Months after the former Georgia dog sanctuary was closed by the state Department of Agriculture, heroic rescuers still struggle to care for about 100 animals and find them homes.

By Claire Davis
The Legal Animal
Best Friends Animal Society

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Dudley is the kind of dog who often goes unnoticed, lost amidst the bustle of the dozens of other dogs at the former Canine Angels sanctuary in Dewy Rose, Georgia.

A Border Collie on the top half, and a Corgi on the bottom, Dudley (pictured) looks like a big dog who’s been cut off at the knees – his legs are only about six inches long. Following eye surgery for glaucoma, the 10-year-old mutt has only one eye and is mostly blind, and almost completely deaf.

“When you see him here he was just overlooked, because he is quiet, shy, and older, and he kept to himself. He is one of the shadow dogs who you don’t really notice, he doesn’t stand out at all,” says volunteer Heather Cosgrave.

Dudley has languished at the Canine Angels facility for nearly six years – more than half his life – starved for attention and waiting for a home that has never come. But when Cosgrave took him home for foster care during his eye surgery, she learned what a special dog he is.

“He just loves everybody. His tail is always wagging, he loves to roll over, he used to follow me from room to room in the house,” Cosgrave says, adding that he is good with cats and other dogs. “He is just one of those dogs who has really come out of his shell – he is playing now, loves to go for walks, loves car rides. He is just looking for a home to relax and hold down the floor.”

Dudley is one of about 100 animals –including 86 dogs, 11 cats, a pig and a tame boar – who remain at the former Canine Angels sanctuary, which was shut down this year by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The founders of the sanctuary, Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe, had racked up 62 citations for violations, and more than $15,000 in fines, before they signed a consent agreement to close the sanctuary in May.

Two months later after the sanctuary closed, Rowe and Wells abandoned their property and the animals, leaving several animals locked in their trailer without food and water. They are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 22 on 13 counts of animal cruelty in relation to this abandonment.

At the time of closure there were about 150 dogs. Animal advocate Jim Willis intervened to prevent the Department of Agriculture from seizing all of the dogs, by personally taking ownership of them and promising to place them all in homes or no-kill sanctuaries. Since then, the Department of Agriculture has agreed to hold off seizure of the animals, as long as rescuers are caring for them and attempting to place them. More than 60 have been placed so far.

Although Canine Angels was reportedly once a good facility, Georgia state officials allege that it got out of hand, with Rowe and Wells taking in more animals than they could properly care for, and adoption efforts coming to a standstill. Rescuers say that although most of the animals there are surprisingly healthy, they show signs of neglect, and, like Dudley, have been poorly socialized and starved for attention.

Shortly after the facility was closed, a new animal rescue group called Kat 5 intervened to care for the animals and find them homes – although the dogs officially belong to Willis, he has not been able to be on site to care for them. Formed by Atlanta businessman Larry Roberts and a group of people who met while doing animal rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Kat 5 is dedicated to helping animals affected by all kinds of disasters – both human and manmade.

“You can’t save all of them, you just find out where there is a need and it touches your heart, and you start there,” says Kat 5 executive director Susan Meyer. “Ignorance is bliss, but once you know, you can’t turn away.”

Although the organization was still just getting set up when the situation arose with Canine Angels, the founders decided they needed to help, and have since put more than $30,000 of their own money into the rescue effort. In addition to providing food, water and veterinary care for the animals, they are paying transport costs to get animals to new homes.

Cassandra Koster, head field officer for Kat 5, traveled to Georgia from Ohio and has now been living in her car on the facility grounds for three months, in conditions that she calls “very, very primitive.”

“There are some great dogs here, but they have definitely been neglected, and a lot of them have been here way too long,” Koster says. “They are starving for attention, sitting here waiting for homes even though many are highly adoptable. They just break my heart.”

One large transport to the northeast organized by another Georgia group ended largely in disappointment, as 32 of the dogs were turned away by a Connecticut shelter. Even though these dogs had been professionally evaluated before the transport, they were turned away as undersocialized – one dog being declined because he “cowers at a suddenly raised fist,” according to Willis.

“It was a very upsetting situation,” Meyer says. “These poor dogs had been traveling for hours, and they were evaluated in the middle of the night, and then 22 of them were rejected right off the bat, and not even by a certified behaviorist. We had evaluated them and these were 48 very adoptable dogs.”

Rescuers found placement with other Northeast shelters for 14 of these dogs, but the others needed to make the long trek back to Georgia.

Of the 86 dogs remaining at the facility, Koster says that at least 30 are happy and very friendly, and ready to go straight to homes. Of the others, she says most just need a little time and patience. None are aggressive toward people, although about 10 of the dogs are very poorly socialized and will need special attention.

