Saying "thank you" and "goodbye" to 350 rescued dogs

UAN volunteer Cass Gilbert of
Illinois visits a beautiful Akita

It was with mixed emotions that the UAN volunteers said goodbye to the 350+ four-legged furry friends we have been caring for in Hilliard, Ohio for the past week. We are thrilled that we played a part in liberating these dogs from the horrific conditions they lived in for years. We are proud that we were able to set up and operate a temporary shelter operation in less than ideal conditions. We are amazed at the resiliency these animals showed after all that was done to them by human beings. 

And we are so impressed by the incredible support of the community. The cars kept pulling up with donations: we had mountains of blankets, towels, sheets and dog beds; tables full of cleaning supplies and peanut butter; a wall of paper towels and so much more! Additionally, anywhere from 25 to more than 125 local volunteers arrived on any given day and they were all willing to do whatever we needed them to do, from cleaning cages to washing dishes. We couldn’t have done it without them.

One of the more timid, frightened
of the rescued dogs

On the other hand, we are sad to be leaving our new charges. The dogs will stay at the temporary shelter until various rescue organizations and shelters arrive to move them on to more traditional accommodations while they wait for their forever homes. They will remain under the care of the Clark County Humane Society, led by shelter manager extraordinaire Chuck Jones, who has worked tirelessly for the past several weeks. Chuck was the first person at the shelter every day (seven days a week) and the last person to leave.  He showed amazing patience with the many bumps experienced along the way and his compassion for the animals touched everyone. If we could clone him we would never see another homeless animal!

Assisting Chuck is Kirstin Kiefer, a local volunteer who probably didn’t know what she was getting into when she volunteered (no arm-twisting, honest!) to train with some of the UAN team leaders so she could lead the volunteer caregivers after our departure. The long days and the physical demands of handling so many large and excited dogs didn’t intimidate her at all. She is a natural, and I can’t wait to see her as a UAN volunteer on a future deployment.

A freshly groomed dog explores
his surroundings

The dogs are starting to trickle out. about 25 have left, including three who went to German shepherd rescue in Pennsylvania with UAN volunteers Dale and Diane Buhl. We are hopeful the rest of the dogs will be out of the barn by the end of the week.

So after a weekend of wild weather -- from torrential downpours and flooding to freezing temperatures and high winds -- we take our leave of these lovely dogs. This group of dogs has been by far the most timid I have seen, with many dogs having never experienced human touch, and most with very little socialization.  But in the short time we cared for them, we witnessed some amazing changes and are confident more will occur. And it couldn’t have happened without the UAN volunteers' dedication and hard work. There were many who deployed for the first time, but you would never have known it. They just jumped in and acted like they had been doing this their entire lives, many of them taking on leadership roles themselves. That is a great testament to the experienced volunteers who were great leaders and mentors. The dogs thank you!

Found alone in a dark shed, this dog is
learning to accept human affection

As we were finishing up Sunday evening, the most amazing thing happened: An emergency vehicle with sirens blowing sped past and the entire shelter erupted in one simultaneous howl.  It was at once the most beautiful and heart-rending sound I have ever heard, making all of us laugh but also filling our eyes with tears. It sounded as though they were all saying thank you and goodbye to us, while assuring us they were survivors and will be fine now that they had been liberated from years of neglect. The sound, and the dogs, lifted my heart and nourished my soul and made me grateful to be a part of such an amazing experience.

Survivors and heroes

Submitted by EARS volunteer Debbie Ferguson of Kildeer, Illinois

UAN volunteers, along with ASPCA staff and numerous local volunteers, cheered when we received the great news on Friday that the 350+ dogs we have been housing at the Franklin County Fairgrounds since February 22 have officially been signed over to the Clark County Humane Society. We can now begin the process of finding shelters, rescue agencies and, ultimately, adoptive families for our frightened but boisterous new friends. After a cold, dreary and rainy day, the news bolstered our spirits and gave the many tired UAN volunteers the boost of energy needed to continue the physically taxing but emotionally rewarding job of caring for and socializing these dogs to ensure they get the best homes possible.

