Winston-Salem State University athletes found a good cause in need of their muscles, and the young men and women already have made a difference. Last weekend, nine athletes built a fence for a dog that was kept chained in its family’s yard. Now, the dog can run and play freely, and the student athletes are recruiting friends for their next fence build.

The design and volunteer leaders were provided by the Coalition to Unchain Dogs, which builds fences as an alternative way for pet owners to confine dogs to their property.

Jamie Robbins, a sports psychology professor at WSSU and a life-long animal rescuer, was looking for community service activities for her students. Because most of them are athletes, there aren’t many opportunities they can work into their schedules. When Robbins built a fence with the Coalition just two weeks ago, she found that opportunity.

Robbins said the Coalition volunteers told her they are always in need of big, strong people to dig holes for the fence posts. Last Saturday, four basketball players and two football players needed just 45 minutes to dig holes that normally take volunteers two hours to dig. On Sunday, three women athletes joined the group to build the fence in just two hours. The fences are constructed from durable woven wire.

Robbins said she is glad her students had the opportunity to learn about chained dogs and how they can set an example for others in the community. When the fence was finished, the student athletes enjoyed watching the dog running and enjoying its freedom.

“The kids were happy to see it, that they are making a difference,” Robbins said. “They felt really good about it and wanted to do it again.”

Fur-Ever Friends of NC and the Forsyth Humane Society provide money for fence materials through the Unchain Forsyth Dogs Fence Fund. The Coalition to Unchain Dogs and Dogs Deserve Better are working together to build fences for families in Forsyth County. These groups support a county ordinance that would disallow the 24/7 chaining of dogs.

Fur-Ever Friends of NC and the Forsyth Humane Society provide money for fence materials through the Unchain Forsyth Dogs Fence Fund. The Coalition to Unchain Dogs and Dogs Deserve Better are working together to build fences for families in Forsyth County. These groups support a county ordinance that would disallow the 24/7 chaining of dogs.

Coco the golden Retrieve Mix was the first dog to recieve neutering and a new fence under the Forsyth Dogs Fence Fund.  Thank you to all the volunteers and Dogs Deserve Better for helping make this happen.  Below are before and after images of Coco.

Unchain Forsyth Dogs Fence Fund Started

Two major Forsyth County animal welfare organizations have joined forces to pledge up to $15,000 for fencing materials to help low-income dog owners erect fences for their pets. Fur-Ever Friends of NC (www.fureverfriendsnc.org)  and the Forsyth Humane Society (www.forsythhumane.org) announce the creation of the “Unchain Forsyth Dogs Fence Fund” as a matching community challenge to underscore their support of a county ordinance that would disallow the 24/7 chaining of dogs. If fully supported by community donations, a total of $30,000 could be made available to Forsyth County residents.

Applicants will apply through Coalition to Unchain Dogs (www.unchaindogs.net) or through Dogs Deserve Better (www.dogsdeservebetter.org). These two non-profit groups have extensive experience with installing modest yet durable woven-wire fences and will be key project partners. Amanda Arrington from Unchain Your Dogs and Shari Strader from Dogs Deserve Better would screen applicants, design the fence, deliver the materials, and schedule volunteers to erect the fence.

Carol Nelson and The Forsyth Spay/Neuter Clinic (www.ForsythSpayNeuterClinic.com) have agreed to contribute dozens of free spay/neuter services, plus rabies vaccines, in conjunction with the Forsyth Fence Fund project.

Steve Benefiel, owner of Pet Supplies Plus (2812 Reynolda Road, W-S, NC 27106, www.petsuppliesplus.com), will provide a $30 gift certificate for every family that receives a fence through the Forsyth Fence Fund.

These six groups are part of a large alliance of people and organizations who recommend that Forsyth County adopt an ordinance that would severely restrict dogs from being chained or tethered as the primary means of confinement. Except for the Triad and Charlotte, every major population center in North Carolina from Wilmington to Asheville has passed a chaining ordinance; and even Charlotte is now looking into adopting a similar ordinance. There are now 12 communities in North Carolina with chaining ordinances.

