Heartsong and Happy Tails are 'far out front' in animal rescues

Editor:

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Columbia County Animal Care and Control has new allies in Heartsong and Happy Tails animal rescue groups. The first quarter results of 2008 show these two groups far out front in the rescue effort of animals impounded at CCAC.

Animal Control takes in strays as well as animals surrendered by owners. When animals have been in custody for a period of time, and no homes are found, rescue groups that have a contract with the county have the opportunity to accept the animals into their care.

Heartsong Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc., of Martinez, and CSRA Happy Tails Rescue of Appling, have stepped up and taken the majority of animals into rescue. For the first quarter of this year, of the 155 animals taken in by CCAC, 66 were taken in by Heartsong and 44 by Happy Tails. This represents the rescue of 69 percent of all animals taken in by CCAC.

Other groups, such as Molly's Militia and Columbia County Humane Society also have contracts with the county to rescue animals from CCAC. Those groups took in three animals during this period. The remaining 42 were euthanized at CCAC.

Heartsong Spay-Neuter Clinic on S. Belair Rd, the only low-cost spay-neuter clinic in Columbia County, has spayed or neutered most of the animals rescued by Heartsong and Happy Tails.

The combined efforts of these groups, along with the low cost spay-neuter clinic, will help reduce the number of animals euthanized annually and will provide greater adoption opportunities for the pets.

Barbara Gleitsmann

Happy Tails Rescue

Loretta Emmons

Heartsong Animal Rescue