A Jasper County man is on a mission to combat what he describes as an “epidemic” of abandoned dogs, urging county officials to find solutions to help rescue these animals. Steve Garcia, a longtime resident, has been taking in abandoned dogs for over 40 years and rehoming them to his family.
Garcia, who lives near Sandy Creek and East End Parks, said, “There’s at least thirty that the family has absorbed and brought into their families and their children and nieces and nephews and things like that. Dogs everywhere.” He noted that animals are consistently dumped in the area, with some even being shot and killed.
A stark reminder of the neglect these animals face was found in a collar made of rope and electrical tape, discovered on one of the dogs. “It’s pretty shaggy like it’s been on that dog for a good bit of time. Just don’t understand it,” Garcia said.
The city shelter, once supported by $17,000 annually from the county, no longer receives that funding. A woman assisting with the shelter reported they are overwhelmed with abandoned puppies and dogs, many dropped off from outside the city limits. The shelter lacks the space and staff to continue housing them.
Garcia encourages adoption or fostering to free up space but stresses the importance of understanding dog ownership responsibilities. “Teaching people that they have a responsibility when they take a dog into their house. They can’t just keep it for a while, it gets to be a problem, they can’t feed it, they can’t get it to the vet and take it out to the woods and dump it,” he said.
Garcia is urging the county to implement affordable spay and neuter programs and warns that if no action is taken, more citizens will demand solutions. The county has stated it is actively seeking solutions, but it will require time, patience, and funding.
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