been tremedous, prompting some readers
to take matters into their own hands.
"When I read that article, I just cried and
cried," says Savannah DeKalb, describing
her reaction to the first article in the series.
DeKalb, who works in a downtown law firm,
has always been an animal lover.
When she used to travel regularly
between Hilton Head Island, S.C., she
always carried a bag of dog food with her.
Anytime she saw a stray along the road,
she would stop, pour out some food,
then park a short distance away
to make sure it ate something.
Once she picked up a puppy wandering
along the highway. Every place she
stopped along her route, she asked
people if they would be willing to
take it. She finally persuaded a
security guard at SRS who took
they puppy saying, "My wife's probably
going to kill me, but I'll take it."
The animal control shelter was closed
for Labor Day the day after the first
newspaper article appeared, but
DeKalb was there Tuesday morning
at 7:30 a.m. (the shelter normally
opens at 8:00 a.m.). A worker let her in.
"I asked them which animals were
about to expire. They didn't want
to tell me, but I said, 'I just want to
try to save their lives."
DeKalb adopted three dogs ----
A hound, a Dalmation and a
mixed breed. She's found new
homes for the Dalmation and the mutt,
and she and her husband are considering
keeping the hound.
She plans to continue doing her part.
"I know can't save the world, "
says DeKalb, "but I can make
a difference."
This was an Article exactly quoted above,
an article in which I was featured in
titled "Lost & Found" published in the
Augusta Magazine, Dec/Jan 1999 issue,
by writer, Danielle Wong.
Many of these unwanted animals
are picked up by or left at Richmond
and Columbia County animal control
where they're held for adoption.
But sometimes they don't make it.
They become street casualties or
are euthanized at the overcrowded
county facilities....
Last year alone Richmond County
Animal Control put down
10,788 dogs and cats while
Columbia County euthanized
2,495 dogs and cats.
Unlike non-profit, volunteer-run
organizations who have funds
to provide for these animals,
I have until the last two dogs
that I have taken in, paid for
out of my own pocket all the
dog's medical bills to include
all their shots and having them
spayed or neutered before placing
them in their new home and
not asking any money in return
when doing so.
I have done all that I have
out of the love in my heart for
these poor souls who I feel
deserve the right to have a
home that will love them and
care for them until it is their
time to go to "Doggy Heaven".
