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2017 2019
BAINBRIDGEDECATUR COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
20
14 PUPPY PURR-FECTIONS
BPS K9 UNITSDOLPH AND KENZO 26 FLINT RIVER MILLS
The Bainbridge-Decatur County Humane Society
A needed upgrade
STORY BY ETHAN REDDISH / PHOTOS BY ETHAN REDDISH
There is, sadly, seemingly an unending number of stray dogs and cats roaming the streets and woods of Bainbridge and Decatur County. The job of local animal control officers, and the Bainbridge Decatur County Humane Society, can be overwhelming. For years, the Society had been based on Cox Avenue, near the Bill Reynolds Sports Complex and the city’s water control
plant. Unfortunately, the facility would prove inadequate for the demands.
As a result, several years ago, the Humane Society began working on plans for a new facility, one that could better suit the needs of both the animals and staff.
“We needed a better facility, and we needed one that was built specifically to house animals,” said Ashley White, the Humane
We needed a better facility, and we needed one that was built specifically to house animals. “
“
Society’s Shelter Director. “We needed to have the specific HVAC systems and drainage that can handle a large capacity of animals.”
Aside from the structural deficiencies of the previous location, White also felt that it had not been the best for would-be pet adopters.
“We didn’t have a designated area for them to really meet with the animals,” she said, “and just because of the way it was set up, it was really loud.” Indeed, immediately upon opening the door to the old shelter, visitors would be met with the stench of excrement and sound of dogs barking from the back, which would only become more deafening in the kennel room itself.
And so, in 2014, the Society began raising funds to construct a new facility. They would
ultimately raise $500,000 to help fund the project. However, White and Society Board President Dennie Nichols realized that they would need additional support, from both the county and city, to realize their goal.
“We realized, as a Humane Society, that as building prices and everything were going up, donations were going down, you know with the economy the way it is,” Nichols said. Inflation was not the only factor that caused the Society to seek assistance from the local government, employees’ need for benefits also contributed.
“It was dangerous working conditions for the employees,” White said, “which also meant it wasn’t all that safe for the animals in reality.”
“We, as a Humane Society, were so busy having to focus on surviving,” Nichols added,
“we couldn’t focus on the ‘humane’ part of things… we were drowning.”
Upon seeing the condition of the shelter, it seems that the local government agreed with the Society’s need for an improvement.
“I think there was a big realization too, when we started pulling them out to that older facility, that not only was it unappealing, it was dangerous,” White recalled, “and it was an eyesore in an area where they’re trying to build up the Rec Authority, and they’ve just built that new water treatment facility. And in all honesty, we could keep it as clean as possible
and as neat and organized, but it was exactly that, an eyesore.”
Now, the Society’s new facility, located just off Zorn Road, touts not only the necessary HVAC and improved drainage systems, but containment facilities that vastly improve the animals’ quality of life. Now, when visitors walk through the front door, instead of the smell of kennels and a cacophony of barking, they will instead be greeted by the sight of the shelter’s felines, who now have indoor playrooms, connected via a pet door to fenced in “catios” outside.
As for the dogs, whose kennels are situated towards the back of the shelter, rather than simple chainlink cages operating them from each other, they have proper kennels of cinder block, complete with guillotine pet doors giving them access to outdoor enclosures as well. There are even whelping rooms for mother dogs.
Not only do the animals have better facilities, so does the staff. Animal control now has its own dedicated entrance and area for housing new arrivals, complete with showers, should officers get dirty while on the job. The shelter’s medical facilities have been upgraded, complete
with a full lab.
Additionally, as they are now considered city employees, the Society’s employees receive the same benefits as other city employees.
“We’re thrilled with how the relationship between the city and the humane Society has evolved through this project,” White said.
“It took a shared goal, and people talking with one another, giving and taking, to come to where we are now,” said City Director of Community and Economic Development.
“It’s been a partnership and a relationship like it’s never been before,” White concluded.
Georgia
Winner
Puppy Purr-fections Mobile Grooming
Keeping coats and claws clean
STORY BY ETHAN REDDISH, PHOTOS BY ETHAN REDDISH/PROVIDED BY PUPPY PURR-FECTIONS
Keeping your furry four-legged friend clean and well-groomed can be a timeconsuming task, and for those owners looking to give their pets something more than a thorough trim, it may not be something they’re prepared for. There are, of course, pet grooming businesses aimed at alleviating this. One grooming business has opted to go the extra mile, quite literally.
Puppy Purr-fections Mobile Grooming, as the name says, makes its rounds across the southwest portion of the state, offering their services to multiple communities, from Colquitt, to Donalsonville, to both sides of Lake Seminole, with Bainbridge being a regular stop.
