Did you all read Stacy Segovia's story in Sunday's Living section about Precious Friends, a Clarksville puppy rescue and adoption shelter? They are one of the several private groups in town that work tirelessly to help homeless animals, which is so important since our county leaders have dragged their feet for decades on providing adequate animal control facilities and implementing pet licensing, spay/neuter, and other laws that would help the problem. If you haven't, you can read it on the Leaf-Chronicle Web site. Click on the "Living" section link, then choose "Sunday." It is called, "Wall, garden help owners cope," with a sidebar story titled, "Hutchison dreams of 'litter-free' city."

Precious Friends has created a "Rainbow Bridge" wall, where for $30 you can get a pet's name painted on one of the blocks. This is a fundraiser and also a memorial to the pets we've lost. You can have more than one name painted on a block, or get one for each pet you want to memorialize. They will be dedicating the wall on Saturday at 2 p.m. if you'd like to go, and if you get in your order by Friday, you're names will be on a block by Saturday's dedication. For more information, call Precious Friends at 551-4407 or drop by 110 Red River St. (off of Kraft) between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The County Commission is having their informal meeting tonight about approving additional funds to build the new county shelter. This money is available in the county's budget and does not require raising additional funds. The formal meeting is May 14 where the actual vote will take place. PLEASE call your county commissioner and tell them you want this approved. It's not what animal control originally asked for (that was cut), but it is better than nothing. A real waste of money would be to build a new shelter that is just as inadequate as the present shelter, which was built in the 70s. Tell them it's about public safety first and foremost, because even people who don't have or like pets are still affected by free-roaming pets and the irresponsibility of some pet owners. You can also write a letter to the editor to: letters@theleafchronicle.com to show your support.Animal control is a basic service like anything else, one that must keep up with the times. Our commissioners need to be held accountable for their actions (and inaction) on this matter. It's not about putting animals before the needs of people, because it is a service PEOPLE need, as people cause the animal problems and those problems affect the public safety and quality of life.

Coming soon: Stacy Segovia is also working on a story about Cats Are Us and a special volunteer who raised money for them. Also, update on the time and location for their huge yard sale. Also remember the Second Chance & Happy Tails yard sale coming up May 12 (rain date May 19) at 513 Yvonne Dr.(off of Lafayette in N. Clarksville) from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call Inge at 503-8300 for more info.

Also, the ASPCA is conducting volunteer training for those interested in helping pets during and after natural disasters. The training is called Emergency Animal Rescue Service Volunteer Training. The ASPCA and United Animal Nations are partnering to host Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS) volunteer recruitment and training workshops on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20, in Nashville. These workshops will provide training for local residents who are willing to assist animal victims affected by fires, floods, tornadoes, or other emergencies/disasters. EARS volunteer workshops are part of the Community Animal Disaster Preparedness Partnership, a collaboration between the ASPCA and United Animal Nations to provide training and education for animal disaster readiness in 10 cities across the country. The Nashville Humane Association is also a sponsor of the May program. It will be May 19 and 20, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Nashville Area Chapter of the Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville. To register, call (916) 429-2457 or visit www.uan.org Saturday’s workshop is full, but there is still space available for training on Sunday, May 20.


NOTE: Stacy who posts here has accused me of favoring Scooter in pictures. I guess that's because he's the biggest pain, so he gets the most mention on the blog when discussing "issues." So here is a picture of the good dogs, Zoe and Peanut in the days before Scooter arrived on the scene.

I have a lot going on this week, so my apologies in advance if I don't always get back to the blog to continue conversations, but you all are doing fine on your own! I hope to get the roster of Pet People together later this week and will email it to you all when I get it done. Please bear with me!