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Grant from Jacksonville Humane Society, ACPS helps family keep stray dog

The happy family, Deisler said, is a perfect example of the grant, their partnership with the city and bringing animals and people together.

The Jacksonville Humane Society is used to helping rescue animals. It's a story of love at practically first sight for one family and pup. The story of how the humane society helped bring them together is one they said they won't forget. 

According to Denise Deisler, CEO of the Jacksonville Humane Society, a family found an abandoned dog running around its neighborhood. The family called the city's Animal Care and Protective Services number, and an ACPS officer responded. 

“Between that time [that the officer responded], the dog started warming up to the family and once the officer did arrive, he discovered that they’d fallen in love," Deisler said. "He [the officer] was about to take him [the dog] away and the children started crying and didn’t want to let him go. The mom of the family said 'I can’t afford him I don’t have what I need.'"

That's when the Humane Society and ACPS officer stepped in. According to Deisler, one year ago, ACPS officers told the humane society they didn't have the supplies they needed to help community members with their pets. That's when they asked the humane society for help. 

Deisler said the humane society applied for a grant to help buy leashes, collars and other supplies necessary for pet owners. Those supplies were then given to ACPS officers to hand out to the community.

“The purpose was to try to help people in the community who may be facing some challenges with their pet, but don’t necessarily need to surrender it," she said. "Instead of another homeless dog sitting in the shelter, there’s a happy family with a dog, and it’s a great result between the humane society and the city’s animal care."

The officer was able to give some of those supplies to the family, who was then able to keep the dog. The happy family, Deisler said, is a perfect example of the grant, their partnership with the city and bringing animals and people together. 

"How quickly this family warmed up to that dog was evident in that photo." she said "You can see the love [and] you can see the joy that [the] dog brought to that family, and [the] untold amounts of gratitude brought to the dog who was in a much better situation than he was before," she said.

Deisler said they'll continue to try to find ways to help support pet owners who may need help, like connecting them with a vet in the area. 

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