About Angie
It Takes A Community
By Beth HarropHow does one person save 350 dogs in less than a year? She doesn’t. But if one person can inspire others to join
her on this quest, that is how it gets done! Angie Young, founder of Southern Mutts Rescue in Greenwood, Mississippi, has built a
dog rescue community through her life saving mission. Angie gratefully expresses, "I am so blessed to have a community that helps
when I need anything." The true blessing is how her passion and compassion to save dogs, along with some cats, has sparked the
same in others. Angie has built a reputation in her community for being honest and trustworthy and because she will step up to
help. 
This community network brings together an array of people
with one thing in common, their love of animals. This group includes three dedicated women, Beth Tackett, Sarah Upchurch
and Laine Hutton, who help her with caring for and socializing the dogs, fundraising and helping with social media. Ms. Tackett’s
son, Sumner, has also helped over the past 5 years, including building Angie a puppy kennel for his Eagle Scout project. Angie has
the ever so important foster families, who give a piece of their home, time and hearts to the so many dogs in need. These fosters are
Lexis Frith, Amanda McCaleb, Kim Brown, Emma Downs and April Brooks. Another strategic piece of this
puzzle is the transport drivers. Transport drivers like Jodie Logan, Yolande Van Heerden, Gregory Cooper and
April Brooks, offer comfort to these dogs as they get them on their way to new homes. Through social media, Angie has connected
with generous people who have donated funds and goods. One of these people is Lester Bullard, who donates all the food for
Southern Mutts Rescue dogs right out of his own pocket. Mr. Bullard has also made dog houses for Angie to donate to people in their
community. Additionally, Angie has a relationship with certain local businesses, who will donate supplies when she is in need. Angie
emphasises that she makes sure not to overreach nor take for granted all of these kindnesses, as she values everyone of the people who
help her to save more animals. Angie did not stop there! Over the past 6 years of working with animals in need, Angie has built a rescue
network in both local and out of state rescues. She gives great credit to
Northbound Rescue
for helping her to start her own rescue and showing her how important her role is in her community. Northbound Rescue coordinates for
Southern Mutts Rescue dogs to move them into northern rescues, where they are placed into their forever homes. The more dogs that leave
to find homes north, the more Angie can take in from Mississippi.
Why is there such a great need? The simple answer, money or the lack thereof. We are not talking about wealthy suburban areas where an occasional stray dog is quickly retrieved by a local animal control. These are rural areas of Mississippi, where pet overpopulation is an epidemic. Low cost or free spay and neutering programs are not easy to find or access. A heartfelt Angie says she aspires “to help spay and neuter dogs whose owners live below poverty level and simply can’t afford it.” Angie and her fellow rescuers are helping across multiple counties in the poorest areas of Mississippi. By working together within the state, as well as, with rescue organizations out of state, they are able to work on these crucial goals. However, they need greater help from the veterinary community to bring spay and neutering programs closer. Angie has a couple of caring veterinary hospitals who work with her in amazing ways. Unfortunately, having spay and neuter programs readily available is not enough. This is where rescuers, like Angie, come in. Having invested into communities, she is now a trusted spokesperson to inform, educate and support pet owners. The importance of this is so the programs get taken advantage of.
Rescue work is multifaceted, rewarding and heartbreaking but above all it is essential to helping end animal homelessness, neglect and abuse. Many people want to help but don’t know how or where to start. People are seeing in their communities and through social media so many animals in need of homes, veterinary care for heartworm to serious injuries or owners unable to afford basic care. Look for your “Angie” in your community or a community you want to help. Reach out, make a connection and see how you can best help. Contributing financially always helps, but there are so many other ways too. Your time and skills are just as important. The people who joined in all types of ways to work with Angie are the reasons why 350 dogs are no longer suffering, homeless or euthanized. 350 dogs, in less than one year, now have a chance to feel love, happiness and be part of a family. Everyone makes a difference, it only takes someone to lead the way.
Follow Southern Mutts Rescue on Facebook and Instagram.