How to Rescue Dogs: Southern Jewel Shelly Bookwalter's Story

Every once in a while, a story comes along so moving, and so inspiring that it absolutely MUST be shared. This is one of them.

I have a huge spot in my heart for animals and dogs especially. Mostly due to the economy, there has been an enormous increase in the number of dogs and other pets coming into humane societies and animal shelters all over the country. Many people simply cannot afford to care for their pet financially, socially, or otherwise and decide to either abandon it or turn it into an animal shelter or humane society. I hate to see this happen and although I've never met her, I have this in common with Shelly Bookwalter. Shelly is a full-time real estate agent for Century 21 and has also served as a guardian angel for so many animals in the past 16 years. She currently lives in Mississippi and rescues stray dogs, as well as shelter dogs from being euthanized and killed. Her family owns around 25 dogs currently, most of which were strays and rescued dogs from a shelter. When a shelter or humane society runs out of room to keep dogs and other animals, they rely on volunteers to "foster parent" the animals. This means that volunteers who work with the humane society voluntarily take the animals into their homes temporarily and care for them. Most humane societies will pay all the veterinarian costs, food, etc. associated with each dog that is being fostered, so all that volunteers are expected to do is temporarily board the dog and socialize it until the humane society can find the dog a permanent home. Shelly helps the DeSoto Animal Rescue Society by fostering dogs and other pets that the society simply does not have enough room for. She relies heavily on a team of volunteers who also help in her efforts to both foster these animals and help find them permanent homes. Kyle Peterson shares her love for animals and has developed P.E.T.S. which transports dogs that Shelly and her team has rescued to permanent homes in the Northeast. Shelly and Kyle's efforts have been recognized nationwide and have earned them a television show called Last Chance Highway on Animal Planet. Shelly has partnered with Petfinder.com to find permanent homes for her dogs.

She also incurs 100% of the cost of these dogs - this money all comes out of her own pocket and she spends between $70,000 and $80,000 a year on rescuing these animals, so PLEASE re-post this, spread the word, and donate if you can!

To adopt one of Shelly's dogs, click here.

P.E.T.S. contact information:

email: info@petsllc.net

phone: 1-877-560-PETS (7387)

Kyle: 615-218-1589

Snail Mail:

P.E.T.S.
P.O. Box 3302
Cookeville TN 38502

Donations to Shelly's Southern Jewel Dog Rescue Charity can be made via check and sent to:

Southern Jewel Dog Rescue

P.O. Box 1909

Olive Branch, MS 38654