DOWN EAST ANIMAL REFUGE

P.O. Drawer 40

Scotland Neck NC 27874

Our Adoption Success Stories

My name is Goodie and I was rescued from Hobgood. Some of the town residents in Hobgood were complaining because I was on the street with no where to go. Curt Ellis from Hobgood took me and was on his way to the pound in Halifax to have me euthanized. While on the way to Halifax he saw Gra Whitehead out in his yard and decided to go speak to Gra. He told Gra he was on the way to take me to Halifax. Gra said I will take her and she will be another rescued animal of the Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR). Gra took me in and gave me my name.

I was then given a new name and had found myself a temporary new home. One day Brenda Barnes from Hobgood saw an article in the Commonwealth about DEAR and decided to bring her 3 girls out to take a look at the shelter animals. On the day of their visit they fell in love with Goodie and said we will be back for her.

On Easter Sunday I was adopted by Brenda & Greg Barnes and their family. I spent from March 15^th to April 11^th at the Down East Animal Refuge. They took care of me and I could not have asked for any better care from anyone. Now I am the newest member of the Barnes family. They plan on making me a house dog so we will all be one big happy family. It’s strange how I came from Hobgood and ended back up in the same town.

You now have two success stories from Sabrina last week and from myself (Goodie) this week. I am inviting the public to please help the other dogs at the Animal Refuge. Take the time to come out and visit. The adoption fee is a small fee of $65.00. This small fee is needed to help pay for vet bills for our care, food, and supplies and to keep us all safe and healthy. Remember, DEAR is a non profit organization. Donations are very much appreciated. Help save others like myself.

A HAPPY ENDING

This week has been an interesting one for Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR).  On Wednesday we received a retired grey hound named Sonny.  The owner of this dog was moving and was going to shoot the grey hound and a full blooded husky.  The owners next door neighbor realized what the owner was about to do and took the dogs from the owner.  The husky stayed at the neighbor’s house until it could be placed in a permanent home.  The grey hound was released to one of DEAR’s members and brought to the shelter.

The Secretary of DEAR contacted grey hound rescue and they said they would come to get the dog.  The dog had tattoos in its ears which had been done previously while at the grey hound rescue.  This dog was adopted originally from the grey hound rescue so they knew who the owner of this dog was.  While in the shelter the dog was walked and cared for by DEAR members and one day the dog was taken out into a field to run and they said boy this dog could really run fast.  You have to remember this dog is a retired grey hound that once ran in races.  This animal was beautiful.  How someone could want to destroy it I will never understand.

One Saturday August 28^th greyhound rescue came to Scotland Neck and picked the dog up.  They were amazed at how good the dog looked.  This dog was house broke and was use to living inside.  You could tell that it was depressed by living in the kennel those few days.  We have gotten word that the husky has now been placed in a permanent home. 

It would have been a shame and a crime for the owner to have shot and killed these two beautiful dogs.  Grey hound rescue said that they intend to investigate why the owner was going to do this.  The lady that came from the grey hound rescue said she had five female grey hounds at home and she was going to take Sonny home with her and he would probably be happy there with the five females.

Needless to say this story ended as a happy one.  It could have been tragic for these two dogs if the right person was not in the right place at the right time.  Why people want to harm innocent pets I’ll never understand. 

SABRINA'S STORY

Story by Donna May, DEAR Secretary    

SCOTLAND NECK NC (APRIL 5, 2004) – My name is Sabrina and I was rescued by Gra Whitehead of Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR). My owner in Wilson was taking me and my two sisters to the pound to be euthanized.

Gra just happened to come along that day and took us to Scotland Neck to the animal refuge. One weekend a member of DEAR came out and took care of me, my two sisters, and the other animals at the refuge. She promptly fell in love with me and took me home with her. And now I have a happy home with three other dogs and cats.

Please help me find a happy home for my two sisters. I am pictured above and beside me is a picture of my sisters. We are happy that Gra came along that day and rescued us from death. Thanks to the Down East Animal Refuge, we now have a chance for a long and happy life. Help us help other animals by giving food donations, dog houses, fencing, toys, and tender loving care.

Please adopt my sisters. They would like to be happy like me.

DEAR is a non-profit organization headquartered in Scotland Neck. The group also has a web site, http://DEARNC.hostvan.com, that is kept up to date on all the organizations events and activities.

For more information, call 252-826-3550 or email at downeastanimalrefuge@hotmail.com.

Sabrina, a boxer mix, was recently rescued and adopted by a member of  Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR),  Scotland Neck. DEAR wants to hear from you if you are interested in providing a puppy like Sabrina a good home.

These are just some of the puppies that are available for adoption by Down East Animal Refuge. If you are interested in giving these puppies a good home, please call DEAR at 252-826-2500 or by writing P.O. Drawer 40, Scotland Neck NC 27874.

