I have read on numerous occasions’ letters to the editor and other articles in The Union Recorder expressing various degrees of dissatisfaction with local veterinary care, the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) and particularly Baldwin County Animal Control.

I am writing this letter to express a different perspective. On Friday, Oct. 5, my granddaughter, Kendall Calhoun, and I went by boat to a large undeveloped and unpopulated island on Lake Sinclair known locally as Goat Island. To our surprise when we approached one of the beaches on the island we observed a dog running away. For the next three hours, Kendall and I attempted to coax the dog to us so we could transport it off the island. Unfortunately the dog ran further into the interior of the island and as night approached we had to give up.

The next morning (Saturday), I called Dr. Cheryl Council at the Animal Hospital and asked her advice. When I expressed my willingness to actively participate in a rescue, Dr. Council advised me to contact animal control to borrow a live trap. I thought this to be a good idea since I had a positive experience a few years ago when Animal Control Officer Greg Hill spent about three hours helping me catch a deer that had injured itself jumping a fence on my property. Mr. Hill and I transported the injured deer to Dr. Sara T. Hall at the Lakeside Veterinary Clinic.

As advised by Dr. Council, I called the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department and explained the situation regarded the stranded dog. The dispatcher told me I could borrow a trap but that I would have to wait until Monday. That day and Sunday, my wife Melanie and another granddaughter, Kailey Calhoun returned to the island to search for the dog. Although we found his footprints, we did not see the dog either day.

While on the island both days, we placed canned dog food for it. My plan was to feed him at a specific place with a specific food and later place the trap in that location. On Sunday while getting gas for the boat, at a local marina, I asked if they had received reports of the dog on the island. I was told for several months reports had been made. Monday I called the Sheriff’s Department and requested the trap. Within 30 minutes, Mr. Greg Hill returned my call and within one hour delivered the trap to my house. Mr. Hill stated to me that he had received reports about a dog on an island but could not get the exact location of the island.

Monday afternoon I took the trap to the island, baited and set it. I checked the trap Tuesday morning and evening but nothing was in it. Early Wednesday morning when I checked the trap, I saw that I had caught what appeared to be a male pure bred beagle. The dog was not at all aggressive but sat trembling in the trap with sad drooping eyes. I thought to myself only God knows what this little dog has had to endure.

After getting the dog off the island, my nephew, Travis Toulson, and his friend assisted me in transporting him to the Animal Hospital. Dr. Council and Dr. James Lee started immediate evaluation and treatment of the dog. All the staff at the clinic expressed concern for the dog; however, Dr. Council told me that due to the dog’s extreme timid nature that it would be extremely hard to find a home placement. Dr. Council told me if I had any placement alternatives that I should start pursuing them.

My wife and I have seven dogs, mostly rescues, one being a large aggressive dog, so we felt our home was not the best alternative but did not rule it out as a last resort. Melanie named the dog Sinclair at this point. I started making phone calls and Melanie started e-mailing anyone we thought could help.

Early the next morning, Bobbie Thompson from ARF called and said she just received my message. Bobbie told me that she had received calls and e-mails about a dog stranded on an island but lacked boat resources to attempt a rescue. Bobbie told me that she and ARF could now resume full responsibility for care, rehabilitation and hopefully placement for Sinclair. Oconee Humane Society of Eatonton and Circle of Friends of Greene County also returned my calls and offered assistance.

Saturday morning, Melanie, Kailey and I visited Sinclair at ARF, and although he allowed us to hold and pet him, he still trembles and does not wag his tail and stares with sad eyes as if asking, “Why did I have to endure all of this?”

Anyone feeling that they can give the time, attention and love to help rehabilitate Sinclair should contact ARF at (478) 454-1273 or e-mail info@animalrescuefoundation.org.

In closing, back to my different perspective, in my experience the veterinarians that treat our pets at Animal Hospital and to whom we take injured wildlife at Lakeside Veterinary Clinic are caring dedicated professionals. However, they are not miracle workers that can save all animals and they can’t work 24 hours a day.

Volunteers and staff of ARF are caring and dedicated people who work hard to place abused and abandoned animals, but until pet owners take spay and neutering seriously they are overwhelmed by the task. In my experience, Mr. Greg Hill with animal control will do his very best to assist in animal control matters, but he is only one person. Unless we are willing to pay higher taxes for more employees, I feel that we should view him as a valuable resource but not a solution in and of itself.

Alton L. Scott



ARF director’s note:

Sinclair went to a new home Oct. 25. Adopted by someone who tried very hard for months to catch him.

Bobbie Thompson