Nash is expected to live at the Animal Refuge Center until death because of his age, arthritis and deteriorated eyesight. He came to the shelter after an owner died and another had health problems. --Photos by Amber Coulter

Gwen was found in the home of a Radcliff resident who was hoarding about 20 cats before she went to live at the Animal Refuge Center in Vine Grove.

Some local pet adoption events this weekend meant needed families for some of the area’s homeless pets.

There still are many pets in shelters in Hardin County looking for homes. Some of their stories are particularly touching to the people who take care of them.

Gwen is a sweetie who loves to give massages. Check out her Petfinder profile by clicking on the photo here! --Photo by Animal Refuge Center

Penny Edwards, manager of the shelter, said Gwen seemed to have had kittens soon before being found, but none of them were found unless they were among the kittens found dead on the property.

Edwards said scrounging for food, living in unsanitary conditions and being afraid of strangers makes it unusual for cats from hoarding situations to be as friendly as Gwen and other cats recovered by the Radcliff Police Department from the home.

“She wants to cling to you,” she said. “She’s very huggy all the time.”

The shelter has had animals dropped off anonymously in cages, including in the property’s trash bin, Edwards said.

“I don’t think they’re thinking enough to know they’re breaking the law,” she said.

Lassie, now 14 months old, was one of several puppies secretly abandoned at the Animal Refuge Center at about 5 weeks old. --Photo by Amber Coulter

Another friendly resident at the shelter is Lassie, a sheltie mixed with an unknown breed. Lassie is one of several puppies secretly dropped off in the shelter’s puppy pen at about five weeks old.

The malnourished puppies were so frightened they were found hiding in a back corner of one of the dog house pens with marks that looked like bigger dogs had hurt them, Edwards said.

“It’s always good to give an animal like this a second chance,” she said.

Rosie and Midnight are sisters that were found as stray puppies and were returned to the Hardin County Animal Shelter when the adopting family could no longer take care of them. --Photos by Amber Coulter

Employees and volunteers at the Hardin County Animal Shelter have seen their share of hard-luck stories as well.

Sarafina lost her home when her owner in the military was given a permanent change of station.

The dog’s sister has been adopted, but the friendly and energetic Sarafina remains at the shelter.

Two terrier mixes, Midnight and Rosie, were found as stray puppies.

The sisters were adopted, but the owners brought them back because they couldn’t take care of them.

Strays are in danger of being hit by cars, starving or picking up pests and illnesses, said Leah Brown, pound keeper.

“Most of them are good dogs,” she said.

Sarafina went to the Hardin County Animal Shelter when her owner in the military got a permanent change of station. --Photo by Amber Coulton

Shelter animals are good choices for those who want pets, Brown said.

“They’re just good dogs that meet with crappy circumstances,” she said.

Some animals have aged past the point at which it is probable they’ll ever leave the shelters.

Nash, a 14-year-old schnauzer, is not expected to find a permanent home outside the shelter because he is old and his eyesight has deteriorated. He also has arthritis in his back legs.

The owners’ children sought help from the Animal Refuge Center after Nash’s owner died so the workers there could find him a new home.

The home didn’t work out long term because of the new owners’ health, so the dog has lived at the shelter for the past couple years, Edwards said.

“He’s so sweet,” she said. “He’s like our little greeter. He just goes around here and he loves everybody.”

Edwards said an important thing for people who have pets or are thinking about adopting to do is have a plan about what will happen to their animals if they die or get sick, as they would for human children.

Otherwise, animals such as Nash might live out their days in a shelter without the individual attention pets crave and deserve, she said.

“We figure that unless someone is a big schnauzer lover, that we’re just going to let him live out his retirement — the golden years — with us,” she said.