MACKAY’S STORY

by Donna May, DEAR Secretary

My name is Mackay. I was a pound dog once before at the pound in Raleigh before my owner adopted me. I lived in Raleigh with my owner who was originally from Scotland Neck.  My owner moved into a new apartment and could not take me with her.  She decided to give me to the Down East Animal Refuge so I would not have to be taken to the pound to be put down.   I became a member of the Down East Animal Refuge (DEAR) on March 18, 2004. 

Since, I have been at the animal refuge I have escaped from my pen many times.  I would get the door open and run away.  Gra had to go out and buy a lock and chain to keep me in my pen.  I then chewed through the bottom of the wire and escaped once again.  One day Gra let me and the other dogs out to play and me and one of Gra’s dogs decided to run away.  I ran away and was found about  four days later.   I was returned to the Animal Refuge and I now live in Gra’s garage. 

I am much happier now in the garage than I was in the pen.  I love the indoors and that’s where I would prefer to be.   I am house broken and a loving dog.  I would make you a good family pet.  Please, if you would like a good house dog who is already house trained please consider me for adoption.  I need a good home with a loving family in which I could become a part of.   The Animal Refuge would love to see me go to a good home.  Please phone 252-826-3550 and schedule an appointment to take a look at me.  Pictured below is a picture of me.  Please don’t let my size bother you.  Just because I am a big dog does not mean that I would not be a good house pet because I really am a good dog.

Make my story end in a fairy tale like Sabrina and Goodie.  They are both so happy.  We have many other dogs at the shelter from puppies to full grown dogs.  Read the  Commonwealth Progress next week and see if my story ends in a happy one.

Remember, DEAR is a non profit organization and they need help from the public to care for us.  Donations are welcome and you will receive a tax exempt receipt for your donation.

CHIQUITA AND BRUCE ADOPTED

by Donna May

Chiquita and Bruce are the most recent success stories of the Down East Animal Refuge. Chiquita was rescued by a local Scotland Neck resident when she was found in a hole in the ground.  The lady who rescued her brought her to the shelter and also donated a dog house and food.  Bruce on the other hand was found by a local Scotland Neck resident by the rode side. 

Chiquita was placed in a foster home because she was so small.  Her foster parent for almost three weeks was Sallie Overton of Scotland Neck.  Sallie fed and took care of her until she found a permanent home.  Sallie was sad to see her go but knew she would be going to a good home.

The new owner not only adopted Chiquita but also adopted Bruce as well. The new owner is a local long time Scotland Neck resident.   They now have a happy home together with 2 other dogs and a cat.  Both are doing well and would like to thank the public  for  all their support while their stay at the shelter. 

DEAR was the reason we had a second chance in life.  Without DEAR we would probably not be around today.

DEAR has many other puppies and dogs at the shelter who are awaiting adoption.  Please take the time to check them out.  They would love to be like  Sabrina, Goodie, Chiquita and Bruce. 

DEAR would like to ask the public to just not come out and drop off dogs and puppies without asking a member first.  If you have found an animal you would like to bring in please contact a member.  You may contact Gra Whitehead, Claudia Harrell, Janet Dudley or Donna May if you have any questions.  At the present time we are at full capacity with eighteen to twenty dogs on hand.  We would like to find homes for some of these before we have room for more.

Updates On Our Buddy Sponsors

We have new sponsors for our dogs at Down East Animal Refuge.  Jim Bob is now being sponsored by Mary Fleming of Scotland Neck.   Rachael is being sponsored by Amy Fleming of Scotland Neck.  Ernest which is Rachael’s brother is being sponsored by Shannon Pitts from Spring Hope. 

Sponsors of some of our other dogs are Boy’s and Girl’s club of Scotland Neck which sponsored Kim.  Kim is the sister of Rachel and Ernest.   Cricket is being sponsored by Doug Harrison of High Point and Chief is sponsored by Ann Keeter of Scotland Neck. 

We now have six of our twenty-one dogs sponsored.  We would like the other fifteen dogs to be sponsored also.  The above sponsor’s would like to challenge you to help in sponsoring the remaining fifteen dogs.  It would be nice for each dog to have their own sponsor.  It would be even nicer to see the dog’s adopted out to a loving home.

We regret that the Crepe Myrtle Festival was rained out due to Hurricane Charley. We plan to have another fund raiser as soon as we can.  We had high hopes of the public visiting our booth at the festival.  We had worked so hard and had surprises for the public.  We will look forward to seeing you at our next fund raiser.

We would love to see these four dogs get a sponsor or adopted.  Your small donation of $10.00 per month to sponsor the dog helps to care for that dog.  You may mail your donation to Down East Animal Refuge P.O. Drawer 40 Scotland Neck, NC 27874.  Along with your donation give us the name of the dog that you would like to sponsor.  Pamphlets have been made on each individual dog and will be placed in local businesses in Scotland Neck.  Look for the names of the stores where you can pick up your pamphlets in upcoming news articles.

Do YOU have a success story? If so, please take a moment to let us know about it, and send pictures if you can. You can send your stories to the Webmaster. Thanks!