When you were a kid, don’t you remember how you wished for summer to come early or prayed for a snowstorm announcement so that you could have a break from school and homework!? Well, Jarad, Tim and Deborah Lowrance’s 10-year old grandson, hit the jackpot when both his schoolteacher and his mother gave him special permission to miss school for a few days this past September to visit Best Friends. Prior to their visit, Jarad and his grandparents had arranged to bring three special needs dogs requiring medical treatment and care to the Sanctuary. During their stay, they acquired information on our housing and care concepts for the animals.

Deborah is the Director of the Gibson-Obion County Humane Society, SPCA Inc., in Dyer, Tennessee. This group was chartered in January 2007 and has already accomplished so much for the animals. Strictly No Kill, they have managed to find foster or adoptive homes for all of the animals they have rescued so far. Over 50 adoptions of dogs and cats have taken place, and at this time the Lowrances have 17 fosters in their home, so a completed facility of some kind is high priority.

The exciting news is that this group just obtained a 2,500 square foot facility in Yorkville, TN and is very anxious to get it up and running. Committed members and officers have stood on street corners with cups to raise funds for this facility and the work they do. Local folks are extremely supportive as the group never comes away with less than $350 from a “stop sign” fundraiser. Deborah strongly feels that the area needs more humane education and training and this is her aim.

Best Friends salutes Deborah and Tim for setting such an excellent example for their grandson and wishes the Gibson-Obion County Humane Society success as they continue their phenomenal work. And what a WIN-WIN-WIN experience for Jarad: educational, rewarding AND no homework!!!

[i}Written by Mary Smith & Diane Grenda[/i]

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