Project Freedom Ride

Shout out to all the donors for Josie’s Summer Adventure! Jo and Sarah hit the road this morning for New River Gorge National Park in WV. They’ll spend the weekend days exploring trails and sights and the evenings fine dining and relaxing!

Stay tuned … we can’t wait to share this trip! We are so unbelievably grateful for all your support. Josie has been with us 9 months with zero interest. There isn’t a more deserving dog.

Dogs sometimes get past even the most caring and careful pet parents, which is why it’s so important to microchip your pets.

✅Have your vet check for the chip during their annual exams
✅Verify it’s registered to you
✅Update your contact information every time something changes

Dogs are twice as likely to get returned home if they have a microchip, so make sure your’s is chipped and has up to date infomation.

Josie is microchipped and ready for her new home! Learn more about her at https://www.petfinder.com/dog/josie-5cb0cdc6-8827-4b5a-953c-eff30912568d/va/richmond/project-freedom-ride-ga1094/details/

We were contacted about this girl but don’t have an open foster. We are trying to work out a plan but either way she needs vet care now, even if she doesn’t get pulled into PFR. Please consider donating to FONAA - Friends of North Augusta Animals for at the very least her initial care!!

Watch me grow!! Now at 3 1/2 mths Odin weighs in at 28lbs!!
Odin had his final check up before heading out on transport next week to his family in New York!! When we first got this little guy he was a disaster. A 6lb, 6 week old mess who needed his right eye removed. He has definitely grown into one of our favorites! Odin has the absolute best personality! This hunk of love will go on living his best life with his new parents up north and we can’t wait to see updates along the way!

Thank you Grove Veterinary Practice for taking such great care of our special guy!

We met this guy last week when we pulled Callie. We had thought we had a foster and then adopter lined up but after everything fell through he’s now available for adoption!! He was great with kids and super playful. Had the cutes little corkscrew tail.

If local please consider adopting Carhartt!!

📍 North Augusta Pound

Meet Carhartt! ❤️

This handsome boy is only 5–6 months old, around 35 pounds, and still very much a puppy. Carhartt came in as a stray, but he hasn't let that dampen his spirit. He's playful, goofy, full of personality, and has quickly become a volunteer favorite.

If you're looking for a young dog who will keep you smiling and grow up by your side, Carhartt may be your perfect match.

🐾 Approx. 5–6 months old
🐾 Around 35 pounds
🐾 Friendly and playful
🐾 Volunteer favorite
🐾 Available for adoption through North Augusta Animal Control

📋 Adoption Application:
https://form.jotform.com/242678624959172

📱 Questions? Text FONAA: 803-426-9096

Please help Carhartt find his forever home by liking, commenting, and sharing! Every share helps him reach more potential adopters. ❤️🐾

FONAA does not own or house the dogs. All dogs are in the custody of the City of North Augusta Animal Control. FONAA promotes these dogs for adoption as a service to the city and the dogs.

Help us wish our Sarah a very happy birthday today!!

It’s Tongue Out Tuesday!

Share a picture of your pet!

🚨 RESCUE REALITY 🚨

Let me outline how part of my day went yesterday & today from Jen).

Yesterday I receive an email that says:

Subject: Regarding 2 labs and puppies
Body of Email:
"Goodafternoon, I received your info from burke county animal hospital 🏥. We have 2 labs and now puppies. I have reached out and no one will help. Ive heard your organization cares. My number also is # # #- # # #- # # . My name is XYZ" (personal info blocked out for obvious reasons)

Okay.

Based on that email, I'm assuming we're talking about 2 adult Labs and puppies.

Through a text exchange today I'm told that the sender and her husband saw a woman dump the dogs on a dirt road and couldn't just leave them there, so they picked them up.

So naturally I'm thinking this happened recently.

I explain that we don't normally take dogs from the public, but if they're truly Labs, I might be able to network them with a Lab rescue. I ask for photos.

