There is no greater cause I support than animal rescue. Especially when the animals in question have been living in horrific conditions and have endured harsh treatment.
Georgia WatchDog, a team of animal advocates and outreach specialists, works toward halting exploitative operations like puppy mills. In addition, they're helping pet owners change the animals' lives for the better.
Most recently, the organization has helped out the Griffin family. The family owned a total of 37 dogs, all of which are Labrador, beagle, pit bull, Weimaraner, and pointer mixes.
Animal Control has threatened to heavily fine the family if they don't remove the dogs, but the authorities offered no form of help. The family is only allowed to keep up to six dogs, and so far has had a hard time having people adopt the rest.
The conditions that these dogs lived in can only be adequately shown with pictures — which can be seen below. They've even earned a very sad nickname for the way they've been living…
What do you think of the rescue effort for the Griffins' dogs? Let us know in the comments, and please SHARE!
All of the Griffins' dogs are very jumpy and agitable. It's no wonder, since they've only ever known the inside of their dog pens. None of them are spayed or neutered, and are inbred. So far, 22 of the 31 "mud dogs" have fortunately been adopted. The focus is now put on the remaining 9 dogs. The court has ordered them to all be off the property by August 14, or else…
The owner had started digging trenches near the dog kennels to drain rainwater, but did not finish. As a result, rain and residue have completely overflowed the dogs' living spaces. Many of the kennels and dog houses are greatly damaged, and because of this, the dogs have been holing up in barrels that are filled with mud.
Several of the dogs are injured and have infections. There have been ongoing cases of flea infestations, extreme lethargy, and aggression found in the dogs. The priority was to clean out and repair the dogs’ living area, and to finish digging the trenches to drain the water.
Next, it was important to categorize the dogs — not only for safety and control measures, but also for adoption purposes. The dogs were separated into male and female pens, and were given baths, medical attention, and a temperamental evaluation.
Volunteers have come on site to help repair the dog pens, provide food, and drain the water out of the area. Several dogs were given their required shots, and were given new crates through generous donations.
Much help is still needed, though. The dogs need more supplies to keep them healthy and clean, including antibiotics, mulch, fly repellant, shampoo, and pen tarps.
The dogs that are still up for adoption can be seen here. They each have their own profiles and information, including descriptions of their present living situations and ongoing temperaments.
If you are thinking of adopting one of the Griffins' dogs, contact Georgia WatchDog at: contact@gawatchdog.com.
To visit Georgia WatchDog’s Facebook page, click here.
And to read more about the Griffin dogs’ story, click here.
Please SHARE if you are as concerned about these poor pooches as I am!
