Let’s face it – most dogs are loved by their owners, pampered and considered to be members of the family. But there are far too many dogs out there that are chained, neglected, unfed, shivering in the cold and often abused. While these words may sound like that certain ASPCA commercial we all avoid watching on TV, they describe an unfortunate reality.
There is a local nonprofit agency that works tirelessly to help neglected canines. Commonly known as the “Dog Lady,” Stephanie Isaac, Founder and President of Greater Flint Dog Outreach & Rescue (GFDO) has been rescuing dogs for the last ten years with the help of dedicated volunteers. GFDO was recognized as a nonprofit organization in 2020. “There is a serious need for this in Flint,” she reports.
According to Isaac, Animal Control doesn’t have enough resources to handle the problem and police officers can’t rescue dogs. “So, we do it on our own,” she says. “We are volunteers. We get them off chains, take them food and water and work to earn their trust. Our goal is to get the owners to surrender them. We do try to get them to move chained dogs inside the house. We document everything, take photos and work to achieve owner surrender of a dog that is chained or one that the owner is unable to take care of.”
“We get them off chains, take them food and water and work to earn their trust. Our goal is to get the owner to surrender them.”
Stephanie Isaac, GFDO Founder & President
Once a chained canine is surrendered, the goal of GFDO is to have it spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and moved into a safe environment. If a surrender is successful, GFDO brings the dog to their facility, takes it to the vet for care and eventually, moves it into a foster home. Sometimes, however, an owner surrender isn’t possible. Isaac and other volunteers have weekly routes they drive, monitoring chained dogs and taking them life-saving supplies – food, water and straw to keep them warm when it’s cold outside.
Another goal of GFDO is to educate dog owners about compassionate treatment of animals. “But, this is Flint,” Isaac says. “We are often dealing with owners who are drug dealers, street-smart people. We just get in there where the dogs live and try to make it better for them. We are concerned about the dogs.”
Over the years, GFDO has saved hundreds of dogs, Isaac reports, and many are aggressive and have behavioral issues. One of the more difficult rescues involved a German Shepherd the owner threatened to kill. “Get the bitch out of here. You can have her!” the owner told her. “I took her that night and got her out of the situation,” Isaac recalls. It took three weeks for the dog – scared after being beaten, abused and starved – to earn Isaac’s trust; but it was a successful rescue. People often wonder why some dog owners can’t be prosecuted for animal abuse. Sadly, it’s not so easy, Isaac states. “It can’t be based on hearsay.”
“We are Flint based – Flint volunteers, Flint board members and Flint dogs. Every year, we prevent hundreds of dogs from winding up at Genesee County Animal Control.”
A dog named Whisper has a successful rescue story. “She was aggressive because she had been badly abused,” Isaac shares. “After intense rehabilitation, she is now a sweet old lady. We didn’t think we could do it, but we saved her from a life of hell. We had to give her a chance. It took six weeks to get her a new home, but she has become a totally different dog.”
This year, GFDO has successfully found homes for around 90 dogs, including a litter of puppies. Applicants are carefully screened and GFDO will not place a dog with anyone who will keep it chained. Dogs are never euthanized unless they are dangerous and can’t be rehabilitated. “We won’t let them suffer,” Isaac says.
The GFDO shelter in Flint provides a loving, safe place for the rescued canines until they are placed in foster homes. “We are foster based,” Isaac explains. “We have eight fosters and are always looking for more. The fosters provide a safe place until the dogs are placed in a forever home.” The organization pays for everything – food and vet bills for the rescues.
GFDO works hard to make a positive difference, but the need to rescue neglected and abused dogs is never-ending, Isaac adds. There are currently 110 dogs the organization feeds and watches out for in Flint and Flint Township. “We save two and get three more calls,” she states. “It never stops. We fall in love with every dog living on the end of a chain. We watch them suffer and suffer with them. It brings us joy when we bring them to our shelter and find them loving homes.”
If you would like to help, call 810.336.3861 or visit facebook.com/gfdoflint
