|
|
| DEAR Animal Facility
 The Down East Animal Refuge "Dog House" initially began as several dog kennels at the Scotland Neck, N.C. residence of the founder Gra Whitehead. DEAR had about eight dogs in early December 2003. DEAR had almost doubled its rescued animal population several months later. DEAR members soon found the need to expand its ability to kennel the influx of abandoned and rescued dogs.
Early in 2004, an old peanut barn was chosen to become the new DEAR animal facility. It took many months to make the conversion from peanut barn to a viable shelter. This included installing kennels, water for cleaning, electrical, and storage facilities for dog food. Several fund raisers were required in order to get the new facility up and running.
Mid-summer 2005, DEAR purchased a small office trailer. The purpose of this trailer enabled DEAR to host a monthly rabies clinic and to allow a comfortable place for  people to view dogs for re-homing. Currently, Dr. Marty Edwards used this trailer when she was in town to hold her monthly rabies clinic. We have since moved Dr. Marty to the building behind Coleman's in Scotland Neck. A fence fund was begun later that year for a new, fenced in dog run and enclosure. This fenced in area was also electrified and set up as an area for DEAR to train the dogs.
DEAR has since made more modifications to the interior of the facility. Hoses have been run from one end to the other, enabling DEAR volunteers to easily clean kennels and provide dogs with water. Doors have been cut into both ends of the facility for easy access and ventilation. Fans were recently installed to allow for better air flow during the humid summer months. Our dog run area has been separated into two separate runs. A new drainage and septic system has also been buried and completed. Lastly, DEAR has implemented a plan to enclose the facility during the winter months.
The DEAR animal facility renovations are always constant. The dog house is constantly full. Animals are "re-homed", new dogs are picked up, and dogs come in go in the New Leash On Life prison  program. DEAR is looking for ways to increase the size of the current facility. That can’t be done until enough is raised to develop and possibly build a new facility. It is clear that the volunteers and members of DEAR make the most out of the current animal facility. The DEAR facility would not be what it is without the volunteers and members, who work, clean, train, feed, walk, and give medical care to the abandoned and rescued dogs of the community. Those volunteers include Gra Whitehead, Donna May, Robin Bowers, Heather Simmons, Lesley Faithful, Claudia Harrell, and Randall Melton. These are the primary caregivers at the facility. They take time out of their busy schedules on the weekends and weekdays to see that these dogs have a good home.  These volunteers can be found out at the facility every weekend, on Saturdays as early as 8:30 a.m. and on Sundays between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. DEAR is always in need of additional volunteer help. Please call us before you come out to the facility at 252-826-3965. Directions to the dog house can be found by clicking on the link on the menu bar above.
DEAR Animal Facility - June 2008 - Photo story
This page was last modified on Sunday, October 11, 2009 12:09:57 PM
| |
|
|