit closer.

Are you in Florida or Georgia and will be travelling through the Atlanta area or Alabama to get to your midwestern destination?   If so, would you be willing to let a well mannered lady have a seat, or a spot in a dog crate for part of your journey?  Oria is good with other dogs and with people.  Her world view on cats is unknown.

If you can help, please contact the shelter at 706-675-3570 right away.  If you are an individual and live closer to the shelter, adoption is also an option.

(Pluto is a lab mix. He is neutered and up to date on shots. He is approximately two years old).

There was a hoarder in Franklin, County, Georgia. Actually, not WAS, there IS. The story goes like this. She thought she was helping dogs by keeping every one that wandered on to her property that didn’t seem to find a home. Then, she never spayed and neutered so they all had puppies, and this went on for several generations. Yes, in some counties the better thing to do when you find a dog is to ask around and try to find the owners before taking a dog or cat to the pound. Often, the pet didn’t wander far and the family can be found in minutes, hours, or within a day or two. However, one keeps every animal that they come in contact with, it can be a sickness for both the person and the pets.

This individual was court ordered to surrender a few at a time. You might remember Frannie and Blossom, the senior chow mixes, and littermates Butch, Punk, Bubbelah, and CoCo.  Of course there was Luther, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Unfortunately, this meant that the dogs and cats were owner turn ins and at the top of the euthanization list. Luckily, I was able to find a rescue for a couple of these guys and so were other volunteers. When there are a huge number surrendered at a time, there are some that aren’t as lucky. Why does this keep happening? There have been judges that forced them to give up dogs and cats, but never barred them from owning more, so there were more to replace them. Finally, it seems there is a judge in the county that just may prevent them from being to own any more pets.

This time, the shelter has posted listings for the dogs and cats before they enter the shelter just in hopes that they can find rescues and homes before entering the shelter.  They will inevitably come in, and that will be fatal to both them and the existing dogs there.  Can we pull together and find places, even if one at a time, before they enter the shelter?

The law IS dealing with this individual, so let’s focus on helping the dogs and cats before they are “owner turn ins,” which will be a detriment to them and to the dogs and cats already at the tiny shelter.

If you are interested in adopting or rescuing Pluto, please call Lisa at 706-675-6201.  Please be courteous.   To see the other dogs and cats, please visit this list.  The pets without an intake number, and with a name instead are whom we are trying to prevent from coming into the shelter.  Many of the dogs are up to date on shots.  The dogs that are listed as shepherd/boxer are related to Butch, Punk, and the others.

There are some things that just make me angry, like this sweet Beagle Bassett at a Georgia shelter.   She is being labelled a Bassett mix, but I really think she is a Beagle/Bassett combo or is Beagle and Corgi.  Either way, she is as cute as a button.  Her family decided that they didn’t want her any more because she had a couple accident.  She just started urinating a lot, so off to the pound she went.  The staff informs people that if a dog is not adopted, they will be euthanized, but apparently that doesn’t matter to them.

A dog that suddenly starts going to the bathroom in the house usually is a sign that there is a problem, and it usually is very fixable.  It is possible that she has a urinary tract infection.  If so, a visit to the vet and some inexpensive medication would do the trick.  Some suggest that keeping a diet low in alkaline (a diet that is higher in protein versus higher in cereals and vegetables).  Of course, there is also the possibility that they had stopped letting her out or there was a major and stressful change at the house and she was reacting to it.

I try not to get too emotional or upset over things, and react by trying to network to find a dog a home instead, but when someone dumps a dog for something that is very easily treatable, it just irks me.  I can’t help but think that the owner just didn’t want to look like a “bad guy” for getting rid of a perfectly nice dog.   Either way, let’s try to help this sweet girl.  She is already spayed, so that rules out that contributor to infection, and also cuts down on the investment a new owner needs to make in initial care.

She is located at Heard County Animal Control in Franklin, Georgia.  THIS IS NOT A NOKILL SHELTER. HER TIME IS UP FRIDAY, October 2nd. When a dog’s time is up, they are euthanized for lack of space.  She needs an adopter or a rescue to step up for her.  Her id number is 70809. Their number is 706-675-3570.  Tell them you read about her on HoundsGood.com

This sweet girl would make the perfect family pet. Hounds are loyal, are typically good with kids, and aim to please. She is 45-50 lbs and 2-3 yrs old. Her id number is 56909. Her sweet face is etched in the mind of several volunteers, and they don’t seem to be able to make any headway as far as generating any interest in her. She is a very nice girl who is somehow being overlooked.

