Charlie, submitted by reader Alyssa who writes:
I love my local dog shelter (dog law enforcement), and not many people can say that. In a confession direct from the dog warden, the shelter only had to euthanize 2% of the dogs taken in in 2010, and of those none were for lack of “space” but instead medically beyond help or too aggressive to adopt to the public. If I could sum up this shelter in a few words it would be “The Little Shelter That Could.” The dog warden and her assistant work constantly to care for the dogs, find rescue and adoptions for them, transport them to rescue, you name it they do it. Unfortunately on February 28th this little shelter was flooded. The dog warden (Sarina) arrived to work to find the shelter was flooding. She waded in to try and save the dogs but was getting shocked with electricity. The electric company had to be contacted to shut off the electricity to the fairgrounds where the shelter is located. By then the water had risen significantly and heavy equipment and the fire chief had to help with the rescue. The three littlest dogs drowned, but 19 were saved. Here is a video of the last couple dogs being saved.
Thankfully a kind volunteer couple who had a heated building for training their own pet and rescue dogs allowed the dog shelter make use of it.
The dog warden and her assistant and some of the volunteers worked long hours taking care of the dogs but the temporary conditions did not make cleaning easy and the dogs did not do well in the crates. Some of them went to rescues or were adopted, but the remaining dogs that survived the flood or were turned in or picked up as strays were moved back into the old dog shelter. The good news is the commissioners announced plans to build a new dog shelter at a new site in the county. But for now some of the dogs that survived the flood are back at the same shelter. They seem to be doing okay but it would be great to get them adopted or into rescues.
Charlie is one of the dogs who survived the flood and he would do great with someone who wants to spend a lot of one on one time exercising or training him. He’s very smart and loves people, so he would not be hard to train. Also with Ohio being a BSL state it would be great to get Charlie adopted to a rescue out of state or just into the right experienced home.
Morrow Co Dog Shelter
195 South Main Street
Mount Gilead, OH
(419) 946-1747
morrowdogwarden@redbird.net
The shelter is also on Facebook.
Just want to say GOOD JOB to your local shelter. Even though small, it sounds like the people in charge have the right attitude and are doing all they can (and a bit more) to get the dogs into rescues/homes.
Memphis . . . are you watching? You could learn a lot!
KUDOS to the “little shelter that could”- which puts to a lie obviously and without argument all those that say they CAN’T and are dealing with a far greater population and more money.
Hooray! To the little dog shelter that could! Thank you leaders! I am also happy to see that they are using Facebook — it is where the people are. I hope that they continue to be supported and that they will remain a No Kill shelter.
Hope a rescue takes that lovely pit.
What a wonderful story to brighten a dull day! HOORAY for your shelter and the dedicated and COMPASSIONATE people who run it! Let’s see if we all cannot help this shelter, shall we?
I have just emailed Sarine about three possibilities for our Sanctuary. Anyone else?
Flooding with snow on the ground? What happened?! I hope all the animals that survived are safe. It’s great to hear that people are collaborating and cooperating, and that the end result is such an outstanding save rate. GOOD JOB!
Could have been when the snow was melting…I know many places here in OH where there are flooding issues when winter ends and spring begins – between the rain & melting snow. But it sounds like maybe it was more than that for the shelter to get THAT flooded – possibly a water line break?
I didn’t realize the dog shelter in Mt Gilead had such a great save rate….that is awesome. A small town with obviously the right people in the right places. Thanks for sharing…makes me proud to be from Ohio!!!
@LynnO Charlie’s picture was taken in Dec/Jan when he arrived at the shelter, thank goodness there was not snow on the ground when it flooded but it was cold about 30 degrees. The shelter was located by a creek, (which hasn’t been a problem) and with all the rainwater coming in from other areas it flooded the banks and made a lake of the lower part of the fairgrounds.
I walked Charlie today. He makes grunting and snorting sounds when you scratch his butt, it’s really cute. I ran with him and he was pretty good. A few times he pulled a bit when he wanted to go sniff where the other dogs have marked but he loves to run right alongside the person who is walking him.
I hope he gets out soon…wish I had room for him! Working with a highly aggressive male (has male on male aggression issues) right now or I’d snatch him up! He’s like 45 mins from here! So glad there is someone like you helping out with him. AND glad the “warden” is such a GREAT person to work as hard as she has for ALL the animals. Hoping the BSL in OH goes away soon so that all the “Charlie’s” in Ohio can be safe from it!
Morrow County Dog Shelter is a small but outstanding beacon. Sarina and Crystal and Alyssa are three of my favorite folks. It was Alyssa, a volunteer with the shelter, who told me about a senior, Black Lab mix named Brock who was living at the Shelter. Brock came from a broken home and he had physical issues. The photo of that dog and his story just grabbed me and after many weeks of friendly exchanges, Sarina drove him to me one hundred and fifty miles away. Brock joined my other three rescues and he is a delightful, happy dog and acts as if he has known me all his life. This Dog Shelter is very special essentially because of the attitude, vision and love of Sarina and her folks. I can’t wait to drive to Morrow County when they get their new facility. Who knows, I may come home with another of their wonderful dogs then.
Long overdue update:
Charlie was adopted by his foster home, and is doing well. Thanks to a very kind and generous donor, a new shelter is being built (ground breaking was Sept 18 2014) and will open in summer of 2015.