N.Va. group wins prize for helping abandoned dogs

Hound dogs and beagles abandoned in rural Virginia counties are finding homes in Arlington County thanks to Homeward Trails Animal Rescue and its supporters on Facebook.

The rescue group, which took in nearly 2,000 animals last year, was a winner in the 2009 America's Giving Challenge, an online competition on Facebook that was launched with an article in Parade magazine on Oct. 7.

During the 30-day national competition, Homeward Trails received 1,674 donations totaling $25,150. By placing in the top 11, the group won $10,000. An additional $1,000 came from a daily prize. Homeward won a similar total in the 2007 competition.

Sue Bell, founder and executive director of the group, works with shelters in Caroline, King William and Prince George counties, among others. She also has placed dogs that originated in Goochland County.

She picked up three cats and a dog this week in King George, she said. The Boston terrier-beagle mix named Bradley was turned in by an owner who couldn't afford to keep him -- a story that has become more common because of the economy, she said.

Hunting animals also are commonplace.

"In rural Virginia shelters, every year after hunting season they are bombarded with hounds and beagles," Bell said. "In the morning there may be 20 hounds tied up outside."

She became aware of the problem in rural areas during a winter vacation in West Virginia. When she stopped at an animal shelter to donate dog biscuits, she learned that about 95 percent of the animals were euthanized because no one adopted them.

"I couldn't stop thinking about them," she said. "On New Year's Day 2001, I said I'm going to get three dogs out of there and find them homes. We did that."

After advertising to find homes for those dogs, she continued to be contacted by people who wanted help in finding a pet.

"We started making trips to [West Virginia's] Fayette County and bringing back dogs and cats. It took off," she said. Now incorporated as a nonprofit organization, Homeward Trails has more than 500 volunteers and has rescued more than 8,500 animals by placing them in foster homes and finding permanent homes. Bell adopted three beagles herself.

Hounds usually take longer to place than beagles, she said, because of the "stereotype that they're loud hunting animals that have no place in the suburbs.

"Honestly, with patience, love and exercise, they learn as quickly and are as affectionate as other dogs. They get along with other dogs because they're used to being in packs. They're often good with kids. They make excellent exercise partners. For a family that likes to run or walk, hounds are great companions."

Contact Katherine Calos at (804) 649-6433 or .