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Animal shelter gets permanent home
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By Kathie Colgrove
NCR Reporter |
Monday, October 26, 2009 11:03 AM EDT |
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| RAIN volunteers Alison Terry, Ailene Wood and Bonnie Lee give Yulee resident Patricia Newton a bag of dog food to take home to her terrier, Jax, after attending the Gleaners Dispatch, Inc. weekly food distribution Oct. 5. Photo by Kathie Colgrove
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Lynda Mixson has cause to celebrate with the fruition of one of her dreams to rescue unwanted dogs and cats.
The executive director of the non-profit Rescuing Animals in Nassau also known as RAIN, closed on the 12.65-acre site in Callahan Oct 2. She had leased for two years from former property owners Bill and Linda Ewer.
"That was one of our goals, to make a forever home for our rescues," Mixson said. "They reduced the price for us and made it possible to purchase."
RAIN formed in January 2007 to raise attention for animals in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Mixson and her daughter, Amanda Wenzel, first began helping animals as Nassau County Animal Care and Control volunteers in 2000. From 2003-07, Mixson worked as a shelter manager and eventually served as director for the Fernandina Beach Animal Control and Nassau County Humane Society.
"You see so many coming in, you try to do what you can for them," she said.
Currently, Mixson and the 20-25 active RAIN volunteers have more opportunities to expand services to meet the growing needs among pet owners and rescued animals. Approximately 32 dogs of various breeds and 30 felines currently reside on the property, with the expectation that they will find homes in the Southeast through the RAIN Train program. Since its inception in May, about 300-350 animals have been transported and placed in qualified homes. In addition to the RAIN Train, many adoptions are handled at PetSmart and through online adoptions.
"We focus more on placing dogs with special needs," Mixson said. "We pull them from city and county animal control. We try to make that happen so county officials can see the number, whether positive or negative, to help gauge impact."
Another program, Oper-ation Raindrop, provides low cost spay/neuter services for both felines and canines. In order to participate, pet owners must first schedule an appointment with RAIN. Every other Tuesday, animals are transported to the First Coast No More Homeless Pets site in North Jacksonville.
Mixson said the group averages about 10-15 surgeries every other week, with surgery counts evenly divided among cats and dogs. Surgeries cost $50 across the board and include a rabies vaccine.
The goal is to spay/neuter about 345 animals per year.
"If we had 345 spay neuters a year, we would make a difference in overpopulation at our Animal Control facility in Yulee," Mixson said. "We just want to see a reduction. Our county is our first focus in anything we do. We don't refuse anyone."
She said RAIN does not interfere with the services already available at area veterinary clinics, but strives to educate the public and control the pet population.
"We encourage them to go to our local veterinarians for continued care," Mixson said.
RAIN volunteers also give away dog food, dog treats and cat food to families once a month during Gleaners Dispatch, Inc.'s weekly food distribution.
"Our main goal is the animals. We want to make sure they're taken care of," she said. "Education is huge. People really want to do the right thing. We try to let them know and put the tools in their hands. We want to make sure pets are getting proper care."
She also wants to ensure that the county's spays and neuters increase and euthanasias either decrease or are eliminated.
"We want to help our county and city facilities out," she said. "It lowers tax dollars. Ultimately, it's a good thing."
To learn more, visit www.rainhumanespca.org or call 879-5861.
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