CLARKSVILLE —
Filled with arfs, meows and purrs, Lapping Park went to the dogs and other four-legged friends this past Saturday as various animal protection organizations gathered for the first annual Rescue the Rescuers event. With more than 20 different rescue associations in attendance, the event aimed to encourage local pet adoption and promote volunteer and fundraising opportunities within the organizations.
Floyds Knobs resident Lauren Howard, founder of Piece of my Heart Animal Rescue, helped to organize Rescue the Rescuers.
She said many animal protection organizations have been affected by the economic downturn and need funds and volunteers to help maintain their relief efforts. To combat this, money collected through an event raffle was equally distributed among the different participating organizations. In addition, the associations and other local vendors also sold pet-friendly merchandise and animal care products.
“The main objective is to help shelters and rescues move some dogs and also help them to raise money for vet bills because of things that have been happening due to the economy and whatnot,” Howard said. “They need funds from the community. They need the community to adopt. Period.”
Cuddling a white, long-haired kitten named Andromeda, Pat Armstrong, director of the Animal Adoption Network, Inc., said her organization has noticed an increase in abandoned animals the last few years. Andromeda, who is deaf, joins other cats and dogs available for adoption. Lending a helping hand, PetSmart allows the AAN to use three cages in their store to showcase their adoptable pets.
“Before we had the cages, we probably adopted out 20 cats a year. Last year, we adopted out close to 300,” Armstrong said. “It puts a smile on your face definitely. Then we can go into the shelter and save more.”
In addition to broad based agencies, the event hosted numerous breed specific animal protection organizations as well. Greyhounds, Chinese crested, heelers, Australian shepherds, rat terriers, min pins and collies were all represented under their very own rescue associations.
Although most of their dogs tend to be “bully breeds,” the Louisville-based organization Saving Sunny rescues and rehabilitates all animals that are in danger of euthanasia or are victims of abuse. Lunchbox, a playful 3-year-old pit bull mix available for adoption, greeted visitors behind the table. The group is named after Sunny, a pit bull who in 2009 was thrown 80-feet from the Clark Memorial Bridge. He miraculously survived and was adopted by Kelsey Westbrook, founder of Saving Sunny. She said a disproportionate percentage of shelter dogs tend to be pit bulls.
“We advocate for equality. Evaluate animals on an individual basis, not their appearance, their breed or their history,” Westbrook said.
Dogs and cats aren’t the only animals in need of a good home. The event also featured organizations that rescue guinea pigs, ferrets, rabbits and horses. Colleen Hester with the Equine Rescue League of Southern Indiana and Robin Mills of Buck Creek Rescue Farm shared an information tent. Hester said her association currently has 13 horses ready for adoption. First and foremost, she tries to heal the abandoned or neglected equine. Like most all the other organizations, with no government support, private donations are the sole funding source to care for the animals.
“We rescue abandoned, neglected or abused equines, which consists of donkeys, mules and horses — anything with a single hoof. We work with law enforcement and animal control. Most of the time law enforcement or animal control will call us,” Hester said.
Local county agencies also had booths at the event. The New Albany Floyd County Animal Control and Shelter alongside the Floyd County Animal Rescue League brought several dogs in need of a home to the event. Jeffersonville’s J.B. Ogle Animal Shelter offered $50 spay and neuter vouchers to Clark County residents, a service that is available year round.
J.B. Ogle Director Sarah Green encourages people to take advantage of this offer and reminds people to have their animals spayed and neutered in order to reduce the ever-growing pet population. More than 100 cats and 50 dogs currently reside at Ogle. In one day last week, more than 40 kittens came through the facility.
“Please come get a spay and neuter voucher. We would love to put some money towards getting an animal spayed or neutered,” Green said. “And if you’re feeding a stray cat, please try and get it fixed. We will help with that as well.”
Clark County
Related Photos
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DeAnn Pallister, of Chinese Crested Rescue, and her dog, Turbo, share a moment while they man a booth at Saturday’s Rescue the Rescuers event at Lapping Park in Clarksville. Photo by Amanda Beam
Discussion
June 11, 2012
To the rescue: Four-legged friends invade Lapping Park for Rescue the Rescuers event
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