Howlin4Spirit Companion Animal Rescue & Senior/Special Needs Sanctuary Dedicated to helping second-hand animals become first-class companions!
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals. Especially for animals who are suffering, for any that are hunted or lost, or deserted or frightened or hungry, for all that must be put to death. We entreat for them all thy mercy and pity and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful.-Albert Schweitzer

Our Adoptable Pet List

Click here to see our Happy Tails!

Our Featured Pet...ChicoNov 12, 2008: Chico was relinquished to H4S CARes by his owner who could no longer properly care for him. Chico is approximately 8 years old, a sweet and affectionate little guy with a calm demeanor. He is neutered, microchipped, current on all vax, on heartworm and flea&tick prevention, and ready to make your world a better place by his UNconditionally loving nature and 24/7 companionship. Chico walks well on-leash, gets along well with other small dogs(a typical Chihuahua trait is that they tend to 'pick' on the bigger dogs) and cats, but would not fare well in a home with small children. He enjoys the calm of a 'mature' home and the company of a retired person would be his ideal situation. To learn more about this wonderfully warm little man, please contact his foster mom, Sharon at: smloetz@aol.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rutherford County has NO shelter for adoptable animals. The only available space for strays & owner-released pets is a high-kill Animal Control facility. Strays are given 72 hours for their owners to claim them. Owner-relinquished pets are given NO time IF space is limited, which is always the case. Their only hope is the occasional adopter, or rescue groups willing to make space for them. Rutherford County was a thriving community of textile industries, until NAFTA helped move 90% of our factories to other countries. H4S a non-profit organization made up of hardworking volunteers working together for the good of saving homeless adoptable animals in our area, as fast as we can. We offer low-cost speuters for those who qualify & for strays who will have an opportunity for a good home, we can help defray costs, whenever possible. We also have plans for an educational program where we will supply any teacher willing to teach the importance of speutering, the proper care of pets, and what they individuals need to do if they see neglect or abuse.

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Updated: March 10, 2008:

H4S was created in Jan, 04 because Rutherford County has no shelter nor safe place for adoptable animals.

In February, 2006, H4S began to form into a small group of volunteers to be able to concentrate on the surrounding communities, located in the more rural areas of our county, where dogs and cats are dumped off and eventually multiply, which only add to these communities' overpopulation problems, and which also prevents the animals from being taken to Animal Control, where their adoption rate is a mere 7%(much less chance for cats).

Since Jan, 2006, H4S has rescued 3,717 dogs and cats from these locales. MANY of the dogs are Black LabXs and houndXs, whom are the last to get adopted in the South but who are welcomed in the spay/neuter-regulated northern states of VT, NH and Maine.

Through constant networking with these communities about our program, people are contacting us about the many strays in need in their areas, as well as owner-relinquished pets. Some merely have been left to fend for themselves. Some have been left tied up, without water or food, or the pet's owners may become hospitalized or must go into nursing homes & can no longer care for them. There is an abundance of reasons why the animals in these rural areas need H4S's help. Working with folks in these rural areas greatly helps to reduce the numbers of strays and homeless adoptables going into our already filled-to-capacity, outdated Animal Control facility.

Strays tend to have lowered immune systems through neglect and lack of proper medical attention and available nutrition, which leave them extremely susceptible to contracting the deadly diseases our Southern climate harbors.

Once in our program, they have a much better chance of survival through immediate medical attention, proper nutrition and loving foster care with socialization with both people and other dogs.

Since H4S was created, we have pulled together winning medical support through Rutherford Vet Hospital and the Spartanburg Humane Society's Speuter Clinic. Both are invaluable to this rescue effort, as we couldn't do what we do without their excellent medical care, dedicated support & respect for what we doing.

Every animal we rescue over the age of 8 weeks old is speutered, and every animal we rescue over the age of 4 months is tested for heartworms. If they should test positive, they are treated, immediately. Many groups will not rescue a heartworm positive animal because of the high cost of treatment, but we will not turn our backs on the adoptable ones.

They, too, deserve a second chance, possibly their first chance, at a loving home and family to share their lives with.

Most of our rescues are transported to spay/neuter-regulated states in the northeast, where the numbers of adoptables are few and responsible adoptable homes are many. The rescue groups taking our animals are extremely responsible when rehoming each animal.

This means that we only work with groups that are NO-kill, who check all personal and vet references, perform strict home visits and do follow-up visits with the furever families, to ensure that the animal & the adopter are comfortable with the new additions in their lives.

H4S also rehomes seniors & 'special needs' furkids, as they are especially important to us and the least likely to be accepted into the northern organizations/shelters. We also feel that we should never jeopardize their health on long-distance transports. Besides, this way we know where they are, and we can continue to check up on their progress and, hopefully, get updated pictures with their furever families. Many 'special needs' and senior female beagles remain at H4S's sanctuary for the remainder of their lives, as they are the least likely to be adopted and very much appreciated and loved, here.

Through adoptions, sponsorship, and money out of our own pockets, we have been able to keep this program alive and running smoothly, as well as renting a cargo van for each trip north, which carries the animals 1,100 miles, one way, 1Xs a month.

Help is always needed to help fund our free or low-cost speuters for the stray animals low-income families have taken in & for the rescues H4S takes into our program.

Understandably, many no-kill shelters do not want to be a 'band aid' for the South's over-population problems, so H4S must work extra hard to have all our animals speutered, in good health and ready to find responsible homes with a happy spirit when they arrive in the North.

