Operation Sweethearts (A Year Later)

“Graves County, KY – Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) assisted Kentucky’s Graves County Sheriff’s Office today in the rescue of approximately 100 dogs who were found to be living in deplorable conditions at a dog rescue organization in Wingo, KY. All of the dogs were seized by the Graves County Sheriff’s Office.

When responders arrived on the scene they found various breeds and sizes of dogs including hound mixes, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Maltese, Pomeranians, a Rottweiler and many other breeds running loose among piles of debris and living in crowded, dilapidated pens and small filthy cages in several buildings on the property. There were dead dogs and dog bones scattered throughout the property and dogs consuming the remains.  There were also several dog bodies found in burn piles.

“This is one of the worst cases of animal abuse I have seen,” said Animal Rescue Corps President Scotlund Haisley. “The dogs had no access to food, water, or shelter. They were eating each other to stay alive.”

This case began nearly a year ago when ARC was tipped off by an informant that a non-profit organization set up to rescue dogs was abusing them. After several months of diligent investigation evidence of cruelty was collected on the property. This included a dead dog whose necropsy revealed it had been starved to death, which is a violation of county and state cruelty laws. This evidence was brought to the Graves County Sheriff who obtained a search and seizure warrant.

“Graves County takes allegations of animal abuse very seriously,” said Sheriff Dewayne Redmon. “We did not hesitate when Animal Rescue Corps brought us the information necessary to take action.”

ARC is removing all of the animals, dead and alive, from the property and transporting them to an emergency shelter set up at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. The animals will receive veterinary exams, vaccinations and any necessary medical treatments by a team of local veterinarians. ARC will provide daily care until custody of the animals is determined and animals can be placed with shelters and rescue groups.

Animal Rescue Corps performed this rescue, dubbed Operation Sweethearts, in conjunction with Ady Gil World Conservation, who provided funds and PetSmart Charities®, who donated many of the supplies to make this rescue possible. Additional support was provided by Bowling Green Humane Society and Holistic Pet Source.”

– Animal Rescue Corps

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GREYSTONE’S “SWEETHEARTS”

 

 

 

 

 

BASTIAN

ONE YEAR LATER

“I will never forget my experience with Operation Sweethearts. The deplorable conditions that these dogs lived in were heart-wrenching. To be a part of it was an amazing feeling..to help these 100 dogs have another shot at life really gave my job an additional purpose. I want to thank my wife for allowing me to miss Valentine’s Day with her last year to contribute to such a life saving cause.

Bastian was a perfect fit for my family from day one. When I first met him down in Nashville (I didn’t really see him at the raid site, there were so many) he was feeling pretty puny. He let me carry him all over the fairgrounds, which is definitely out of character for him. When I made the decision to add him to our family I told every ARC employee to make sure it was him on the transport to Bowling Green…I didn’t want him to slip through the cracks, he was a keeper.

I told my wife that I would keep him at the clinic for awhile to get the chance to know him and let him acclimate to an inside environment. When he arrived in Bowling Green, he immediately bonded and I had to bring him right home. The first night he slept at my son, Kash’s, feet and we knew that he was at home. Now, Kash calls for him throughout the house…. you can hear his sweet voice saying ‘Bashee’…..every puppy deserves a little boy.

With the birth of our second child, Ella, Bastian has really taken a liking to babies. He constantly licks her little toes and sniffs anywhere that she has been. I can see painted toe nails and bows in our future….I don’t know how excited Bastian will be about this. My wife, Daughtry, has taken a special liking to him….just last night I had to avert my eyes as she hand fed him pretzels dipped in peanut butter…how spoiled?

Bastian has become somewhat of a staple here at Greystone. If you see me working, chances are Bastian is sitting right beside me waiting to greet you. Feel free to say hi to him!”

–Christopher and Daughtry Whitehurst

ROSE

ONE YEAR LATER

DUKE

ONE YEAR LATER

“Duke (originally known as “Griffin”) came to Bowling Green in February 2012 after he was rescued during Operation Sweethearts by Dr. Matt Paxton and the amazing team headed by Animal Rescue Corps.  Shortly after the rescue, soon-to-be-Duke’s picture was on the home page of the BG Daily News’ website, promoting their article covering the story.  I laughed out loud at the photo; a sweet Weimaraner who, behind the bars of a kennel at the BGWC Humane Society, looked like he was in jail!  Upon reading the article, I immediately texted my husband, Freddie, and told him I was coming home from work to get him and we were heading straight to the Humane Society…they had a Weimaraner! 

That very day, we made our first trip to the Hildreth Adoption Center at BGWCHS to see what we could find out about this dog, and if nothing else, spend a little time loving on him.  Sure enough, he was there!  We were disheartened to learn that he might not be available for adoption, as it was possible that he would be entangled in the on-going court case.  Lori and the awesome staff at the Adoption Center agreed to let us pet on him for a few minutes in his “cell”—he was so calm, and you could see in his silvery-green eyes that he just wanted to be loved and taken care of in a clean, quiet home. 

After meeting this sweet old dog—they estimated him to be 12-13 years old—Freddie and I agreed that we wanted to make a donation towards his post-rescue medical care and planned to come back to visit with him again soon.  We went home, still thinking about poor Duke, and showed our 5-year old Weimaraner, Max, lots of extra attention and love that night. 

We went back to the Adoption Center to visit the next day, and Lori informed us that Duke would be available for adoption.  Freddie wanted to take him home with us that day, but admittedly, I was apprehensive about bringing another large dog—who was also a senior dog—into our home.  Freddie agreed to sleep on it, but I was really struggling with the idea of adoption.  I liked the idea of having two Weims, but I always imagined we’d bring a new puppy into our family. 

Freddie, who had already made up his mind, took me back to the Adoption Center on day 3, this time with Max along for the ride.  The two dogs met for the first time that day, and it was like they knew they were going to be brothers.  We took Duke home with us that day and have been one big happy family since then.

Looking back, adopting Duke is one of the coolest and most fulfilling things we’ve ever done.  It makes us smile thinking back on how skittish he was for the first few weeks, getting used to his new surroundings.  Now, he makes himself at home on the couch, on our king-size bed…wherever he pleases!  He and Max are so funny together.  They are partners-in-crime when something yummy is accidentally left out on the kitchen counter; Max counter-surfs to reach said yummy item, and Duke helps him eat the evidence.  They are couch-snuggling buddies, car-riding buddies, and going-to-the-farm buddies.  They peacefully share the house while we’re gone to work, dog napping and barking at birds on the patio. 

Duke has most definitely become our second fur child.  He has such an old soul, all-knowing and wise.  The kids in our family love him because he’s slow and calm and will lie down to be petted (unlike Max, who wants to sniff and lick them to death).  As a senior dog he naps a lot, but we like to think it’s because he’s so happy and comfortable in his new forever home.  He seems so grateful to get regular meals, pain medication for his achy back, and lots of chances to go out and potty each day.  It makes our hearts hurt to think of the suffering he endured out in Wingo, Ky., but Freddie and I do our very best to make it up to him each day.  It is our goal to give him a comfy, quiet, and peaceful life, for whatever time he has left.”

– Jacqueline and Freddie Rowe