Sometimes we all need a little help from others. Four years ago, a homeless man was living deep within the Natchez Trace State Park woods in Tennessee where he was caring for 31 dogs. Unfortunately, when he became sick, he could no longer care for the dogs and found himself needing to ask for help from local animal rescues.
As it later turned out, the man had been living in the wilderness for a period of sixteen years.
Animal Rescue Corps were the ones who assisted the homeless man’s dogs, and the rescue posted to Facebook, “After recent health issues, he accepted the help of community members and ARC to find homes for himself and the dogs he has been caring for in the woods.”
The rescue stepped in to help the man and his dogs when things became dire and he needed a quick resolution.
In their post, the rescue revealed, “His greatest wish and the only thing keeping him from accepting the physical and medical help being offered to him was that he would not leave until he knew the dogs would have a home. He was aware that he could not provide the care or attention that more than 30 dogs deserve and require.”
The dogs that were rescued were of all breeds, and came in a variety of colors and sizes. They had all formed a giant pack. Unfortunately, while the man cared for them, he wasn’t able to get them proper medical attention, so none of the dogs had received their vaccinations. On top of that, some if not all the dogs were infected with some kind of parasite – whether internal or external.
Three of the dogs showed signs of having sustained injuries to the legs. Regardless, the man had tried his best to provide for them the best care he could with what little means he had.
ARC President, Scotlund Haisley, wrote, “Members of the community have been working with this man to improve his way of life and this rescue is part of it. He wasn’t going to abandon the dogs and accept the help for himself without first finding a group to take the dogs. We are very glad to be able to assist.”
The man helped the ARC team round up all the dogs and get them into kennels in order to have them transported to an emergency shelter where they were later examined by another team of veterinarians.
The group updated the public with a post which read, “ARC will provide daily care until the animals are placed with shelter and rescue organizations that will ultimately adopt them into loving homes. For people wishing to foster or adopt, ARC will publish its list of shelter and rescue placement partners on its Facebook page once the dogs are transferred to these groups.”
ANIMAL RESCUE CORPS RESCUES 31 DOGS LIVING WITH A MAN IN NATCHEZ TRACE STATE PARK Wildersville, TN – Animal Rescue…
Posted by Animal Rescue Corps on Saturday, January 9, 2016
At the time it was uncertain what would happen to the homeless man, but ARC was happy to report, “He is reportedly going to be now living in the home of a man he has known for many years and getting necessary medical attention. He is very relieved that the dogs will be well taken care of. His words: ‘my tears are tears of joy that each will have a home’.”
It’s always a good day when animals are helped out for the best. For more information about the ARC rescue and what they do or how you can get involved, click here to visit their website.
