Bluff City Bark December 2014 Issue | Page 9

Featured Rescue Who/How/ when did Blue Sky Dog Rescue start? How many people work and/or volunteer there? Blue Sky began as a one-woman crusade in rural Mississippi. Donna Orman, the founder and president of Blue Sky Dog Rescue, would frequently see dogs wandering along the country roads near her home. However, these weren’t the typical neighbors’ dogs or dogs that happened to make the rounds through the area that occasionally manage to wander away from their homes. These dogs were different. They had an unmistakable look in their eyes. A pitiful look of not knowing where to go or what to do. Tired, uncertain, scared, hungry. Having always been a lover and advocate for dogs, Donna began taking in these dogs, caring for them and helping to find them homes. With few resources available for stray dogs near her home, she was frequently contacted to assist with dogs who had been found injured, neglected and abandoned. As time went on, this way of helping the dog community became a great passion for Donna and as she connected with other dog lovers, she began to gain support of volunteers and eventually she became established as a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization. We have a small core group of 5-7 volunteers who handle much of the care of our dogs, events and transport to vet appointments. We have a larger network of volunteers who assist with various rescue tasks and activities as they are able. We are COMPLETELY reliant on our volunteers. Without their support, dedication and passion for the care of dogs in need we would not have a rescue. While some of the volunteers are involved on a daily basis, others assist weekly, monthly or whenever they can. We welcome anyone who has a passion for helping dogs in need to contact us and learn how to become involved! Is there a board? Yes, our board is comprised of volunteers and includes a president, vice-president and treasurer/secretary. We also have volunteers who hold the positions of adoption coordinator, event coordinator, volunteer coordinator and kennel coordinator. Bluff City Bark Magazine How many dogs does BSDR currently have in foster care? We currently have 7 dogs in foster care homes and 20 dogs at our kennel. Our president and founder, Donna Orman, has a climate controlled kennel on her property in rural Mississippi. The dogs are cared for primarily by Donna, but we also have volunteers who visit the kennel twice daily (once in the a.m. and once in the p.m.) to socialize, walk and play with the dogs. We feel that this gives us the unique opportunity as a small rescue for several of us to really get to know and understand each dog and their individual qualities. Often dogs come to us from sub-optimal circumstances and are quite timid. However, through the routine of the ken