AC Pup’s friend Chico gets new kennel

Every once in a while something tugs at your heart so strongly that you’re compelled to take action and get involved. That’s exactly what happened recently with Macon-Bibb County Animal Welfare Officer Jason Vinson.

As most animal control officers do, Officer Vinson regularly encounters people who are sometimes apathetic about their pets at best and abusive to them at worst. That’s just the nature of animal control work, and it’s an affirmation of the lack of appreciation many people have for their own pets.

Officer Vinson was recently called out to a neighborhood on an issue about a dog only to find the people involved were not home. But an elderly neighbor was. The neighbor, Ms. Vylene Bryant, was outside working in her yard and was able to take time to chat with Officer Vinson.

They exchanged pleasantries when Ms. Bryant began to explain to Officer Vinson just how much her own dog, Chico, means to her. She’d had the 3-year-old mix since he was a baby, and she loved him dearly.

She was so concerned that because she did not have a fence or a kennel, Chico was on a chain. She was so distraught to have him spend too much time on the chain without the ability to exercise since she is taking care of her daughter with significant medical challenges.

Officer Vinson, who has a soft spot in his heart for elderly people anyway, was so touched by Ms. Bryant’s love and concern for Chico that he knew he needed to do whatever he could to help her and her dog.

So he discussed this with his boss, and the suggestion was made to post the need for a kennel on Facebook. Of course, the power of Facebook is incredible, and folks immediately wanted to help.

As you may know, an initiative of my nonprofit animal group Central Georgia CARES is called Unchain Macon. In that program, we help free tethered dogs from the restrictions of a life on chains. So CARES’ own Miss Becky Angelo called Officer Vinson to let him know CARES would provide the kennel for Chico. Of course, Officer Vinson was thrilled to know Ms. Bryant’s fur baby would soon be able to run freely in the kennel.

Officer Vinson delighted in communicating to Ms. Bryant that help was on the way for Chico. Ms. Bryant was tickled pink that Chico was about to have a new life filled with exercise and play.

But CARES went even further to help Ms. Bryant by using two kennels rather than one and joining them together to make the space twice as large for Chico to run. And my wonderful group provided a top for the kennel to shield Chico from the elements.

So on a recent beautiful Saturday morning, folks gathered to assemble the kennel for Chico. It was a glorious day and a pleasure to help someone who cared enough about her fur baby to seek a solution.

You can help CARES help unchain even more tethered pets. Just send your tax deductible gift designated to Unchain Macon to CARES, P.O. Box 7498, Macon, GA 31209 or go to PayPal at acpupfund@yahoo.com. Ms. Bryant and Chico are ever so grateful for CARES and the generosity of kind people.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 1:41 PM with the headline "AC Pup’s friend Chico gets new kennel."