Sandra gets a first tentative kiss
from this beautiful shepherd.

After watching the majority of the dogs cower at the back of their kennels, just hoping we would go away, we are seeing tremendous improvements in a great number of the dogs. We have watched many of them really warm up to us; some were impossible to get near at the beginning of the week are now creeping to the front of their cages to give tentative kisses through the bars; others can’t wait to get out of their kennels to be held and cuddled by their new human friends; and some are already looking for belly rubs, showing total trust in their new keepers. And while these dogs are so exciting to watch and keep up with, UAN team members have also kept their focus on some of the other ones -- those who are still too frightened to come near us, too injured or sick to appreciate the human touch, or too young to understand what or who has hurt them.  

This frightened dog is
getting braver

One dog that has touched many of us is the tiny Lab mix who hides at the back of his cage, fearful of even looking at the humans who peer into his cage and clean it, feed him and give him water. Though he is still fearful, he is slowly starting to move forward and has even sent a soft kiss to the hand between the bars.  Though he has a long way to go, the tenaciousness of a few volunteers is slowly getting this little dog out of the corner and into the spotlight.

This dog has two broken legs
that were never treated

Of all the dogs in the shelter, the one who has brought us all to tears is the older black Lab mix with two broken legs that were left untreated. Though he cannot get up and move around on his own, he loves to be helped to his front feet and have his hips lifted so he can move around and act like a dog. And he welcomes human company, greeting all of his visitors with smiling eyes and sweet kisses (when allowed).  In spite of the pain and discomfort he has endured, his dignity, spirit and trust of humans is astounding and we have all been inspired by him.  

Too cute to be legal!

On the other end of the spectrum are the five chow/collie mix puppies who are almost too cute and sweet to be legal. Today when we pulled them out to clean their kennels and give them some socialization, every person in the barn was crowded around, just wanting a chance to touch or cuddle them for a few minutes.  Though all five were extremely nervous at first, wiggling wildly with their hearts beating crazily, within minutes they were snuggling into the arms and necks of their caregivers and falling asleep to their shared heartbeats, already showing the forgiving nature and unconditional love that only dogs can give.

Dale gets a kiss from this once-shy spaniel

These are only a few of the many dogs we have had the honor of spending the past week with; all 350 of them are special and not one of us could say we have any ONE favorite. They are all amazing survivors and deserve wonderful lives with wonderful people who will shower them with love every day.  We are looking forward to the next few days of working with them and watching them evolve even more.

And we have been thrilled with the many local volunteers who have given their time to help us keep the dogs safe, warm, fed, watered and happy for the last couple of weeks and are hopeful that they will continue to come out and support them in the coming days. We couldn’t do this without local support and we know the dogs appreciate it too. As always, the UAN volunteers, especially our team leaders Donna, Sandra, Diane and Cass, came through like troopers, making a really tough job look easy. The dogs are survivors and the volunteers, ALL of them, are heroes!

An amazing group of survivors

Submitted by EARS volunteer Debbie Ferguson of Kildeer, Illinois

Hello from Hilliard, Ohio where UAN volunteers are helping the ASPCA and the Clark County Humane Society shelter and care for more than 350 dogs seized from a private sheltering operation on February 22. Our temporary shelter is set up at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, where the dogs are being housed in individual kennels within horse stalls. They are primarily large adult mixed breeds but we do have a few small and mid-sized dogs in the bunch as well. 

A dog at the seizure site.
Photo: Mike Bizelli/ASPCA

The majority of the dogs are very frightened and skittish, hiding in the backs of their kennels and cringing as people approach them. But we are already starting to notice many of them relaxing more as time goes on and they get used to (and begin to enjoy) human contact. Most have visible signs of the neglectful conditions they have been living in: dirty, feces-covered matted hair, old scars and untreated injuries, bad teeth, mange, open sores and even untreated broken bones. Many are suffering from diseases and medical conditions that have gone untreated for long periods of time. Several older dogs are blind or have cataracts.