Sometimes, when a dog is shown lying on the floor, they are thought to be “scared” and people pass them up on Petfinder. Well, sometimes the dog is merely just lying down. Other times, they snap a mug shot as soon as the dog enters the door. Sometimes they were on a pole, sometimes they were trapped in a safe trap. You can imagine they wouldn’t be at their best during that trauma.

Here are some additional photos:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=ybw4dii.8aiwtv02&x=0&h=1&y=-em61nz&localeid=en_US

Please contact the shelter RIGHT NOW and save a life!!! This posting is a last ditch, grasping at straws effort for her to be seen.

Heard County Animal Control Center
11818 Ga Hwy 100
Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: 706-675-3570

There are over 40 dogs and countless cats headed for the euthanization room tomorrow at 4:00 P.M, at Heard County AC. I update a page here:http://houndsgood.com/heard-county-animal-control/. Also, the shelter’s petfinder list is HERE.

There are about 40 dogs that will be euthanized tomorrow at 4 PM at Heard County Animal Control in Franklin, GA. This is a small rural shelter with only 8 runs, and dogs are packed on each side.

I am especially touched by this girl, because she has black and tan markings she was labelled a Rottweiler mix. Of course, if someone scrolls past her on Petfinder and can’t have a Rottie they will pass her by and think she is big. Rottweilers are on the list of breeds in some areas that landlords don’t allow, cities ban, and insurance cancels over. The majority of Rotties are big teddy bears, but just like anything else, a few bad apples spoil the apple owners spoil the cart.

This dog is 40 lbs if that. Probably a bit less. Look at that fluffy tail. Does that say Rottweiler to you???  I didn’t think so.   My dachshund is black and tan, coonhounds are black and tan, and a variety of other breeds as well.

If you have it in your heart to help this petite sweetie, please contact the shelter right away.  She and her comrades need to generate some interest by 4:00 PM Tomorrow (FRIDAY)

Her id is 57309.  They do entertain out of area rescue groups and adopters.

Contact Info:

Heard County Animal Control Center
11818 Ga Hwy 100
Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: 706-675-3570

Need to know where Franklin is, there is a map on this page.

Are you looking for a way to help out dogs and cats in need but don’t have a lot of time to do so?  Are you very knowledgeable about a variety of breeds and think you can identify a purebred or a mix? Many shelter dogs would benefit by someone taking a look at them and telling the world what they think they are.  In a rescue group setting, someone can play up a dog’s personality and it doesn’t really matter if no one seems to be able to tell what 57 breeds they are.  However, when a dog is on deathrow, in a county pound, a grossly incorrect breed identification could cost them their life.  They have only so many days to be searched on Petfinder, or so many days for someone to call and ask the shelter if they have that breed.  The most common misinterpretation is assuming every black and white dog is a border collie or that every fluffy dog is a chow.    I have found Novia Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers and Australian Kelpies in shelters, previously labelled indiscriminate golden retriever and small shepherd mixes.  It instantly got the dogs rescued.

Here is a dog right now that is labelled a Spitz (dog number 56809).  A Spitz is not really a breed, unless you are talking about a Finnish Spitz.  A pomeranian, keeshond, American Eskimo, and the Finnish Spitz all fall into the label.    The dog is about 25-30 lbs and COULD have a little Spitz or Eskie in there but its really hard to say, and this sweetheart doesn’t have time for to mull it over.   Maybe there is Lab in there, but if labelled Lab on Petfinder, someone might think of a huge dog and may not adopt if they are looking for someone smaller.

On the other hand, there is also a dog labelled a shepherd/Rotteweiler.  I assume that she is just labelled that because of her black and tan coloring.  She is actually a medium sized dog.  If she was that breed combo, she would be a lot larger.  She almost looks like she could have some spaniel, setter, or hound in there.   I have nothing against Rottweilers.  They are fantastic dogs, but Rottie rescues are so overwhelmed with trying to rescue purebreds, they are not going to look at Heinz 57s.   There are many people who are looking for a great family dog, but may feel a Rottweiler is not the right fit for their family, so they will miss out on cute girls like this one because they will surf past any dog that says “Rottweiler” on it.

Her id number is 57309

Please call the shelter right away if you are a rescue and could help this sweet girl out, or are interested in adoption. These two dogs, among many others, only have until Friday at 4 PM.

Heard County Animal Control Center
11818 Ga Hwy 100
Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: 706-675-3570