Pet sanctuary a labor of love for Suffolk couple

SUFFOLK

An electrical shock collar removed some of Wolfgang's skin. Stitches is dying from cancer, and Gomer suffers from seizures. Somebody ran over Snuggles - twice.

Every one of Robert Talley's dogs has a back story, most of them heartbreaking, but they are living happily ever after inside a countryside sanctuary in the Somerton area of Suffolk.

The Abused and Thrown Away Pet Sanctuary, officially a tax-deductible nonprofit, is home to 35 dogs, five cats, two horses and a potbellied pig named Rosie. Robert Talley and his wife, Renee, are the folks behind the sanctuary, and they don't go looking for abused dogs.

"They're in my face every day of the week," Robert Talley said. "It's a tragedy what happens. We love them and want to help them out."

Neither Talley planned to start a sanctuary. When they married five years ago, his and her dogs equaled nine, mostly strays they had rescued. Since then, they haven't been able to turn their backs on dogs in need, many of whom are dumped in the country by their owners.

Gomer was thrown over the couple's fence in a drive-by. Stitches was found along the side of the road four years ago, cancer eating away at her tail. Another retriever, Vagabond, was found roaming an interstate in North Carolina.

A blind pug was found crossing a four-lane highway. A pit bull and her puppy lay on the side of the road. Another dog was so skinny you could count her ribs.

"Most of them are from people deciding their animals would be happy being turned loose in the country," Robert Talley said. "Unbelievable. These are not wild animals."

The couple's rustic log cabin off a gravel road on 20 acres of largely wooded land contains separate quarters for many of the animals.

On a sweltering afternoon, the 2,400-square-foot animal home that Talley built is comfortable thanks to the cranked-up air conditioning. Animal Planet runs nonstop on the TV. Many of the dogs relax in private rooms, with crib mattresses for beds and toys and ample water nearby. Talley decorates many of the rooms with antique bottles and collectibles.

"Everyone has their own blanket," said Renee Talley, checking several that are drying on the back deck.

Five boxes of mega-size Milk-Bones sit open on a table; one 44-pound bag of dog food is nearly empty, and two more await opening. Renee Talley picks up a spray bottle and squirts a whiff into the air.

"Lilac," she said. "It keeps the flies off the animals."

Outside, the yard is divided into generous plots of land for the dogs, which the Talleys pair according to temperament.

"I start my animal chores at 4 in the morning," said Robert Talley, and Renee picks up the load after he goes to work at his general contracting business. Much of Renee Talley's time is spent switching the dogs at regular intervals - whoever is inside goes out and whoever is outside comes in.

Everyone comes in at night. Fourteen stay inside the cabin, while the rest head to the private unit. Three levels of security surround the property to keep critters out and the guests in.

"Sometimes Cesar wakes me up to go to the bathroom," said Robert Talley, referring to an aging bichon frise. "But other than that, it's pretty quiet at night."

"The cost is overwhelming," said Talley, who declined to disclose an exact figure but admitted to spending thousands of dollars on the animals. Duke the boxer had severe mites after mistreatment in a puppy mill; Snuggles' cancer has cost upwards of $1,000; Buddy the hunting hound was on dialysis for four days and died two weeks after they found him.

"What can you say? We love saving animals," Talley said. "They're your best friends."

The Talleys are in compliance with the laws that allow them to own so many animals. They have a kennel license and their property is zoned agricultural.

Robert Talley has little tolerance for lawbreakers. He won't do business with folks who abuse their animals, and he is anxious to change the laws in some cities - Suffolk included - that allow dogs to be chained.

Yellow lab Wolfgang survived five years of being chained up, left in the back yard no matter the weather with only a plastic igloo for shelter. The wound from the remote control collar went all the way around his neck and up to the top of his head.

"He's constantly being treated for ear infections," Talley said. "But he's a happy fellow now."

The Talleys aren't looking to adopt out their animals.

"Nobody wants old, sick animals," Robert Talley lamented.

Although their website, abusedandthrownawaypetsanctuary.com, says the Talleys cannot accept any more, they ultimately want to expand to a bigger, better hotel for dogs.

"We can't save them all," said Robert Talley, shaking his head. "But we can do the best we can."

Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net