Two dogs await rescue at the seizure site.
Photo: Mike Bizelli/ASPCA

As at most UAN deployments, the volunteers are quickly becoming attached to their favorites. The large black Lab with cataracts is a big Teddy bear, the older dog with the broken legs that were never treated is a complete cuddler, and the three very pregnant dogs are nothing but loving to all who come near them. A tiny little spaniel with a terrible skin condition has stolen my heart, as has her neighbor, a collie/shepherd youngster with a smile for everyone who will likely be one of the first dogs to find a new forever family.

We do have some new additions already as two dogs have had puppies since arriving at the shelter. The new moms couldn’t be any different; one is protective of her pups while the other is proud of her brood and wants to share them with everyone who comes near. 

EARS volunteers look over a dog's
paperwork at the temporary shelter.
Photo: Debbie Ferguson

All in all, it was a good day here in Ohio for those of us UAN volunteers lucky enough to participate in the care and socialization of this amazing group of survivors. We have a nice routine going and the UAN shelter Team Leaders -- Jeanne DeGrauwe, Lauren Payne, Diane Buhl and Donna Lagomarsino -- did a wonderful job leading a constant influx of new local volunteers while maintaining a safe environment for both the people and the dogs. We look forward to having another new group of UAN volunteers join us tomorrow to carry on the good work of caring for, sheltering and socializing our new friends. As always, I am proud to be associated with such a great group of people!

When UAN is busy, animals are happy

A popular adage says, "When it rains it pours," and it is certainly raining cats and dogs for United Animal Nations (UAN). But when UAN is busy, that means neglected animals are on their way to a better life. 

A litter of pit bull puppies was among the
198 dogs and 31 cats rescued in Alabama

Our Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) volunteers are caring for almost 600 animals removed from two overcrowded and unsafe private shelters in Ohio and Alabama.

On February 28, 12 EARS volunteers began caring for 198 dogs and 31 cats removed from dirty and unsafe conditions at Dirty Sally’s Pet Pals, a nonprofit in Gordon, Alabama claiming to offer animals for adoption.

Two of the dogs rescued from Dirty Sally's
Pet Pals. Photo: Kathy Milani/HSUS

The animals at Dirty Sally’s Pet Pals were housed in feces-ridden outdoor pens, inside dilapidated trailers and chained to trees throughout the property. Cats were living in a dirty pen with little protection from the cold and rain. A veterinarian determined that many of the dogs suffered from medical ailments such as skin infections, untreated wounds and other serious ailments.

UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies report that most of the dogs are happy and friendly despite enduring years of neglect. They have been taking plenty of naps between a steady routine of feeding, cleaning and vet exams.

Watch this video of rescued dog Rosie who has transformed from a terrified dog on a chain to a loving, playful pet-in-waiting:

A pup rescued in Ohio falls asleep in the
arms of a UAN volunteer

Meanwhile, in Franklin County, Ohio, another team of EARS volunteers is tending to 350 dogs freed from a similar case of neglect -- overcrowded and filthy conditions at a private animal sheltering operation known as One More Chance Rescue and Adoption in Springfield, Ohio.

The dogs were forced to live in their own waste, alongside rats and other vermin. Many were in critical condition and varying stages of illness. One More Chance Rescue and Adoption has been declared a public health nuisance and animal cruelty charges are still pending in this case.

A dog huddles outside before the rescue.
Photo: Mike Bizelli/ASPCA

EARS volunteer Norma Rodriguez of Bellflower, California says the dogs are matted and underweight, but friendly and curious about the EARS volunteers who are feeding them and cleaning their kennels. Last night one Labrador mix gave birth to eight puppies --all of them healthy and ready to start their lives in a better place than their mother was rescued from.

"They were born in a warm, clean environment, and their Momma is really proud of them, showing them off to everyone who passes by," Norma said.

Read more about the Ohio response in our press release.

Please visit the UAN Web site to learn more about animal hoarding, a psychological condition in which people collect more animals than they can provide proper food, shelter, sanitation and veterinary care for.

You can also support UAN’s work to provide temporary sheltering for animals rescued from large-scale cruelty situations by donating to our Disaster Relief Fund.