Happy Tails to the rescue

   Thelma Williams enjoys the quiet. In her eighth decade of life, she doesn’t much care for too much excitement, and she can’t do a whole lot of work. She is already raising her three great grandchildren, and their 13-year-old dog Bill – plenty of work for an octogenarian. 

   In mid 2015, someone dumped a pregnant female dog near Thelma’s house. Unable to find a home for her, Thelma fed her even though she was afraid and unsocialized, and named her Lucy. When Lucy’s pups were born, they grew to be feral, despite Thelma’s pleas for help. Happy Tails Animal Shelter attempted to catch the pups, but was unsuccessful. Her great-grandchildren attempted to tame the pups, but that didn’t work, either. Williams’ friend Glenda Specht, who has been rescuing animals for many years, tried to reach out for help on Williams’ behalf, as well as trying to catch the dogs, but they were feral and fast, so they grew up wild. 

   “I never wanted a bunch of dogs,” said Williams, “I can’t feed them all. I just want to go back to my life with Bill.”

Now, those puppies are having puppies. A woman who had a quiet life with one dog now has to contend with 14 puppies and eight adult feral dogs. Williams reached out for help once again, but this time, help began to come. 

     Happy Tails took in several of the puppies and two have already been adopted. Members of the veterinary staff at Lakeway Vet Clinic have adopted three. Rescues in Colorado and Washington began to offer help. 

   Still left though, are the original puppies, now adults. Eight adult dogs that need badly to be spayed and neutered. Happy Tails has reached out for traps large enough for the 30 to 40 pound dogs, as well as funds to pay for their spay and neuter surgeries. 

   Donations can be sent to Happy Tails’ Paypal at jchtshelter@yahoo.com, or dropped of at the Jackson County Herald-Tribune. Those further away can mail donations to P.O. Box 1305, Edna Texas, 77957. 

   Happy Tails can be reached at 361-235-0486 and is looking for knowledgeable volunteers to help catch and transport the remaining dogs, as well as adopters for the puppies who are now in foster homes.