Strays highlight need for local animal shelter
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This mama dog (black) and male dog (brown) are local strays in need of loving homes. Photos submitted
This week we wanted to do something a little different and highlight how badly an animal shelter is needed in Coosa County following six stray puppies showing up at a home in Equality. The Coosa County Animal Shelter is anticipated to open next month, and for many it seems that it cannot open soon enough as stray animals and puppies have been a longtime problem for Coosa residents.
Thankfully the shelter will soon be open and able to provide services for county residents, and support for the shelter will be needed as it operates and provides these needed services.
Last week an Equality resident had six stray puppies show up at his house in the middle of the night while temperatures were in the 30s. He took care of them since then, but noted that with no shelter in the county yet resources were very limited. He said that other counties will not take out-of-county animals, and he had no luck after contacting the Sheriff’s Office either.
As such, he was left taking care of the puppies and trying to find homes for them, stating that “they deserve loving homes.”
Thankfully this situation had a happier outcome than some do, with all six puppies finding loving homes this week in time for the holidays. The good Samaritan who took on caring for the puppies until they could find homes noted, “It is a hard life for any stray animal, and it becomes compounded when there are no available resources such as a shelter to assist. …I am happy that there are people in the community stepping up to create a shelter here in Coosa County.”
He added, “This was a very good outcome for these puppies, but I of course was worrisome hoping that they were going to truly good homes as they were free. This is another reason it would have been better if they could have been adopted out by an agency that had already performed their vaccinations and vetted thoroughly where they were going.”
While it seems to have been a good outcome for all six puppies, so far that is not the case for the mama dog or the possible father. The puppies’ mother and what the resident believes to be the father are still roaming around County Road 76 in Equality. They stop by the person’s residence almost daily in search of food.
He noted that the mother was rather poor looking a few weeks ago with her rib cage showing, and she had even knocked over his trash cans looking for food. That is when he began feeding her daily, and a few days later the puppies showed up. It seems that she knew a good human when she found one and decided that he would also be able to help with her puppies.
The mother dog now looks much healthier. However, if nothing is done, it will only be a matter of time before she has more puppies and this quandary happens again. As such, it is hoped that both of these stray adult dogs can find good loving homes to keep them from wandering the streets. Anyone interested in finding either or both of these dogs and giving them homes can contact 256-537-5054 or email zchapman8@gmail.com for more information.
Remember your pets this holiday season and be sure to provide adequate care during these cooler nights.