The newly formed “Dog Lovers League” in Bruce is growing by leaps and bounds and is already having a life-saving impact on dogs captured by the City of Bruce.
The “no-kill” animal shelter was founded by Rose Wells looking for a better solution than how the city was handling “stray dogs.”
City workers were capturing dogs running loose whenever a complaint was turned in to City Hall. Those dogs are kept in pens at the city shed for five days. If not claimed during that time by someone, which included a fine to be paid, the dogs were turned over to an animal shelter in Oxford. If not claimed there after a set time period, the animals were euthanized.
“They were unnecessary deaths,” Wells said. “Dogs shouldn’t be killed simply due to a lack of space.”
Wells asked the Bruce Mayor and Board of Aldermen to endorse the “Dog Lovers League” and allow them to take the dogs after the 5-day waiting period.
Bruce officials quickly signed on and have agreed to a land swap with Pontotoc Electric for property near the city lagoon which the “Dog Lovers League” will use to put up their pens.
For the time being, Benny and Kathy Stewart have provided some of their property near their home on CR 125 to house the dogs.
“The Stewarts have been wonderful, so many people have been incredibly supportive of our efforts,” Wells said.
Donations of food, dog houses, kennels and other materials have poured in so far.
A bank account has been established at Renasant Bank to accept donations and work is underway to achieve 501C3 status for the organization so that donors can earn a tax break for contributing.
Wells said the organization had more than 500 members to join on their facebook page and they have 20 “active members.”
The organization has established monthly meetings on the first Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Bruce Park pavillion.
Officers were elected at their first meeting last week with Wells named president, Patsy Doolittle vice president, Nancy Bennett secretary and LaDonna O’Bannon treasurer.
Wells said they are working to establish a relationship with the mobile veterinary unit at Mississippi State University and that Dr. Denman of Water Valley has offered his support.
Several fundraisers have already been initiated to support the organization. Tammy Jackson is selling “Dog Lovers League” t-shirts for $15. Laken Ledbetter is selling tank-tops at Cut-N-Up Salon and Ann King has hosted an online auction.
High school students from Bruce and Calhoun Academy have also volunteered their services. Wells said school organizations are coming to help walk and bathe the dogs.
“We’re so grateful for everyone’s generosity,” Wells said. “This is a long-term project and there will always be needs, so we hope the support continues.”
Among the biggest signs of early success is that seven dogs have already been found new homes.
“That’s what we’re doing it for,” Wells said. “These dogs have a lot to offer.”
She noted that many have a false impression of the kinds of dogs that are picked up. She said among the dogs currently at the League are Labradors, a German Shepherd, Boston Terrier and a Chihuahua along with several mixed breeds.
The League has also already helped people find “lost dogs.”
The biggest concern from city officials is the potential for over-population if dogs are not adopted into homes quickly enough.
Wells said they won’t know their population limit until they get the new pens installed on the property being acquired by the city, but she isn’t concerned it will become an issue.
“We feel like we can find homes for these dogs,” Wells said.
In addition to full adoptions, the League also intends to utilize a foster home process where people can adopt a dog for a certain time period to see how the dog works with their home.
“We’ll have people take them for just a few days at a time or maybe a month at a time,” Wells said. “The more people we get involved with that the more we believe many of these will decide to keep the dogs permanently.”
Wells said while the response has been great thus far, the needs will continue. Anyone with materials to donate can do so at the Pickin’ Shed in Banner.
Monetary donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 566 in Bruce.