Our friends at Georgia Animal Rescue and Defence Inc. (GARD) do an amazing job for black dogs, including a fantastic video that got our eyes wellin' up. Created by GARD volunteer and webmaster extraordinaire Laura Parrish Lightle, this wonderful video is an educational and moving look at the plight of black mixed-breed shelter dogs. Laura graciously offered to let us post it here.


To see the video, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dyxo1Y-lkg


Wondering if I let a typo slip by? It’s been known to happen, but in this case. GARD purposely spells “defence” with a “c”. If you’ve never heard about GARD, we think you’ll love this wonderful organizations mission: “Georgia Animal Rescue and Defence, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3 / 509(a)2 licensed animal shelter located in Pembroke, GA and serves Bryan County and outlying areas.


GARD was founded by, and is now directed by Joy Bohannon, JoAnne Bohannon and Philip Rutherford. Having recently relocated here from Vermont, where low-cost spay/neuter clinics have been in existence for years and euthanasia is no longer a necessity in animal population control, we became aware of the outstanding need in this area by the over abundance of feral and homeless domestic animals.


We initiated efforts to feed, vet, and place numerous animals in our immediate locale. Our endeavors have expanded in response to the overwhelming needs of the homeless and neglected, and have necessitated our relocating to a property suited to the establishment of a no-kill shelter which will eventually host a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.”


HUGE high-fives to GARD for seeing an un-met need in Georgia and for the wonderful work they are doing.


Heather Rosenwald