Amber Coulter can be reached at (270) 505-1746 or acoulter@thenewsenterprise.com. Stories from the Heartland appears every Monday.

http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/pets-come-shelters-under-troubled-circumstances

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ARC is hosting its first ever Adoption Reunion! Bring out your pets that you have adopted from ARC and show them off! Share your stories and special moments with others! Enjoy the day with other ARC Alumni and have your pets blessed by Father Leo. A bake sale, Dog Wash and pet supplies will be available for sale. Goodie bags available for all our furry friends, crates available for cats and dogs if the excitement gets to be too much.
ALL pets are welcome to this event, even if they’re not Animal Refuge Center Alumni. Blessing of the Animals will be at 2 pm.
If you are not able to attend the festivities, please send a photo with a note to animal_refugectr @ hotmail.com for our Happy Tails display!

Pet Pics And Stories will be posted at Petfinder on April 19th. Meanwhile click the image to read our newsletter online!

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JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WHAS11) — They are the forgotten victims of the March 2 tornado outbreak – the animals left behind.

The JB Ogle Animal Shelter has become a hub of activity. They’re collecting and distributing donations to pet and livestock owners in storm affected areas.

A group of volunteers from Muncie, Ind. even made the trip with a truck full of donations. They’ve also been out trying to round up animals that were displaced during the storm. They’ll be taking many dogs and cats back to Muncie to make room for the animals that are being rounded up.

Ranchers are also struggling to take care of their animals. But, once again, strangers are stepping up, providing hay, feed, fencing, and other equipment.

If you would like to donate or need help, you can call the Southern Indiana Animal Rescue at 812-282-0071.

Visit our Kentuckiana Tornado section for the latest photos, stories, news and info on how you can help after Friday’s storms.

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ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (WHAS11) – A Rineyville dog is safe and back with his owner after a very near death experience. In the chaos of Wednesday’s storms, thieves broke into a Rineyville man’s home. But, it’s not what they stole that’s unbelievable, it’s what they did to the man’s dog.

Dennis Chval got off work early on Wednesday because of the storms raging through Hardin County. When he got home, he found it ransacked by thieves. And Storm, his pit bull, still locked in his cage with an arrow sticking out of his head just over his right eye. He says, “I understand people breaking into people’s houses, but someone shooting a dog, that just gets me right there, I don’t know who would do that.”

Chval took Storm to Elizabethtown. Vet Mark Nall says he couldn’t believe his eyes when Storm walked into his office. “You see some strange stuff in veterinary medicine. But, for a dog to come in with that kind of injury wagging his tail and happy to see folks, is pretty unusual…if the bow had had any more poundage on it, he wouldn’t have made it,” says Dr. Nall.

Chval says if the break-in had happened just days earlier, the bow would have had more poundage and Storm likely would have died. Chval had just turned it down so his girlfriend could shoot it. “I believe it was a miracle. I believe everything happens for a reason,” Chval explains.

Dr. Nall says the arrow came within millimeters of Storm’s brain. They removed the arrow surgically and Storm is expected to make a full recovery.

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Louisville, here’s your chance to attend one of our events! The Animal Refuge Center will be taking pics of your pets with Santa! Come join us for this special event and celebrate the holidays with us while we’re in your neighborhood!
Saturday, December 17th
from 11 am – 4 pm
PetSmart on Hurstborne Lane,
Louisville, KY.

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Been thinking about a new member for the family? Want to do something special this holiday season?

Open your home and heart to a homeless dog this Christmas! If it turns out to be a great move for you, contact ARC to adopt! Or return the dog on December 26 at no obligation to you. And look!!! Petfinder.com liked our idea so much, they’re doing it, too!! Now, no matter where you are, you can give a homeless dog a Happy Christmas! Or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Ramadan–we don’t care! It’s happy homes that really matter.

VINE GROVE, KY, (12/13/2011) – Animal Refuge Center and Petfinder.com are participating in the national “Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays” pet fostering program.  Across the country, over 13,000 pet rescue organizations are trying to empty their kennels for Christmas, encouraging members of the public to invite a pet home for the holidays.

People interested in making this Christmas a happy holiday for a pet in need or who want more information should contact ARC at 270-877-6064.

The Animal Refuge Center will provide all needed supplies. The organization has an average population of 10 adoptable dogs and 125 adoptable cats.  They can be viewed online at  www.petfinder.com.  The goal for the “Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays” program is to have each of these pets into a home by noon on December 20.

