RALEIGH COUNTY'S
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For past "RALEIGH COUNTY'S PET NEWS," click here: 2001-2002
Beckley Pet Law Passes Without Barks or Bites
By Matthew Hill/REGISTER-HERALD REPORTER
Despite anticipated conflict, there was no fighting like cats and dogs over cats and dogs at Beckley Common Council Tuesday evening.
Council unanimously approved the new ordinance that will place restrictions
on the number of cats or dogs a person may keep outside his or her home within
city limits. It also requires, with some exceptions, that all pets be spayed or
neutered to curb animal overpopulation.
No one spoke in opposition to the ordinance. Pat Roberts of Beckley commented
favorably on the new rule.
"Breeders should be stopped until the animal shelters have more space. It's
immoral what goes on, with the animals having to be euthanized because people
don't take care to spay and neuter their pets," she said.
"This ordinance won't cure the problem. There's still going to be a
problem, but we've at least moved in the right direction," Mayor Emmett
Pugh said. "People who do right by their pets will still do right, and
those who do wrong will still do wrong."
The mayor said that, although the ordinance goes into effect immediately,
enforcement will probably not be possible until the beginning of 2005.
Under the new ordinance, no more than four cats or dogs will be permitted
outside a person's residence and all of them must be spayed or neutered.
Exceptions are made for the pet's health, age, time spent in the city each year
and breeding purposes.
Breeders are required to obtain a special permit, which must be renewed each
year, for a fee of $10 per cat and/or dog.
Council members agreed to hold a future public hearing on a proposal to increase
that fee to $75 in an effort to recoup expenses incurred by the new ordinance.
Copied and pasted from The Register-Herald’s web site, Wednesday, September 29, 2004.
FOUND DOG: Found a female dog on New River Drive, Beckley
on Saturday, September 25, 2004. The dog is very friendly and loving. A medium
sized dog (weighs approximately 15-20 lbs.). Light brown/golden with black
markings. The dog appears to have been well cared for. If this is your dog or
you would like to adopt her, please call Colleen or Jonathan at 304-254-8572.
9-28-2004
Lost Dog: (Found) Lost dog, last seen in the lawn and garden section at Wal Mart in Beckley, by store employees on July 6, 2004, between 5:30 and 6:23 pm. Black, female, spaded, long hair, short in stature, tail curls on back, bald spot where her tail rests on her back, 3 yrs old, housebroken. Very friendly, responds to the name "Pookie". Reward! 7/20-04
Hi,
I just wanted to give you an update on lost dog Pookie. She has been found and is now back with her family. I would like to thank you for your part in her return home. Also, thanks to OL' Mountain Trader, and all those wonderful pet lovers from Glen Daniels that played a part in finding her. Our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts, all of you will be blessed!!
Thank you!!!
The Carrolls 8-12-04
Click
Here to see the photo of Pookie who is back
home. Thumbnail, click to enlarge.
Found Dog: Found (spaniel type) dog. Black and White with long hair and short stature. Has a green leash collar around its neck with no tags. Arrived at our door on July 10, 2004 in Mac Arthur. Very gentle and seems to have been a house dog. Phone 253-3641 or e-mail HollyBess@aol.com
Click
Here to see the photo of the Spaniel type dog, titled "Found
Dog.". Thumbnail, click to enlarge.
7-12-2004
City May Require Pets to be Spayed, Neutered
By Andrew J. Beckner/Register-Herald Reporter
The Beckley Planning Commission took another step Tuesday toward recommending
new animal regulations to Common Council, specifically a measure that would
require pet owners to spay or neuter their furry friends.
But that recommendation is still at least a month away. Hoping to become the
cat's meow to area animal lovers, the planning commission will add its concerns
- and sharpen the specifics - to the ordinance's formal language before sending
a recommendation to council.
The planning commission will bring it back up in its August meeting.
It all got started with complaints to the city about cats run amok.
At the behest of city officials and concerned neighbors, the planning commission
members decided to take a look.
They had no idea what they were getting into.
Following a maelstrom of criticism from cat connoisseurs, the planning
commission in February tabled a zoning amendment that would have limited the
number of cats Beckleyans could own. (City law already limits the number of dogs
someone can own inside the city.)
Critics of the amendment took offense. Some who operate as de facto animal
shelters saw the move as a limit on their efforts at making up for others'
irresponsibility. A dozen or so cat lovers lined up several deep to give the
planning commission a piece of their mind.
In short, the measure was up a tree.
So the city decided to stop pruning branches and start digging up roots. Instead
of fighting the cats, how about eliminating the kittens?
Thus, the new amendment. It says new cats and dogs must be spayed or neutered if
not used for specific breeding purposes, among other changes. And if someone
wants to make some money on the side selling their Siamese's offspring, the
amendment would require the breeder to buy a permit.
But Gabrielle Keffer - who owns four cats she took in as strays - said the
measure just doesn't go far enough. While she's glad the planning commission
dropped the idea of cat quotas inside the house ("It's no one's business
how many cats I have in my own home," she says), she thinks the new
amendment is far from perfect.
"I think they just don't have an understanding of what the problem
is," she says.
The spay and neutering requirement, while a good idea, would deter good
Samaritans from taking strays in because of the cost involved, she says. By the
time a cat gets all its shots, has its necessary blood tests and finally goes
under the knife, the price can exceed $100.
Besides, responsible owners like herself already have their cats spayed and
neutered. People who don't care simply don't care. Keffer says they won't be
responsible no matter what law is on the books.
Joyce Williams calls the idea "a beautiful thing."
The director of the Raleigh County Animal Shelter, she talks of a stray cat
situation that can perhaps best be described as an epidemic.
Take a look at the numbers.
From the start of the year to July 4, nearly 1,000 cats have come through the
shelter doors, including 90 last week alone. Fewer than 200 cats have been
adopted this year.
So if you have 977 cats coming in and only 159 going out for adoption ... you do
the math.
