Operation Mountain Misery: the rescue of 21 dogs running wild on a steep hillside in WV.

October 25, 2023, Powhatan, West Virginia- Animal Rescue Corps (ARC), a national animal protection nonprofit, deployed for the first time to rescue 21 dogs from neglectful conditions at a property in Powhatan yesterday in McDowell County, one of the most impoverished counties in W.Va., about twenty miles northwest of Bluefield.
When ARC responders arrived at the rural property, they found fourteen large dogs running loose on a steep hillside and overgrown woods and an additional seven four-week-old puppies seeking shelter under a dilapidated back porch on the property. Many of the dogs were suffering from untreated medical conditions, including obvious skin and eye ailments. The property owner said the house belonged to his late mother and that unaltered dogs had been dumped there and quickly bore litters only to have most of the puppies die in the woods. He had reached out to every animal rescue group he could find and none were able to help until ARC sent a team to the rural location to assist.
“Many houses in these rural West Virginian coal towns are vacant and falling down,” said Tim Woodward, ARC’s Executive Director. “There are absolutely no animal services or resources available to these communities. This man has put his life on hold for months trying to do right by these dogs after his mother died and I commend him for that commitment.”
The planning for this rescue, dubbed Operation Mountain Misery, began when ARC was contacted by the property owner who had inherited the property from his late mother. ARC assembled tactical equipment and a field team and set off on multiple deployments to the rural W.Va. town. Animal Rescue Corps is managing the safe extraction of the dogs and puppies, all of whom have run wild for a long time, their assessment, and documentation, and will manage placement with trusted shelter partners that will ultimately adopt them into loving homes.
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[@geemessiah]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT NECESSARY HELP AND FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE FOR THAT BRAVE MAN IN SUCH UNEASY SITUATION. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!

[@emilykliemann4346]

I love Animal Rescue Corps ❤️. I will always support your group and am so thankful for all you do for animals!!

[@mlhart3741]

Beautiful story - the gentleman speaks eloquently as an advocate for ARC and the impact the organization has on animals and people. Bravo, ARC - appreciate the longer-than-usual video on this one, too (and I know how difficult it is to keep up, and keep on making them!) Thank you!

[@adriansanchezordaz8074]

Thanks!!!!! ;-)

[@leylacipher054]

Sigan haciendo este increíble labor

[@valdirabarbosa1219]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hvandieren]

Hearfelt thanks to ARC for another stunning dog rescue. Mr. Miles Goosens deserves our praise for proactively seeking a humane solution for the dogs his late mother cared for. To upend his daily life, provide the dogs with food, water, and attention while networking for rescue help shows Mr. Goosens is a man of the finest moral character and I applaud him. Here is yet one more compelling reason I am a regular donor to ARC.

[@tamarabeinlich7353]

Thank you ARC for helping this man find his mom's rescues a new life. There were 200 cats on my dirt road 15 years ago. With TNR and adoptions there are only 2 ferals males but I took in 7 just this passed summer dumped out here and no shelter or rescue will take them. At 66 I never thought I'd have nearly 25 cats and 6 dogs. People can't even afford the cheap pet food so the dumping in the country is getting worse. 😞

[@59Alaskan]

Blessings ✨️

[@rogeriabarroso2150]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@beverlydiltz2604]

Great job. A very good for the dogs. My thoughts are always in West Virginia. Their worked themselves to the bone. Then the coal company's deserted them.

[@gamer1tv762]

Cute letter 72

[@Userius1]

I've never seen as many stray dogs as I did in West Virginia.

[@anjalikashyap7142]

God bless you babies ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Gamidov.9]

Cute advocat 84

[@lindapeden3572]

👀🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡❤️❤️❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🐾🐾🐾🐾🤝⏰

[@drew65sep]

I live in Southern West Virginia and I'm surprised that coyotes haven't been attacking and consuming those dogs on a nightly basis. Those things are starting to cause some real damage as their population grows.

[@alisong2328]

I noticed those survivor dogs were on the bigger side and could survive coyote fights.

[@tamarashepp8617]

Strong designer57