The group was formed by Dr. Don and Teresa Morton of Muldrow when a closer look at the town's dog pound about two years ago prompted them to find a way to help. Several volunteers who also care about the well-being of animals began working with the Mortons to get the stray dogs out of the pound, and adopted into loving homes.
The Mortons received permission from the town to help improve on the city pound. They built a privacy fence around the dogs' residence to keep them sheltered from the inclement weather, and built houses inside the pens for the dogs so they can be comfortable. They also provide feed and treats for the dogs to try to keep them happy until they are placed.
The Mortons' grassroots effort has led to the recent development of a Web site, www.ahimsarescueofmuldrow.org, that spotlights the available canines with photos and information. The site also provides a variety of educational information, advice, and pointers about dogs, from pet behavior and care to facts about spaying and neutering. Teresa Morton said they want to provide information to help the dogs stay in the homes when they are adopted.
Teresa Morton said she named the rescue Ahimsa because of the meaning of the word, which comes from the Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of refraining from harming any living being or taking a life.
According to their site, the rescue's mission is "to place needy animals in responsible homes, provide humane education, and encourage spaying and neutering because there are not enough homes."
The web site is also listed on www.petfinder.com with a link to the local web site. Morton said they are basically trying to give the dogs exposure to give them a chance.
Before the rescue group, dogs brought to the pound were usually destroyed if they weren't picked up right away. Teresa Morton said the city didn't have any type of adoption program until she and her group of volunteers came along. The volunteers take the time to care for the dogs, who have been abandoned or sometimes just lost, until they can place them in a home.
The city brings the dogs in, and the volunteers take care of them, giving them vaccinations and seeing to their daily care.
Doug Shadell of Muldrow is one of the volunteers who contributes his time every Saturday.
"We're kind of a fledgling program," Shadell said. "But is seems like it works."
Shadell said before the adoption program, if the owners didn't claim the dogs, the dogs would be euthanized.
"Before, it was a death sentence," Shadell said.
On average they have about eight dogs, but some of the dogs are in foster care. He said at one time all of the volunteers had a dog at their home.
"Teresa is a true animal lover," Shadell said.
Shadell is right on target. The Mortons have 26 permanent canine residents in four different yards at their home. Each yard is half an acre and all the dogs are rescued animals, except two.
"Only four get to come in the house," Morton said.
Morton said their hope is to place every needy dog in a good lifetime home. The Mortons said they are in need of more foster homes for the dogs since there seems to be an endless supply of dogs needing homes.
The Mortons said they rely on donations for the spaying and neutering, but mainly they give a lot of their own money to the program. Fundraising is something for their future to work on, Teresa Morton said.
The dogs aren't given to just anyone off the street. There is an online adoption application form which asks a variety of questions about what the future owner wants in a pet to try to ensure the dogs get a good home. Teresa Morton said they prefer the applicants to have a fenced yard.
"Putting them in a bad home is worse than putting them to sleep," she said.
Teresa Morton also makes a poster and puts photos of the dogs on it and posts it around town as a means to get the dogs adopted.
The Mortons said they would like to see the city expand the pound and provide more space in the future, but currently their main priority is to make sure the dogs are loved and cared for.
The Mortons said the volunteers are really dog lovers, and at least once a day, a volunteer drops by the pound to clean the dogs, feed them, and take them for walks.
"All the volunteers are especially good," Dr. Morton said.
There are currently about 13 dogs at the pound, with five of those temporarily cared for at the Mortons' home. The dogs range in age from puppies to senior dogs, Teresa Morton said.
The Mortons said anyone who is interested in a dog can check out the Web site, which has the volunteers' phone numbers listed so they can make an appointment, or they can contact the city pound and the city will contact the volunteers. If people have access to a computer, they prefer to be contacted through email at savingpaws@aol.com.
Any donations are welcome and can be sent to Ahimsa Rescue of Muldrow, P.O. Box 409, Muldrow, Okla. 74948.
