Happy Tails

Events

The Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia has been helping animals for fifty years. As a result, they have had the pleasure of seeing many happy tails, hearing many happy tales, and are so grateful for the support of the Golden Isles community, both private and professional. The loyalty of local residents is apparent in many ways, including fostering, volunteering, adopting, and donating.

The Blue Jean Ball is the Humane Society’s largest annual fundraiser and a beautiful night out under the stars. This year’s event will take place on November 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will once again be held at Sinclair Plantation, the home of Robin and Davis Love. The evening’s festivities under the oaks and sparkling lights will begin with live music by Suzy and the Bird Dogs, the band EIL readers chose as “Best Local Band” in the Best of 2018 Readers Choice Awards. Later, DJ Weav (Dr. John Weaver) will be spinning tunes to make you kick your heels up and dance. There will be an array of delicious local food and an open bar. As the night progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to bid on a wide variety of fantastic silent and live auction items. One of the best things about this ball is that you don’t need a fairy godmother or fancy dress to turn you into Cinderella, just grab your favorite boots and jeans and come join the party! Attire is cowboy/girl casual! To purchase tickets, visit the HSSCG website: hsscg.org/events/blue-jean-ball/

Thanks in large part to the generous support of sponsors and attendees of the Blue Jean Ball, the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia has been able to give thousands of animals their very own happy tails. The adoption and rescue stories on the following pages prove that giving an animal a forever home is a gift to more than just your new pet.

I first learned of the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia during its new growth and transition. I joined the board in 2011, the year we first adopted Jackson Michael. He was a gift for our youngest daughter’s 10th birthday. He is smart, adorable, has a huge personality, and is my daughter’s constant companion. Her plans are to take him to college when graduating from Frederica Academy in 2020.

In 2016, while attending the Blue Jean Ball, we fell in love with Princess Silly Goose, a 10 pound Yorkie. She is my constant shadow and goes to work with me every day at PillowGrace to supervise. If you follow PillowGrace on social media, you can see her charm and beauty.

My family and friends also share my passion for rescue animals. My son adopted Bindi, an Australian Shepherd mix in 2017 from the Humane Society. Princess Silly Goose’s brother, Little Foot, was adopted by a family friend, and they get to play together often. My dad, a South Carolina farmer, instilled in me a passion for animals and rescue. Adopted dogs are not always easy. They sometimes require extra love, energy, patience and attention. When the bond is made, it can’t be broken. They are a match made in heaven.

We have always been passionate about helping people and animals. We have rescued cats, dogs, and horses. Brown Kitty is one of our most memorable rescues. He was found on 12th Street East Beach in very poor condition. We took him home and nursed him back to health, and when he was strong enough to be on his own, he moved to the barn. Today he is thriving and absolutely the most handsome cat ever!

Brown Kitty always loved being around our horses, Asiya and Montana. The horses came from a rescue facility in Ocala, FL in 2012. They both came from horrible conditions and were rehabilitated by the facility before we adopted them. They were able to spend their golden years with us in peace. We feel so grateful to have given them the best retirement home ever.

We are huge supporters of our community. Through the Davis Love Foundation we are able to help at-risk children and their families. The Foundation provides grants and donations to community-based programs that focus on children and families in need. Needless to say, we are also enthusiastic supporters of the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia. We’re excited to be hosting the Blue Jean Ball, their annual fundraiser, for the second year in a row.

We adopted Max when Cannon was six years old. In the two years they have been together they have become best friends. Cannon named Max after the dog in the movie “Max.” You often see them in the neighborhood together, Max on paw and Cannon on his hover board. Like many children, Cannon was a little anxious about sleeping alone. Now Max is his night time protector, guarding Cannon from the monsters in the closet. Cannon has a big heart for the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia and volunteers his time playing with pups and socializing cats. He fundraises for the animals with lemonade stands, and created the donation basket for the Big Flea. His future plans are to get a full time job at the Humane Society. We will see how his interview goes with the boss. (Written by Virginia Schlegel, Executive Director of the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia)

Rafter's Tale:

With Rafter, it all began without intention. Our friend Dr. Missy Weaver was coming over for dinner and called to ask if she could bring two tiny puppies over with her. Missy is the veterinarian for the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia and she was fostering the puppies after their mom had been hit by a car.

