What Happened
An 80-year-old man in Bessemer has been living with dogs that accumulated over time. Some are likely offspring of his two male dogs. He is not a bad person. He is someone who loves animals and got overwhelmed.
He wants to keep three: two males and one female. The female is already spayed. The two males will be neutered through a low-cost spay/neuter program once he gets his EBT card this week.
The remaining dogs need to go to rescues and foster homes. Not the pound. That is the one thing he asked for, and we intend to honor it.
These dogs are remarkably well-socialized. During a 45-minute assessment, they did not bark. They approached visitors calmly, wanted to be petted, and then went and laid down in the shade. For that many dogs together in one place, that is unusual and speaks well of their temperament. They would make great pets.
To protect this gentleman's privacy, we are not releasing his name or address. This is not a media story. This is a community stepping up to help a neighbor. We are calling them the Bessemer 20.
What These Dogs Need
Heartworm Testing
Every dog needs to be tested. Treatment for positive dogs runs $400 to $1,000 per animal.
Mange Treatment
Several dogs have mange and need medication to clear it up before they can be placed.
Spay/Neuter
Owner's two males being neutered through low-cost program. Other dogs may need it too.
Foster and Rescue Placement
We need 15 to 20 rescues or fosters willing to take one or two dogs each. No pound.