"I could almost hug their necks," Williams says of the planning
commission's members. "(Required spaying and neutering) is almost mandatory
to get this under control."
Keffer thinks she could improve the proposed amendment. What if the city
partnered with local veterinarians and other non-profit groups to help those
with low and fixed incomes to afford the procedure?
But that's a problem in and of itself. Williams says the humane society has a
low-income spay and neutering program that, in her words, is easy to qualify
for. She said few people take advantage of the program.
Indeed, the humane society offers several deals each year that pay each and
every penny for the surgery. Fewer than half of those packages were claimed last
year.
"It's a sad situation. They just don't use them," Williams says.
"It's too easy to bring them in here and let us put them to sleep."
And that happens. A lot. Williams says the humane society, left with no choice,
euthanizes about 5,000 animals a year.
While most of the concern about any new regulations have come from pet lovers,
Beckley's chief of code enforcement said they have nothing to fear. After all,
the idea is to put the clamps on those who are irresponsible, not those who
genuinely love their pets.
In addition, fears of the city's Big Brother attitude toward pet ownership is
unfounded. Yes, the amendment will limit the number of dogs or cats a person can
have in a residential area to three - but only outside and in accessory
buildings. Under the new amendment, there's no limit to how many dogs and cats a
person can own as long as they keep them indoors.
"People who take care of their animals, we don't want to hamper you at
all," Cannon said.
Copied and Pasted from The Register-Herald’s web site, Wednesday, July 7, 2004.
Trucker Helps Return Lucky Pup to Her Anxious Family
By Jessica Farrish/Register-Herald Reporter (7-6-2004)
Molly's journey home from Sandstone Mountain is a fairy tale from nose to
tail.
The miniature poodle tunneled out of her backyard, got tossed into a shed, was
abandoned at a gas station, dodged busy interstate traffic, befriended a kind
truck driver, got rescued and joyously returned to her favorite person -
13-year-old Corey Lilly of Shady Spring.
"It is quite a story," remarked Molly's owner and "mom,"
Janie Lilly. "Just because of everything else that's been going on in the
world that's so depressing, this is just to show the good in people. It was
truly a miracle. I cannot believe that we got her back."
Molly's saga began June 11 when Lilly left for work and Corey put the puppy in
the backyard to play.
Pushing her nose through a loose spot, Molly wriggled out of her own backyard
and into the yard of a neighbor in The Oaks, a subdivision just off Interstate
64 in Raleigh County.
When Molly didn't answer Corey's call to come back inside, the teen rode his
bike through the neighborhood, looking for her.
A group of men working nearby told Corey a man who had recently moved into The
Oaks had carried a little dog to where they working earlier that morning and had
asked if she belonged to one of them. When they said no, he reportedly
"grabbed Molly by her neck and then threw her into an outdoor storage shed
connected to his house," the workers told Lilly.
Frantic, Corey rode home and called his mom at her Glade Springs office.
Corey tried to talk to the neighbor who allegedly took the dog, but he wouldn't
come out, Lilly said.
By the time she found his residence, the man had already left for a camping
trip.
Lilly left a message at the campground for the man to call her, and when the
phone rang later that day, the family hoped it meant good news.
Instead, the man told them Molly had scared his little girl and that he'd driven
the dog to a gas station near The Oaks and put the dog out of his truck.
While Lilly was searching for Molly, Donnie Blackburn of Ronceverte was
underneath his tractor-trailer at the brake check area on Sandstone Mountain
adjusting his brakes when a tug on his pants leg caused him to rise up suddenly
and bump his head.
The Greenbrier County trucker slid out from under the rig and saw "this
little dog that just jumped on my leg. I brought it home; my wife gave it a
bath," Blackburn said. "I wasn't going to leave it out there to get
run over."
The Blackburns called the foundling "Little Bit" because she was just
a "little bit of a dog" and - much to the dismay of their own indoor
dog - they decided to keep Little Bit at their house over the weekend.
They decided to wait until Monday to take her to the Greenbrier County animal
shelter in Lewisburg.
Meanwhile, neighbors at The Oaks banded together and put up missing dog posters
around the neighborhood. "Everybody went out looking for her," Lilly
said. "A lot of people helped us out. They were wonderful."
The first big tip about Molly's whereabouts seemed dreadful: A man told Lilly
Molly had been near the Bragg exit on I-64 on Friday morning - where vehicles
whiz by at 70 miles per hour.
Lilly began to doubt she would ever see the beloved pet again, but she posted a
picture of Molly at the Sandstone Mountain brake check station, near the Bragg
exit, that afternoon.
Monday morning, Blackburn rolled into the brake check station with Little Bit
sitting beside him and spotted a missing dog poster. The face was definitely
familiar.
"Molly was the name on the poster," he recalled. "I turned to
Little Bit and called her 'Molly.' Immediately, her little ears perked up, and
that little tail started wagging."
Lilly was at work when she received Blackburn's call at 7 a.m. saying he'd found
Molly.
"As soon as I started pulling in the Texaco, I could see the trucker,"
Lilly said. "He was kind of a tough, rugged, 18-wheeler driver, and he was
holding Molly up close to his face."
Corey wasn't out of bed yet when Lilly sneaked Molly into the house.
"I hadn't told him about Blackburn calling because I was afraid to give him
false hope if the dog wasn't Molly," she said. "I took her home and
opened the door and let her run upstairs."
Molly headed straight to Corey's room and jumped on his bed, waking him up with
"kisses" to his face.
"I don't know who was more excited - Molly or Corey," Lilly said.
"Neither one could have been happier
(To see the photo accompanying the story CLICK HERE.)
Copied and pasted from The Register-Herald's web site, Tuesday, July 6, 2004.
HSRC's Annual Flea Market set for Saturday, August 28, 2004
Donations to Humane Society of Raleigh County, needed for third annual flea
market Aug. 28. Anything but clothes needed. Call 253-8921 for details.
