Bollinger County Stray Project

Report for Feb. 19 to 25

Last week I mentioned an aggressive male hound-mix abandoned at a broken-down trailer in southeast Bollinger County. That trailer had been the home of a single elderly man whose daughter was a drifter. I am unsure of her upbringing, but I can tell you that it is hard for a young person to leave a home that is trashed like his was and then grow up to be a clean, hard-working adult.

It becomes normal living with trash everywhere, and they have to cope, even going to school in dirty clothes or without a bath or shower other than after physical education classes in school.

Many times the best friends to those kids are their dog or cat.

The elderly man at that home was dying. He had asked his daughter to care for him while he was preparing to die and she did.

A year ago in February, two stray dogs showed up a few days apart. They were probably always together, but the hound I wrote about last week is a bit more private; he was the second dog to ask for food and accepted loving. They came during the harsh cold spell in February 2023. So, the daughter made the father agree to let the dogs in the broken-down trailer.

He passed and she recently sold the property to a couple from up north. It will be totally cleaned up with trailers removed, and a new cabin will become a weekend resort for that family.

When I went into the old trailer to look for the hound, I could not believe what I saw in the only bedroom. Apparently, the old man had a hard time moving. The room was covered in trash, and the bed was covered, too. I was told the dogs were sleeping on that bed. I could not see a place for them to lie down in that whole room. In fact, the floor was a foot deep or more with trash in some in places.

The floors in the living room and kitchen were bare to the wood, holes everywhere in the linoleum, and the couple of pieces of furniture were dirty and worn.

I thought to myself, as poor as the gal and her father were, she still cared enough for those two strays that she shared the warmth of that home and bought them dog food.

She left them behind with a light on, two bags of food cut open for them to eat from, and the door open with an old quilt nailed to the door frame to help keep the cold air out.

Even though she left them behind, she knew the owners were coming back as well as the Realtor. She is like a gypsy, I am told, yet she did the best she could for the dogs, even with her own addictions, challenges and demons.

Dogs held for other rescues:

• Four Aussie-type mixed pups, abandoned in Bollinger County, are about 14 weeks old.

Returned to owner, placed in other rescues, foster or adopted:

• A 7-year-old pug was returned to his owner. Oddly, the pug was freshly bathed and smelled of perfume. Apparently, the person who stole the dog became worried and dumped him fairly close to home. When you find a dog, you must at least try to find its owner before taking it on as your own. Fortunately, that pug has bladder problems and probably peed, maybe even pooped, in the thief's home. Good.

Dogs with erlichia, special needs or euthanized:

• None.

Lost and found animals in area:

• Several dogs that are found or missing are listed on our Facebook page and also the two Bollinger County "What's Happening" pages. Don't have FB? Then call us so we can try to match lost pets.

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We were caring for 23 dogs and pups at our home Feb. 25. If you have a stray camping out in the yard, don't wait. Call us at (573) 722-3035 or (573) 321-0050.

MARILYN NEVILLE is director of Bollinger County Stray Project.