The photos arrive with text "These are the girls" and just 2 dogs are in the photos.

"Labs" is definitely questionable. One is definitely scruffy.

I ask for better photos and additional information.

I receive a better photo and ask for ages and some other basic background information.

I also ask for clarification because I was under the impression / assumption it was a mom, dad, and puppies.

The response was:

"No, just 2 girls sisters the lady dumped."

Wait.

What happened to the puppies in the email?

At this point I'm confused, but I continue asking clarifying questions. Then it hits me like a ton of bricks.

When I zoom in on the better photo there are puppies underneath one of the dogs.

I had completely overlooked them because I was focused on the dogs themselves.

So I text back:

"There are babies in this photo!"

The response:

"Yes I know there are babies."

Now I'm REALLY confused.

I respond:

"Your message said, 'No just 2 girls sisters the lady dumped.' Where are the babies?"

That's when I get the text that completely changes everything:

"She let them out of her van two years ago ma'am. And yes she has had babies."

Two years ago.

TWO YEARS AGO!!

Not yesterday.

Not last week.

Not last month.

Two years.

So now I'm trying to understand why someone is contacting us about dogs they've had for two years. Why the focus is on the adult dogs (both the 2 found ones from 2 years ago and the intact resident male dog) and not the puppies. Why nobody sought help before now. Putting pieces together that the resident male dog is the father of these puppies.

At this point I call because honestly I can't make sense of what's going on.

During the conversation there are repeated comments suggesting that if we got involved, the dogs might be killed.

Remember, she got our information from the veterinary hospital we use. Reputable veterinarians don't refer people to organizations that are out harming animals.

The entire conversation was exhausting.

Then, because she didn't appreciate my directness and felt I was being disrespectful, she told me she wasn't going to continue the conversation and that God had spoken to her and God would provide, and they would continue taking care of the dogs.

I could not bite my tongue.

My response?

"I sure hope you and God can handle it better than you have been because you'll just have more and more puppies."

Was it blunt?

Absolutely.

But rescues are tired.

Exhausted.

Burned out.

I applaud them for picking up those dogs instead of leaving them on the side of the road. I applaud her daughter for trying to help them after they picked them up. I truly do and told her that.

BUT compassion isn't just picking up a dog.

Compassion is reaching out immediately.

Compassion is utilizing the municipal shelters because legally in Georgia that's what you're to do, where rescues like us can then pull them.

Compassion is getting them spayed or neutered.

Compassion is having your own dog(s) vaccinated and altered.

Compassion is preventing the next litter and stopping the cycle.

Because here's the reality:

Two years ago, we could have spayed these dogs.

We also would have neutered the resident male dog.

Then there would have never been more unwanted puppies in this world.

Instead, two years later, we're talking about another litter of dogs entering an already overwhelmed system. The current dog in the home wasn't neutered. What do you think the odds are these dogs will be properly vaccinated, spayed, neutered, etc before being sent out into the world?

Rescues are not funded by tax dollars.

We are not sitting on unlimited money, unlimited foster homes, unlimited volunteers, or unlimited resources.

What we do have is extremely limited patience, time, and energy.

YOUR IRRESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT EQUATE TO IT BECOMING OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Every day rescues across the country are drowning because people fail to take responsibility for the animals in their care and then expect rescue organizations, or someone else, to fix the consequences. Don't just talk the talk, actually walk the walk.

DO BETTER ... JUST DO BETTER!

Hurricane season starts June 1st, are your pets ready?

Even if you don’t live were hurricanes are an issue, it’s a good idea to be prepared for an emergency.

Make sure to pack:
- Essentials like food, water, and medications
- Leashes, harnesses, and collars with tags
- Toys or other comforting items to help calm them.
- Documents such as medical records or any pet licenses your area requires
- A current photo in case you get separated from your pet
- Make sure your pet is microchipped and the information is up to date

What else would you include?