| Letting Go: Man Gives Up Dogs BY FLORENCE GILKESON: SENIOR WRITER Each pup was well fed and happy and had a name. The problem lies in the numbers, up to 50 wagging tails, and in the failing health of the military retiree who adopted every abandoned dog wandering up to his home looking for care and love. "It is the most heart-breaking case I've ever seen," said Barb Shepherd, director of operations for Animal Advocates of Moore County. In cooperation with Moore County Animal Control, Animal Advocates, the Companion Animal Spay/Neuter Clinic and concerned veterinarians, a rescue effort is under way to save the dogs from euthanasia and spare a few to remain with their ailing owner. Shepherd said the dogs have not been abused or neglected, and this is definitely not a case of cruelty to animals. Nevertheless, it is clear that the owner, who asked that his name not be disclosed, can no longer take care of 50 dogs. Alerted to the big dog population at the man's home, animal control officers visited the residence after a highway patrolman reported that dogs were beginning to run into the roadway, endangering themselves and passing motorists. Frank Ringelberg, one of the animal control officers, determined that it was not a case of abuse. He told Shepherd and Maureen Burke-Horansky, founder of Animal Advocates, that the dogs were in good physical condition and appeared to be well cared for, but it was obvious their owner could no longer care for them. "This is not a case of abuse, as we first thought, but a case of owner illness," Horansky said. "He is no longer able physically or financially to care for 50 dogs. The gentleman owner has served in several wars, once in the Navy and a second time in the Army. He suffered some injuries that have grown worse over the years, and now he must walk with the use of a cane." In addition to his disability, he has recently encountered a problem with his federal compensation, and his wife has suffered a stroke. Shepherd said the man accumulated the dogs over a period of years. Abandoned dogs wandered into his yard and he simply took them in. She said he lives in an area where illegal dumping of unwanted dogs has become a common practice. Animal Control, Animal Advocates and other pet welfare groups have long been aware of the situation in that area. There was no spay/neuter carried out, and thus their numbers grew rapidly. "He just kept collecting dogs, and it got out of hand," Shepherd said. "The dogs are in good shape. They're well fed." The owner agreed to surrender the dogs, but the separation was almost too much to bear when Shepherd, Ringelberg and other animal control officers reached the home Friday. The owner did not want to part with his pets, and the dogs did not want to leave him. "These dogs don't know anyone but this man, and you could tell how much they love him," she said. Then, when the situation became too emotional for everyone, the animal rescuers decided on a compromise with the teary-eyed owner. They offered to take the dogs gradually over a period of weeks, granting him time to say goodbye on his own terms. On the first day, they took 11 of the 50. All are being placed in foster care in Southern Pines horse country until permanent homes can be found. "Thank God for horse country," Shepherd said. Three of the 11 were first taken to the Spay/Neuter Clinic of the Companion Animal Center, and the other eight will be scheduled for the procedure later. Shepherd described the pups as beautiful animals with ideal coloring and says all are adoptable. Many are shepherd and Lab mixes, their colors including black and tan, yellow and tan. Some have long hair, some short hair. Ages vary from three months to one or more years. "I kept one puppy with me overnight," Shepherd said. "That puppy whimpered all night. He really missed that guy." The county's animal shelter stays full most of the time, but personnel there say it might have been possible to squeeze the dogs into the facility while efforts are made to find permanent homes. Unfortunately, some of the dogs might have been euthanized if homes were not found in a timely fashion. Ringelberg administered rabies shots to the dogs, and Dr. Kelli Wofford, a veterinarian, gave each pup a checkup. For the most part, the dogs are in good condition, although most had a problem with fleas. Shepherd gave each pup a pill to kill fleas and a distemper shot. The compromise worked out with the owner calls for him to keep a few of the puppies, but those he keeps will be spayed or neutered. Shepherd said the man is "an excellent dog trainer," and she saw evidence of that training in the dogs at the home. Once his health improves, she thinks Animal Advocates may be able to use his services in the nonprofit's work. Horansky said this rescue endeavor is the largest Animal Advocates has undertaken since its formation in Moore County. It will also prove to be one of the most costly. The organization is looking for more residents to serve as foster "parents" until the dogs can be placed. Donations to help meet spay/neuter and other expenses are also being sought. PetSmart corporate headquarters has been asked for help in feeding them. Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com. |
| Community helps disabled vet who gave up dogs Posted: Nov. 14, 2008 Community members have rallied around a disabled veteran who had to give up dozens of dogs because he couldn't take care of them. The veteran, who asked to remain unnamed, said he gave up his 50 dogs because he could no longer care for them and wanted them to have a better life. Animal Advocates of Moore County and Moore County Animal Control took in the dogs and have spayed or neutered them and will adopt them out. However, WRAL viewers have started a grassroots effort to help the veteran build a fence so that he can keep some of his dogs. The group is also collecting dog food and other supplies. A local company has volunteered to build the fence for free. If he can collect enough fencing materials, the veteran says he would like to build kennels and runs, so he could care for the dogs of deployed soldiers. The dog owner served in the Army and Navy and suffered several war wounds. He said he was injured at work a few years ago and has been fighting to get $20,000 in workers compensation since. He walks with a cane, and his wife also has health problems. In the meantime, the veteran wasn't able to keep up his mobile home, but, he said, the dogs "come first." The veteran said the dogs are his life and the only reason he's alive today. He had contemplated suicide in the past but didn't want to leave the dogs with no one to care for them. He spent all his money on feeding and caring for the dogs, and slept outside with them every night on a straw bed under a tarp in the treeline, the owner said. The veteran said many of the dogs he took in had been abandoned. He lives in area where many people dump dogs on the street, and he couldn't stand to see them suffer, the veteran said. Animal Control officers said the dogs were in good physical condition and did not appear to be abused or neglected. People wishing to help care for the animals can also call Animal Advocates at 910-944-5098 or send donations to Animal Advocates of Moore County 22-A Ridgeline Road Aberdeen, N.C. 28315 Reporter: Christi Lowe Web Editor: Anne Johnson |
| CLICK LINK TO WATCH VIDEO |
 |  |