Watch Day Eight Tour, North Carolina

 

Diary of Dawn: Day 8, North Carolina—
Even the Little Dogs?

I believe the trip is finally getting to Tammy, I caught her arguing with Julie the GPS navigator again today. I must admit that Tammy did win the battle of wits against the navigating system yesterday. Today Julie was right on when she directed us to where we met with Marguerite in North Carolina and she and her friends showed us around the area. There were more small dogs chained and penned outside than any area we’ve visited so far. I used to resent small dogs because they always seemed to receive better care than the larger ones that people more often chain. That mindset was changed with my visit to North Carolina.

As we were leaving town, Tammy stopped for gas and realized she left her purse in the Humane Society’s vehicle. We went in search of the shelter and were directed to the pound instead. They have a dump station for pets which I’d never seen before. It was like a Salvation Army drop box labled Dogs, Cats, and Puppies. The dogs are euthanized when the ACO comes to get them unless they have proof of rabies which is probably never. We realized we were in the wrong place and borrowed a man’s cell phone to call the Humane Society. Tammy told Marguerite over the phone that someone had dumped a little poodle and it was skin and bones, we doubted if it would make it through the night.

Marguerite said to bring him to her and we did. I guess there was a reason for us being at the dump site at that place and time. However, I met a Rottie mix that the man who lent us his phone dropped off. He locked his dog inside the dump cage and there was no way to get him out. Tammy and I told the man they would euthanize the dog and he said he knew, but it was his son’s dog and he never came back from Florida to get him and he had started growling at people. We figured it was because he was on a chain. How can someone dump their dog and leave it knowing it is going to die in the hands of a stranger?

Tammy and I sat and cried for the dog. The saddest part for me was that the dog was so happy, maybe for the only time in his life. He got off the chain and got to ride in the truck. We snuck toys and treats to him through the bars, but there was no way to get him out of there. His last day was probably his best day.

The Humane Society held the happiest dogs and cats I’ve ever seen in a shelter. It was set up wonderfully, the dogs had an area to run and play. They were all even-tempered, healthy, cared for and loved. If only there were more shelters like this and less dogs in the pound and in backyards on chains.

Next we met with Sue, President of another area Humane Society. Sue took us around the neighborhoods and shared some of the chaining problems. She took the lead and spoke right up to people in her community about the dangers of chaining and of not spaying and neutering. It was with Sue that we saw the two dogs chained inside the garage and others around a yard. One of the dogs could barely lie down and both dogs were vicious. It shocks me that there are still people out there who think what we do is wrong and that chaining is not a problem in this country.

We met several people on the street today who were thrilled with what we were doing and felt the same about chaining as we do. We visited High Point which local animal rescuers have renamed “Low Point” or “Hell Point”. Though this truly is a rough area, the people we spoke with were very cooperative for the most part. We met a lovely woman with a fluffy little black Chow pup named Sheba . She was very nice and so happy when we gave her a new collar and leash. She said, “Now I can walk my baby!” Her husband is willing to put up a fence and she was sure that we were sent to her by God because she and her husband were just discussing needing a fence for Sheba. She said she was taking Sheba in the house and when we went back around Sheba was off the chain and on the front porch. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a success story with this one.

Shari Strader, a North Carolina DDB Rep showed us around with the help of her friend. We so appreciated their support. Later we drove to meet with Kristin and her husband and stay the night at their awesome loft cabin in the mountains. How cool of them to put us up like this! Now if their dogs agree to sleep on the couch with me I’ll be truly in heaven!

North Carolina showed us a lot of 24/7 backyard dogs with a total of 104 chained dogs in just one day, only one less than our South Carolina count. The total is now 555 chained and penned backyard dogs.

Tomorrow will be Day 9 in Tennessee.

Dawn Ashby, DDB Public Liaison Director

12 Days, 12 States, 120 Chained Dog

Day 1: April 6th, Missouri
Day 2: April 7th, Arkansas
Day 3: April 8th, Lousiana
Day 4: April 9th, Mississippi
Day 5: April 10, Alabama
Day 6: April 11, Georgia
Day 7: April 12, South Carolina
Day 8: April 13, North Carolina
Day 9: April 14, Tennessee
Day 10: April 15, Kentucky
Day 11: April 16, Virginia
Day 12: April 17, West Virginia

We are offering new collars and leashes for as many dogs as we can afford, plus giving out treats and dog food in addition to educational materials and discussions. If you can help fund the campaign and the supplies we'd like to deliver, it would be very much appreciated.

We Can Now Take Donations Over the Phone at 1.877.636.1408

We can now accept donations over the phone
using a major credit card at 1.877.636.1408.

If you'd like to donate via regular USPS mail, you may print out this
form in .pdf format, and send to P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 1668