From a reader:
This is an urgent call for a foster home for two wonderful dogs, Dexter and Derby, in the Atlanta area. The two are in a kennel, but the owner, who lost his home, can’t afford to keep them there and they need to go to a long-term foster home. We would like to keep them together if at all possible. A lot of friends are helping, but only a few live in the area, and of those, none can take the dogs.
Friends of the owner have been gathering money to pay the kennel fees, and some have been paid. The vet has agreed not to turn the dogs over to a shelter right away and has even agreed to a deep discount on the fees, considering the circumstances. All anyone wants if for these two to be taken care of. One of the things that the vet wants to know is that the dogs will be removed to a proper home, so finding a foster home is an important step in resolving this.
Dexter (left) is a female Pitbull. She is a sweet dog and is apparently experiencing a great deal of anxiety due to the separation. We do not want her to suffer any further by losing her best friend, Derby (right). Derby is a Doberman/Australian Shepherd mix and a total sweetheart. Both dogs are young adults and have lived with other, smaller breeds. They lived in a nice house in a nice suburban Atlanta neighborhood and are well-behaved.
Not to be too melodramatic, but they are all the owner has left and knowing that they are safe is the first good news he’s going to hear in a while. Getting Dex and Derby a foster home, will help more than just the dogs. If you know of anyone who can take on these pups, or even if you know of resources in the Atlanta metro area, please contact me at lovedogs (at) charles.forsythe.name
That is a real email address, promise)
As a bonus, I included a photo of Dex meeting Derby for the first time on her inaugural ride home from the shelter.
rikyrah
I hope that they find a home. They are both so cute ?
CaseyL
You probably already know this, and maybe have already done this, but on the off chance not: contact PAWS Atlanta. They have a foster program and, if they’re anything like the Seattle area PAWS, are really really good at finding foster and forever homes for displaced animals:
PAWS Atlanta
MazeDancer
Please let us know where to send money.
My heart breaks for the owner.
As an ultimate fallback the Dutchess Country Animal Shelter frequently brings up animals from Georgia, using Best Friends transport. They also partner with Animal Farm Foundation, an org that is pro pitt bull. They will keep the dogs together. Especially if we sponsor the adoption fees.
Downside, dogs will be in NY and won’t be able to get back with owner.
If it comes to that, some emails and phone calls couldn’t hurt. We could sponsor transport to the dcspca. It’s a gorgeous facility. They place pittbulls all the time. And have to bring in dogs from both the Cayman Islands and Georgia shelthers because they run out due to adoptions.
But wouldn’t it be better if we sent money to keep dogs near owner?
CaseyL
Er… I have also sent my comment to the email address provided. Hope it helps!
raven
@MazeDancer: Yea that email address is useless.
Percysowner
I’ll pitch in for any money to help these babies. Just let me know what has to be done.
bookdragon
I wish I could take fosters, but my 11 yr old hound is wobbly on his back legs and getting anxious about changes in his old age.
Is there a way to contribute toward their kennel fees?
Elizabelle
A bonded pair. They have to stay together.
Keith P.
FYI, Nextdoor is a gold mine for pet adoptions…both ways
WaterGirl
@raven: I thought it looked kind of crazy, too, but:
dexwood
I can pitch in a few bucks to help with adoption, vet, or travel costs.
WaterGirl
@raven: I sent a test message to the email address that’s listed, and I got a reply.
So I can confirm that it is a valid email address.
CaseyL
@WaterGirl: Ditto.
Charles Forsythe
Real address from a domain that time forgot. Closest I’ll ever get to a blue check box.
A GoFundMe is in the works. I’ll post when it’s set up.
MisterForkbeard
Damn. As a west coaster I’d love to help. If there’s anything I can do BESIDES taking in the pets themselves, someone shoot me a mail and let me know. :(
I can help with travel/adoption costs, or just keep them in the kennel for a bit longer to buy some time.
satby
@Charles Forsythe: I’m in for some coin either to keep them in the kennel or to sponsor costs for a local group to foster them. Is there any possibility that their owner will be able to get a place to stay and get them back in a few months?
Libby’s Person
Have rescue groups been contacted? I’m not from that area, but I’m familiar with SOHFGA in Lawrenceville GA (SOHFGA.com). They’re good people. They might take the dogs, especially if there’s money to pay for care. I’d be happy to contribute.
cain
I can pitch in some money. I wish I was able to do something about the adoption but my living arrangements are a mess. I’m staying with my parents for the next two months and hten trying to figure out where I’m staying.. I can’t even think about pets. :(
Another lurking dog lover
I would also love to help. They seem like a lovely pair. I’m on the West Coast, in a small home with an older dog who would not take kindly to new interlopers, but I can definitely chip in for travel, adoption fees, or more time in the kennel, whatever they need.
Sandy
I’m in the northern Atlanta burbs, with a large house and a fenced backyard. Do these dogs get along with other dogs, cats, etc? I have a 7 year old mastiff/lab mix, and a 9 year old calico. I also volunteer with Atlanta Humane Society, so could get the dogs listed with them.
Isobel
Do we know how they would do with a prairie dog and a cat?
Charles Forsythe
@Sandy: They do get along with other dogs. I will check on how they deal with cats. If you could, send me a message to the (real!) email address lovedogs (at) charles.forsythe.name.
For those interested in helping with the fees, you can send donations via PayPal or Google Pay to ruggerducky (at) gmail.com
As of Sunday, the vet bill was $2000. We paid about $300+ which got them to work with us. We think that if we find a foster home, they will let us off the hook for $1000. Of course, each day adds another $100 to the tab. I think we may need another $800-$900 to settle with the vet at the end. That’s not an insurmountable bill. If we have any extra we’ll give it to the foster family.