Taken from The Register-Herald, Friday, July 2, 2004, What's Happening
Raleigh Rabies Clinic Schedule
To see the schedule for the Raleigh Rabies Clinic which begins on Monday, June 21, 2004 and ends on Friday, June 25, 2004, please check the page titled, "Upcoming Pet Events."
HSRC Annual Meeting of General Membership
Members in good standing of the Humane Society of Raleigh County, Inc. are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the General Membership. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2004 in the conference room of the animal shelter, located on Gray Flats Road near Beckley-Stratton Jr. High and the new YMCA Soccer Complex.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately one hour. Among the items of business to be conducted are the renewal of three year terms of the current members of the board of directors and nomination for vacancies of the current board.
For more information call 1-(304) 253-8921
5-7-2004
HSRC to Sponsor a "Pet Friendly Flea Market"
Once again, the Humane Society of Raleigh County’s board of directors and staff of the animal shelter are planning to sponsor a "Pet Friendly Flea Market" this summer as a fund raiser for the society’s Free Spay-Neuter Program. It is an ideal time to clean out your house of those items in good working order or condition which you simply don’t use or need. No Clothing will be accepted.
Although a date has not yet been set for the flea market, the shelter will
begin accepting items on June 1. Due to limited storage space, please do not
bring items before this date. The deadline for accepting items will be one week
before the date of the fund raiser, which shall be announced in the local
newspaper and other media, including the Humane Society of Raleigh County’s
web site which can be found on this site's homepage.
5-7-2004
Kennel Club Ready for Annual Spring Dog Show
FAIRLEA - The Beckley-West Virginia Kennel Club Inc., a member of the
American Kennel Club, will present its annual dog show "Super Spring Fling
Weekend" Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, in Fairlea.
The 2004 edition of the show will have a new look since the club is moving the
show to Fairlea. The event will be held at the State Fair of West Virginia
fairgrounds in Fairlea beginning at 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
The local dog show, held in the past at the Raleigh County Armory-Civic Center
in Beckley, has steadily grown to the point members felt the need to relocate to
a larger facility - the state fairgrounds.
"The fairground capacity will allow for a larger entry," show
chairperson Patricia Hodges said.
Although the size of the Beckley club's show is continually growing, Diane
Orange believes maintaining a small show, such as the nature of the upcoming
event, makes for a more enjoyable experience for all those involved.
One of the special features of the show, according to Hodges, is the education
programs presented throughout the two-day event.
Besides the All-Breed Dog Shows and Obedience Trials Saturday and Sunday, the
club will also host an American Kennel Club Sanctioned B Match Friday, April 23,
from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with judging around 6:30 p.m.
There will be vendors at the show for participants to purchase dog food, crates,
leashes, collars, dog pens, good breed books, portraits, jewelry and anything
that may be needed to keep a dog healthy, well groomed and safe.
Summarization from The Register-herald, Friday, April 23, 2004. Reporter,
Rebekah Straub.
Equine Would Give Haven to Unwanted Horses
By John Blankenship/Register-Herald Reporter
Old horses never die ... they go to the Blue Circle Ranch.
Once the Eastern Equine Foundation gets off the ground, it could provide a
safe haven for homeless horses and give children opportunities to ride horses
for recreational therapy.
"Sometimes people get tired of taking care of horses, and the animals need
a place to go when they reach old age," Tom Omley of Lochgelly said.
The local tax strategist, however, recognizes that older horses can be useful.
In fact, he and other horse enthusiasts associated with Blue
Circle Ranch in Bradley are interested in providing scholarships for
children who would like to take riding lessons but who otherwise might not be
able to afford them.
"To get things done, it takes money," Omley said while chatting with
other members of the group at the ranch recently. "It takes time to acquire
charitable gifts for an endowment with a private label, and that's the kind we
want to start here."
Omley, Ida Kay Crookshanks and Arnold Graybeal met recently to discuss the newly
chartered Eastern Equine Foundation, a nonprofit entity that would help look
after animals donated to the foundation and boarded at the ranch.
Omley argued the foundation could offer tax incentives to contributors who would
like to donate cash, property, farm equipment or materials to the benevolent
organization.
The tax consultant plans to write articles that would be published in horse
magazines and purchase advertisements in publications aimed at reaching people
who love horses.
The group would then look to fund-raisers for the remainder of the money needed
for the enterprise.
"We are looking to a circle of friends who are passionate about
horses," Graybeal, a local mine machinery entrepreneur, said.
The group is looking for about 80 acres of land where the foundation could be
headquartered.
"We would like to build an indoor arena for teaching people how to ride
year-round," he said. "The facility also could be used for concerts,
rodeos, dog shows and fund-raising events for churches."
He added, "We are interested in rescuing old horses in the same way that
dogs and cats are rescued by the humane society. If someone has a horse out
there that they don't want anymore, we'll send someone out to pick it up and
bring it to its new home."
Graybeal is not a new face to the horse industry. He has been a supporter for
many years. "A horse is a long-term commitment; it becomes a member of your
family," he explained. "There is definitely a real need for a
foundation such as this."
Included in the many scholarships the organizers hope the foundation would give
away would be some for handicapped children.
"We have provided riding lessons for kids and adults out here since
1961," Crookshanks said. "It does a lot for the kids; it exercises not
only their bodies, but their minds, too."
The boarding facility would be at Blue Circle Ranch. The Eastern Equine
Foundation, still looking to find a location, would be a customer of Blue
Circle, which would provide a home for the horses as well as proper health care.
"We hope one day that we will be able to have a farm somewhere with many
large barns," Graybeal said.
Perhaps the greatest obstacle the group will face is finding the patrons for
such a grand vision. "We have the desire to accomplish our goals,"
Graybeal said. "We just need a little help from our friends."
Copied and pasted from The Register-Herald’s web site, April 12, 2004.
