Paw Angels helping dogs find their ‘furever’ homes
Hollie Stewart is not just a dance instructor or fitness coach, she is also the person behind the group Paw Angels, a rescue that promotes fostering and adoption for dogs who are most in need in the community.
The whole idea started when Lucy, a young Pitbull mix, came very close to being euthanized.
“I had to beg a rescue to save her,” said Stewart. “Lee Dimiceli took a chance on me and Lucy. I promised I would never leave her, she would never worry again about where her food would come from, and she would never want for love.”
Stewart said Lucy opened up the world of rescue to her. Another member of Paw Angels, Marilyn Hefner, has two dogs she has adopted as well.
“We started out fostering for other rescues and just fell in love with them,” said Hefner. “We chugged along for a year having bake sales and doing what we could to support the animals and keep them from being euthanized. It was a desire to save as many dogs as we could.”
Paw Angels has always been a volunteer group of feisty women who sacrifice time, money and tears to save dogs that need homes.
“We do what it takes,” said Stewart. “We need no human gratitude, only the wet kisses and snuggles that come from the dogs.”
Due to not having a Georgia License and spending countless hours every day and night begging to get rescues to help pull dogs from the shelter, the group decided to get a license of their own and Paw Angels became an official rescue group in early March of 2018.
The group is desperately looking for fosters. Fostering consists of someone opening their home to a dog for 1 or 2 weeks until Paw Angels can get the dog into an adoption event or send to a rescue. Everything is provided for the dog, such as food, crate and other needs the dog may have.
“It’s hard to pull the dogs if we don’t have anywhere to put them,” said Hefner. “So having fosters is so important.”
Paw Angels will also be having a bake sale and adoption event on Saturday, March 17, 2018 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., in the parking lot behind the old Clifford Free Funeral Home across from CVS on North Wall Street. Applications will be available at the event for people to fill out, and the group will have puppies and dogs looking for “furever” homes.
“The goal is one fundraiser a month,” said Hefner. “We are going to try to raise money to help with vet bills and spay and neutering and saving the dogs in general.”
Paw Angels also welcomes donations such as dog food, crates, blankets, leashes, collars and desperately needed kennels.
The group is looking forward to this new chapter. If you have any questions on becoming a foster for a dog in need, or questions about donating items for the group please contact Hollie Stewart at 770-548-8938.
The group’s Facebook page, Paw Angels Inc, features different dogs of all ages in need of rescue or fostering.