​Vernon was a Bull Terrier mixed breed dog that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 15, 2019. No owner ever came forward and he was rescued by Pisgah Animal Welfare Society on February 25, 2019!

Thursday, 12:15 PM - Between cold, rain, and the craziness at work, I haven’t had a good chance for a long birding break... until today. Between rain showers at lunch break, I put on my big black mud boots and headed out the door.

It is a gray and foggy afternoon. As the little birds shoot by, I didn’t realize how quickly I could get out of practice in lifting that large telephoto lens to target the small birds. It seems I’ve been spoiled by the wide field of view in my new Zeiss binoculars. 

I'm hearing a lot of new bird sounds. Not necessarily new birds, but the birds switching to new calls. It seems many are going from their winter time chips to spring time songs. The Cardinals and Chickadees are particularly seeming to change their vocabulary.

​The special treats on today’s walk were a pair of Woodies, three Hermit Thrushes frolicking in an area I hadn’t seen them before, and a Blue-headed Vireo. Two Brown-headed Nuthatches seemed to be excavating an old cavity in a snag over the duckweed bog. 

​Lucky was a German Shepherd mixed breed dog that was surrendered by his owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 16, 2019. He was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS Rescue on February 20, 2019.

Roxie was a mixed breed dog that was surrendered by her owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Second Chance Habitat Rescue on February 15, 2019!

​“Jamie” was impounded by Walton County Animal Control in Georgia on February 6, 2019 during the course of an ongoing animal neglect investigation. She was rescued by Love Shack Dog Rescue on 2/25/19!

​Dixie was an older Boxer that was surrendered by her owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Second Chance Habitat Rescue on February 15, 2019!

“Bella” was a young, mixed-breed dog that came into the animal shelter on February 7, 2019. She was picked up by an animal control officer and sadly had no collar or tag to find her way home. Her cute little ears folded over her head, almost like a Shar Pei’s ears. Her inquisitive personality made her a favorite of the shelter staff.

After four days, Bella had not yet been claimed by an owner and her hold was expired. Going outdoors for her “glamour photos”, Bella struck some nice poses, her tan coat blending nicely with the brown winter grasses in the photography area.
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Four days after posting her photos to the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net, she was rescued by Second Chance Habitat Rescue in Chesapeake, VA! Her freedom ride was sponsored by donations to the rescue from Anne, Kay, Gael and Jason.

​“Jesse” was impounded by Walton County Animal Control in Georgia on February 6, 2019 during the course of an ongoing animal neglect investigation. She was rescued by Love Shack Dog Rescue on 2/25/19!

It is sad at times how dogs get bounced around from home to home. I understand that things don’t always work out, but if there could be a little more effort and tolerance on the part of pet owners, the constant in-and-out within animal shelters could be reduced.

Otis was a handsome blue Pitbull dog that at one time had a home as a puppy. But later on in life he ended up in an animal shelter. There he was neutered, microchipped and adopted out into a new home. Happy ending, right?

Well, on February 11, 2019 he ended up as a stray in the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia. Otis’ last owner didn’t register his microchip and there was no way to find his home.  Otis waited over a week but his owner never came forward. Sad ending? Not yet!

Otis got his chance for a photo session on February 15. There were a lot of dogs to shoot that morning, so I only got a few photos. The shots were posted on the shelter’s website, www.waltonpets.net and Otis began waiting for a new home. ​His first adoption application was denied by a landlord that didn’t allow Pitbulls on the property (a common theme). The second applicant said she wasn’t able to get out of work to come meet him. But when all looked bleak, a rescue came forward!
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On February 26, 2019, the Humane Society of Valdosta sent up their “rescue wagon” and took Otis along with five other dogs!!!! His rescue was sponsored by donations pledged to the rescue from Melonie, Alice, and Anne.  Once Otis gets adopted in into a new home, hopefully it will be a forever home this time!  

​“G” was a pit bull dog that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 14, 2019. His owner never came to claim him and he was rescued by the Humane Society of Valdosta on February 26, 2019!

In an open-intake “pound”, there is no way of knowing when more dogs will show up. The officers can return from their calls throughout the day with dogs. An owner might pull up with a momma dog and box full of puppies. It is always a careful balancing act. So I am thankful when rescues and adopters step up quickly for the pets in the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia.

“Max” was one of those quick turn-arounds. It is hard to believe, but after 12 years, his owner surrendered him to the shelter because “he keeps getting out.” Although it can be a little harder to re-home senior dogs, Max’s cute Corgi-ness helped him get out quickly.

He was surrendered on February 12, 2019 and I got him out the following day for an outdoor photo session. He was put on the shelter’s adoption website, www.waltonpets.net and was adopted the very same day! Now that’s quick! And there was no holding up a kennel that could be used for other incoming animals. 

​Alex was a Shepherd and Mastiff mixed breed dog that was picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 13, 2019. He was reunited with his owner on February 18, 2019!

“Carmine” was a Shar Pei mixed breed dog surrendered by her owner to the Walton County Animal Control shelter in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue on February 16, 2019!

​“Rio” was a playful pittie puppy picked up stray by a Walton County Animal Control officer in Georgia on February 12, 2019. She was rescued by Washington Wilkes DAWGS rescue on 2/18/19!

Thursday, 8:59 AM - There are days I walk into the animal shelter and just get so despondent seeing pitbull after pitbull in kennel after kennel. All the other breeds tend to get quicker interest and are rescued almost right away. But the poor pitbulls have less hope of rescue, and even less hope of being claimed.

When there is so many of a particular breed, it can be hard to get them noticed. But one stood out to me this morning because of her sweet, submissive eyes and her pretty white coat. “Sherry” was picked up by a Walton County Animal Control officer on February 6, 2019 and time allowed for “glamour photo” the following day.

Sherry’s soft and gentle nature really showed through in her photograph: deep brown eyes, her chain at rest on the pine needes, and her tail gently padding in the background.  How could someone resist? 

Thank God she attracted the attention of Athens Canine Rescue! A foster came to the shelter, tested how Sherry would get along with their other foster dog, and ended up taking her in on February 11, 2019. Sherry’s rescue was sponsored by pledged donations to Athens Canine Rescue from Barbara, Anne and Lorraine.