Friends of Jefferson Animals

Have you ever wondered what occurs in towns/counties without any form of animal control? Welcome to the 2208 Pack and the Friends of Jefferson Animals story. :)

Discarded miles down an old cemetery road outside of town over Labor Day weekend, the pack (a mama, an older pup, and 3 young pups) made their way to Hwy 2208 to forage through discarded trash for food. I began stopping twice daily to check on them, give them food and water, and earn their trust. However, it quickly became apparent this little pack had never experienced an ounce of human love or kindness.

Unfortunately, unlike most counties, mine is without a local shelter or any sort of animal control. For whatever reason, the authorities choose not to intervene. As a result, efforts to save abandoned, discarded, and lost dogs and cats were left to community volunteers who went on to create a rescue, the Friends of Jefferson Animals.

While FOJA was, once before, instrumental in saving two dogs dropped by my house, I failed to recognize just how much they struggle to keep up with the demands of "animal control" for the entire county. This small group of volunteers rely on a handful of fosters, donations, and waxing/waning interest for assistance to meet the enormous needs.

When I reached out to two of the women who hold the small rescue together, purely out of selfish conviction for saving the 2208 Pack, there was literally "no room in the inn." No fosters, no holding places, no means, no ability.

And yet... their compassion for God's creatures that have been mistreated and an ongoing desire to save each one they can is evident. They are always trying to figure out a way.

Several days later, I received a text from Dina Carrol, with FOJA, that a "transport up north" would open slots for the ones I was caring for out on the highway. Then, she and her son worked tirelessly with me for four days to rescue the pack. In truth, I was little help. And watching their expertise at work was inspiring.

If it weren't for being rescued by the Friends of Jefferson Animals, my precious 2208 Pack would have perished in the woods, on the highway, or from starvation. But their needs do not stop there.

Please consider helping the volunteers who sacrifice so much (their hearts, their time, their energy, and every spare dime) to do a job that should not be theirs. And please help the pups of the 2208 Pack get vetted, possibly treated, spayed/neutered, fostered, and eventually sent to loving homes.

P.S. On a very sad note, we lost the sweet mama dog in our rescue efforts. She had done a fantastic job keeping her pups safe for so many weeks in the woods. But on the day she was to be rescued, she crossed the highway to meet me and was struck by a speeding truck. It may have only lasted for a few minutes, but I finally got to hold and love on her the way she deserved. I will never forget her.

On December 6th, 2021, All Good Dogs Coalition joined forces with Friends of Jefferson Animals and Marion County law enforcement to help seize 44 dogs and 1 cat from a rural address at Lake o’The Pines. Numerous complaints had been called in by many residents in the neighborhood due to the deplorable conditions that many animals found themselves living in. If the lack of adequate food, water, shelter and veterinary care wasn’t enough, neighbors say they could see and hear many horrific acts being done to the animals at all hours of the day and night.

One individual was arrested and taken into custody before the actual rescue started. However, many are hopeful that that was the first of what is to come for the people responsible for such alleged atrocities. All animals on the site were taken in by rescue and will need to not only be fed, but they’ll need preventatives as well as wormer and vaccines. If you have one animal, you know the cost associated with those items. Forty-four seems impossible. BUT WITH YOUR HELP, we can get these babies on the road to a physical, emotional and mental recovery that they each deserve.

Will you join me in helping to make sure that they get the care and attention that they deserve?

Any amount, no matter how big or how small, will make a difference in the life of one of these animals. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so very much to me.