“Given manpower and time, they all have potential [to be great pets.] A lot of them have turned around for me, but that doesn’t help them, they need to turn around for everyone. But it’s a start,” she says. “The more help I get, the better, the quicker they will turn around. We especially need men to volunteer, because a lot of them have seen very few men [in recent years].”

Koster says some great volunteers have made a huge difference in socializing the dogs, many of whom had experienced very little human interaction in recent years.

“The pens are so large that if they are in a pack of six or seven and get pushed out of the way, they probably never got touched,” she said. “But some of the shy dogs have gotten turned around and now will crawl into your lap…For some volunteers, all they do is socialize the dogs. Sometimes they just bring a book and sit in the pens with them and read and talk to them.”

Although the Canine Angels situation drew a lot of attention at first, help has now slacked off, and Kat 5 is desperate for more volunteers, and donations of money and supplies, such as flea and tick treatment and heartworm preventative.

Although Meyer and Koster both say they are in for the long haul, they worry about how much longer they can last without significant public support.

“We won’t desert these animals, we don’t want to desert these animals, but we can’t sustain this forever,” Meyer says. “Cassandra’s hard core, and if she can help it she won’t leave, but we need help badly. If we get help, we will stay there until we find placement for all the animals.”

On some days, Koster is the only volunteer at the facility. As a new organization, Kat 5 doesn’t have the resources to fund the effort alone. And transport help is needed to get dogs to locations around the country where some organizations have already offered to accept them.

“This rescue effort is far from over, and we are under the gun to get all the dogs off the farm as soon as possible,” Willis says. “The Department of Agriculture wants us to wind this up, the volunteers are exhausted, the funds have been depleted with over $7,000 in vet costs still to pay, and most of all, the dogs just want to go home.”

“The clock is definitely ticking,” Meyer says. “The Department of Agriculture never said we could have an indefinite amount of time, and I’m sure they are surprised we are still there. They are cooperative, but they wanted the animals out of there yesterday.”

Please help Kat 5 care for the Canine Angels animals, and place them in good homes. In order to help or get more information, please contact Kat 5 at 214-235-5530 or kat5animalrescue@yahoo.com

Help is needed in the following areas:

--Good homes for 86 remaining dogs, 11 cats, 1 tame pig, and 1 tame boar. All of the cats are beautiful and friendly, as are the pig and the boar! Most of the dogs are also very friendly and sociable, while others will require a little work and patience. Pictures and descriptions of these animals can be viewed at: http://semperfifarm.com/kat5/ .

--Volunteers who can come to the sanctuary in rural Dewy Rose, Georgia, and help care for and socialize remaining animals, giving them a chance at a loving home.

--Volunteers who are willing to help transport animals to locations around the country.

--Donations to help defer mounting expenses, including veterinary bills, transport costs, food, medication, and supplies. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Kat 5, a 501c3 organization, through www.paypal.com , to the following address: kat5animalrescue@yahoo.com. Donations may also be sent to:

Kat 5 Animal Rescue
2807 Allen St. #790
Dallas, TX. 75204

--Donations of supplies, particularly medical supplies like flea and tick treatment, and heartworm preventative.

From the Best Friend's website,
The Legal Animal


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COMMENTS:
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September 23, 2006 at 9:19 PM
posted by: utahiszion
I just got a nice little note in the mail from Kat5 thanking me for my donation and letting me know that 100% of the amount I gave will be going towards flea/tick medicine for the animals this week.

Not that I had any doubts (or I would not have donated...), but it is nice to know that the funds are being spent directly to help the animals!

Kat5 folks and Canine Angels animals, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I am also praying for more volunteers to help you.
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September 18, 2006 at 1:33 PM
posted by: bogiedew
Like I mentioned below, the rescue group that I volunteer with has some of these cats and dogs. The cats are some of the most beautiful cats I have ever seen. Like all homeless animals, they just really want a loving home. While working adoptions one weekend there was one cat sitting in her cage just meowing and meowing..you could tell she just wanted out. I held her and she just clung to me. I started crying right there in the middle of the adoption center. The dogs that I have spent time with were just so loving and well behaved. When I walk them, they never pull and walk nicely..they get along well with the other dogs and if I sit down, they will just sit down beside me and welcome my pets and hugs and kisses. Most of them had to have all their hair shaved off. One had such bad skin, I believe he was covered in ticks and fleas..he really looked bad, but was so sweet. Now his hair is growing back and he is really turning into a beautiful dog. I can honestly say all of these dogs and cats look healthy and none of them look underweight. I am sure there are alot of other dogs from that sancuary that really need some work, but the ones I have spent time with are angles. Sadly, while at adoptions, most of the adult animals are overlooked, and it does not help that there are kittens and puppies in a cage beside them. But adopting an adult animal, in my opinion, is wonderful. I have 4 cats and one I adopted as an adult, and the others as kittens. The one I adopted as an adult, is the smartest and most loving of all my cats..and the only one that is a lap cat.
But I pray the rest of these dogs and cats find good homes, because they really deserve it. Thanks for all you are doing.
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September 18, 2006 at 12:45 PM
posted by: claired
Dear UtahIsZion:

