Along a county road in Fountaintown, animals that were once at risk of being euthanized are getting a second chance.
“I’ve loved dogs all my life, I’ve been saving them since I was a kid,” Shelly Christie said.
Christie started Canine Castaways Rescue in 2014 with her late husband. Her focus is on pulling dogs from kill shelters. “Our main goal is to just help the needy, which is everyday,” Christie said.
In March, she rescued a 8-year-old Boxer named Sadie who was found on the side of the road in Indianapolis.
“She only weighed 35 or 36 pounds, which is way underweight. Couldn’t hardly stand,” Christie said.
The vet determined Sadie had dog bite wounds on all of her legs and her neck, she was starved and had been hung by a rope on her front legs. Christie says they believe Sadie was used as a bait dog.
After seven days in the hospital, Sadie survived. Now, Christie is still trying to pay off her vet bills.
“Which is right at $5,900 to save her. But ultimately, she is saved and since then we have found her a wonderful home,” Christie said.
This cost comes as Canine Castaways Rescue is seeing a decrease in adoptions during the pandemic.
Christie hopes animal lovers who believe in her mission will donate, because she can’t continue saving animals without their help.
“Ultimately, just because I’m here, they are still the reason these dogs are being saved,” Christie said.
A Facebook fundraiser for Sadie has raised over a thousand dollars, but there is still a long way to go.
On October 24th, the Canine Castaways Harvest Festival will be help at VFW Post 2695 in Shelbyville from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. All of the money raised will go directly to the rescue.
