posted
on Friday, June 27, 2025
in
News
It's the height of summer – a time when our shelter is already full – and the calls just keep coming. Law enforcement agencies are reaching out daily – a spike from even a few weeks ago – and our rescue team has been mobilizing quickly and repeatedly when animals need us most.
In just a matter of days, we removed 53 animals from two heartbreaking situations.
In Franklin County, an individual reached out seeking help for dozens of cats in a tough situation after their owner became unable to care for them. We arrived to find 36 cats and kittens living in unsanitary conditions and greatly in need of help. Many of the adult cats had clearly not had much socialization with humans, and it took our skilled and patient team two separate rescues to move all the cats to the shelter for much-needed care.
Many of the kittens were underweight – some severely – so we placed all of them in our Kitten Nursery. Sadly, despite our best efforts, some were so frail and sick we were unable to save them. Others’ conditions are touch and go, and they remain in our nursery under the close watch of our medical team.
Less than 48 hours after we rescued the last cat, our Animal Welfare & Response Team was up before dawn deploying to Decatur County. We’d assisted deputies in removing multiple dogs from a filthy trailer just 7 months ago, and now there were 17 more dogs that needed help.
We arrived to find underweight dogs peering through the trailer’s broken windows, living in their own waste and desperate to escape. And they weren’t just inside the trailer this time. At a location nearby, we discovered three more dogs from the group crammed into a small crate – with one dog’s head stuck between the wire bars. Thankfully our team was able to jump in and free the poor dog before she was injured.
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Back at the ARL, the dogs ate ravenously. In addition to being thin, all were suffering from tick and flea infestations. Many of the dogs were undersocialized, and some were paralyzed with fear. They are now under the care of our medical and behavioral teams and have been placed on individualized plans to meet their needs. We’ve seen progress already, but it will likely be weeks before some are ready for adoption.
These 53 animals pushed our shelter population to more than 1,300 pets – and the calls are not slowing. The only way we can continue to respond to pets in crisis – and give second chances to all the animals that come through our doors – is with the help of friends like you.
Your support today will ensure we have the resources and readiness to continue this critical rescue work, and your monthly gift puts you right by our side during this crucial time when reliable, recurring funds are more important than ever.
Every gift you give is a lifeline for animals in their most vulnerable moments. Please give now to help these new arrivals and ensure we're prepared to answer the next call, which may come at any time.
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P.S.: When you give today or join our Loyal Friends Club monthly giving program, you’ll be automatically enrolled to receive updates on these animals.