By Doug Keeler http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/
Midway Driller Editor
Local animal lovers have spared nearly 350 dogs from likely death in an animal shelter or a short life on the streets of Taft.
Linda Hodges took another load of puppies - 22 this time - to a no-kill animal shelter in Ojai.
She and her friends and a network of foster families have taken over 330 puppies and eighteen adult dogs to no kill shelters since September of last year.
Hodges said its wrong to euthanize dogs or puppies simply because there is no room at the shelter.
“My opinion is the only animal that should be put down is a vicious or sick animal,” Hodges said.
Hodges uses her own money to pay for her crusade to save the dogs from death and gets help from volunteer foster families that help raise puppies until they are old enough to be take to a shelter for adoption.
The dogs are taken only to no-kill shelters, the Ventura County Humane Society's shelter in Ojai, and the Woods Humane Society near San Luis Obispo.
Short of stronger controls on the uncontrolled breeding of dogs, which produces litter after litter of puppies that end up in shelters or wandering the streets.
Hodges efforts, called Compassion for Canines, is the last best hope for many dogs.
They take in unwanted puppies and raise them.
It's the best solution until a better way of handling pets is found.
Uncontrolled breeding leads to many homeless animals that live (or die) on the streets or are taken to shelters, where many are killed because there is no room.
“Our goal is that the only place that should have puppies is a licensed breeder or a shelter,” Hodges said. “That way they only puppies let out are spayed or neutered and have their shots,” Hodges said. “Most puppies now end up on the streets and end up getting parvo.”
Hodges said her goal is to get a grant to cover the cost of raising unwanted puppies until they are adoptable, and, just as important, paying for the spaying and neutering of dogs to prevent uncontrolled breeding.
Currently, she operates and Thrift Store to try to raise money and uses her own funds to pay for gas to take puppies to no-kill shelters.
She currently works with a network of five foster homes that help raise puppies and is seeking more help.
