Samantha and Cali sisters abandoned by their family

Samantha, a beautiful girl. had a very happy life. When she was about two, sweet Cali wandered up to the home where Samantha lived. They became sisters and the best of friends. They loved playing with the human kids that lived in the house. Fetch and playing ball was their favorite. The kids played every day with Samantha and Cali. Life was good for them. They were loved.

Then one day life changed for these sweet girls. The little boy and girl got in the car to go for a ride, but this time the dogs got to go too. They were so happy to go with their kids. They jumped in and sat between the two, kissing them all over and wagging their tails. The kids laughed and they too were happy to have the dogs ride along with them. But this ride ended at the local rural animal shelter. The dad and mom went into the shelter leaving the kids and dogs sitting in the car. All were curious as to what was going on. Then the parents came back out. The told the kids to say good bye to Samantha and Cali. The little girl said "but why?" Dad ignored her question and pulled Cali out of the car. The little boy started to cry. Both stayed in the car, crying when they realized that they were loosing their friends.

This was not a happy time for Samantha or Cali either. They were pulled away from their wonderful kids, who were crying. The dogs felt their pain as their own. Then when they thought things could not get any worse for them, they were pulled through the shelter door. It was loud and scary. They were placed in cages. Samantha could smell Cali but couldn't see her. So many dog and so loud. She cried out to her friend Cali and heard Cali bark among the other barks in the building.

Each girl, in their own cage sat sadly...when would their owner come back and what was going to happen to the crying kids? They were so sad. Then night fell, neither could sleep. Both paced the floor in their cages. They did not understand. Cali, the younger of the two, tried to entertain herself by playing with her water dish. She pretended they were toys, but as the days went by even this happy girl could not pretend anymore. She had to admit to herself that her family wasn't coming back for her.

Cali and Samantha sit in their cages listening to the sounds of the other dogs barking and crying. Occasionally visitors come in. They get excited to see new faces but when they walk by their cage without stopping, the sadness sets in again. Cali gets very excited and jumps for joy every time she hears the sound of a child's voice. They walk past her cage and she realizes they are not her kids. They didn't come back to get her. She hangs her head and cries. All the while Samantha continues to pace the floor. The girls wait.... They wait for an ending ... What kind of ending will their story have? Will it end happy or will their lives end here in this high kill shelter? The wait for a hero.

Samantha, she is about two years old. 

Cali,  she is about a year old and loves to play ball.   

Samantha and Cali are at Tipton County animal shelter Brighton TN







A hero is needed to save them!

Mr. Bojangles

There is a dog.... we call him Bojangles cause he likes to dance a jig. He clicks his heels way up high. His previous owner said his name is Bo. We think he is a pure Bojangles at heart. 

Bo went to live with a family as a young puppy. He had a pretty good life, he thought so anyway. He lived in the country, was well fed, and had fur family playmates to keep him company. What more could a dog want? Bo only knew one way of life .. he was a country boy. 

One day when Bo was about a year old, his person called him and his fur family and said 
"time to go for a ride". Bo was so excited. He always wanted to go when his people went, so he pounced up into the car, smiled and danced around in the back seat. They drove a little ways but it wasn't too far. Then Bo's person got out and went inside a building. Bo was eager to get out of the car and see what new adventures awaited.

Then Bo's person came back and slipped a leash around Bo's neck. He walked Bo up to the door, but as soon as the door opened, the sounds and smells of all the other dogs hit him and he immediately sensed this was not the place he wanted to be. His tail dropped, he stopped and had to be pulled the rest of the way into the building. Then his person handed the leash over to someone and walked away without even saying goodbye. Bo was led into a small cage. There were dogs on each side of him. He could see dogs in cages in front of him and the noise was so loud. So many barking dogs and so many strange dogs smells. He had never been in a cage before and he was suddenly scared and alone.

Then day turned into night. Bo lay in the cage scared and lonely. He kept wondering what he had done wrong. Why did his person bring him in and leave. He never felt so abandoned and alone in his whole life. Day after day he sat waiting thinking maybe today would be the day his person comes back to take him home again. He thought he would try to be a better dog....whatever that was.

One day some nice ladies came and took him outside for awhile. He thought he was getting to leave and he danced a jig. He was so happy! They took his photos in order to try to find a new family for him but he didn't understand. He just wanted to stay outside with them and play. Sadly the nice ladies didn't take him home. They couldn't stay either.

So still he waits. He wonders if he will ever leave this jail cell. The cold metal walls and concrete floor stare back at him.

He said his name "Bojangles" and he danced across the cell

He grabbed his pants and spread his stance, he jumped so high

and then he clicked his heels 

He let go a laugh and shook back his clothes all around 

Mr Bojangles,  Mr. Bojangles

Mr. Bojangles, dance 

Happy UPDATE
Bojangles was adopted from the shelter.  He has a new home.  No more waiting for this boy.

Jed

Jed was a birthday gift for a young man. He was a cute little black lab mix puppy full of energy and life. He loved playing with the young man Bobby, who was his master. They played fetch in the big back yard. As Jed grew, things in his family began to change. Jed lived in the back yard and Bobby stayed outside with him most of the time. Jed could often hear yelling from inside the house and knew Bobby felt safer outside with him. 

Then one day Bobby came out to him crying. He told Jed that he and his mom were leaving and they were going to live in an apartment where Jed would not be allowed to go. Bobby told Jed that his Dad was going to stay and would take care of Jed. But with his best friend Bobby leaving him, Jed's life would never be the same. 

Shortly after Bobby left, food became scarce for Jed. Bobby's dad was often drunk and would forget to feed Jed for days in a row. Tied out on a chain, Jed was hungry, sad, and miserable. Then one day Bobby's dad walked up to Jed and just stood there staring at him. He took Jed and pulled him to the car. Jed was nervous, he didn't know what was going on. They drove for what seemed like a long time. Then in the country, Bobby's dad got out of the car and pulled Jed out onto the street. Then he got back into him car and kept driving. Jed sat in the street for over an hour just sitting there looking in the direction the car had left. Not knowing what to do, Jed started walking. He just kept walking. He became weak and tired. He was so hungry from days of not getting fed. He walked for hours and hours. Then he walked up to a community. He saw many houses and kids playing in yards. He tried to play with them but they ran from him. That made him cry. Then one of the owners called animal control and a man came and put Jed in a truck. The next thing Jed knew he was in a cage inside a building. 

Jed was happy to have food. He had lost a lot of weight from the neglect he suffered before he was dumped in the country. Day after day he sits in the shelter. Sometimes people take him out for a walk and give him a little attention. But most of the time he just sits and thinks. He thinks about Bobby and wonders where he is and if he is safe. The shelter is full of dogs that bark all the time. They are all stressed from being locked up and it isn't a happy place for Jed. At night he dreams of a happier time, when he and Bobby would play fetch and then he wakes up and cries. 

Jed is about two years old. A neutered male that was turned in to Tipton County animal shelter as a stray. He is heart worm positive and has been waiting for someone to save him since Aug 28th. The story of how Jed came to be at the shelter may not be completely accurate, but he is very skinny and has missed too many meals in his life. He is a big tall boy who is very friendly. He deserves to find a happy ending. Please share Jed's story so he might find a hero to save him. He needs a new friend. If you are a rescue interested in saving Jed, we can help with fundraising for heart worm treatment cost. You may contact me at sosanimalsofwesttennessee@gmail.com  Tipton county animal shelter Hwy 51 Brighton TN  901 837 5919
Jan Johnson

Update on Jed.  He was rescued from the shelter by NE Ohio Lab Rescue.  Happy ending for this boy!