Old Dominion Humane Society Saves Dogs Barely Surviving In Southwestern Virginia Neglect Case

When Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) was contacted by a southwestern Virginia shelter last week to save dogs from a neglect case, the request couldn’t be turned down. Barely surviving, some dogs had scarcely any fur left on their bodies, others clung together for dear life and still more had little strength to stand up. ODHS immediately sent a transport crew to the shelter to pick up as many of the dogs as possible.

Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) took 40 percent of the dogs from a southwestern Virginia animal shelter last week, rescuing them from a neglect case that left them scared, injured and isolated. They had been left outside without food, water or shelter from the heat or rain, and the owner of the property had no interaction and provided no care for the dozens of dogs on the premises. Many dogs were listless, and it was evident that their spirits were shattered from the severity of the case. (In photo: One of the dogs from the neglect case has mange from head to tail, and some of the skin on his ear and face is covered with scabs.) ODHS asks the community for help with monetary donations, sharing the ODHS Facebook page with the dogs’ stories and pictures, and fostering the rescues. While the dogs have a long road to recovery, help will make the journey a little easier for them. For more information, visit https://www.olddominionhumanesociety.org.

“ODHS is at capacity right now, but we couldn’t look away from these dogs that are in desperate need of help,” said Chrissy Hamilton, ODHS founder. “They’ve been neglected, injured and malnourished for an extended amount of time, and there’s no way we can turn our backs on them. They need so much attention, medical care and comfort—this is the place they need to be.”

The owner of the property didn’t have any interaction with the dogs, as they were isolated from human contact and uncared for.  Their cries for help would, as it always had, be ignored. ODHS volunteers took 40 percent of the dogs, and it was no small feat. Since they were frightened, many had to be captured and put in crates for the transport team to bring them to the Fredericksburg facility. Scared and weak from being left outside with no food, water or shelter from the heat and rain, they didn’t trust humans.

While ODHS has saved dogs from several hoarding and neglect cases, this was one of the saddest.

Some of the dogs have severe mange, a skin disease caused by mites found in the hair follicles of canines. Causing extreme itching, hair loss, wounds, raised bumps and thick and crusted skin, the result of mange left the dogs being underweight, depressed and lethargic. One of the dogs from the neglect case has mange from head to tail, and some of the skin on his ear and face is covered with scabs. It was hard to imagine what the dogs would look like once treated, healed and with full coats of fur.

The story won’t end sadly for these dogs, though. Some had foster families waiting to bring them home to heal and decompress upon their arrival to ODHS. Others will stay at the facility, where volunteers will care for them. For a warm welcome to ODHS, the dogs were treated to a feast—a hot meal consisting of Buc-ee’s brisket.

When Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS) was contacted by a southwestern Virginia animal shelter last week to take several neglected dogs, Chrissy Hamilton, founder, couldn’t turn the request down. Some dogs barely had fur on their bodies, others clung together in stark kennels and a few didn’t have the strength to stand up. (In photo: One of the dogs from the neglect case with mange, a skin disease caused by mites found in the hair follicles of canines.) ODHS asks the community for help with monetary donations, sharing the ODHS Facebook page with the dogs’ stories and pictures, and fostering the rescues. While the dogs have a long road to recovery, help will make the journey a little easier for them. For more information, visit https://www.olddominionhumanesociety.org.  

“ODHS wants to do everything we can to ensure that these dogs get the proper medical care needed, as well as a well-balanced diet,” said Hamilton. “Having foster families and volunteers who are compassionate and always willing to give their time to help the dogs will make a difference in their lives. They’ll receive the human interaction they never had before and participate in hikes, strolls, day trips and time with truly amazing people.”

ODHS asks the community for help with monetary donations, sharing the ODHS Facebook page that consists of the dogs’ stories and pictures, and fostering the rescues. While the dogs have a long road to recovery, the donations and fosters will make the journey a little easier for them.