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For dog rescuers, the hard part is letting go

Date published: 3/15/2003

FOR THREE YEARS, D.K. Jones, a systems analyst at BAE Systems, and his wife, Jennie, have labored day and night taking care of the 240 or so dogs that have passed through their rescue operation, Canine Rescue and Adoption.

They rise at dawn to clean and feed their wards and make incessant trips and calls to vets, prospective owners and shelters. Most Saturdays, they are at the Petco store in Stafford County from noon to 4 p.m., showing and trying to adopt out some of the dogs.

But, according to D.K., the truly hard part of running the rescue service is letting go of personable, sweet-hearted dogs like Teddy, who could make anyone a friend for life with just one compelling look.

The Joneses have taken care of some of the dogs for up to a year, and D.K. says it is easy to become attached. The dogs become attached, too, and no wonder.

D.K. says that Jennie is the "heart and soul" of the operation, and, with the help of volunteers Susan Van de Putte and Kay Dee Philpot, all the dogs receive top-shelf veterinary care, exercise and clean, spacious kennels with houses.

Says D.K., "When the weather is bad, nobody stays outside."

All the dogs are vet-checked , spayed or neutered, and current on their shots before being put up for adoption.

D.K. says that all local dog owners should be on guard against heartworm; it is very prevalent here, and he has had to pay for 12 expensive and potentially hazardous heartworm treatments.

Although he has taken in many a "mean dog," D.K. maintains that he takes care of "people problems," not "dog problems." (There are no "mean dogs" in the inventory once Jennie and D.K. have had them for a while. D.K. makes sure that all the dogs are socialized to get along with dogs and people alike.)

D.K. is particularly upset by back-yard breeders who rank their profits first and the welfare of their dogs dead last.

Everyone who adopts from Canine Rescue must complete an application and, as D.K. puts it, "We can tell a lot about potential adopters right from the first meeting."

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Date published: 3/15/2003