Happy First Anniversary, RCAR
March 29, 2004 will make one year that a group of citizens in Raleigh County met at the Pancake House in Beckley, WV and formed a "No Kill Organization" for our animal friends which would be known as and has thrived well during the past year as the Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR).
A few of the accomplishments that the RCAR organization has achieved in the past year are as follow:
The RCAR has rescued many helpless, hopeless, and injured stray dogs and cats, given them the medical attention needed, had them spayed or neutered, and unrelentingly pursued avenues which have gotten them adopted into loving homes. In their endeavor to get the pets adopted, the RCAR has made many trips to Manassas, VA and displayed their adoptable pets at a Pet Smart store where many of their pets have been adopted and found a new lease on life. The RCAR has held several Adopt-A-Pet in the Raleigh County area at different stores which has been successful in getting their pets adopted. And, through their web site which Patty and Michael Mertz keep up to date posting photos of pets for adoption, they have succeeded in getting their mission across, getting their pets adopted and expanding their membership.
Thanks to an anonymous donor, adoptable pet photos are posted weekly in the Ol’ Mountain Trader, a newspaper which covers southern WV where the local citizens advertise their wares for sale, and many pets have been adopted through this means. Also, in the Ol’ Mountain Trader, they have advertised the wvpetpages.com’s web site which carries all of the animal shelters’ web sites in the Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming Counties and this publicity has helped these shelters to get their agenda across to the public and getting their pets adopted.
On Friday, February 27, 2004 at 12:00 noon on WOAY-TV, in Oak Hill, The RCAR made it television debut showing some of their pets that are in need of a home. This is an ongoing thing every Friday at 12:00 noon on WOAY-TV and again, the RCAR is pushing the wvpetpages.com’s web site just as they are doing in their Ol’ Mountain Trader’s project which is beneficial in making the public aware of their web site, but also the other web sites of the animal shelters in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming Counties.
The RCAR has held numerous yard sales to raise funds to help care for the animals they are assisting and to get them spayed and neutered. On March 30, 2004 at 6:00 p.m., at the Comfort Inn they will be holding a Premier Jewelry Party which is just another one of the many other fund raising projects that are now in the making.
Monthly meetings by the RCAR are held at the Raleigh County Library which are open to the public. Also, the RCAR is close to getting their nonprofit papers which will allow them to apply for grants which will be beneficial to the organization to pursue their agenda.
You will have to admit, that in a year’s time the Raleigh County Animal Rescue has been a viable organization and definitely moving forward. And, all that the RCAR has done is through volunteers and none gets any monetary gains, but their reward is knowing they have made a difference for our animal friends and their actions are inspiring others to give a helping hand to our animal friends.
These are just a few things that the RCAR has accomplished in the past year
since they have been organized and so to Iona Bowers, Patricia Harris, Barbara
Wills, Patty Mertz, Michael Mertz and the two ladies, Linda Bowers and Linda
Hillman, from Manassas, VA, representing the Northern Virginia Animal League,
Inc. (NVAL) who has guided the RCAR when needed in becoming a viable
organization for our animal friends, and to all of the others RCAR members and
supporters which I have failed to mentioned, "Congratulations of your
achievements and may the next year be just as prosperous and fruitful."
3-13-2004
Party! Party! Party!
The Raleigh County Animal Rescue will host a jewelry party on Tuesday, March 30, 2004, 6:00 p.m., at the Comfort Inn, 1909 Harper Road, in Beckley, WV. The party is to raise money for our furry pals!!!!!
We will have other items available for sale like kitty pillows, doggie bandannas and puppy and kitty blankets.
RCAR will also have refreshments. So, come and be a part of the fun and friendship.
We need money for supplies and vet bills!!!! So please attend and help us help our animal friends.
So, tell your friends. Everyone is invited!!
For more information e-mail the RCAR at: wvrcar@hotmail.com
Or call: (304) 683-3250 or (304) 683-9649 or (304) 877-3566
(Please check their web site on the homepage for further information.)
3-10-2004
Drawing Offers Chance for Pets' Free Saying/Neutering
At least 100 Raleigh County residents will be able to have a pet spayed or
neutered free of charge.
The Raleigh County Humane Society has placed entry forms at places such as
Wal-Mart, Southern States, pet grooming businesses, veterinarians' offices, pet
stores and other places frequented by pet owners.
Although the forms can be picked up at any of these locations, they must be
taken to the animal shelter on Grey Flats Road in order to be entered into the
drawing, humane society board president Rebecca Kirkpatrick said. Entry forms
are also available there.
A drawing will be held sometime during the first week of February. Money made
available through the annual pet-friendly flea market hosted by the society last
summer will allow at least 100 winners to be drawn, Kirkpatrick said.
The free program supplements the low-cost spay/ neuter program already in place.
"Sometimes there are people who make as little as $10 over the limit to
qualify for the low-cost services. This free program is designed to help people
who fall through the cracks on the other one," Kirkpatrick said.
However, no income guidelines apply for each entry.
Only one entry form per cat or dog will be accepted, but more than one pet per
household can be entered. If duplicate entries are submitted for the same pet,
its name will be disqualified.
Jim Kenney, a worker at the animal shelter, urges local residents to enter.
"Here at the shelter, all of us see the sad results of what happens when
people don't spay or neuter. Last year, we had almost 5,000 animals brought in.
One in 10 gets adopted. There are simply more animals than there are homes for
them," Kenney said.
Neutering also makes for a happier pet, he added.
"They won't be roaming around where they can be hit by cars. They will be
healthier. It's just the best thing you can do for your pet, and it's the most
responsible thing you can do for your pet."
Kirkpatrick said the timing of the February drawing was deliberate.
"Don't be deceived by the recent snows, frigid temperatures and other signs
of winter because the breeding center is just around the corner. We want to
encourage people to have spaying and neutering done before it's too late."
The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and will
accept entries during those hours. If entries are mailed to the shelter, they
must be postmarked by the deadline - Jan. 31, Kirkpatrick said.
