Many of the sanctuary dogs are in need of medical care such as Senior Bloodwork, etc. See their descriptions for this information.

Yes and No - Many of these dogs have been up for adoption for years but have been removed from the adoption list and put into out Sanctuary category because no one has shown any interest in them. If a wonderful person contacted us and wanted to take in one of these dogs, we would certainly consider it because these dogs deserve their very own homes to live out their lives.

However, there are a few dogs who are un socialized and unadoptable. These dogs are great in here where they are comfortable but would not adjust well to change or new homes. So they are here to be loved forever.

Hannah (left) and Murray (right) are the Matriarchs of the Sanctuary.

Hannah came to us 6 years ago and was posted for 5 years. NO ONE ever applied for her. She is now 9 years old and still the best dog in my house. She came from a "rescuer" who had 25 dogs living in 7 dog pens in the woods on her farm. Her husband left her and she told everyone she was going to kill all the dogs. She also told me Hannah hated other dogs. She loves other dogs!

NEEDS: Hannah on Deramaxx pain medication when needed, monthly cost is approx $56. She had a Cruiciate repair on her knee several years ago. She also needs Senior Bloodwork (cost : $132) and is due for her annual vaccines in April 2010 (cost: $55)

Murrey is also 9 years old. He loves car rides and swimming in the lake. Murrey was left tied to Petsmart when he was about 1 year old. He was adopted out, moved to California with his family, then flown back to us 6 years later when they got divorced. Murrey is very protective and needed to be in a special home. We placed him once more but it did not work out. Because of his issues we felt it was best to keep him here. Amazingly with old age, he as really settled down and doesn't mind strangers anymore.

NEEDS: Senior Bloodwork (cost: $132) and is due for his annual vaccinations in May 2010 (cost: $55)

Max is a 13 year old Miniature Pincher. He is in congestive heart failure.

NEEDS: He needs bi-monthly vet visits for Lasix (cost: $45 each visit). He also needs a constant supply of puppy pads b/c he can't go outside any more. He gets very freaked out. Thank you to Monica for paying for his chst xrays and first round of Lasix

Max spends his days sleeping most of the time. He burrows under his blanket in from of the heating vent. He gets up to eat, drink and potty but due to blindness he is scared to go outside so he uses his potty pads. Max still has a little spunk in him and if his bowl is empty he will bark.

Max was abandoned by his family when he was 9 years old. He was heartworm positive. He was up for adoption for over year but no one wanted him b/c of his age.

Sam is about 12 years old. He is a 35 spitz mix . Sam has been here for many years. When he came to us you could not touch his feet, legs, ears or tail without him jumping up and nipping at you. Over time he has become a love bug and no more biting. However, he still wears a belly band b/c he marks everywhere! I love him though

NEEDS: Sam is peeing in his sleep. He needs to have bloodwork and urynalysis and they would like to do a thyroid panel on him. (Cost: $145)

A neighbor of mine came home one day after a 3 day trip and opened her garage door. Sam came running out very hungary and thirsty. He has been trapped in there somehow. She brought him to me thinking he was one of mine but he was not. I took him in. We never found out who he belonged to.

Lady is an 8 year old Hound Australian Shepherd mix with crystal blue eyes. She is very sweet but very shy.

NEEDS: Lady has gained alot of weight recently and is very sad and lethargic. We need to get her senior bloodwork and thyroid test done.

Lady was living in the woods with a litter of puppies. Only one survived but she was a very good mom. She was obviously from an abusive home as well and was never able to handle going to adoptions. When people come to the house, she hides.

Tigger is Lady's only surviving son. He is 3 yrs old, 85 lbs with crystal blue eyes. Tigger has never been social or loving. He has never lifted his tail from between his legs. The end will wag and he loves to lay near you but if you call him he goes outside. He is really one of the oddest dogs I have ever met. He has been with me since he was 6 weeks old and I loved on him constantly but he never wanted anything to do with me or anyone else who comes to visit.

NEEDS: Nothing at this time other then toys or bedding

Born and raised in the woods with his mother Lady, listed above. He never took to people so he has been here and will stay here forever.

Mama Kelly is a sweet, happy, wiggly, loving, talking, funny little angel. She is also as smart as I am! It took me one YEAR to the week to catch Kelly. I would go down to that area 3-5 times a week, each time bringing fried chicken or hamburgers or sausage. She would come out of the woods when she would here me call her. She was always followed by her husband, a big yellow lab mix. He followed her everywhere but wanted nothing to do with me and would also leave when he saw me. Mama, however wanted to know to know what I had brought her this time.

I spent a year tracking these dogs. They would move from one set of woods to another but always stayed in the same general area. When I first met her she had 3 five month puppies that she took great care of. I would watch while they crossed the street and she would show up and herd them back to the right side. She was a good mom. During the year of trying to catch her she had two more litters of puppies. There are 3 surviving pups from litter number One, two surviving pups from littler number Two and all of the pups from litter number Three were adopted out b/c I took them from her when I found them at 5 weeks of age.

