Carol Smock with one of the Brown Dog Foundation beneficiaries.

Love this dog story
Everybody loves a good dog story, especially one with a happy ending.  Carol Smock’s story started off in September, 2000 when she read Chip's heart-wrenching story on the Lab Rescue website.  Chip’s previous family had abandoned him at a shelter when they found a tumor. 

Smock decided to arrange a meeting to become his adoptive parent.  The introduction went very well and after his surgery, Smock brought him home on October 16, 2000.  Over the next few years, Chocolate Chip, a loyal and loving companion, moved with Smock to Dallas and Chicago, and in 2003 they made their permanent home in Nashville, TN.

Six years later, Smock again found a lump on Chip.  When the veterinarian recommended surgery, Smock was forced to pause due to her unemployment.  She needed time to save the money for the surgery.  Before surgery could be scheduled, Chip awoke very sick and passed quickly.  But this sad story does still have a happy ending because Chip inspired Smock to do something great.

As a result of this experience, Smock along with five friends and her sister, created Brown Dog Foundation as a 501c3 public charity.  Brown Dog that provides funding to families who find themselves in similar situation.

“We want to partner with a family instead of a token gift,” said Smock.  “The families pay what they can and we fund the rest.”

Daisy was lost for a week in the May floods.  She dragged herself home with her hind legs out of socket.

Milo almost died - his owners were forced to rent an apartment while their home was being repaired for burst plumbing.  Milo had a piece of a corn cob lodged in his intestine...  without ER surgery he would have died.

Jack's dad's hours were cut last year, and he went into sudden renal failure - ER treatment was required to save him.

Callie is a flood cat that was sick and needed to see a Vet - her mom's house was destroyed and she was lost for 3 or 4 days.

Some families face a long term care situation for a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment.  Her hope is that knowing this foundation exists, dog-owners will have their dogs tested for cancer more frequently.

Brown Dog finds itself in a situation to grow and expand throughout the country through the Pepsi Refresh Grant.  The foundation could receive a grant of $250,000 if it gets the most votes in one month. 

“We have gone from 394th place to 74th,” said Smock.  “We’ve done a lot of work on our own.  We had a TV spot in the quad cities and that is starting to drive some productivity.  We hope your readers will help by voting too.”

The key for groups attempting to attain this grant is to get to the top two spots.  But climbing within the top 100 keeps them in the race for the next month.  So September could be a good month for Brown Dog foundation with some help from you.

There are three ways to help by voting and you can click here to find out how to do all three at this link. 

“We believe you can vote in all three ways each day,” says Smock.  “We hope your readers will share it with their friends and family.  This is a great way to get the kids involved.”

If Brown Dog Foundation wins the $250,000 grant, they have a sophisticated plan in place to maximize the use of funds.  Theirs is a long term plan that involves growing the funds in to a million dollars and self-endowing a trust fund.

Smock says her research shows that there are 600 families across the country that are in need and cannot be helped. 

“That’s why we decided to make a go at the Pepsi Refresh Grant,” shared Smock. “Our goal is to provide resources for families who have fallen on hard times who have a pet.  These families are in the situation of having to choose whether to put food on the table or getting the pet the care they need.”

Locally, Brown Dog Foundation has made a difference in many lives.  One special story is about Ashland City’s Daisy.  Daisy was swept away in the May floods and her hip was badly damaged and pulled out of socket.  Daisy literally dragged herself home seven days later.

The family is made up of two parents who are teachers and their daughter.  The teachers had just used all their savings to repair the damage to their home caused by the flood.

“Their daughter actually showed up at the surgeon’s office with her piggy bank,” said Smock.  “She said for the doctor to take the money, she didn’t need it and she wanted her Daisy to be better.”

Brown Dog Foundation stepped up and helped this family and Daisy is on the mend. 

During the weekend of the flood, the foundation raised $5,000 and it used to help 50 pets.  Besides Daisy’s family, others had help in replacing Heartguard and flea medicine.

With a story like that, how can we not pick up the phone and text or vote online?  Let’s help them BHP readers.