The mailing address is 325 Grey Flats Road, Beckley, WV 25801.
Taken from The-Register-Herald’s web site, January 17, 2004, written by Bev Davis, Register Herald Senior Editor.
HSRC Holding a Valentine King and Queen Contest
The Raleigh County Humane Society (HSRC) is holding a King and Queen’s Pet Contest to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Anyone is welcome to send a photo to enter their pet for this occasion. Your pet’s photo will be displayed at the Crossroad Mall in Bradley, WV for the public to vote for their choice for the Valentine’s King and Queen at a cost of $1.00 per vote.
To enter your pet(s) in this contest, send a photo of your pet which can be no larger then a 4 X 6 with a $5.00 entry fee for each entry. Send your photo and $5.00 entry fee to: Vicki Miller,120 Fox Run Road, Beckley, WV 25801
Information needed concerning each photo entry is as follow:
The Name of the pet.
The sex of the pet.
Your name.
(Do you want your name listed with the pet’s name?)
Your phone number.
The Valentine’s King and Queen pet chosen will be announced,
Sunday, February 15, 2003, in The Register-Herald.
1-17-04
Kitty Caravan Travels to Manassas, VA
Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR) volunteer, Iona Bowers and her daughter, Tammy, made their first kitty Caravan trip to Manassas, VA on September 20th and 21st.
Thirteen kitties traveled up the Interstate with Iona.
Our mentor group, Northern Virginia Animal League, sponsored our first adoption at Petsmart on Sudley Drive in Manassas. After two days of adoption, RCAR had found new and loving homes for eight very tired (after the trip), but grateful kittens. The RCAR would like to say "Thank You" to NVAL and Petsmart.
Iona Bowers and Patty Mertz drove the second set of kittens on September 27th and 28th to Manassa. During this adoption trip, six furry and loveable friends found homes.
One special kitten, Sophie, has been with RCAR from the beginning. You know-always the bridesmaid, never the bride. RCAR had decided this would be Sophie’s last adoption for a while. However, it turned out Sophie was being saved for someone special.
On September 28th, in walked Laura Heart. She immediately fell in love with Sophie. Sophie now lives in Nashville. It just so happens that Laura is an aspiring country singer. You can check out her web site at LauraHeart.Com. Who knows, one day Laura may make it big. We would like to wish her all the luck. However, we know no matter what, Sophie will have a very loving and musical home. More trips are planned for the future.
Reporter, Patty Mertz’s RCAR member, Monday, October 20, 2003.
Local Board of Health Targets Raccoons with Oral Rabies Bite
The Beckley-Raleigh County Board of Health has begun distributing oral rabies vaccine bait throughout the county.
Each bait, which targets raccoons, consist of a hard plastic sack containing the rabies vaccine inside a fish meal scented bait. Each bait also has a toll number printed on the side so anyone finding it can obtain information by calling that number.
Residents are asked to leave these baits alone and try to keep dogs and cats away from the baits. It is important raccoons are given every opportunity to eat the vaccine containing baits. It is asked that residents keep their pets on leashes for about a week after their area has been baited.
Do not attempt to take the bait away from a pet; you may be bitten.
If baits are found in areas frequented by pets or children, residents are asked to wear a pair of gloves and toss the bait into deeper cover. If the bait has been damaged, it can be disposed of in the trash.
The board of health will distribute the baits through Tuesday.
For more information, call 252-8532.
Typed verbatim from The Register-Herald, Friday, September 26, 2003. Staff reporter.
Learning the Ropes
Therapeutic riding opens up the range for local man
When Eddie Kirk arrives at the Diamond J Ranch on Sullivan Road each week, his first question is always predictable - "Where is Big John?"
Big John, a gentle riding horse, stands calmly waiting for one of his favorite weekly passengers.
"I don’t know who looks forward to this the most - Big John or Eddie," said Nancy Lynch, founder of a nonprofit therapeutic riding program called Tender Heart Inc.
Kirk, 53, who has cerebral palsy, and several other adults and children come for schedule riding each week.
When he enrolled in the ResCare Voca Program in Beckley, Supervisor Kelly Britton quickly learned of Rick’s passion for horses.
Britton said, "I wasn’t sure that with his particular disability Eddie would be able to ride. I thought perhaps we could get him a job in the stables where he could be around horses. In one way it surprises me that he learned to ride, but in another way, it didn’t. He’s so determined, and he wanted to be able to ride so much, he just made himself learn to do it."
When Lynch and her instructors, Meredith Lynch and Paula Cornett, began working with Kirk, it took four people to mount him into the saddle.
Jack Pate, who built an indoor arena at his Diamond J Stables on Sullivan road found a way to make it easier for Kirk and other riders with disabilities. He built a ramp that enables people with a wheelchair or walker, such as the one Kirk uses, to move upon a level even with the horse’s back.
Britton and the instructor have watched in awe as Kirk skills have developed and his body has improved physically from his riding therapy.
Britton has observed that Kirk has better balance when using his walker and his posture has improved.
Lynch is also charting the self-esteem benefits of therapeutic riding.
They will become a part of her thesis for a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner in a program at Mountain State University in Beckley.
Summarization from The Register-Herald, Sunday, July 20, 2003. Reporter, Bev Davis.
Dog Makes More Than 15-Mile Journey to Return Home to Owners
The saga of an injured dog who limped into a Beckley hospital for help last
weekend took another incredible twist when he apparently trekked more than 15
miles to return to his owners.
"I couldn't believe it when my daughter called me and told me Jasper was in
the back yard," Betty Ellison of Lanark said. On the job as a merchandiser
for grocery stores, Ellison was in Virginia when the story about the dog
appeared in The Register-Herald earlier this week.
"He disappeared on the Fourth of July. We had a lot of company, and I think
he just didn't like all the noise. We had no idea he had been found," she
said.
