[December 31, 2003] It never ends. Last week, Mason County WV was slammed with 22 dogs in one day. Today's update lists eleven new arrivals over and above those. I suspect that's just the tip of the iceberg. One of those newcomers immediately broke my heart.

How anyone can do this to an animal who has loved them for their entire lives is beyond me, but someone dumped off the sweetest senior beagle you've ever seen. Not just a senior - a super senior. Sandy is estimated to be about 19 years old. One look at that sad little face, so cute, so sweet, so trusting - your heart will just melt. Despite her age and her harsh treatment, she's a loving, caring dog who doesn't deserve to spend her final days in an unheated shelter cage or worse - a gas chamber.

If she doesn't get out of the shelter quickly, that's what's going to happen. The Mason County Animal Shelter is a high-kill facility which puts animals down by gassing when their time is up. As the oldest dog there, her chances of being adopted are slim, so she's going to need a rescue ASAP if she's going to get out of the shelter alive.

If you can help Sandy or the many, many other animals in need in Mason County, please contact Missy or Dena. For most efficient response, please include your name, address, phone number and email address along with the name of your rescue, any web site URL AND the name, address and phone number of the vet you use to alter and treat animals in your rescue.

The Mason County Animal Shelter is located at Route #1 , Box 480 , Point Pleasant , WV 25550 Phone: (304) 675-6458