Animal Assistance

Animal Assistance How It All Started

Since I was a child I would bring home stray, skinny and abused animals. Of course back then my parents had to pay the vet bills and were tolerant of my bringing home wild and domesticated animals. I remember we used to live by a creek and I used to catch pollywogs so I could watch them turn in to frogs. They would over a matter days grow legs and lose their tails and turn into frogs. It was cool until Mom found then in my bath tub one day since my aquarium wasn't big enough. She made me return them to the creek. Not sure if that is where my fascination with animals started or was it genetic through Mom since she used to save animals and she rode horses too. Dad used to join in too by bringing home unwanted dogs and cats when we moved to Pungo on our small farm. So it really turned into a family affair.

Now we live in Suffolk. It really seems like our house is a magnet for lost hunting dogs, feral cats and I often get calls for horses that need homes. I can't help them all. But I try as best we can to find homes for the unwanted animals and save the ones we can. It has put a financial strain on us over the last year but we have managed.

On December 31, 2008 my husband had gone outside to run two beagles off our property. Instead he came back in the house and grabbed a bag of dog food and some bowls. So he too is a convert of saving animals. These two sweet skinny beagle pups showed and took a liking to us. It was if it was meant to be. After feeding them and taking care of them for over a week is when I decided it was my calling to turn our farm into an animal assistance facility. The out pouring of help and monetary assistance to get these dogs vetted and rehabbed was wonderful. Luckily we found them a wonderful home with a family in Va. Beach.

Since I moved here in 2005 I have saved: 7 horses, 7 dogs, and 10 cats. I get calls all the time to take animals and being self supported I can't save them all. But I do try and do help with resources when I can. But over a lifetime there were many more that I rescued, homed, rehomed and saved.

Our goal is to assist unwanted equines and animals as best we can to provide a safe haven of love and hopefully rehabilitate them enough so they can be re-homed. Currently we are slowly working on this and are starting out with these two beagles and will go from there. We are taking baby steps so we don't get over whelmed by the work load until we can find volunteers to help assist us with getting our facility ready to handle more animals and horses.

Homes currently needed for:

Lucy: Female Beagle approx 2 yrs old. Been vetted, microchipped and spade. Treated with Heartguard and Frontline Plus. Loves to be petted and held, learning to eat dog food and putting on weight, she is a proper lady in our home and doesn't howl. She is being socialized in our home and with our other dogs. Lucy is good with cats, goats and horses. Sleeps in your bed if you let her and loves to snuggle with you. Very smart and listens. Great with kids!!

Charlie: Male Beagle approx 2 yrs old. Been vetted, microchipped, neutured. Is on Heartguard and Frontline Plus. Loves attention and if you don't give it to him he comes over and tells you he wants to be petted by placing a soft paw on your leg. Charlie is very loving, playful and very social with other animals including cats, goats and horses. Usually sleeps in his bed but has been found in mornings in ours trying to snuggle up to us. Very smart and listens. Great with kids!!

1 solid black barn cat: Approx 9 months old that need to be rehomed. UTD on all shots.

Our Wish List if You want to help:

Iams Dog food & Pedigree canned dog food or coupons

Friskies Dry cat food or coupons

Donations for vet care and pet food always appreciated

ADM Brand Patriot 12 % pellet, Beet Pulp and Mor Glo Horse Feed (Diamond Point Feed and Supply)

Roofing tin for old barn

treated 2 x 4 boards

untreated 2 x 8 rough cut boards

untreated 2 x 10 rough cut boards

untreated plywood and OSB

6 x 6 Treated Posts to build shelter in pasture

Miscellaneous building materials or gift card from Lowes or Dails Hardware in Franklin

Donations for other miscellaneous smaller needs (PayPal excepted email for info)

Volunteers Needed for Building and Repairs:

Volunteers to help put fill dirt in new barn and put up stall walls.

Volunteers to help replace fencing from wire to wood (we have the wood)

Volunteers to help build shelter in 5th pasture so Rescue horses have cover from weather while in quarantine (will need pressure treated wood, large poles and tin)

Photos of a few of our Assisted Animals through the years