After apparently being hit by a car on the holiday, Jasper, a 13-year-old Lab
mix, limped up to Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital, triggered the motion
sensors that open its front doors and found help from compassionate staffers
inside.
With BARH footing the bill, the dog was treated at Beckley Veterinary Hospital.
When no one claimed the dog Tuesday, Nancy Massey, a member of the BARH
housekeeping staff who helped in the dog's rescue, took him home to White Oak,
near the border of Summers County.
"I've had animals all my life, and I think this is the sweetest dog I've
ever seen. He's so gentle and good-natured. We just loved him," Massey
said.
Unable to keep the dog in her home, she tethered him outside, where he instantly
made friends with her German shepherd.
"He was on a 35-foot run. I had to go to work. My husband, Ronald, was
taking care of him. He went out several times during the evening to feed him dog
treats and to play with him," Massey said.
About 10 p.m., however, Ronald saw the Lab slip out of his collar and run away.
"My husband is disabled and couldn't go after him," Massey said.
"When I got home, I looked for the dog until about 1:30 a.m. We left the
porch light on, but he never came back."
On Wednesday, Betty Ellison called the vet's office to say the dog had returned
home to Lanark - about 15 miles from White Oak and only a mile or so from the
hospital that took him in.
In her excitement, however, the grateful owner forgot to leave her name and
phone number.
BARH public relations director Ted Weigel spent much of Thursday trying to find
the owner to give her the antibiotics the dog needs for an infection in his
front paw.
Friday morning, a message on his answering machine provided Ellison's name and
phone number, and Weigel delivered the medication.
"We're really glad the dog found his way home," Weigel said.
"That's a pretty incredible feat ... but then, this has turned out to be a
pretty incredible dog."
Taken from The Register-Herald’s web site, Saturday, July 11, 2003. Reporter, Bev Davis.
Hurt Hound Hobbles into Hospital
Since there's no veterinary clinic on Stanaford Road, an injured dog opted
for the next best thing - a hospital for humans.
The black lab mixed breed, apparently hit by a car about 10:30 p.m. on the
Fourth of July, limped up to the sliding glass doors at the front of Beckley
Appalachian Regional Hospital. The canine triggered the automatic sensors and
sought help in the hallway between Admissions and the pharmacy.
"It's the darndest thing," said B-ARH Marketing Director Ted Weigel.
"The dog limped in and laid down where people could see it. It seemed to
know exactly where to go for help."
Although the unlucky pup couldn't provide proof of insurance, the staff couldn't
find it in their hearts to turn him away.
"There's no way they were going to put an injured animal back on the
street. The staff gave it some water and called administrative personnel who
told them to find a veterinarian to come and pick up the dog, and that B-ARH
would foot the bill," Weigel said.
Dr. Roger Ward was the vet on call at the Beckley Veterinary Hospital. He went
to pick up the dog.
"It isn't unusual to see injuries on holiday weekends, especially on the
Fourth of July. Dogs especially are afraid of fireworks and a lot of times they
run away and get hit by a car," Ward said.
There's no telling how this dog was hurt, but some of his injuries are
consistent with those of colliding with a vehicle.
"It has some road burns and scrapes," Ward observed, "but it has
some type of penetrating trauma that caused a puncture wound in the front carpal
joint, which is comparable to a human's wrist area."
The wound had become infected, causing the dog to limp.
"When I first saw the dog, I thought it had a broken leg, but there's a
hole there that's more consistent with something like an animal bite," Ward
said.
The dog is being treated for hook worms and ear mites and will be neutered
before it leaves the hospital.
Ward said the male dog is about 7 years old, weighs 45 pounds and is
mild-tempered.
"He is incredibly calm and patient. He has a wonderful temperament. He's
very gentle and he's been easy to treat," Ward said.
The vet and B-ARH officials hope to find either the dog's owner or a home for
the pooch.
"If we can find its owner, the dog can leave the hospital today. If not, we
hope he will find a good home soon," Ward said.
To see the photo of the pet who was in need of a home: Click Here.
Taken from The Register-Herald’s website, Tuesday, July 8, 2003. Reporter, Bev Davis
New Cop’s Bite Worse Than His Bark
The newest member of the Beckley Police Department weighs less than 70 pounds, stands about 2 feet tall and walks on all four.
His name is Vini, and he’s a German shepherd from Amsterdam, purchased for the police department by the Beckley Rotary Club. He joined his partner, Clp. Jason McDaniel, in March, and is currently certified in narcotics and tracking.
According to Capt. Eddy Hatcher, who oversees the K-9 units, the plan is to certify Vini in road patrol also.
McDaniels says Vini isn’t quite ready for that step yet.
Mc Daniel says he’s not too concern about the road patrol certification at this point, although he does continue to work with Vini on daily basis.
"We have patrol dogs," McDaniel says. "We don’t have any drug dogs."
Beckley Rotary decided last October to purchase Vini.
"Our community is really in need of a fully staffed and train K-9 unit, and this additional dog is going to enable the unit to carry out its mission," wrote Gene Harvey, Rotary Club board member, in a letter to Augusta K 9 services October 2,
Rotary president William Haslam said buying the dog was a worthwhile project for all.
"It’s really helpful to all people to keep crime down," he said. "We (Rotary Club) try to be of services to other individuals."
A brief summarization from The Register-Herald, Tuesday, June 4, 2003. Reporter, Cassie M. O’Dell.
HSRC and RCAR Participate in the BAF Event
Saturday, June 21, 2003, the Beckley Area Foundation (BAF), an organization serving Raleigh Summers, Fayette and Wyoming Counties, sponsored a gigantic flea market, renting out space to nonprofit organizations to sell their items which would enable them to acquire additional funds for their project and to acquaint the public of their organization and their agenda. The section used for this event was the Shoemaker Square on Neville Street and Main Street beginning at Heber Street and ending at South Fayette Street in Beckley, WV.
