by Cynthis Morris
Special to The Mountaineer
Donna Lindsey of Clyde won the 2008 Individual Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Haywood/Jackson County Volunteer Center on Monday, April 21, 2008.
Lindsey, a volunteer for Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation, was nominated by Peggy Heilig, Volunteer Coordinator for Sarge's.
"Donna has been a Sarge volunteer for just over a year and spends approximately 65 hours per week as Breed Rescue Coordinator," said Heilig. "Her specific duties are to find Breed and Mixed Breed Rescue facilities outside Haywood County who will accept dogs and cats from the Haywood County animal shelter, to arrange transportation of the animals to the receiving rescues and to photograph and upload the photos of the animals at the shelter onto Petfinder.com, a national source for adoptable rescue animals."
"Donna became the Breed Rescue Coordinator in April, 2007," continued Heilig. "Since that time, a total of 362 animals were transferred from Haywood County to rescues in other areas. Through Donna's efforts, 34 new rescue groups (bringing the present total to 55) have agreed to accept the County's dogs and cats which otherwise would be euthanized."
Lindsey recently initiated the "Dixie Dog Express". She explained, "I contacted many New England rescues. Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society and several other groups in Massachusetts have agreed to accept monthly transports of up to 25 dogs from Haywood County. I am so grateful to the Sarge volunteers who take the time to make the 1900 mile round trip. To date Herb Trenka, Al Allomong, and Steve Hewitt have made the non-stop, overnight ride in the Sarge van with the dogs." Lindsey continued, "We continue to struggle with not enough temporary foster housing for the dogs during the three to four weeks pending transport. Folks who might be willing to occasionally foster a dog for a few weeks can easily increase the number rescued by contacting Sarge's at breedrescue@sargeandfriends.org."
