Abandoned, lost pets find home, care from volunteer shelter
Red Fern offers sanctuary for wayward cats, dogs
Casey Curlin
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Behind the bare posts where a new fence is slowly in the process of being erected and behind the chain link fences that make up the walls of each kennel lie a pair of wanting eyes and a warm heart crying out for attention.
The approach of a human to the rows of attached pens results in a flurry of excitement and an endless round of barks from each resident. Tails wag faster than ever, paws jump up to cling to the kennel fences as long as they can, and some stand atop their individual dog houses in order to be noticed more.
Each dog seems to be shouting "Look at me!", "Play with me!", "Love me!"
Operated by sisters Anne Oliver and Kim Hawks, the Red Fern Animal Shelter in Dresden, Tenn., sits away from town on a narrow road on land owned by Oliver's and Hawks' father.
Most of the shelter's 37 dogs occupy several rows of kennels and pens to the left of the blue mobile home headquarters. To the right, three large feline houses sit on stilts about 6 feet tall and hold a few of Red Fern's 19 cats.
As much as they want a real home, the animals at Red Fern can be considered lucky. Most of them are former strays that have found a loving place to stay at this shelter where no animals are euthanized. They are well fed and medically treated, but funds are short and helping hands are few for the small safeguard.
Red Fern is in need of volunteers, and college students could make a big difference in an animal's life while acquiring community service hours by volunteering at the shelter.
"We usually have to ask visitors to come by on the weekends because there is so much to do during the week," Oliver said.
A few new volunteers are working at the shelter and four people come weekly, but with about 42 animals to care for, it is hardly enough. Oliver and Hawks often work long hours at the shelter to compensate for the lack of help.
Oliver says the volunteers help to socialize dogs by playing with them, teaching them basic commands, and getting them accustomed to other people because she and Hawks are usually the only humans around them.
This helps some of the dogs to become more likely to be adopted. Some of the animals have had little or poor contact with humans because of abandonment or abuse.
Volunteers also help with basic animal care, such as cleaning kennels and feeding and grooming animals.
Fostering animals is another way college students could be a big help to an animal's life.
"I bet we have turned away 100 puppies," said Oliver about the lack of room at Red Fern. The shelter is at its limit of animals, so foster homes are greatly appreciated and needed.
"A lot of college students have pets at home and this way they could have a pet away from home," Oliver said.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the shelter can download an application from www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN466.html.
"We would love to see it so no animal goes without a home. It bothers us, every dog we have to turn away," Oliver said.
The approach of a human to the rows of attached pens results in a flurry of excitement and an endless round of barks from each resident. Tails wag faster than ever, paws jump up to cling to the kennel fences as long as they can, and some stand atop their individual dog houses in order to be noticed more.
Each dog seems to be shouting "Look at me!", "Play with me!", "Love me!"
Operated by sisters Anne Oliver and Kim Hawks, the Red Fern Animal Shelter in Dresden, Tenn., sits away from town on a narrow road on land owned by Oliver's and Hawks' father.
Most of the shelter's 37 dogs occupy several rows of kennels and pens to the left of the blue mobile home headquarters. To the right, three large feline houses sit on stilts about 6 feet tall and hold a few of Red Fern's 19 cats.
As much as they want a real home, the animals at Red Fern can be considered lucky. Most of them are former strays that have found a loving place to stay at this shelter where no animals are euthanized. They are well fed and medically treated, but funds are short and helping hands are few for the small safeguard.
Red Fern is in need of volunteers, and college students could make a big difference in an animal's life while acquiring community service hours by volunteering at the shelter.
"We usually have to ask visitors to come by on the weekends because there is so much to do during the week," Oliver said.
A few new volunteers are working at the shelter and four people come weekly, but with about 42 animals to care for, it is hardly enough. Oliver and Hawks often work long hours at the shelter to compensate for the lack of help.
Oliver says the volunteers help to socialize dogs by playing with them, teaching them basic commands, and getting them accustomed to other people because she and Hawks are usually the only humans around them.
This helps some of the dogs to become more likely to be adopted. Some of the animals have had little or poor contact with humans because of abandonment or abuse.
Volunteers also help with basic animal care, such as cleaning kennels and feeding and grooming animals.
Fostering animals is another way college students could be a big help to an animal's life.
"I bet we have turned away 100 puppies," said Oliver about the lack of room at Red Fern. The shelter is at its limit of animals, so foster homes are greatly appreciated and needed.
"A lot of college students have pets at home and this way they could have a pet away from home," Oliver said.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the shelter can download an application from www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN466.html.
"We would love to see it so no animal goes without a home. It bothers us, every dog we have to turn away," Oliver said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Rachel
posted 10/08/08 @ 9:20 AM CST
The shelter is located in Dresden, TN, not Dyersburg.
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