Why Are There So Many Dogs Dying in Southern Shelters?
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Why Are There So Many Dogs Dying in Southern Shelters?

Why are there so many dogs dying in our southern shelters? This is the question that has been posed to me again and again in podcast interviews, on social media, in emails, and quite often, in person. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about that question and I don’t necessarily have a concise answer,…

Shelter Tour Wrap Up: Where We Went and What We Learned
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Shelter Tour Wrap Up: Where We Went and What We Learned

Every time we go to the shelters, I learn something. This time was no different. We’ve been to over 80 shelters now, so you’d think they would all look alike. In a few ways (dogs in need, incredible people) they are, but in so many ways they are unique. One of the projects we are…

T-Bone Was Known
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T-Bone Was Known

Our last stop on our January shelter tour was a tiny animal control facility beside the wastewater treatment plant in Live Oak, Florida. Mary, the sole ACO for Live Oak city shelter, was in the yard with a dog whose story haunted me the entire drive home. Mary picked up T-bone and another female dog…

The Future is Happening at Furry Friends
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The Future is Happening at Furry Friends

There’s a great energy at Furry Friends and their new director, Jason, (on the job 44 days when we visited) exudes a contagious positivity. The building is bright and airy and…fun. From the lobby we watched as cats ascended the tower between the first and second floors. 40 cats live in this ‘free range’ space…

Together We Can Let the Dogs Out
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Together We Can Let the Dogs Out

After nearly two weeks in Georgia and Florida (with one quick stop in NC), we are home and I’m sifting through all that we learned. The chorus of too many dogs and not enough adopters, resources, or rescues were variations on the same theme. Just like other trips, we met heroic rescue coordinators, shelter directors,…