In order to make a donation, you simply go to www.paypal.com, hit the button indicating that you want to send money, and enter the email address: kat5animalrescue@yahoo.com. If you have any trouble with the process, please call 214-235-5530 and they will help you.

I understand that Kat5 is in the process of developing a website, and as soon as they do, the address will be posted here.

Thank you for helping these animals!

-Claire
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September 18, 2006 at 11:50 AM
posted by: utahiszion
God bless Kat5 and their volunteers for coming to the rescue!

I would like to help with a donation, but how does it work if Kat5 does not have their own website with a PayPal link? Can someone help me understand how to do this?

Thank you. I pray that the angels watch over these animals until they find their forever homes, and also over the people who are helping them.
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September 18, 2006 at 9:14 AM
posted by: sandycats99
Thank you Susan and Cassandra for taking this on. Bless your hearts. May each of these animals find a permanent, loving home where they get the attention they so desperately need, before too long. And may you get lots of support from the animal welfare community to help make this happen.
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September 17, 2006 at 3:07 PM
posted by: lakota_gal
claired - thank you for your comments! And I have just received a thank you from K5 and wanted to share what it said:

"Thank you for your generous donation towards Kat 5 Animal Rescue's efforts for the Canine Angels animals. You have helped these dogs get a chance at a good life. One hundred percent of your donation will pay for transportation costs sending some of the dogs to a good place this coming week. We appreciate your concern for these animals and your donation.

Thank you,
Susan Meyer
Executive Director
Kat 5 Animal Rescue
214-235-5530"
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September 17, 2006 at 2:50 PM
posted by: claired
September 17, 2006 at 9:03 AM
Originally posted by: bogiedew
The rescue group that I volunteer for has some of these dogs and cats. They are all very sweet and just want a good home.
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September 17, 2006 at 2:50 PM
posted by: claired
To Lakota Gal:

Thank you so much for sending in your donation! Although the administration of Kat 5 is based in Dallas, the dogs are still at the Dewy Rose, Georgia property.

We will continue to provide updates as they become available.

Thanks again,
Claire Davis
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September 17, 2006 at 2:48 PM
posted by: claired
September 16, 2006 at 9:53 PM

Originally posted by: lakota_gal

I sent in a donation through the Kat 5 rescue site with the Dallas address. However, I think the animals are in GA? If the animals are in Dallas which is closer to me (a 3 hr drive from here), let me know if I can help.

Meanwhile, I'd enjoy updates on the situation as I am sure many of us would.
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September 17, 2006 at 2:47 PM
posted by: claired
September 16, 2006 at 7:54 AM

Originally posted by: kdashfield

I am one of the folks who helped rescue some of the initial dogs rejected by the group in Connecticut. 4 of the 5 dogs were extremely
sweet, with one being a bit on the shy side. NONE were in anyway defensive or aggressive with people, and all were very quickly adopted.

These dogs need organizations willing to take in dogs that need a little emotional TLC, but I have found the KAT 5 to have a very good handle on the personality and behaviour of these dogs.

Karen Dashfield DVM
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September 17, 2006 at 2:47 PM
posted by: claired
Originally posted by: dogman031701

I think it is important to mention that just because a shelter calls itself 'No-Kill' as the Ct. organization did you must check to make sure they don't kill UNADOPTABLE pets.

We don't believe there is any animal that should be deemed unadoptable unless they are critically ill and cannot be cured.

Shyness, fear, aloof behavior can all be cured given time and patience. This attitude, shared by Canine Advocates in Ct. is what mandated that they and Pets Alive would take 9 of the dogs rejected by the other Ct. organization.

These are dogs who only need love and compassion - they do not deserve to die because of their prior circumstances.

I would like to urge those of you who have compassion to help these Canine Angels by fostering them with love until they can move on to a
permanent home.

All of the dogs we received are sweet and healthy and but for one are ready for adoption. If you don't have the time to socialize them perhaps you can adopt one of them from our organization and then we can make room for others who need our care.

http://www.petsalive.com/dogs.htm