Have you ever ended up some place you had no intentions of going, not sure how you even got there? Well, last week, our little rescue group (Mutt Madness) was led to a man who has been caring for 15 adult dogs and multiple litters of puppies for quite some time.

When we arrived, we immediately realized the man was in much greater need than the dogs occupying his property. I introduced myself and began to ask questions about his situation. He rides a bicycle, which is his only means of transportation, daily to collect cans for money to buy food. All of the dogs there are strays that followed him "home". I'm not sure the word "home" properly describes where Stevie McGaugh is living (and I should use the word SURVIVING instead, honestly). There are a few structures that are all falling apart on the property (which belongs to him) but none that would qualify as livable. There's no running water or electricity. It is by the grace of God he has been able to endure the heat and mosquitos so far this summer. He has some type of chronic back problem and cannot stand upright. He is severely malnourished and underweight. You can imagine what a task it is for him to ride a bicycle to get water and food or pick up aluminum cans. I don't know how he found himself is such a plight, nor do I care. What I do care about is making sure we leave him in better shape than we found him.

Our group (myself, Beth Mansour, Sara Hester and Kendric Proctor) has set up a "Friends of Stevie McGaugh" account for donations at Planters Bank in Greenville. The account is set up in a manner that provides for two of us to disperse any funds needed to improve his current situation. Funds will not be dispersed directly to Mr. McGaugh.

We respond to pleas for help for animals all of the time. We always try to educate, help and even minister to the people who are at those locations, as well as helping the animals. This situation is unlike any we have ever experienced. It looks like something you see on television - not in your own backyard. Our goal is to get running water and electricity to his property, bring his property taxes current, and find some type of suitable shelter for him.

If you feel led (much like the way we were led to him) to help, no donation is too small and every dollar will be managed by our group. If you cannot donate, please pray for God's provision for Mr. McGaugh.