Mother nature was very accommodating for this gigantic flea market on the first day of summer and the weather was fabulous. The crowd was enormous and the items displayed to be sold were a buyer’s dream. Many people I spoke to made the comment how they enjoyed becoming familiar with the non profit organizations present and the warmth and fellowship displayed by all.
In behalf of our pet companions, the Humane Society of Raleigh County’s (HSWC) members staffed about four elongated tables to sell their wares and to inform the public of the programs the HSRC were doing to give the pets under their care a "second chance" at life. Nancy Shoemaker Dingess, one of the HSRC board members said, "Financially, we did very well with the items we had for sell at this flea market. We are very appreciative of the citizens who donated these items for this special occasion. Also, it was so rewarding of the outpour of support we received from the public at this event. We are very thankful to the BAF for giving us this opportunity."
The Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR), a newly formed "No Kill" organization seized the opportunity to be at this gathering and instead of displaying flea markets items, used this occasion to get some of their pets adopted. Iona Bowers who heads this organization exclaimed, "This has really been a rewarding day and we are really pleased with the results. Displaying our pets, acquainting the public with our organization, and the warm heart spirit we received from the public has just been supreme."
Bowers also state, "We definitely appreciate the BAF for sponsoring this event and giving us the chance for our organization to become more familiar with the public. Our organization has gone to Wal-Mart, Dollar General Store at Sophia, and Kroger at Beaver, WV to get our pets adopted out and to have the opportunity to do the same here is splendid." Iona also stated, " During Sophia’s Patriot Festival this coming week, we will be there to get more of our pets adopted."
To learn more about the Humane Society of Raleigh County and the Raleigh County Animal Rescue and their agenda, please go to the homepage and access their site.
To see photos of the HSRC and the RCAR at the gigantic flea market, Click
Here.
6-23-2003
Until there are NONE...Adopt One
For the past two years, the Humane Society of Raleigh County is using the billboards in the area to make the public aware of the plights of our unwanted pet companions. The billboards’ message in 2002 was "6500 KILLED ! Please Spay or Neuter YOUR Pets." For the year 2003, the Humane Society of Raleigh County’s billboard message is "Until there are NONE...Adopt One."
The public awareness campaign of using the billboards to help our animal friends is made possible by membership dues and donations which is 30% of the HSRC annual operation. Without private funding from the citizens, many programs which the HSRC implements such as the Animal Relief Fund, Kind News, Free Spay-Neuter Program and the Public Awareness Campaigns would not be possible.
To see the billboard that was used for 2002 and the present one
for 2003, Click
Here. To learn about the
programs that the HSRC are implementing, their agenda, photos of pets for
adoption, etc., please access their web site which is on the wvpetpages’ Home
Page.
6-17-2003
Rabies Clinics Set Around Raleigh County
Monday, June 16 through and including Friday, June 20, 2003, a rabies clinic will be held in Raleigh County for the vaccination of all dogs and cats. State law requires that a tax be paid on all dogs six months of age or older. Distemper, parvo and feline leukemia vaccinations will be available as well.
For more information or fees, call the assessor office at 255-9179.
A very brief summarization from The Register-Herald, Sunday, June 8, 2003.
Raleigh County Animal Rescue’s Web Site On-Line
A small group of citizens who for the past several years have been getting stray pets and getting them neutered or spayed and adopting them out, on Saturday. March 29, 2003 met at the Beckley Pancake House in Beckley, WV and began the Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR), a "No Kill" organization.
May 13, 2003, RCAR put their web site on-line. Please access their site on the Home Page of "The People’s Pet Pages."
Lots of Dogs are Expected for ‘Super Spring Fling Weekend’
The Beckley West Virginia Kennel Club’s annual dog show will be held at the Raleigh County Armory-Civic Center in Beckley Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27. The title of this year’s show is "Super Spring Fling Weekend."
All events Saturday and Sunday are pre-entry only and begin at 8 a.m. both days. Vice President Nancy Bowman advised that spectators should come early because events usually "wind down" in the afternoon.
This show is dedicated to the memory of Nancy Hendrickson and Marie Ziegler, who were founding members of the Beckley West Virginia Kennel Club.
The Beckley club held its first meeting in December 1977 and was incorporated in 1980.
Hendrickson and Ziegler have served in the offices of president, vice president, and show chairman. Both women were also members of the AKC.
Hendrickson’s breed of choice was the Schnauzer, while Ziegler preferred the German short-hair pointer.
Vice President Nancy Bowman said, "The club suffered a great loss when we lost those two people.
"If it hadn’t been for them, we probably never would have had a kennel club,"
Summarization from The-Register-Herald, Thursday, April 24, 2003 and Friday, April 25, 2003. Reporter, Cassie M. O’Dell.
Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR), a New Organization in the Area
Saturday, March 29, 2003 a meeting was held at the Beckley Pancake House by a
group of Raleigh County citizens under the guidance of Linda Bowers and Linda
Hillman from Manassas, VA, representing the Northern Virginia Animal League,
Inc. (NVAL) which is located in Manassas, VA.
Beside the NVAL representatives, attending the meeting from the Raleigh County area were Sandra Pierce, Iona Bowers, Pat Harris, Barbara Wills, Melinda Brown, and Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess.
For the past several years, many of the Raleigh County citizens attending this meeting, have captured stray companion animals and at their own expense has had them spayed or neutered and located homes for them.
Iona Bowers, of Coal City who spearheaded this meeting said, "Without the help of the Northern Virginia Animal League, our success rate in getting animals spayed and neutered and finding homes for them would not have taken place. Out of their own expense, NVAL has paid to get many of the strays spayed and neutered and has taken them to Manassas, VA to find home for them."
Iona also stated, "NVAL does not have a holding place for dogs but have many foster homes in the Manassas’s area for cats and up to this point has been able to find homes for them in the rural area, so in this realm of getting stray cats adopted from this area into the Manassas’s region has been tremendous."
