Adoptable Georgia Dogs for October 2, 2013

Today’s first adoptable dog is named Elwood Blues, a middle-aged adult male who is a Jack Russell Terrier/Beagle mix. Elwood has some medical issues that will require medication for the rest of his life.

His face is partially paralyzed so he is unable to blink his eyes, he is in congestive heart failure, and he has just a little trouble with being incontinent. This is another reason FFHS depends on donations from supporters like you. Elwood requires medication daily and blood work bi-annually.

Even if he isn’t adopted, his friends at Furever Friends Humane Society in Gray, Ga have committed to fostering him for the rest of his life if necessary. If you’d like to donate for his medical expenses, please visit Furever Friends’ website and donate online or mail them a check.

In honor of Elwood Blues, here’s your morning song of the day:

Rita Mae continues our theme today; she is a five-year old female Jack Russell Terrier who is fully vetted and up-to-date on her shots. She is available for adoption from Heart of Georgia Humane Society in Macon, Ga.

John Henry is a four-year old Shepherd/Basset Hound mix, who loves his sister, Essie, and is very bonded to her. They’d like to find a home together where they can play in a fenced yard.

Essie is John Henry’s sister. They love each other and get along well with other dogs. They’re available for adoption from Heart of Georgia Humane Society in Macon, Ga.

Last night, the Macon City Council approved a mandatory spay/neuter programs for dogs in the city. From the Macon Telegraph,

The approved version sets a deadline of July 1, 2014, for dogs and cats over the age of 6 months within city limits to be spayed or neutered. For $10, some dogs and cats can get unaltered animal permits: police dogs, designated breeders, service dogs, rescue dogs, herding dogs, dogs or cats with a certified health reason, those boarded in kennels, and show animals. But all those with such permits must be microchipped, the ordinance says.

Animals in the city less than four months of the year, or kept in a recognized shelter, are exempt. All breeders must get breeding permits, with that cost to be set by the Animal Welfare director.

Violators could be fined up to $500, but the floor amendment lets first-time violators off the hook if they comply within 60 days. And the Animal Welfare director can suspend enforcement if there aren’t “adequate” low-cost or free spay and neuter services available in Bibb County.

“I am here to ask you … to vote yes for this ordinance,” she said. The shelter euthanizes thousands of animals each year, the vast majority of those brought in, [Macon-Bibb County Animal Welfare director Sarah] Tenon said. Animal Welfare staff have called many other communities with mandatory spay/neuter laws, and were unanimously told they work, she said.

Even getting to a final vote caused some argument on council, including over a failed attempt to send the ordinance back to committee.

In the end, council members Lauren Benedict, Ed DeFore, Tom Ellington, Charles Jones, Beverly K. Olson, Larry Schlesinger, Frank Tompkins and White voted for it.

Council members Henry Ficklin, Henry Gibson, Elaine Lucas, James Timley and Virgil Watkins voted no. Councilmen Rick Hutto and Lonnie Miley were absent.

Two last minute adoptables come from the Murray County Animal Shelter in Chatsworth, where these dogs are likely to be euthanized without a rescue commitment by 7 AM tomorrow.

This dog, ID# 2590 a year-and-a-half old female weighing 41 pounds, is described as a Dalmatian/spaniel mix, but I think she’s a bird dog – some kind of pointer or setter.