Georgia On My Mind
Collector
Hoarder
Those words strike fear in the hearts of most rescuers. They are out there, sometimes on isolated plots of land way out in the country or sometimes hiding behind manicured hedges in the middle of suburbia. Inside is the horror. Animals crowded, cage upon cage, two and three and four to a space made for one, rarely seeing sunlight, rarely feeling human touch, living in their own filth and feces day after miserable day. It’s all in the name of loving the same animals they are abusing.
This week, we have an opportunity to stop such a scenario before it gets completely out of hand. Many collector/hoarders start out as dedicated, passionate rescuers. After a while, faced with the interminable deluge of requests to take in, take in, take in before they die – they find that good common sense is overwhelmed with the unending need to do more and more and more.
Last week, I received a text from Georgia Poodle Rescue. "I am thinking big without resources or help" it said.
The message continued with the shocking revelation that this one woman rescue show had taken on 95 poodles and poodle mixes – and the dogs were being kept in a two car garage. I could only imagine what I was walking in to.
Deborah stopped taking in most dogs months ago and has been struggling to reduce her numbers through adoption. It isn’t working fast enough. There are not enough hours in the day to screen adopters and take care of that many dogs. Last week, during their annual inspection, the Georgia Department of Agriculture saw what they could not allow to continue and has given her 3 weeks to clean up. She can’t do what must be done with 95 dogs under her feet.
It takes a very big person to face up to making a mistake and admit to getting in over her head even with a state inspector telling her so. It takes an even bigger person to then reach out for help. Many people go into denial at this point. Deborah didn’t. It was the catalyst that opened her eyes. I am grateful for that catalyst and for her being able to admit her mistakes because the next step for her dogs will be seizure by animal control. I want to make sure that does not happen.
Carolina Poodle Rescue answered the cry for help. We headed to Georgia Thursday and picked up 19 Standard
Poodles and Labradoodles. The pictures you see here are their first day running free on grass and in the sunshine, with acres to cover in long strides filled with joy. As you can see, they reveled in it.
We maintain a waiting list for large dogs. Two were adopted yesterday, already starting their journey to their new home and new life. I have no doubt the rest of the large dogs will follow suit very soon.
For the small poodles still in Georgia, we are going to need some help.
Previous Adopters
If you are a past CPR adopter, would you consider adding a small poodle to your home? We have very little room at Dreamweaver Farms in our small dog areas. Intake in the Carolinas is way up and we are accepting poodles almost daily.
I am looking for homes that will pre-commit to adopt one of the little dogs still in Georgia and do so within the next 10 days. We have 30 male poodles and poodle mixes that are looking for homes. They range in age from 2 to 8 years old. The average age is 3. They are almost all white or cream. They range in size from 8 to 25 lbs. The average is 12 lbs. The majority are purebred poodles with a few cockapoos and bichon poos scattered in. Until I receive firm commitments, these dogs will remain in that overcrowded, dark garage. There is no room here for more than a few days stay.
As I receive commitments for homes, I’ll move the Georgia dogs to Dreamweaver Farms and complete their vetting. The dogs are already neutered. The dogs will be brought up to date on routine vaccinations (distemper parvo, rabies and bordatella), neutered and tested for heartworms. These will be available at a special adoption rate of $ 135. They quite possibly won't be clean or groomed when you meet them but they will be so eager for a home and ready to give their heart to a new person or family. Most of these have been living in crates for six months to a year with only an hour or so outside per day and that often at night. They crave sunshine and affection. Can you open your home and your heart? If so, please fill out the open house form and schedule your time. In the section that asks for a specific dog say that you are coming for a Georgia dog.
Please remember, the clock is ticking. I have 2 1/2 weeks to find placements.
To schedule – go here: http://www.carolinapoodlerescue.org/OpenHouse.html . We can make our next trip to Georgia on Tuesday 3/27/2012 so dogs will be available from Thursday of next week on.
Volunteers
Grooming went by the wayside several months ago for Georgia dogs. None of them have been more than shaved down in the last months. All of them stink. All of them need baths.
Are you a groomer? Can you handle a brush and give a bath? Do you like to sit with dogs and let them love all over you? Come help us. We’ve got lots of dogs who need groomed, loved on and talked to. We’ve got lots of dogs that need temperament tested to see what kind of home would be best for them.
Donors
Can’t offer a home or a helping hand? Then donations gratefully accepted.
How you can help:
• Lowe's or Home Depot Gift cards of any amount -- we need covered chain link runs (up to $ 400 each) and outside play areas as well as pre-fabricated buildings to provide temporary shelter now and eventually be new isolation cottages.
• Gas cards -- with gas heading towards $ 4 per gallon, one trip to the Georgia home is $ 94. It will take six to ten trips to move all the dogs.
• PetEdge gift cards -- for clipper blades, shampoo, cleaning supplies, beds, crates, collars and leashes, stainless steel bowls (small and large), etc.
• New tires for the van -- general donations to cover this would be much appreciated
• Tractor Supply
With your assistance, we can fully answer this call for help and make sure that these 95 dogs are back on their way to finding forever homes. We need to make things right for these dogs. They have already been through one journey to get to the Georgia rescue, and now they are in transition again. We want to make this as easy for them as possible.
Other ways to help
Keep us out of this situation! Join our Never Say No program. Donate $ 15 a month and help make it possible for CPR to continue to take in more dogs who are in need. Visit our Never Say No (http://www.carolinapoodlerescue.org/neversayno.shtml) page for more details.
Become a patron. Toy, miniature and standard poodle patrons are very special people at Dreamweaver Farms. Your names are listed on our patrons board in the adoption center. Patrons receive discounted adoption fees and many other shows of appreciation. Visit our patronage web page at http://www.carolinapoodlerescue.org/poodlepatrons.shtml.
Make a general donation for these dogs. To do so, please visit our donation page at: http://carolinapoodlerescue.org/donation.shtml. Specify "Georgia on my Mind" in the comment/memo section of the donation.
With many thanks,
Donna Ezzell
Director
Carolina Poodle Rescue
P.S. - What happens next for Georgia Poodle Rescue? Our adoption team is going to train Deborah in better ways to screen applications. Our computer team is introducing her to better organizational methods for her data. Our director is helping her put together an overall program that allows her to continue to rescue without getting overwhelmed again. It includes a trip to Dreamweaver Farms to learn our ways and regular visits to her home to insure she is not once again letting need overwhelm abilities. Together, we can both learn from what has happened and, hopefully, it will make us all stronger.
Throughout this ordeal, what kept going through my head was “there but by the grace of God and the support of a lot of very special people, go I.” For those of us who are on the front lines of animal rescue, the need is great. It is because of you, our friends, volunteers, supporters, donors and adopters, that I am not in the same boat. Only because you have always been so generous with your time and your talents can CPR continue to grow and be a resource for the dogs that need us. It is all because of you. The staff here is simply the instrument your generous support uses to get the job done.
Thank you.
Donna