More than five years ago, Wayne and Ann Inks provided the seed money to Foothills Humane Society (FHS)

to begin a fund in honor of their pet dog, Sacha.

Every year they generously replenish the fund. They have one stipulation: use the fund to train dogs at the shelter and enhance their ability to find forever homes.

Often the stories that precede the animal’s acceptance at the shelter are difficult. The history of the animal can lead to behavioral issues. FHS makes every effort to rehabilitate all special needs animal.

For special dogs, the Sacha Fund is critical to success. Training by a variety of local dog specialists assures that these dogs learn to trust adults and children, as well as interact well with other dogs and cats. In some cases, dogs are sent “off-site” from the shelter to work intensely with these specialists. They are given every opportunity to improve any behavioral problems, and this sets the stage for  successful adoptions.

FHS is an open-admission shelter with the mission to save the lives of animals and has been recognized at the state and national level. Recently, FHS has seen a spike in admissions of dogs with special needs. New training programs and innovative use of local resources have shown dramatic and successful results…but with a cost.

The fund is currently running out of money, and FHS is asking the public for donations to continue to offer answers and hope for these dogs.

Donations can be made by mail or on-line. Checks can be mailed to Foothills Humane Society, P.O. Box 126, Tryon, N.C. 28782. You are asked to note on the check memo line that the donation is made to “Sacha Fund.”

Or for convenience, on-line donations can be done at www.foothillshumanesociety.org by simply going to “Donations” and clicking on “Sacha Fund” as an option. Major credit cards are accepted.

– article submitted by Joyce Cox