Paws of Dale Hollow is struggling to manage a regional animal overpopulation crisis as the demand for rescue services far exceeds the capacity of local volunteer organizations.
President Cathy Crockett said the no-kill rescue has operated in Byrdstown for 24 years, serving Pickett County and several surrounding areas. The organization has historically stepped in to assist neighboring communities like Overton County, Fentress County, and Clinton County, Kentucky, when those areas lacked their own rescue infrastructure.
“Everybody wants us to make their problem go away but we only have so much room,” Crockett said, “And when the room runs out we we can’t continue to take in dogs because we don’t want to become hoarders.”
Crockett said the organization is operated entirely by volunteers and relies on donations that go directly toward animal care. Crockett said the lack of government funding for animal overpopulation in the region often forces volunteers to use their own money to sustain operations.
“That’s the hardest part of this job, knowing that there’s an animal out there that in- that we could help if we could if we just had more manpower um, and more support from the community,” Crockett said. “Uh, that’s- we just have to say no. There’s- there’s no other way around it.”
Crockett said the organization manages a public outreach program to provide spay and neuter services for residents who cannot afford the procedures. Crockett said holding pet owners accountable for these services is the most effective way to reduce the stray population.
“If people were held responsible for getting these dogs spayed- dogs and cats spayed and neutered, um, I believe that the overpopulation problem would- you would see it uh, come down dramatically,” Crockett said. “Holding the people responsible. Um, they need the- the people that have the animals, they need to be held responsible for uh, their own pets because a lot of- a lot of times people uh- they don’t spay and neuter their animals.”
Crockett said education is a daily priority for the rescue, which includes teaching owners how to properly contain pets with fencing or trolley systems. Crockett said the rescue also recently launched a food bank for dogs and cats to help Pickett County residents keep their pets at home during financial hardships.
“This is- this is a crisis uh, right now that we’re faced with and the animals are suffering,” Crockett said. “So we have to- we have to try to do our best um, to educate the people in how to take care of their animals.”
Crockett said the rescue provides all necessary supplies and costs for those who participate in their foster system. Crockett said community members who cannot foster can still assist the organization by transporting animals to veterinary appointments.
“This is- community involvement I guess is- in a- in a short answer, community involvement is the most important thing,” Crockett said. “We have to get the community involved in in solving this problem.”
