On the Front Lines

Written By: David Stroud - Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society | Issue: 2017/06 - June

As an official Emergency Placement Partner with the Humane Society of the United States – one of only 300 nationwide – the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society has been called upon to provide assistance in puppy mill raids, cruelty and hoarding cases, and disaster response in five different states. 

But the rescue where CHHS served on the front lines this past April was the largest in our 30-year history.

The CHHS Animal Rescue Team was among the first responders on the morning of April 13, at the scene of a large-scale, multi-species animal neglect case in Clarkesville, Georgia. A total of 435 animals were found in deplorable conditions and in need of urgent veterinary care. 

 The animals included 312 dogs and puppies, along with cats, donkeys, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, a horse and an alpaca. There were dogs with fur so matted that you could not tell the animal’s head from its tail, legs that couldn’t move and tumors you couldn’t see. The dogs were kept behind wire gauge fence nailed to iron stakes with no gates. We had to use wire cutters to get inside each pen to save the dogs.

World-renowned animal behavior expert Victoria Stilwell and recipient of the 2014 CHHS Humane Hero of the Year Award was there to assist in the rescue and evaluation of
the dogs. 

 Afterwards, Victoria sent us this note of thanks: “Even though it was tough to see the animals in such horrendous conditions, it was made so much easier with the help of you and the Animal Rescue Team from the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society. Without you and your rescue vehicle, the H.E.A.R.T. of North Carolina, the whole operation would have been a lot harder. You worked diligently alongside HSUS and other organizations that were on scene. Seeing your team in action, saving the lives of desperately sick and neglected animals, was truly wonderful and it was a blessing to have them there. Thank you, David and the team – you did an
amazing job.” 

Kim Alboum, HSUS National Shelter Outreach & Policy Engagement Director, had this to say: “Our shelter and rescue partners are a vital component of our nationwide rescue efforts. Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society always stands ready to respond in the field or take in victims of cruelty and neglect. Our lifesaving work depends on their ability to continue the healing journey for many of these animals and we were incredibly grateful to have the Cashiers-Highlands team at our side during this multi-species neglect case.”

Fifty of the 312 rescued dogs were brought back to the new CHHS Canine Adoption Center, Western North Carolina’s most modern animal welfare facility. Nearly all of these brave canine survivors have since found a new loving, forever home.

Established in 1987, the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill shelter that relies solely on donations, grants, bequests and special events to further our mission of rescue, compassionate care, spay/neuter and finding forever homes for nearly 500 abandoned and neglected animals each year. 

CHHS is located on Highway 64 in Sapphire, two miles east of the Cashiers Crossroads and is open 10 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday. For more information, please call (828) 743-5752 or visit us online at www.CHhumanesociety.org. Tax-deductible donations to support our lifesaving work can be mailed to CHHS, P.O. Box 638, Cashiers, NC 28717.