No doubt if there was a spot on count for all the dogs which have come through Bedford County New Destiny Dog Rescue over the last 10 years, the number would likely be staggering.
But that’s not what’s most important, according to those who’ve worked with NDDR over the last decade. It’s that dogs, many that were frail and near death, were able to be saved and later adopted by generous members of this community and beyond.
So NDDR volunteers are celebrating 10 years of success on March 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the new Upscale Yard Sale site, which supports NDDR, at 912 North Main Street.
During this celebration, there will be food trucks and more!
The main event for the day is the Clues for Canines Sticker Race. The main goal for this is to of course celebrate but to also educate the community about rescue. Volunteers note NDDR gets, on a daily basis, questions from people who are always asking why NDDR can’t just take their dog.
Printed tickets can be purchased for $10 a person (Venmo or cash.) You can play single or play as a team (1-6 players per team, 7 and under is free). The ticket has a given time and that is when that ticket holder will check in at the Upscale Yard Sale store.
NDDR is only selling 108 tickets and each time frame is 18 tickets starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 1:00 p.m. The player has 2 hours to finish from their start time after the tour. After they check in, they will go first to the rescue (on Highland) and take a tour. (This is not part of the 2 hours). After the tour, the racer will be given their official start time and a form that has 7 questions on one side and a business name with an answer on the other. They will have to decide which answer goes with the question and drive to that business.
There will be “deputy dogs” at each business and if they are correct, they will get a sticker. The answers will be in the tour so they will need to pay attention . The winner will not be based on who gets back to the store first but by their time.
Local businesses participating are New Covenant Christian Book Store, Tropical Island, Talk of the Town (Merle Norman), the Airport, French’s Boot Barn, Liberty Tax and possibly one other potential business.
There will have be two food trucks (Justa Smokin and Sir Pizza) there and NDDR will be giving away gift baskets.
NDDR appreciates everyone who has volunteered, fostered or prayed for little animals over the last 10 years. Go to newdestinydogrescue.org and on the NDDR Facebook page for more information.
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Melanie Lambert shares personal testimony on New Destiny Dog Rescue
By Dawn Hankins
Melanie Lambert fostered a dog through New Destiny Dog Rescue that came from a hoarding case here in Shelbyville a few years ago.
“The picture of when we got her, and the day she left, is just remarkable. I wasn’t new to fostering but I had never fostered a dog in that condition,” said Lambert.
“I called her Little Girl. She was so petite and had an infected eye because of no vet care. What she went through just broke my heart. Here’s the part people don’t see. I didn’t realize it myself. When I got her, she had been fed junk (when she got fed. No clean water, no vet care.”
Lambert had “Little Girl” vetted and she was given good food. She of course had to go through learning to trust, to be house trained, etc. but what really got Smith was the transformation in her body.
“She didn’t smell great and that took time. But what I realized is that her little body had to detox all the ‘junk’ that was in her. Like, I noticed about a month or so after I had her that her hair felt oily and it was like that for a week or so and then she had this beautiful coat. Her little body was detoxing. She was a trooper! But every week I noticed something new for the better.”
Lambert said she will stay in touch with Little Girl’s adopter.
“She was one that I didn’t want to let go but she’s in such a great home now. She’s happy.”
