Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Good news for Tinker Bell

Tinker Bell just got adopted today. She got adopted by a family by in Scott Township. Good luck Tinker Bell we wish you luck with your new family and brother!!!

- By Sabryna Alley

Thursday, April 22, 2010

“Happy Tails Rescue” Meets “Laura’s Hope Rescue"

The Family Behind “Happy Tails Rescue”

“Happy Tails Rescue” is a non-profit run by a stay-at-home mom and her husband. It is the ONLY rescue in the county and also the surrounding 4 counties. There is NO Humane Society or SPCA. Unwanted pets are thrown out on the side of the road very frequently (including litters of puppies). We drive 1 ½ hours (one way) every other week to get dogs spayed or neutered because the vets in the area refused to reduce costs for the rescue. Most dogs are at the Sokoll’s home which allows them to get to know the dogs very quickly. After over 100 rescues, we are very good judges of doggy character. We have two young children and therefore, do not allow any aggressive dogs in the rescue. We have 3 cats so we can test each dog’s response to cats. We also have 2 big labs, a Great Dane, a Chihuahua, and a lab/pit mix. Basically, our house is puppy boot camp and a new dog learns very quickly how to act (Lesson 1- “Someone really does care about me”. Lesson 2- “The big dogs won’t eat me”. Lesson 3- “Don’t step on small dogs”. Lesson 4- “Food is plentiful here, I will never be hungry again!”, Lesson 5- “Don’t mess with the white cat!”). But, most importantly all dogs that enter the rescue feel safe at our house and happily await the time that they get to meet their “Forever Family”.



The Pound


“Happy Tails Rescue” was started in July of 2009 by Richard and Lisa Sokoll after their first trip to the local dog pound. The dog pound consists of 10 open-air kennels surrounded by two locked fences and covered with tarps so that the dogs cannot be seen. The pound is located in front of a sewage-treatment plant (sounds like a vacation home, doesn’t it??) In order to view the dogs, one has to make an appointment through the police station and because of the inconvenience very few adoptions occur. On their first trip to the pound, they found a small dog that was abandoned at the pound. Because of the “rules” the dog was not allowed into the pound and was not supposed to be fed. “Lucy” survived for months, until Lisa found her in the parking lot and brought her to the vet. Unfortunately, “Lucy” was not the only dog dropped-off at the pound and left to suffer. Many are shot outside of the pound by passers-by having fun doing target practice.



Gus

Gus a Month Later


Dogs that are picked up in the city limits are brought to the pound and euthanasia is supposed to be 7 days later. Often their stay is much longer than 7 days, and the poor souls are covered with mange and half starved before they get put out of their misery. The third dog that “Happy Tails Rescue” pulled from the pound was a Great Dane mix that was going to be euthanized within hours. He weighed 33 pounds and was 6 months old. He was too weak to walk and we knew that there was little chance that he would make it but we were unable to walk away from him without trying. We brought him home and bathed him as he just laid there, too weak to even lift his head. We fed him every 2 hours and found that he had not lost the will to live. He ate ravenously and stole our hearts as we watched as he gained weight and strength. He was named Gus and was adopted by a family in Rhode Island.



The Root of the Problem:

Jackson, Alabama is a very rural area that has very ignorant mentalities about animals. We have heard it more than once that boy dogs are preferred because they don’t come home pregnant. And because of that, most of the dogs that are thrown out are females. Backyard breeders are unable to sell the females and they are given away or discarded. What are the children in the area learning?? Boys can reproduce as much as they want without consequences.!?! Happy Tails Rescue does NOT adopt out dogs or puppies that have not been spayed or neutered. The vet that we use does pediatric spayes/neuters and is able to fix a puppy as long as it weighs over 2 pounds. When the dogs are adopted they are fully vetted with vaccinations, deworming, heartworm testing/prevention, flea/tick prevention, and spayed or neutered.



