We are thankful to be
part of the local
community. Come visit us!
881 Concord Rd SE, Smyrna 30080 • (770) 435-4567
136 COBB LIFE | APRIL 2021
different is that we assign a counselor to you when
you’re looking for a pet, and we’ll talk to you to find
out what your lifestyle is, what you’re looking for, then
try to match you or give you a few choices for pets we
think will suit you best,” Turley said. “I don’t want to
give you some crazy hyper puppy if you live in an
apartment and you’re going to be at work all day. You
may not keep that dog because it’s barking in the
background and you can’t get it trained. If you get the
right pet for your home and your lifestyle, you’re going
to be happy, the dog’s going to be happy, and if that
was the case to begin with, they wouldn’t be with us.”
Turley said the organization began in 2004 from a
resident’s home and property, and she was a volunteer
for Mostly Mutts until she took over in 2012. The
organization now has over 400 volunteers, which
Turley said is absolutely vital to keeping the shelter
running.
Those volunteers and her staff help to manage
many programs outside of simply rehabilitating the
animals and finding them homes. They are involved in
the community in many other ways as well, including:
• discounted training classes at the facility
• organized visits from school classes and scout
troops to help educate children about animals and
their care
• dog visits to a nearby retirement home
• a “Read to Dogs” program for children on Wednesday
evenings that helps to socialize shy dogs and
helps the children with their reading skills
THE ORGANIZATION NOW
HAS OVER 400 VOLUNTEERS,
WHICH TURLEY
SAID IS ABSOLUTELY
VITAL TO KEEPING THE
SHELTER RUNNING.
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