Anyone driving along Metamora Road, west of M-24, will likely see six or seven large dogs romping in the front yard of an old farm house.
Those lucky dogs are enjoying another day in the sun thanks to Carole Powell, founder of K-9 Stray Rescue League, a nonprofit group credited with saving more than 3,100 stray dogs in the last five years.
‘She literally pulls dogs from death row,? said Lori Stevenson, the rescue league’s administrator.
Some may say that Carol Powell has given up her life for these animals, but Stevenson says Powell literally put her heart and soul into saving the lives.
‘I can’t say enough about her, she has a heart as big as Texas,? said Stevenson.
For the past 13 years, Powell and Stevenson have travelled Southeast Michigan rescuing dogs from county animal control facilities.
The pair visit pounds every day in search of dogs that can be saved, embracing the medium to larger dogs and ‘mutts,? because, according to Stevenson, smaller dogs and purebreds are more adoptable by individuals or other rescue groups.
‘The dogs are being euthanized because there is not enough room at animal control,? she said.
‘These dogs are sometimes a day away from being killed,? Stevenson said as she receives loving nudge from a timid one-year old Golden Labrador Retriever.
The rescue league only takes dogs with good attitudes and temperaments suitable for familes and who are about to be euthanized. ‘It’s amazing how many nice dogs are out there,? Stevenson said.
Powell said she was unaware of the conditions animals suffered before being euthanized until she went in search for her own lost poodle many years ago.
‘At that time, animals in pounds were not taken care of,? she said. ‘And 95 percent were euthanized, but it’s much better now.?
After visiting several shelters, and consequently locating her own pet, Powell could no longer bear walking away from the dogs suffering in shelters. She began bringing dogs home, nursing them back to health and placing them in the homes of friends and relatives.
‘Pretty soon I ran out of friends,? she said with a sheepish chuckle.
Eventually, after boarding several rescued dogs at an Imlay City dog kennel, Powell borrowed more than $50,000 from her retirement policy and opened the rescue ranch on Metamora Road in Oxford.
Licensed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture, K-9 Stray Rescue League has become one of the most reputable dog rescue ranches in the area. Last year the ranch placed more than 900 dogs once sitting on death row. ‘Ironically, a few years ago The Leader did a story on us, then the Detroit News and Free Press saw it and did another story, then Channel 2,? Powell said. ‘I never intended it to get so big, but we just can’t say no.?
Stevenson said because of the extreme dedication of more than 40 volunteers at the rescue league, a growing number of foster families and a good reputation, opportunities for the organization to increase its adoptions has blossomed.
‘Now we are to the point of doing re-adoptions to families whose original dogs have passed on,? said Stevenson.
However, the increasing annual number of adoptions (an average of more than 200 dogs a year) has placed costly financial demands on the rescue league.
Expenditures in 2003, according to Powell, were more than $120,000 and promises to increase up to $25,000 this year because of additional boarding demands. Adoption fees only cover the cost of spaying and neutering.
Because the K-9 Stray Rescue League is a nonprofit organization, Powell and her staff are finding it more difficult to keep up with increasing medical costs, veterinary supplies, dog food, and utility increases.
Recently, the transport van Powell uses every day to save strays broke down and is beyond repair. ‘We really need something dependable,? she said.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, the rescue league finds financial aid from a variety of local sources. Schools hold fund-raisers for the rescue league in which most of the money raised goes to feeding and housing canines waiting for adoption.
PetCo on Baldwin Road in Auburn Hills holds a weekly pet show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the proceeds from which also help with food and housing costs.
Local veterinarians offer the league reduced rates to help reduce animal-related healthcare costs, Powell said.
Although the budget is tight and the hours can be long, Stevenson doesn’t regret a bit of it.
‘It’s a lot of work, but it’s rewarding,? she said while opening a cage to receive a sloppy lick from a recently rescued puppy. For further information about donating, volunteering or adopting a dog, contact the K-9 Stray Rescue League at (248) 628-0435 or click on their website at k9strayrescue@yahoo.com or www.dogsaver.org/k9srl.
Facility hours are Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special appointment times are also available upon request.
The facility is located at 2120 Metamora Road just west of M-24.