Owner and founder Paige Smith originally got her start as a dog bather with Shampooch Mobile Grooming in Atlanta. Grooming services aren’t an uncommon site in that area. “In Atlanta, they have them all over, they have the grooming vans,” Smith said. With such an abundance up north, she chose to set up her own operation where there was more of a need and open market.
“I thought it would be convenient, there wasn’t one around here,” she continued. “I just
thought it would be a service that’s not around here, number one, and that would be very convenient…and also for the people that don’t drive, or the older people that have dogs that can’t get out, we come to you.”
Smith has a love and connection with animals one would expect in this position: “I’d rather work with animals than people,” she said. Of course, not all dogs are fond of bath time, but Smith has such a way with dogs, co-worker Cathy Holt has taken to calling her the “dog whisperer”.
“You can bring an unruly dog to her, and it calms right down,” Holt said.
As a mobile grooming service, there are several factors Smith typically considers in advance before heading to a town. Aside from having customers pre-book, she may also check if some booked customers are in the same neighborhood, or at least a relatively close area, in order to meet together in one place. Another factor Smith must consider is whether or not one of her clients is a cat.
“We try to do the cat first,” she said. “If they live together, the cat and the dog are familiar with each other, but if we have a cat come in
that’s not familiar with the dog we just schedule them to come in first.”
While some may only use Puppy Purrfections’ mobile service, Smith opened up a permanent location in Colquitt three years ago. Despite the economic and societal hardships brought about around that time from the pandemic lockdowns, Smith didn’t notice any impact.
“People love to take care of their dogs, whether they’re sick or not they’re gonna take care of their animals,” she said. “It didn’t hurt, if not, we ended up picking up business because people couldn’t go out.”
It doesn’t take as much to become a dog groomer as, say, a barber or hairdresser. A person doesn’t require certification to become
a groomer. Regardless, Smith went through the training to become certified. She hopes to have a trained groomer to open up a new permanent location in Bainbridge.
Coworker Cathy Holt spoke positively about her time since joining Puppy Purr-fections.
“After raising my kids, I was kind of at a point in my life where I just wanted something to do,” Holt said. “I knew Paige’s mother, and she said she was looking for some help, so I just reached out to her… fell right into it, loved stand I’ve been here ever since.”
Puppy Purr-fections also works with local government and groups, grooming the BPS K9s, Dolph and Kenzo, as well as donating proceeds to the Humane Society. Occasionally, Smith and her groomers will groom dogs from
the Humane Society, which in one instance lead to an unexpected happy ending.
“The Humane Society had one dog that came in that looked horrible,” Smith said. “So I offered to groom him, we groomed him, took a picture of him and put it Facebook, and that dog had been missing for three years.” The dog, which had originally been from Climax, had been picked up near the Florida line, and had looked so disheveled after three years, it was only after being groomed that the owner recognized him.
“They knew it was him because his name was Tux… and when you called him his name, he remembered his name. Stuff like that’s very rewarding,” she said.
Another case of grooming inadvertently saving a dog occurred when the groomers held an event at At Ease Campground.
“We had a lady bring us a dog,” Holt recalled. “Paige is really good about, when she sees an animal with medical issues, she can usually pinpoint what’s going on with them.” She continued, recounting how the dog had a fairly inflamed eye: “She managed to clean up around the eye area and saw that it was really inflamed and red.” The dog’s condition ultimately turned out to be cancerous, which would be treated.
Both Holt and Smith described it as a rewarding job: “I just think it’s a really rewarding job when you can help an animal that can’t speak for itself… and it makes you feel good when it’s all done too.”
Bainbridge Public Safety K9 Units
Paws that protect and serve
STORY BY ETHAN REDDISH, PHOTOS BY ETHAN REDDISH/PROVIDED BY BAINBRIDGE PUBLIC SAFETY
For all of human history, dogs have been not only companions, but workers, used in everything from herding, to hunting, to acting as home guardians. And dogs have long acted as aids to law enforcement, first sniffing out escaped criminals, to now sniffing for things like bombs and drugs. Since 2015,
Kenzo has been Bainbridge Public Safety’s K9 unit star, making frequent appearances at public events. Now, a new dog has joined the force.
K9 Dolph was made a member of Bainbridge Public Safety in February of this year. A Belgian Malinois, Dolph is still fairly young, only
turning two years old this September. Law enforcement agencies typically go through specialized vendors and breeders to get their K9 units; in the case of Dolph, BPS went through Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn went through their vendors. Before being acquired by Dooly County, according to BPS Officer Chris Moore, Dolph originated from Croatia.
“They sent me a
bunch of videos and pictures of different dogs, they were telling me different things about the dogs,” Moore recalled. “I got to actually choose Dolph.”