So..Mama would never come to me but she would come close enough for me to throw her food. I set up a pen in a ladies backyard and put food in there. My goal was to trap them in the pen since they were too smart for the trap. I tied a rope on the door of the pen and ran it up the yard. I fed the dogs in that pen for 8 months. One day I showed up and Mama Kelly come to see me. I put out new food and threw some nice juicy ham hocks in the pen. She watched me but would not go in. I got in my car and drove a few houses down and parked. I ran back quietly and there she was in the pen. I grabbed the rope and she was tapped. Sadly, Daddy dog was not in there. She was scared but on the ride home, she gave me kisses!!!

Sadly, I was never able to catch Daddy dog or one of the sibling from the first litter.

Each night, Mama Kelly gets up on the couch, talks to me and puts her butt in the hair for scratches. She is hilarious. She was up for adoption for 2 years but was recently removed.

NEEDS: She has a small tumor on the inside of her mouth that needs to be removed.

PS> People in the area claim that Lady and Kelly are sisters who were dumped out when their families moved. This is not a very good area of Decatur by the way

Sister is the daughter of Mama Kelly from litter number One.. She is now 3 1/2 years old. She is my feral dog. She was born in the woods and never touched by a person until the day I trapped her in a humane trap and took her to my home. She has never forgiven me!

Sister does not let me pet her and will not come near me. She hangs out in the yard all day with her little family and only comes in at night. To get her in the house I have to go stand on the deck where she can see me. I turn my back and say "Sister, house" and she runs along the fence, and in the house to her bed. She always keeps her eye on me. I can pet her if I corner her and I can bath her if I muzzle her. She is not a bad dog just very feral and possibly inbred.

NEEDS: Annual vet visit is also due in May 2010 - cost will be $55 - SPONSOR NEEDED

Oliver is the son of Mama Kelly from litter number One. He is now 3 1/2 years old. He is a sweet boy who loves to play ball but he is shy when you go towards him. Some days he lets you pet in, others he wants nothing to do with you. However, he will sit and lay down for treats.

Oliver was born in the woods and never touched by a person until he was 5 months old. He was limping on three legs when I trapped him and brought him home. He was the evil child of the three dogs and I had no idea what in the world I would do with him. I knew he was in pain though so we addressed that first. Oliver had a $700 FHO on his rear hip. Once he was no longer in pain, he was much more loving and socialable and quickly became a sweetheart.

Due to his leg injury Oliver was never adopted. I also was unsure of his ability to adjust yet again.

NEEDS: Oliver is on daily Deramaxx for his left rear hip. He had a FHO (Femoral Head "Removell" when he was a pup and now it is hurting him. He no longer wants on it. Monthly cost of medication is $56 a MONTH

Annual vet visit is also due in May 2010 - cost will be $55 - SPONSOR NEEDED

Thank you Monica for paying for his recent leg xrays

Baby is the daughter of Mama Kelly from litter number One. She is now 3 1/2 yrs old. She is just like her mother. Sweet, talkative, funny and just wants to be loved. She is so shy of new people though that those who meet her can't bond with her and therefore she has never been adopted.

Baby was born in the woods and had never been touched by a person until I trapped her. Bless her heart, she was the first one I trapped and then I had to put her in a crate alone to use her as bait to get her siblings. She faired very well though and helped save the other two.

NEEDS: Annual vet visit is also due in May 2010 - cost will be $55 - SPONSOR NEEDED

Wally was a stray picked up by Cherokee County Animal Control 2 years ago. He was a happy boy but in pain. One eye had already imploded on its own and the other eye was enlarged with the pressure of Glaucoma. It had to be removed. Wally now has no eyes but he can "see" better then some of the dogs with eyes! LOL He still acts like he is normal and has a funny personality.

NEEDS: It is time to check Wally's bloodwork again. (cost: $132).

Buster came to us in 2006. He had a broken ankle where his previous owner had thrown him down the stairs by that leg. Two different vets told us it could not be corrected since it had already fused together and healed incorrectly. On top of this, Buster wears a belly band b/c he marks constantly and has severe flea allergies. If he gets bitten by one flea he will chew himself raw. Two years ago he bit his own tail off in a fit of chewing!

NEEDS: Constant flea medication and we can't be a day late! Annual vet visit is due in June (cost: $55)

Jerry came to us almost 2 years ago. He is still listed on the adoption pages but sadly I know he will never be adopted and is here for the rest of his little life. It isn't much of a life for a 5 lbs little man though. He has a odd little personality and needs a special home.

NEEDS: Nothing at this time. Thank you Monica for paying for his chest xrays and Lasix treatments