Sometime during the last week, as you were on your way to church or the office, you zoomed past a stray dog and perhaps didn’t give it much thought. You might have even swerved your car as a spotted mix chased at your wheel. “Dumb mutt,” you grumbled as you righted your car. Or possibly, you were filling up your vehicle at the Kangaroo gas station on Old Highway 78 and an emaciated, mange-scabbed, hobbling stray sniffed through the parking lot looking for scraps of—anything. Whether you’ve noticed or not, Walker County has developed a major dog problem. City and county officials have been working to alleviate the issue, but dogs grow like kudzu, and the situation has gotten out of hand.“There are literally thousands of stray dogs in Walker County,” says Melody Gilliland.Melody and her friends Marsha Miller and Kara Ford are nuts about mutts. This trio recently formed a pending 501(c)(3) nonprofit called Rescuers United for Furbabies, or R.U.F.F., whose purpose is to provide care and a future home for the stray dogs of Walker County. “We want to pick up strays. That’s where our heart is,” says Melody.In their spare time, these ladies cruise the streets and back roads of Walker County, searching for these wayward ragamuffins. They rescue the dogs, place an ad in the paper, pay vet bills, post on social media, search for a foster family, and most importantly, a find permanent home for these strays that previously no one seemed to want.Vet bills for these orphaned and abandoned creatures can get expensive. Shots, deworming, spaying and neutering cost at minimum $250, and often the women of R.U.F.F. have found themselves scrambling through their pockets to pay for vet care. They are accepting donations, however, and hope that willing people will help contribute to this worthwhile effort.R.U.F.F. has seen a need in Walker County, and view themselves as a supplement to, not a hindrance of, the public canine control efforts. Within the last month, county leaders have moved forward in the construction of a new animal shelter, and city officials have stated that they intend to operate their own adoption facility independent from the county. County attorney Eddie Jackson has stated that he believes the two shelters can coexist and work efficiently. The county’s new shelter will be located near the county landfill, and will have 3,000 square feet and 22 holding cells for the animals. Cost is $250,000.In the meantime, pups continue to feel the unwelcome bite of cold, disease, hunger, and abuse. A dog was recently dragged behind a truck near Goodsprings. Hundreds more will be euthanized. Still others will meet their demise against the bumpers of cars and be left to rot on the side of the road after rigor mortis sets in.That’s where R.U.F.F. comes in. “We want to find rescuers who can spay and neuter, give the dogs the proper vetting, but ultimately what we want is to get the dogs to a responsible pet owner,” says Melody.Social Media has been a big help to all organizations involved. The City Public Works Department on Tuesday posted a picture on Facebook of the new outdoor cages at the local adoption facility on Birmingham Avenue that will “provide a safe place for animals to enjoy the outdoors during warm months.” The Facebook page “Walker Strays” has helped dogs find a home. A recent post:

And how, pray-tell, are the dogs transported to new owners? Often by Melody, Kara, and Marsha themselves. They have transported the dogs to new owners in both in Walker County and other parts of the state, and but have driven as far as Orlando, Florida to make sure their furry friends find a home. They have also partnered with national organizations such as Pilots for Paws, a nonprofit whose mission is to airlift dogs to new owners all across the country.“We’re not as concerned that the owners are from Walker County as we are that the dogs find a permanent home somewhere,” says Melody.Before founding R.U.F.F., Melody worked for 16 years helping humans at the ARC of Walker County. So now, why dogs?“Our responsibility is to take care of what God has given us. The unconditional love of a dog is as close as you can get to the unconditional love of the Father,” says Melody. “It is our duty as citizens. Dogs can’t speak, so it is our responsibility to be their voice.”In addition to conducting monthly R.U.F.F. meetings, Melody, Marsha, and Kara are busy preparing for a benefit ball for the upstart organization. On February 15, R.U.F.F. will be hosting the first annual “Second Chance Fur Ball” at the Jasper Natatorium Ballroom from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person, and supporters are being asked to get gussied up for the event—formal dress required (suits are ok). There will be live entertainment, a silent auction, and dinner catered by Black Rock Bistro. All proceeds will go to benefit the animals of Walker County.“Our goal is to find a better life for the dogs,” says Gilliland.A better life. Isn’t that what everyone wants?And all God’s creatures said “Amen.” 78