Nine dogs were camped outside Old Navy Saturday in hopes that passersby would rescue them from their cages. One got lucky. The rest remained with Jeff Tarpley and his dog rescue group.
“Holiday weekends are really bad for adoption,” Tarpley said. “Everyone’s at the lake or with family. It’s just really tough,” he said while patting Cocoa, AKA, “Coke.”
“But sometimes we’ll do an event and then two or three days later someone will call and want to adopt a dog he saw. So you never know.”
[/one_half] [one_half_last]I adopt in 48 states and do rescues in four. I say no to drugs and yes to dogs.
“I adopt in 48 states and do rescues in four. I say no to drugs and yes to dogs.”
To help offset the cost of feeding, spaying and neutering, and other veterinary costs, Tarpley and his cast of volunteers – the youngest who is 11-year-old Chris Goff – accept donations.
“Chris has been helping for about three to four years,” Tarpley said. “He leash-walks the dogs, does poop scoop patrol, and does just about everything we ask. Chris is terrific.”
Aside from donations, Tarpley garners most of the money needed to run his organization by holding fundraisers throughout the year.
“Our big fundraiser is Rescue-Rama that we have every spring and fall. We have a rummage sale, a lemonade stand, hotdogs, etc. Everything is donated. I never want to take away funding from other rescue organizations,” he said.
Tarpley currently has 15 dogs under his care, which is the least he’s ever had in the history of his rescue organization. And those dogs are kept in various foster homes until they can be rescued. And the reasons why dogs need rescuing? Well, he’s heard every excuse imaginable, he said.
“Thursdays are not good. Thursdays are dump days and I get a lot of phone calls. I hear, ‘I can’t take care of my dog anymore.’ Or, ‘I can’t take it to the shelter because I’m afraid they’ll kill it.’ Or, ‘My apartment won’t allow me to keep my dog anymore.’ I’ve heard it all. But it’s so hard for me to say no.”
If the dog population was better controlled through spaying and neutering, then obviously there would be fewer dogs needing rescuing. The National Humane Society advises:
- Pets that are spayed or neutered typically live much longer, healthier, and happier lives.
- Spayed or neutered pets are typically better behaved, calmer, and more affectionate than those that are not altered.
- Male animals are less likely to mark their territory by urinating or spraying, and less likely to run away in an attempt to find a female. This does not, however, mean you should leave your neutered animal outside unattended.
- Spaying an animal eliminates her heat cycle and the undesirable elements such as bleeding, crying, and nervous behaviors.
- Every year approximately 4 million animals, the vast majority of which are medically and behaviorally adoptable, are euthanized. By spaying or neutering your pet you are directly helping to reduce this number.
- Spaying and neutering helps reduce the incidence of some of the most common types of cancers – breast, uterine, prostate, and testicular.
- Spaying and neutering decreases the number of stray animals, which results in a decrease in animal bites (to both humans and pets), car accidents, and destruction to property.
- Spayed and neutered animals get along better with each other and exhibit less aggression toward animals of the same gender.
All of the dogs Tarpley and his crew adopt out are spayed and neutered, fully vetted, and ready for loving homes. In addition to sitting outside various locations like Old Navy, he also uses Petfinder.com to list the dogs he has available for adoption.
To find out where his next event will be held, look for him on Facebook. Donations to Tarpley Dog Rescue may be sent to P.O. Box 282, Nash, Texas, 75569-0282.