Linda Hillman, director of NVAL, which has been in existence since 1988, said, "Although other areas in VA needs our assistance, when we heard of the excellent work the group in Raleigh County was doing for the stray cats and asked for our help, we could not ignore their plea. It is our plan to guide them to become a viable organization in helping our animal friends and to that end we will give them all the assistance they need in becoming an organization and making sure their organization is a success." Hillman also added, "We have never moved in this capacity in assisting and organization to become in being, but we look at this challenge with great excitement."
Before the meeting was over, preliminary plans were made in forming an organization in Raleigh County to help their animal friends in the Raleigh County area. The organizations will be called Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR) and their immediate goal is to become more organized as a group with rules that will guide this organization in achieving their goal. It is their hope to acquire new members, raise funds for their spay and neuter program, find foster homes for stray pets until they are adopted, apply for spay and neuter grants and to find volunteers who will help in their projects and also in getting the pets adopted.
Linda Bowers, a NVAL representative stated, "We can help the RCAR to adopt stray cats from their area, although, in the past two years we have been assisting them in this manner, we have about saturated the area in this realm and much of the adoption will have to be taken place here in Raleigh County. We are wanting the RCAR to find a location, such as Wal-Mart to get the pets adopted, and we will return to this area to help them in the paper work in getting the pets adopted and the fee set for adoption when a full scale of adoptions began to take place. Prior to adoption, the RCAR, like us will make sure the pet has been spayed and neutered and necessary shots have been given."
Mrs. Linda Bowers also stated, "One of the goals of the RCAR is to get new members to join their organizations by contributing a membership fee of at least $20.00 yearly and since the RCAR at this time is not a non-profitable organization, if you will send your membership fee or donation to Northern Virginia Animal League, Inc., 7552 Hyde Ct., Manassas VA 20109-3334 and in the "Memo" section put WV-RCAR, we will immediately transfer the money to the RCAR." Mrs. Bowers also stated, "We are allowing the RCAR to use our non-profitable status, so businesses, etc. can contribute to the newly formed organization and get the tax deductible benefits and also this will allow the RCAR to apply for grants which will help in the cost of spaying and neutering pets."
Iona Bowers stated, "Since we are a new organization and have a lot of groundwork to do before we can become a viable organization, we would not be able to take unwanted pets from the Raleigh County citizens at this time. It is our hope to move in some manner in that matter at a later date, but we are definitely struggling now to take care of the strays we already have and in finding homes for them." Iona added, "If the citizens would become members of our organization at this time and we can get the volunteers which our needed, it definitely will be an asset in making our organization move forward faster and make it a success sooner.
For more information concerning the Raleigh County Animal Rescue (RCAR) and how you can help, you may call Iona Bowers at 1-304-683-9649 and/or Patricia Harris at 1-304-683-3250. Also, by e-mail you can contact Patricia Harris.
To see photos of the NVAL representatives and some of the RCAR group who attended the meeting, Click Here.
Beckley Dog Ordinance OK’d
An issue that surfaced in October was resolved Tuesday night when Beckley Common Council passed an ordinance on dangerous dogs.
The ordinance, modeled after a Morgantown measure, does everything from defining key words, terms and phrases to describing the steps leading to the destruction of a dog proved to be dangerous.
It describes the procedures for declaring a dog dangerous, including five criteria the dog must meet, and what the mayor may do at the end of an investigation into a charge that a dog is dangerous.
The ordinance also lays out what happens after a dog is declared dangerous, including notification, appeal, keeping the dog, permits and tags, and steps that must be followed to impound a dog - unless immediate impoundment is deemed necessary by the mayor or police chief.
Typed verbatim from The Register-Herald, Wednesday, March 26, 2003. Reporter, Jessica Shifflett.
Raleigh Hires 5 Employees
The Raleigh County Commission Tuesday approved three new employees in the sheriff’s department, as well as two employees for animal control.
Sheriff Danny Moore said the Raleigh County Humane Society handles about 5,000 animals a year with limited staff. As a result, it is difficult for the agency to enforce laws pertaining to animals.
The additional animal control officers - who will work hand - in - hand with the animal shelter - will invoke some control over animal incidents.
"I think it’s going to clean up the county," Moore commented later Tuesday.
The animal control officers are not sworn deputies, but are under the control of the sheriff. Moore said they have the authority to issue citations regarding animal cruelty, leash law violations and animal fighting.
Animal control officers will also respond to calls within the city limits of Beckley "for a nominal fee."
"We want to help everybody in the county," the sheriff said.
"We’re not in full swing yet," Moore continued. "We’ve got equipment coming. We don’t have it all yet - to catch animals and things of this nature. So the public needs to be a little patient until we get this thing in full swing. We’re trying to do the best we can until we get everything established."
He emphasized that anyone having animal trouble should call 911 as usual.
Summarization from The Register-Herald, Thursday, January 23, 2003. Reporter, Annette Z. Fox
The Statistics Speak for Itself for Laws Needed
The following is a summary of activity at the Raleigh County Animal Shelter for
the year 2001 and 2002 as shown by The Register-Herald on Saturday, January 11,
2002.
Jan.1, 2002, to Dec. 31, 2002 Jan.1, 2001, to Dec. 31, 2001
Total animals
taken in:
5,710
Total animals taken in: 6,433
Dogs
-
3,187
Dogs - 3,552
Cats
-
2,523
Cats - 2,881
Total adoptions:
947
Total adoptions: 881
Dogs
adopted -
603
Dogs adopted - 536
Cats
adopted -
344
Cats adopted - 345
Total animals euthanized: 4,763 Total animals euthanized: 5,552
I have found these facts above very interesting because it speaks volumes of what is wrong with our society. Until our pet owners take the responsibility or are force by legislation to have their pet(s) spayed and neutered, these statistics of animals having to be euthanized will always be heartbreaking. Until this matter is resolved, a shelter at its best is fighting a losing battle.
Adopt Your Pets. You Will Never Regret Saving a Life. Nor will you ever forget you have.