My Name is Lauren McKnight and I started this blog as a way of providing updates and giving thanks to the great number of you that have expressed your support and concern for the wonderful, tragic animals that unexpectedly entered our lives last July, and that will continue to enter our lives as quickly as we can take care of them.
Though many of you already know a little bit about the dogs and how we came to care for them, this is my story: last July, I was shopping a Kroger and was unexpectedly approached by a woman with a suitcase. She asked me if I wanted a puppy. I immediately said "no," because I have far too many animals right now and many more in my neighborhood that I hoped to save. Despite my refusal, the woman opened her suitcase, exposing the cutest little puppy sleeping inside. The woman explained to me that the puppy was sick and that she was homeless and did not have the means to provide the neccessary care for the puppy. The woman told me about where she lives, a junkyard located in South Atlanta. The owners of the junkyard have a bunch of dogs to protect the worthless crap located within the fence. Apparently, these dogs are not being taken care of and are even being shot at by the owners or various people in the neighborhood. I listened to her story, took the puppy, and gave her my number. I explained that I would do what I could to help and to please find a way to call me. I did not hear from her for three months.
When I finally heard from the woman again, she told me that the remaining dogs were in really bad shape and wanted to see if I could take a few of them. Unfortunately, I did not have the space or the financial means to take on three dogs and nurse them back to health. The first dog I took, Charley, cost me somewhere in the range of one thousand dollars. I told her I would be more than happy to drop offfood for the dogs. When I arrived at the junkyard with the food, I saw one of the dogs and realized that I could not leave her there. She looked as if she was about to die. I cannot take on all the junkyard dogs, but I could take her. I was capable of that. I took her home and it has been a long, expensive journey. She has been with me for a month now and is making great improvements. There is still a long way to go before she is healthy and adoptable.
Many more dogs are still in the junkyard, fighting for food, being shot at, needing medical attention. These dogs are very, very sweet. They are in desperate need of a foster home and financial help for their vet bills. I wish I could do all of this all myself, but I can't. I have spent close to two thousand dollars of my own money and cannot spend anymore. Anything helps. One amazing lady has offered to pay for the dogs to receive shots and get spayed/neutered.We are now looking for financial help to pay for other vet bills to get them healthy. If you or anyone you know is interested in making a donation or fostering a dog, please contact me.
I have long been an animal lover and an animal rescuer. Over the course of the past year, my sister and I have rescued and found homes for countless kittens, as well as a puppy, in the East Atlanta and Old Fourth Ward neighborhoods of Atlanta. This past summer, my boyfriend Paul and I were involved on a truly small-scale level in improving the lives of stray cats in our old neighborhood by feeding, trapping, spaying and giving vet checkups to dozens of homeless cats (and finding many of them homes). During the week before we moved to Reynoldstown, we spayed eleven cats!
A very small number of you have expressed skepticism with regard to my acts and intentions in bringing attention to these dogs and requesting contributions on their behalf. If this blog does not sufficiently ease your suspicions, perhaps you will take into account the non-profit we are now forming. You should otherwise feel free to call Inman Park Animal Hospital, with whom I have an intimate, decade-long relationship. You may also feel free to contact Village Vets in Decatur, who have graciously provided a discount on services for these dogs--they can tell you the true condition of these animals and how this money has been put to use.
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