After being chosen from a vendor, before coming to their new homes, the dogs are put through training. Some are trained for tracking and narcotics searching, while others are trained for criminal apprehension, or explosive locating.
Dolph has been trained for criminal apprehension, while Kenzo has been trained for tracking and narcotics.
That said, just because the dogs go through training before arriving at BPS, doesn’t mean their training is done. Rather, it’s an ongoing process, with the handlers continuously training and working with them.
“You just don’t get them, put them in the back of a car and hope
you can use them,” said Austin Spence, BPS K9 Officer and handler of Kenzo. “There’s continuous training, we’ve gotta do 16 hours a month training with the dog, minimum.”
Just as there is a long process to select and train the dogs for work in law enforcement, not just any law enforcement officer is approved to be a K9 officer.
“They have to trust you, because there’s a lot of money that goes
Malinois are more work-driven dogs, they’re strong dogs, that’s why they’re chosen. “ “
into these dogs,” Spence said. “They’ve gotta really have your trust and know that you’re gonna take care of these dogs.”
Despite their special, and dangerous, work environment, outside of work the BPS K9s aren’t treated any different from regular dogs. Both Dolph and Kenzo go home with their handlers at the end of every day, where they’re welcomed like any other pet.
“They’re family to us,” said Spence.
Officers get to make the decision of which dog they want to work with. In the case of both Dolph and Kenzo, they are both from similar breeds with desirable traits: while Dolph is a
pure Belgian Malinois, Kenzo is a MalinoisGerman Shepherd cross.
“Malinois are more work-driven dogs, they’re strong dogs,” Spence said, “that’s why they’re chosen.”
“High drive, smaller, easier to handle, it just makes for a better dog,” Moore added.
“It’s been a real blessing to have this opportunity,” Spence said. Both officers consider their current position, and partners, an honor.
“I’m just honored to be serving Bainbridge, and to have the capabilities of a dog,” Moore said.
• Behavioral Health
• Tele-Health Visits
• Tele-Psych Visits
• COVID-19 Testing
• COVID-19 Vaccinations
• Well and Sick Child Examinations
• School and Sports Physicals
• On-Site Lab Services
F-R-M Feed
A Legacy of Quality and Innovation in Pet Nutrition
When it comes to feeding one’s pet, there are plenty of options available. One local business that provides several options is Flint River Mills. Founded in 1927, F-R-M has proudly served livestock owners in the region with high-quality feed. Over the years, they expanded their reach by acquiring a fleet of trucks and establishing a robust dealer network. This growth allowed
them to diversify their product offerings, leading to the introduction of F-R-M Canine Crunch! As market demands evolved, they revamped their dog food line and began adding additional products to meet their customers’ needs for their best friends.
F-R-M is now one of the most recognizable names in animal feed across the South, with a distribution network spanning Georgia,
Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina. Among the countless tons of feed produced and shipped annually, 600 tons are dedicated to dog food. These numbers reflect their dedication to providing top-notch nutrition for your pets. Each of their products is crafted with care to meet the diverse needs of working dogs and beloved companions alike.
In general, pet food is manufactured through a process of blending the locally sourced ingredients in a mixer, processed by “cooking” the ingredients with heat and steam, pushing the mixture through a pellet die, into a cooler, and into the bag that is sewn and stacked and ready for shipment! F-R-M takes great pride in shipping fresh, quality feed daily!
Amanda Murphy, F-R-M’s Sales and Marketing Representative, highlights the diversity in dog food options, emphasizing that owner preference and a dog’s nutritional needs are key factors. “The market offers hundreds of brands with variations of the same product, as well as specialty foods catering to specific needs like skin and coat or sensitive stomachs,” she explains.
Murphy also stresses the specific needs of their primary customer base: “Most of our customers have active working dogs. From herding cattle and flushing quail to being your beloved companion, F-R-M has a dog food that can meet their needs. We understand that dogs in the
“
So we try to make sure that any animal we feed here, including dogs, is formulated for here.
“South have specific nutritional requirements, and we pride ourselves on offering a range of high-quality options tailored to meet these needs. Our formulas are designed to provide the necessary energy while allowing you to feed less compared to other brands, which is beneficial for both owner and canine. We stick to the basics, focusing on what works and what dogs need nutritionally to thrive.”
F-R-M Officer and Sales Manager, Laura Manley, stresses the importance of local focus: “When formulating our products, whether it’s dog food or other animal feed, we keep in mind that we are feeding animals here in the Southeast. Our feeds are specifically tailored to meet the needs of animals in this region.”
to offering quality products at reasonable prices. Their near-century-long reputation is built on trust and consistency. “Being nearly 100 years old, we’re seen as a legacy company. Generations have relied on our feed,” says Manley.