“Happy Tails Rescue” Meets “Laura’s Hope Rescue”:

Because of a nationwide email from Happy Tails asking for help (we were desperate for help with over 30 rescue dogs at our house) the two rescues met. Laura’s Hope was willing to help us find homes for our pups and Happy Tails was very grateful to have help (to say the least)! Happy Tails quickly realized that Laura’s Hope was founded by very kind and caring people who have the same ideals as Happy Tails. We trust Laura’s Hope Rescue with the pups that we have put so much time and energy into saving. We have found that with the right resources, dogs that are considered worthless here can find a forever home with a caring family up north. We also discovered that vetting the pups can be done much cheaper in Alabama and more adopters are available in Pennsylvania. Professional Rescue transport services are available to safely deliver our pups north to Laura’s Hope Rescue. We have already sent 15 pups in two different trips. Of those, 8 have been adopted with 5 pending. The homes are carefully screened and we are confident that the pups are adopted by loving families. We look forward to working with Laura’s Hope Rescue frequently in the future in order to save as many dogs as we can.



Lisa and Richard Sokoll

(Founders of “Happy Tails Rescue” in Jackson, AL)

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Sadie


Sadie is a Jack Russel Terrior. She is 3 years old and very sweet. She loves to play with other dogs and loves to be kept busy.

- By Sabryna Alley

Marley


Marley is a 2 year old Jack Russel Terrior. He is very cute and is always happy. He loves to play catch or anything that has to do with chasing a ball. He weighs 19 pounds and is all muscle. He gets along great with the other dogs and children.

- By Sabryna Alley

Checkers


Checkers is a 6 month old Labrador Retriever mix. He gets along very well with the other dogs and children. He loves to play in the water.

4/24/10 Checkers was adopted by a super family in Clarks Summitt!! Here is a update from his new family:

Hello Hope,
Just wanted to give you a litte update, he is doing great! He's trying to play with Simon, Simon is telling him who's boss!
He went outside once so far and he is really lovable! also when we ate dinner he sat on the chair in the living room and didn't move!
I thought that was pretty impressive! Simon always sits and begs for most of the meal.

Thank you again for trusting us! we will give him a really great home!


Good luck Checkers we are going to miss you!!!

- By Sabryna Alley

Copper


Copper is a chihuahua. He is nine months old and fully grown weighing 8 pounds. He is very good with children and loves to cuddle. He is very good with other dogs, of all sizes.

- By Sabryna Alley

Judo


Judo is a one year old Border Collie/Flat-Coated Retriever mix. She is fully grown at the weight of 40 pounds. She gets along with all of the dogs, the cats, and children. She is getting adopted on Sunday by a family in Connecticut.

- By Sabryna Alley

Emma


Emma is a beagle/chihuahua mix. She is 2 years old and very sweet. She if full grown at the weight of 13 puonds. Emma is great with other dogs, cats, and children. She loves to play with the other animals, she also loves to cuddle.

4/25/10 Emma was adopted by a awesome family in Archbald. Way to Go Emma!!

- By Sabryna Alley

Tink


Tink is a very cute little puppy. She is small and white. She gets along with the other dogs and the cats that we have. She likes to play. She is about 9 weeks old.

- By Sabryna Alley

Oliver


We got a new puppy named Oliver last week. He is very cute. He is a small white puppy that is around 9 weeks old. He gets along with the other dogs and the cats that we have with us. He is a very nice dog that likes to play.

04/23/10 Oliver was adopted by a very nice family from Clarks Summitt. Way to go Oliver!!!

- By Sabryna Alley

Millie

Millie has recently been adopted. She was adopted by a very nice family. We all wish Millie the best of luck at her new home. Millie now lives in South Gibson and is evjoying it there

- By Sabryna Alley

Fiona

Fiona has recently been adopted. She was adopted by a very nice family. We all wish her the best of luck at her new home. Her new name is Sandy.

- By Sabryna Alley

Flip

Flip has recently been adopted. He was adopted by a very nice family. Way to go Flip we hope you have fun at your new home. Flip's new home is in Clark's Summit and his new name is Jack.

- Sabryna Alley

Quincy

Quicny had recently been adopted. He was adopted by a very nice family. We all wish him the best of luck.

- By Sabryna Alley

Cookie

Cookie has recently been adopted. She was adopted by a very nice family. We all wish Cookie the best of luck at her new home. Cookie now lives in Kingsley and loves it there.

- By Sabryna Alley

Maise


Maise hasa recently been adopted. She went to a very nice home. We all wish Maise the best of luck.

- Sabryna Alley

Update on Marley


Marley got adopted on Sunday. He was adopted by a very nice family. We all wish Marley the best of luck at his new home. He now lives in Maryland.

- By Sabryna Alley