Our children, Maddie and Luke, immediately took to the tiniest of the two; a brindle,

dachshund-something, who weighed about 3 lbs. At the time, our house was already home to several animals, so I was adamant that we didn’t need to be caring for another pet. The kids convinced us to foster one of the puppies and nicknamed him “Rafter.” As part of their attempts to convince us to keep him, they made him the “Beachview mascot.” Two weeks later, he was still with us. Naturally this tiny puppy began to come to Beachview with me every day. Rafter slept either in my desk chair behind my back or in my lap. His name began to evolve into “Rafter-Roo” because everyone said we were like Kanga and Roo.

Fast forward five years; Roo is now the center of the family and goes with me everywhere. I’ve truly never before had a dog like him. It’s almost as if he knows he’s been rescued. Now that Rafter has come into our lives, I have come to realize the value of adopting a rescue pet. My daughter, Maddie, has the same passion for animals and adopted Bleu from the Humane Society as well. (Written by Elizabeth Veal)

Bleu's Tale

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was introduced to a precious blue eyed puppy. I

instantly fell in love with him. He was supposed to only stay with us temporarily but I quickly convinced my family to open our home to a fourth dog. My dad was hesitant at first to add another dog, but now we’re all smitten (even my dad)! Bleu loves to climb all over me, go on walks, and to snuggle under the covers me with me at night. He’s truly one of a kind. I love coming home and finding a jumping Bleu waiting to greet me. He is always there to comfort me and to listen. He makes all my days better and I couldn’t imagine my life without having met that adorable four-pound puppy. Adopting a pet from the Humane Society has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Aside from supporting a wonderful cause, I also gained a forever friend and family member. (Written by Maddie Veal)

Maddie showed up in our backyard in January of 2017. It took a while for her to warm up to us, and it was apparent she did not have a home. When we realized she was pregnant, we canvassed the neighborhood and found her three houses down. We continued to check on her. A couple of weeks later it was obvious the kittens had arrived. Maddie came and ate, but didn’t bring the kittens. Jack and I were able to locate them and coaxed all five of them to follow us back. After that, Maddie never moved them from our home.

My son and daughter in law adopted Ricky and Lucy, two of the kittens that were very

dependent on each other. Jack and I loaded up Maddie and the other 3 kittens to bring them to the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia. After some time, we missed Maddie. I went by to visit her, and when I saw her again I knew she belonged with us. We made plans to adopt her, but the hurricane arrived and all the animals were evacuated. We were persistent, however, and when we were able to go adopt her, they brought out a huge cat. Surprised by the size, I asked them to check her chip to make sure that was Maddie. They said, “Yes. She loves to eat!” Obviously she got great care at the Humane Society!

Maddie has blended right in with our two cats, but especially with our Great Dane Bella. They immediately bonded and are nap buddies. Her children Ricky and Lucy visit often. We couldn’t imagine not having her in our family!

We have had such positive experiences with the Humane Society and were proud supporters of the Capital Campaign Fund to build the current facility. We have been corporate sponsors for the Blue Jean Ball and look forward to this year’s event!

About a year and a half after losing our beloved TJ, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, our family began exploring the possibility of getting another dog. Two of my three children were on board, but my middle child was very hesitant. The loss was just really hard for him. However, the rest of us were in agreement that getting another dog would be really good for our aging Golden Retriever, Bella. We took this decision very seriously. After considerable thought, I decided to reach out to my friends, Dr. Missy Weaver, veterinarian for the Humane Society, and Virginia Schlegel, its Executive Director. Missy promptly sent me a picture of “Charley”. Trusting their opinions, my husband went over the next day and brought “Charley” home. We immediately changed his name to Knox. This dog has not stopped smiling since that day and neither have we. We have had him since October of 2017 and cannot imagine our lives without him. Knox has the most infectious personality. He is 80% playful, 20% mischief, and 100% cuddles! He has truly given Bella a new lease on life and she adores him. When Knox wears himself out, you can always find him up in my bed or lying next to his favorite cuddle buddy, my middle child. Knox has blessed our family beyond measure and we are forever grateful to our amazing Humane Society!