In a press release for National Dog Bite Prevention week, the American Veterinary Medical Association stated: “Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior.” The Humane Society of the United States, from The Chaining and Tethering of Dogs fact sheet, “The practice (of chaining or tethering dogs) is both inhumane and a threat to the safety of the confined dog, other animals, and humans.”

Various studies have found that chained dogs are more likely to bite; 2.8 times more likely according to an article in Pediatrics magazine. Forsyth County Animal Control Director Tim Jennings has said that over 80% of reported neglect and abuse cases involve dogs that are permanently tethered (Fox8TV, 2/16/10).

Dogs are social animals that should live with their family, and be isolated as little as possible. If they must live outside part of the time, this fencing fund will help to make responsible pet ownership a little more affordable.

MUCH-NEEDED DONATIONS towards this matching challenge can be made via our “donation” tab or by mailing checks to P.O. Box 15742, Winston-Salem, NC 27113. Please make the check out to “Fur-Ever Friends” and note that it is for the “Fence Fund.” Thank you for your support.

News Articles Pertaining to Ordinance

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/apr/18/groups-offer-help-for-dogs/

http://www.wxii12.com/news/23168175/detail.html

http://www.myfox8.com/videobeta/?watchId=40f7374a-4bc2-480d-bb7f-34ca82a79c7f

http://www.wxii12.com/video/22611720/index.html

When it comes to animal rescue efforts, volunteer Heather Kierstead likes to go the distance. On March 20th, Kierstead, a Winston-Salem resident, will team with a fellow volunteer, Stephen Dunn, in a three-week cross-country outreach campaign and half-year wilderness trek. The purpose is to raise money for and awareness of animal rescue. Their efforts will benefit Forsyth Humane Society, and Fur-Ever Friends in Winston Salem, and Best Friends Animal Society.

Kierstead and Dunn will set out on their cross-country trip March 20 from Forsyth County Animal Shelter, and complete the drive around April 12th in West Lake Village, Calif. They will raise money and awareness on behalf of homeless animals, coordinating and volunteering with youth organizations along the way. They have lined up to volunteer at homeless shelters in the major cities that they will be stopping at along the way

The main hub for information on tracking the pair’s progress across country and on the trail, and for making donations and pledges, will be through their organization’s Web site, http://www.blinklove.org/

Following the three-week campaign, Kierstead and Dunn will engage in a five- to six-month journey through the West Coast called the “Pacific Crest Trail.” The journey, which spans 2,663.5 miles from Mexico to Canada, will begin April 16 and end in September.

Kierstead has a long track record of volunteer service, especially with Forsyth Humane Society, where she first volunteered at age 14 and today, at 23, is the organization’s youngest board member, and is also a board member of Fur-Ever Friends of North Carolina. You may remember Heather back in 2007 when she hiked the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia and raised more than $18,000 for FHS.

Dunn shares Kierstead’s compassionate nature, having dedicated most of his young adulthood volunteering with such groups as Samaritan Ministries, AmeriCorps, and, most recently, Forsyth County Animal Shelter. On the latter experience, Dunn said that “time with the animals has been just as rewarding as time spent with people in need.”

Kierstead looks to the coming fundraising hike with enthusiasm and optimism. “If even one person becomes inspired to get involved with an animal shelter after hearing our story, then progress has been made,” she said.

Story from wxii.com

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Meet Precious, a beautiful Great Dane, Mastiff mix who is now singing with praise and gratitude to the disabled couple who rescued her on the side of interstate 40 in Winston-Salem, NC when she so weak, she could barely lift her head to watch the traffic pass her by.

A 5 to 6 year old female, she weighed 88.8 pounds when found. Literally, skin over bones. She was cold, wet, hungry, homeless and starving to death, but her gentle, loving nature gave her the hope and strength that somebody, somewhere would love her.

Today, Precious is a happy and healthy 106 lbs who likes nothing more then snuggling with her loving new family.