We thank God, for the enlightened, responsible families who open their homes and hearts to these adoptable animals, rather than buy from breeders and pet shops when there are so many adoptable animals sitting in shelters or rescued from neglected situations who are waiting for a helping hand and love to share.

WISH LIST:

responsible foster homes

spay/neuter & emergency vet donations can be made directly to H4S's acct at: Rutherford Vet Hospital- 305 Chimney Rock Rd-Rutherfordton, NC 28139, or by calling: #828-286-9335 & educational volunteers:

H4S has begun to work with local teachers to help educate Rutherford County's young children about the importance of spaying & neutering and how to properly care of their family pets.

To offer your support, in any capacity, please contact: h4s_cares@yahoo.com Howlin4Spirit Companion Animal Rescue, Inc

P. O. Box 711

Rutherfordton, NC 28139

telephone#828-429-8398

email: h4s_cares@yahoo.com

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To apply to adopt one of our special furkids, please copy and paste the adoption application below, and email the completed application (an incomplete application will be discarded) to: h4s_cares@yahoo.com. Upon receipt, your application will be reviewed, your references will be checked. If/when approved, we will contact you within 3 business days to make an appt for a home check, at a time convenient for you and our representative.

HOWLIN4SPIRIT COMPANION ANIMAL RESCUE
a non-profit organization
~~~Adoption Application~
This completed questionnaire will help us pick the very best dog for you, your family and your lifestyle. It is very important that we find the correct home for every rescued canine in our program.Completing this questionnaire will help us determine the personality, temperament and energy level of the dog that would best suit your needs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please be sure to fill out ALL of the information requested. An incomplete application will be discarded.

Date:________ Pet interested in:_
1. Name of applicant:_____
Name of spouse/partner:_
2. Address:____
City/State/Zip:_
Email address:__________
3. How long at this address:
4. Telephone#(home): (w) cell#:_
5. With whom are you employed?
address & telephone#:_____
Spouse/partner's employer?_
address & telephone#:___
6. Occupation(s):
7. Number of children living in the household:
Their ages
8. What type of area do you live in?    CitySuburb_Rural_
9. What type of housing do you live in?   AptCondoDuplex_House_Other_
10. Do you rent or own your home?_______
11. If you rent or lease, do you have permission from your landlord to own a dog:
under 25#? Yes_No_
over 25#? Yes_No_
12. a) What other dogs have you previously owned and what happened to them?
b) What dogs live in your home currently? (Please list breed, age, sex, spayed/neutered, etc.)
13. What other types of animals live in your home?
14.a) What do you know about the breed in question?
b) Are there any specific habits or problems that you are not willing to deal with?
15. How did you hear about our rescue, and who referred you to us?
16. Do you have any preferences to the sex of the dog?   MaleFemale_Don't care__
If so, why?
17.a) Do you have a fenced-in yard? YesNo_
   Height of fence
     b) Describe your fence (type, construction, size of holes in fencing, etc): _____________
   c) What type of gates?
Can they be opened by children?_
   d) If you don't have a fence, where and how will the dog be exercised and be allowed to eliminate?
   e) Do you have a swimming pool?_
       Is it fenced separately from the rest of the yard?
18. a) What member of the family will be taking the MAJOR responsibility of caring for this canine?
b) Does anyone in the household have allergies to ANY animals?
19. What are your plans and goals for this dog?
Watch Dog___ Companion_ Guard Dog___ Child's pet_Pet Therapy_Obedience Competitor___
Herding Agility/Flyball Competitor_Ranch work _ Other_(Please, EXPLAIN): 20. a) Have you ever trained a dog in obedience classes? Yes_No_     b) Will you take your adopted dog to obedience class?
Yes__No 21.a) Will the dog live in the home? YesNo   If not, where? b) What shelter will be provided outside? Patio_ Shed__ Doghouse Garage Other_(please, explain 22. Do you use chemicals on your lawn (i.e., Lawn Doctor, Chemlawn)? Yes No 23. Where EXACTLY will the dog sleep at night and be kept when there is no one at home? 24.a) On the average, how long will the dog be left alone during the day?
   b) What is the activity level in your home?       _busy-visits by friends, meetings, children, parties _noisy-TV, stereo, machinery, tools, kids playing _moderate-normal comings and goings _quiet-'homebodies' few guests 25. Do you believe in dog crates? Yes_ No 26. If you move, what will you do with your dog? 27. When you go on vacation, where will your dog go and who will care for it? 28. Who is the veterinarian that you have used in the past 3 years, or will be using, in the case you have never owned a pet before? (provide all info; an incomplete app will be discarded): Name:_ Address: ____ Phone: 29. How will your dog travel to the Vet or other places? (in a car, van, back of pick-up truck, etc.): 30. May we call your Vet and inquire as to your pet's previous healthcare? Yes_ No__ If no, why?
31. Are you willing to allow a HOWLIN4SPIRIT representative to periodically visit your home? Yes_ No If no, why? 32. Please, list the names of, email addresses, and phone numbers of three(3) personal references (not related) whom you have known for at least three(3) years:

33. Please, tell us a little about yourself and why you feel you could provide a good home for a rescued dog:

34. If you should have any disabilities please list them here, so that we can determine what companion animal would be best foryour needs.

35. In the event of an accident or unexpected illness, what provisions have you made for the care and well-beingof your companion animals?

By signing this adoption application, I am swearing to the fact that I am 18 years or older and all information provided true: ____________________________________ Howlin4Spirit Companion Animal Rescue, Inc.
P.O. Box 711
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Phone: #828-429-8398
Email: h4s_cares@yahoo.com