At F-R-M, their commitment to the future and the evolving needs of their customers is at the heart of everything they do. They are constantly exploring ways to better serve their customers and meet the nutritional needs of your dogs, as they are family! F-R-M is looking forward to the future and some of the options they are exploring for our four-legged family!
The team at F-R-M extends a big, “Thank you, and for your continued trust and support and we are proud to serve our community and all animal species with the best nutrition possible.”
Dr. Charles “Bo” Bailey
The family business: Helping people, saving pets
STORY BY ETHAN REDDISH, PHOTOS BY ETHAN REDDISH
Thursday morning saw a crowd gather out in front of Port City Animal Hospital, with members of the community and Chamber of Commerce coming to meet the clinic’s newest veterinarian: Dr. Charles “Bo” Bailey.
The son of Dr. Charles Clifford “Cliff” Bailey, becoming a veterinarian has been a lifelong ambition for Dr. Bo. He would start working as a veterinary assistant at Port City in high school, helping in the kennels and learning the basics.
“Restraining animals, learning the ins and outs of that, learning how to give medications, dosages, that sort of thing, helping and assisting with surgeries… just normal veterinary assistant duties,” he recalled.
While Bo wanted to be a vet early on, Dr. Cliff didn’t want to want to push his son into a career path that wasn’t for him.
“I’ve always been really careful to try not to guide him that way,” he said. “Even when he first got in college, he said that’s what he wanted to do, and I was like, ‘You do the work, you prove that you want to do it, and then I’ll get behind you’.”
Bo would go on to study at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, before continuing on to Lincoln Memorial University. He would travel around the country during his senior year, doing rotations at various veterinary clinics and animal hospitals.
“There were 12 total rotations my senior year, each one of them lasting a month,” he recalled. “So I went and spent three months in Texas, one at an all-bovine facility, one at a small animal specialty, and then one at a general practice.” He would also spend three months in Florida, as well as visiting various smaller practices. It was during these rotations that he realized he preferred working in practices like Port City Animal Hospital.
“One thing that really stuck out to me is it’s hard to beat the small-town hospital feel,” Bo said. Being able to form a personal relationship with his clients was important. “I went to some hospitals, and that’s what they were, they were hospitals. Big hospitals, lots of veterinarians in there. Nothing wrong with that, it just didn’t fit me, I didn’t get that real personal feeling with the clients.”
Not only is he working with fewer clients
who he can get to know better, Dr. Bo is also working with family, and not just his father, but also his mother and sister.
“It’s got its positives and its negatives,” he said, “but there’s way more positives. We have great support, we feel like we can tell each other things and really rely on each other for support.”
While Port City Animal Hospital cares for both pets and livestock, Bo’s favorite patients are of the bovine variety.
“If I had to choose one, which is a really difficult decision, it might be cattle,” he said.
“Cattle is a true passion, I was just raised around it… I have a true passion for raising livestock.”
“One of the most rewarding things is, each pet that comes through the door is a member
of the family,” Bailey said. “That’s their child, that’s their sibling, so when they come through the door and that pet is hurting, or ill, and that family’s upset, and we can help manage that… and they go home happy and healthy, that is the most rewarding feeling. To see the clients happy, see the patient healthy, that is one of the most rewarding feelings that veterinary medicine has to offer.”
“I just really want to thank all the support from the community, all the support from my family,” Dr. Bo concluded. “It’s a true blessing to be back home and serve the community,
and serve the rural community. Small animal, mixed animal practitioners in the rural community are kind of few and far between now. The private practice is a practice that I believe is a really good asset to our community, because we can help gauge those relationships with our clients, and I believe that’s a true asset to any community, especially Bainbridge.”
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LOCAL FURRY COMPANIONS
Thank You Bainbridge!
A-1 is honored to be named the 2024 Best Local Manufacturer. Since we began our journey in Georgia, you have welcomed us with open arms. Your support has been instrumental in our success, and we are profoundly grateful to be a part of such a vibrant and supportive community.
Thank you, especially to the readers of The Post-Searchlight, for this award. Your vote of con dence inspires us to continue innovating and delivering excellence in everything we do.
From empowering our employees to supporting local events, our journey is about more than just manufacturing building components—it's about fostering dreams and setting new standards every day.
If you want to work for an employee-owned company that fosters an environment of growth, dedication, and enthusiasm, then we would love to meet you. Join the exceptional team at A-1 and become part of our winning workforce.
As committed partners to the growth and prosperity of Bainbridge-Decatur County, we eagerly anticipate many more years of mutual success and community partnership.
