Time to Consider Tikkun Olam for Some Furry Friends?

For six years, those who lived and worked around a puppy mill in South Georgia where dogs are living in horrible conditions consistently reported their concerns, asking for someone to step in and do something. Their outcry was finally heard. The New York-based Guardians of Rescue are heading up the rescue of hundreds of dogs from the mill in Montgomery County, about 170 miles southeast of Atlanta.

The rescue efforts will include removal of the dogs, providing them medical care, and finding new permanent and loving homes, the rescue organization reported.

It’s the kind of tikkun olam Jews are known to do in Georgia. As the AJT reported this summer, many Atlanta Jews lead and volunteer for the pet rescue industry, from the national to the local level.

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Dogs like these are being rescued, receiving medical care and new, loving homes. You can help too.

“These poor dogs have been living miserable lives. We are happy to be the ones to finally bring it all to an end,” explained Robert Misseri, Guardians of Rescue president. “We can’t do this on our own because we don’t have the funds to pull off a rescue of this size. We desperately need the help of the public in order to make this happen and get all of these dogs to safety.”

The puppy mill has as many as 450 German shepherds in a large fenced area dotted with small dog houses. The area has no grass; rather it has all turned to  mud and muck, and the dogs live in about 10 inches of mud and animal waste at all times. They have never seen the inside of a home or car, and neighbors say they are tired of the awful stench that permeates from the property. One neighbor reported to the media that they saw dogs being beaten to death with a shovel. Those who live in the area have worked tirelessly to bring attention to the situation, hoping that they could get the puppy mill closed down and help the dogs find great homes to live out the rest of their lives.

Hundreds of German shepherds were living in muddy conditions at the South Georgia puppy mill.

Guardians of Rescue has partnered with Animal Aid USA, along with Victoria Stilwell, an internationally-known dog trainer, and Claudine Wilkins, Georgia’s most prominent animal rights attorney and founder of Animal Law Source. They will join veterinarians, vet technicians and other volunteers helping at the site with the large-scale rescue.

Misseri reiterated the need for more help “because we are going to take on a big expense through moving the dogs, getting veterinary care, buying supplies, and ensuring proper vetting to adopt them out. Together, we can all make great things happen for these dogs that are in such need of our help.”

Guardians of Rescue is located in Smithtown on Long Island, N.Y. It helps animals on the street and beyond where its chapters are located, on a national and international level, the organization reported. It also helps military members with their pets.

To learn more about Guardians of Rescue, get involved, or make a donation, contact www.guardiansofrescue.org or Georgia volunteer Lea McCarthy, 912-282-7321. Click here to help with the rescue.