Adoption is the hoped for outcome for all healthy, friendly dogs and cats at the Bell Co. Animal Shelter.  Adoption numbers at the shelter have increased dramatically over the past year and a half.  However, there are still far more pets than potential homes for them.  Many terrific pets at the shelter face huge odds against finding a home simply because there are too many pets and not enough homes.
One effective way humane organizations have found to help pets in areas of pet overpopulation, such as our own, is to transport some of those adoptable pets to areas where homeless pets are much fewer in number.  Recently, FOS has begun cooperating with  Sharon and Mike Cherry of All Breeds Dog Rescue, based in Monroe Co., TN.  At least once a month, All Breeds Dog Rescue transports 40-50 dogs/puppies and 10 cats/kittens to the SPCA Animal Shelter in Queensbury, New York, a “no-kill” shelter in upstate New York, where the transported pets are usually adopted within two weeks.  The Bell Co. Animal Shelter is one of three shelters that All Breeds Dog Rescue works with.  Since January, 2008, at least 60 dogs and cats from the Bell County Animal Shelter have been saved through this program.  Each pet that is transported by All Breeds Dog Rescue must be vaccinated and de-wormed, and heartworm tests and feline leukemia tests are required.  Veterinary exams and health certificates must be procured prior to transport. In addition, each shelter must contribute to cover the cost of fuel and van rental for the transport (fuel alone for each transport costs $500.00).
FOS has contributed substantially to make this program possible for the shelter, paying for necessary medications and veterinary exams, health certificates, and transport costs.  Mary Hatfield, the Director of the Veterinary Technology Program at Lincoln Memorial University, and the vet tech students have also worked hard to make this effort possible, volunteering time and effort with the animals, providing medications and exams, and raising money for “Operation Big Apple.” A special thanks goes to J. Frank White Academy Fifth Grade Teacher, Mrs. Brown, and students, who raised $205.00  to send Bell County Animal Shelter dogs and cats on Operation Big Apple.

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Friends of the Shelter
P.O. Box 2534
Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965
606.337.2005
"A friend in need, a friend in deed."