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Dog Lovers Line Up Early To Adopt Rescued Puppies

News Channel 8 image by INDIRA LEVINE

About 30 people showed up to adopt the four puppies available this morning. More puppies will be available next weekend.

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By KEITH MORELLI

kmorelli@tampatrib.com

Published: December 27, 2008

PALM HARBOR - Dozens of potential future puppy owners flocked to the Suncoast Animal League this morning, hoping for a shot to adopt a pack of puppies rescued from a small town in Georgia this month.

Thirty people showed up to fill out applications for the four puppies, said Rick Chaboudy, executive director and co-founder of the sanctuary.

Nine puppies will be on hand next weekend, he said.

"This is an incredible thing," Chaboudy told News Channel 8 this morning, outside the League's headquarters. "People were here at 5 o'clock this morning waiting in line."

The dogs were rescued by Angel Dog Rescue, which sent out a plea two weeks ago for help. Volunteers headed to Georgetown, Ga., where strays had run wild in the streets and the local animal shelter was overrun and understaffed and underfunded, he said.

"The dogs were packing up and attacking other animals," Chaboudy said. Most of those rescued were living in muck under houses, he said.

In all, 32 dogs met requirements for adoption and were taken back to Florida. Many are still too young to adopt out and are being cared for in foster homes.

"Ten days ago, these dogs were living under a house," Chaboudy said. "It amazes me how the Tampa Bay area has come to the rescue. We have these puppies, which had no hope of a new life, and are putting them into brand new homes."

Andrea Mitchell showed up with her three children, hoping to be lucky enough to adopt one of the four pups on display today, preferably a black lab named Harmony, she said.

"We're looking for a pet for my three girls," Mitchell said. "We're trying to keep a Christmas promise."

She said the family wanted to adopt a pet that was young and didn't have a previous owner. Giving her daughters a puppy, she said, "would give us a lot of joy." It would be the first dog in the Mitchell family.

Kara Fletcher also was hoping to score a puppy.

"We've been looking for a puppy for a while," she said, and these puppies are different.

"They all have their own little stories behind them," Fletcher said. "I would rather get a puppy that is in need than get one out of the puppy store. Plus, they're cute."

Competition is tough, though, she said. "There are more people here than I expected."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760.

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