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 For further information, contact

Kim Saunders, Vice President, Petfinder.com

908-810-1976

Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays

Check out your fellow Petfinder members’ pets in the Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays Gallery. Then, stop by our Foster a Lonely pet page to find helpful articles for your foster caregivers.

Athena: Athena is a 4 year old Black Lab, who thinks she’s something of a local celebrity here at the shelter. She is high energy and loves to play. She’s had a couple of leg operations, so she gets her arthritis medication every day to help her keep moving. The World According To Athena, she’s forgotten she ever had any operations. This silly personality has a great sense of humor for a dog! Toy in mouth and with a doggy smile, she’ll do her best to win your heart.

Dudley: Dudley is an 8 year old Cocker Spaniel/Chow mix. Dudley’s former owner had to go into a nursing home and needed to find her dogs a new home. After his arrival at ARC, Dudley was very shy here but now he comes to us and is very inquisitive. He’s a big teddy bear, afraid of his own shadow. He needs to go to a home that has lots of time to socialize him and give all the love and time he needs. Please open your heart for Dudley.

Ferguson: He is a 3 year old Schnoodle! That’s a Schnauzer-Poodle for the rest of you. He is cute, has a wonderful temperament with children, but would probably be best suited where he is the only dog in the home. Ferguson does play nice with SOME dogs, but he meshes best with calmer female dogs.
He needs to go to a home where the focus is on him, so his intelligence really gets a chance to shine. He is longing for his own people, and wants to give his very best.

Inca: Inca is a 1-1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua-somethin’ mix…? Energetic, but no spitfire, Inca is very intelligent. She sits on command, has nice manners, doesn’t jump all over you, and is really easygoing. She is about 22 pounds. She loves other dogs as well. She is going to make someone a wonderful little dog.

Lassie: Lassie is a 12 month old Shepherd/Sheltie mix. She was featured as one of the three neglected puppies in our Spring newsletter. Lassie is a high-energy girl. We have a dog trainer working to direct her energy in a positive way. Lassie is intelligent and learning her manners, but for now a home with older children would be best until she calms down. Once Lassie settles in she’s eager to learn and has a sweet temperament. She needs plenty of interaction and exercise, because dynamite does come in small packages.

Maya: Also a 1-1/2 year old Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua-somethin’ mix…? She is sister to Inca. But this one is a high-energy little spitfire! Maya can jump a couple feet straight in the air to take a treat from your hand!! She is also 22 pounds, and is easy grooming because she’s also a shorthair.

She’d love the chance to entertain your family for the holidays!

Mo: Mo is a 1 year old Lab/Chow mix. Very sweet and eager to learn, Mo is high energy! Children would be fine, but he might be too rambunctious for little bitty kids. Children would certainly be ideal because he has a lot of energy to burn.

He loves to play with other dogs, so a multi-dog household would be perfect!

Nash: Nash is a 14 year old Miniature Schnauzer. He’s blind and partially deaf, but very enthusiastic about food! We always said he has selective hearing, and only hears what he wants to–like a food package or a can opener.
Even though this sweetie has his senior moments, he more than makes up for it in the attention he gives you. Give this little old man a chance at a home for the holidays.

Pepper: A 5 year old Black Lab mix, Pepper is very loving and wants to be your shadow. She wants to follow you everywhere! She’s a wonderful dog: housebroken, calm, not super-high-energy. If you’re looking for a dog to adore you, then Pepper needs to be your pick!

Ricky: Ricky is a 1-1/2 – 2 year old Chocolate Labrador mixed with…? This guy is a sweetheart. He was brought to us after he was found on the streets in Elizabethtown. He loves playing with his canine friends but sometimes they run all over him.
Ricky is very tolerant with other dogs and would love a home where there is another pooch. Ricky tries to jump up on us, but mostly to give us hugs. He’s just trying to show us that he’s the “pooch to smooch”!

For more information on how YOU can take a dog home for Christmas, please call the Animal Refuge Center at 270-877-6064.

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Don’t forget our Christmas Party is on December 11th, so check that bulletin out ASAP! Click the image at left to download your PDF newsletter courtesy of ARC!

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