Submitted to Beth Hale by Megan Eisel Bowman
Euthanasia is never an easy topic to visualize or talk about - including the barbaric and horrific heart-stick method of putting an animal to sleep by injections directly into their heart instead of a leg - yet thousands of animals die this way each year in shelters in and surrounding the greater Atlanta area. Citing unmanageable overcrowding, limited budgets, and a lack of support from legislators, animal control and shelters are euthanizing dogs and cats each day at alarming rates. It is not uncommon for animals to be listed on social media pages merely hours before "kill days", making it especially hard for animal rescue groups to react and respond in time to save lives.
"Kitty" and "Papa Bear" are two such dogs who were literally seconds away from being a part of those sad statistics. Both were dumped at a high-kill shelter in rural Georgia after suffering years of tragic abuse at the hands of humans. Kitty gave birth to six (6) beautiful puppies on a cold, dirty concrete shelter floor by herself while Papa Bear howled in a locked pen near her - trying to offer support but unable to do so because he was trapped inside a separate kennel.
Sadly, the little family was red-lined for extinction almost immediately. Their long black fur, fearful personalities and now a litter of six newborn puppies were all strikes against them. Shelter representatives saw very little hope for this precious family of now eight (8). One glance into these dogs' eyes and it was immediately apparent: even they didn't see any hope for themselves!
Fortunately, someone did visualize a new life of hope and healing for this family - Angels Among Us Pet Rescue located in Alpharetta, GA (www.angelsrescue.org). Upon hearing about this little family and their desperate need to be rescued, AAU volunteers sprang into immediate action and headed to the rural shelter, praying they would get there in time!
Thanks to the work of this group of Angels, Kitty and Papa Bear are now in loving foster homes where they continue to work through and overcome their deep-seated fears of humans that stems from years of abhorrent physical abuse. Their progress is astounding and nothing short of a true miracle! Their six puppies, once out of the shelter and vetted, thrived in the comfort of a foster home with a true Angel Foster Mom named Bonnie. All of the puppies have been adopted and are living the kind of lives dogs should live: in warm, loving homes with families who value and love them as their own.
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue (www.angelsrescue.org) and other rescue groups are able to help families like this one because of community support, and because these "angels" made a promise and pledge to "never leave families behind nor separate them from each other at time of rescue". Because of that mission and promise, this entire family was saved together!
But more help is needed....
The mission to "Save One Until There Are None" is pursued daily but the need for rescue sadly outgrows by leaps and bounds the hard work to save them. The demand for intervention is great. The impact of community involvement in the forms of donations, fostering and adoption is so evident in the BEFORE and AFTER photos of the many animals rescued and rehomed each year.
Simply look into the eyes of these precious dogs and cats who have no voice and are unable to advocate for themselves and you will see a very clear message - they all wish to say, simply, "Thank You" to each of you who work tirelessly in the field of animal rescue, and to those of you who heed the call to give them that 2nd chance they beg for each time a volunteer walks the aisles of death row inside a forgotten shelter. For those who don't turn away but choose to make a difference, they all simply say, "Thank You".
Please consider adoption for a homeless pet today. Don't Shop - Adopt! A life is desperately waiting for you to step up today and answer the call.