I adopted Roxy the Doxie in 2014 from the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia and she’s been my faithful companion ever since. She and my other Dachshund, Lucy, became the inspiration for Two Friends. The two of them go to work with me every day and are the official greeters. They love treats, going for walks, riding on the golf cart, and visiting the beach. Although they are similar in many ways, they also have individual personalities. Roxy is stoic and laid back, while Lucy is much more energetic. I can’t imagine my life without my “two friends.”

Two Friends has been a supporter of the Humane Society for many years. We have been corporate sponsors for all of their annual fundraisers including their Fore the Animals Golf Classic and the Blue Jean Ball. It’s a fun way to support the animals and our community!

We adopted the most beautiful dog in the world, Charlie Veal, in December of 2010. Charlie was a gift to our three children for Christmas in 2010. I will never forget going to Glynn County Animal Control with my niece, Maddie Veal. We were so excited to go pick the newest member of our family! Maddie and I both knew the minute we laid eyes on Charlie that she was the one. She was blonde, tiny at only six weeks old, and had the sweetest face. We knew Charlie was meant for us!

Our plan was to give her to the kids Christmas morning, but we couldn’t wait. We surprised the kids a few days before Christmas and they all fell in love with her. I remember Charlie sleeping on my oldest son’s bean bag in the beginning. That was her happy place. Charlie transitioned from the bean bag and slept with our oldest, Thomas, for many years. Now Charlie prefers to sleep with our middle son, Smith. Charlie loves car rides, baths, flashlights and squirrels. She lives for dog treats and belly rubs. We all agree Charlie Veal is the most beautiful dog in the world, and we love her more than anything! (Written by Elizabeth Veal, Owner of Beachview Event Rentals & Design)

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Colby O'Connor, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Henry

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Colby O'Connor, Fierce Strategy + Creative

Peaches

My husband Larry and I adopted Henry, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from the Humane

Society of South Coastal Georgia in 2013 and he has been a delightful and devoted companion to us ever since. Our other dog, Peaches, adores him as well. Peaches and Henry sleep in the bed with us every night with their heads resting on one another. Henry has lots of energy and loves to go for walks and car rides. He follows me around everywhere and is always at my side. He’s the same with Larry when I’m away. We travel extensively and almost always bring Henry and Peaches with us. There is nothing Henry loves more than to ride with his head out the window. We are so happy that we chose to adopt Henry; not only have we changed his life for the better, he has also changed ours.

We adopted Balto (formerly Togo) from the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia on July

28 following a long and consistent lobbying effort from my wife and children. Balto is four months old and will be our third adoption. He’s joining Kaya, who also was adopted from the Humane Society, and is now six years old. Balto is already proving to be a great choice for our family. He gets along wonderfully with the children, the cats, and the many dog friends he gets introduced to. He enjoyed his first road trip to Florida and has started training as a Frisbee dog.

We have come to love mixed breed dogs because they are so unique, and Balto is certainly is no exception. His large, upright German Shepherd ears and Siberian Husky markings makes him as distinct as his personality. After our first week with Balto, we know that he will add joy and happiness to our family and that we’ll provide it back to him in return. It is a great experience to find the animal that helps complete your family and we are very grateful to the Humane Society for their help in finding ours.

You can make stories like this happen for more families and the many animals here looking for forever homes by supporting the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia. Get your tickets to the Blue Jean Ball or drive out and visit some of the animals when you have free time. Either way, there will be some tail wagging going on.