The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE – Pat Persinger and Gail McHenry have created an animal rescue organization to serve Alleghany County and northern Botetourt County which they have titled the Alleghany Highlands All Breed Rescue (AHABR).
The new service is a result of the Alleghany Highlands experiencing an overwhelming increase in homeless animals Gail explained. This is due, in part, to the economy, where families cannot afford to keep their pets, and due to the many dogs and cats that have not been neutered or spayed and are allowed to breed continuously.
Pat, a life-long resident of the Highlands, is co-owner, operator, and groomer of Shady Lane Kennel, and Gail is a retired Federal employee who has been in the area for nearly 10 years.
The Bath Animal Welfare Foundation (BAWF) has been instrumental in the establishment of AHABR by mentoring Pat and Gail and introducing them to the vast network of rescue organizations and the veterinarian community.
“BAWF is eager to help because they receive many calls for help from residents of the Alleghany Highlands – about one third of BAWF’s rescues last year were from Alleghany County,” Gail noted. “BAWF has had to turn away many requests for help due to the needs of their own residents in Bath County.
Like BAWF, the AHABR will be a `no kill’ organization and we plan to have the animals kept in foster homes so they can better adjust to a permanent home later.”
The first AHABR rescues were a small cat and an abused dog. The cat, Max, was abandoned in the county where Gail found her just before the series of winter storms. She fostered the cat and was able to find her a home in Maryland.
“Our first dog was an emaciated German Shepherd who was found to have cancer,” Pat said. “We took Second Chance, or Chance as we called him, to veterinarians for evaluation and finally for surgery at VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg.
“Fortunately, his cancer was completely removed and he has a great prognosis for a cancer-free life. Chance is on the road to recovery in his new home in Lovettsville where he will be loved and taken care of for the rest of his life. Chance’s medical expenses were paid by contributions from the community and his adopting family, and we thank you very much for your generosity.”
These two experiences will serve as a model as Pat and Gail develop AHABR with help from the community.
“Specifically, we plan that, upon receiving an animal, we will secure medical services, including vaccinations (e.g., rabies), testing for heartworm and Lyme disease, starting preventive measures such as heartworm medication, and spaying or neutering. Once the body is healed, we will begin rehabilitation, socialization, and obedience training.”
Pat and and her husband Eddie Persinger, who conduct dog obedience classes in the Highlands, will work with each dog to make it a more compatible pet. “We want to foster animals in homes so the animals can learn house manners, such as housebreaking, and crate training, while they are in our care,” Pat said.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that each adoption has the best chance of success by getting to know each dog and cat and by finding the best possible home for each animal. With the help of BAWF, we have developed a thorough application process for potential adoptive families to make certain that not only are our dogs and cats placed in good homes, but that we have made the best possible match.”
Like BAWF, the AHABR is a non-profit organization, operating solely with contributions from the community. “Later on, we will conduct fundraisers and we expect to apply for grants from non-profit foundations to supplement our resources,” Gail said.
In addition, the adopting families will be asked to make donations both to show their commitment to their pets’ well-being and to help us spread assistance to as many pets as possible.
Pat and Gail see this venture as a community effort. “We are asking you to help us save the Chance’s and Max’s of our community so they can enrich individuals’ and families’ lives with their unconditional love,” Gail said. “We need volunteers to help train and socialize the animals, to foster the animals, help with management, assist with fundraisers, and to solicit contributions from the community.
The public is invited to an organizational meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, 108 Turner Road, which is off Douthat Road, at I-64, exit 27.
“We’ve invited Joanne Wertz, president of BAWF, to speak briefly about rescue organizations,” Gail said.
For more information on the new group call Pat at 540-862-5857 or Gail at 540-862-1619.
