Logan’s Run — They Saved My Life

A proactive approach to animal rescue is alive in our community

There’s no denying it – we have an animal population problem.   There are simply way too many stray cats and dogs. However, I wasn’t fully aware of the problem until one such stray dog entered my life.

Last Sunday, a faint whimpering grabbed the attention of my wife Loren.  Having a soft spot for all four legged friends she immediately went to investigate.  What we found was an exhausted puppy in pitiful shape.  The dog looked like he had just traversed the Mojave desert as he lay panting under the shady refuge of a holly bush. Right then and there Loren decided two things – his name would be Charlie, and we had to help him.

Charlie was very lethargic and was having a lot of trouble breathing due to a golf ball sized abscess on his throat.  Not knowing what to do, we immediately sought the help of a friend who is well versed in canines and animal resources.  She recommended that we call Jeannie Schick from Logan’s Run Rescue.

I had heard about Logan’s Run Rescue before, but I had no idea what the extent of their services were.   Our first dilemma was to find a vet available on a Sunday.  Jean informed of us a newly opened animal emergency center in Blue Ridge, Ga.    The doctors at the facility gave Charlie the love and care he needed, and started him on the road to better health.  Antibiotics were prescribed, de-worming was performed, and an appointment to have Charlies abscess treated was made –  all with the help of Jean and the staff of Logan’s Run Rescue center.

The next day we brought Charlie to the Lake Chatuge Animal Hospital in Hiawassee, where they have a sort of co-op plan worked out with Logan’s Run, allowing the procedures to be performed on Charlie at a discounted rate.   After an afternoon with Doctor Burr, Charlie returned to my house with a clean bill of health and a deflated abscess.   He will now spend the next couple of weeks recuperating with Loren, myself, and our yellow lab Rocco on a “foster parent” basis.

There is just one problem with this whole story – this isn’t a unique occurrence. There are literally hundreds of Charlie’s in our region.  Abandoned and stray animals are roaming all over the place, and without the help of truly humanitarian organizations like Logan’s Run, their future would be undeniably doomed.

Logan’s Run has a different approach to animal rescue when compared to your everyday animal shelter.   If you come across an animal that needs to be rescued, Logan’s run will most likely ask you to foster the animal until a permanent home can be found.  All of the Animal’s medical needs will be covered by Logan’s Run, including: spaying & neutering, de-worming, heart worm medication, rabies vaccine, and even micro-chipping.

Logan’s Run does not believe in euthanizing perfectly healthy animals, even elderly ones.  They believe that there are warm loving homes for every animal, and they will do everything they can to help nurture sick animals back to health, and aid ill natured dogs to a better temperament.

If a permanent home cannot be found locally for an animal, Logan’s Run will transport it to one of several “No Kill” animal shelters, where loving pets are in high demand.    By becoming a foster parent with Logan’s Run you not only get to share in the satisfaction of rescuing an animal, you are ensuring that the animal will be well cared for and live the life it deserves.

In addition to their foster program, Logan’s Run has also sponsored several community outreach programs designed to educate pet owners, reduce costs, and most importantly control the seemingly uncontrollable animal population in our area.  Here is an outline of their current programs:

• LOCO Spay/Neuter- This is a Low Cost spay and neuter program where the low price of Spaying and Neutering for Logan’s Run is forwarded to all pet owners.

• SNAP Spay/Neuter Assistance – With the aid of two grants Logan’s Run can assist those having financial hardship to have their furry companions Spayed or Neutered at NO cost.

• PEPOP – Puppies Ending Pet Over Population. This program has a very  unique concept.  ”Dog owners who have a litter of puppies can give up that litter to LRR in exchange for LRR spaying and neutering ALL of the reproducing male and female dogs in the household – FREE OF CHARGE. Of course, LRR will also see that all of the surrendered puppies are “fixed”. It is a win-win program for the owners and the animals, and will remove an untold number of dogs from the population of unwanted animals.”

• Pet Education – Several volunteers from Logan’s Run have been visiting the area schools and presenting age appropriate classes on pet education.

Logan’s Run operates completely on a Non-Profit Basis and they are supported by the generous donations of the community and through the sales of their thrift shop in Murphy.

It is rare to have such a noble cause anywhere, let alone our own community.  Logan’s Run has started something that is definitely worthy of our support and I would encourage all who are able to give in some way to their cause.  For more information on how you can help Logan’s Run give them a call at their thrift shop in Murphy – 828.837.1360.  To see a list of currently adoptable pets, head to their website at logansrunrescue.com