Poker run to raise support for spay-neuter clinic

Anita Epperson knows all too well the issues that lie within local animal shelters. She has witnessed them first hand, and is therefore grateful that the Shelbyville-Bedford Spay Neuter Committee is days away from opening its free spay-neuter clinic to those who qualify.

"I want people to know there are a lot of good dogs in shelters," Epperson said. "They just don't get a chance lots of times because they can't keep them very long due to no room or no money."

For at least a year, the committee has been raising funds to open a low-cost clinic for low income people -- and folks in Middle Tennessee who adopt shelter animals. A location has been nailed down and the clinic is expected to be open in early January.

The committee will have its last big fundraising push before the clinic opens Saturday, Nov. 7 with the second annual Poker Run Riding Hawgs for the Dawgs.

Epperson has rescued several animals, but her journey with Peanut is especially touching.

Last March, Epperson received an e-mail from Brenda Goodrich of Bedford County Animal Control asking anyone who could possibly adopt to come by the shelter.

"She said in the e-mail they had some dogs that she couldn't stand to see put down," Epperson said. "I went in the next morning to donate some food and when they brought him out he came right to me. I went out to the car to get this feed and he about jumped over the desk when I left.

"He was just so sweet and on his way to being put down due to space issues and he had been there two to three weeks. I decided I couldn't let him be put down and adopted him."

Now, Epperson says she wouldn't take a million dollars for Peanut.

"I can't believe he was fixing to be put asleep just hours before we got him," she said.

After the adoption took place, Peanut was neutered, received his shots and had surgery to correct some hip problems he developed after getting hit by a car earlier in his life. Even though he was not supposed to be an indoor dog, the Eppersons decided they'd keep him in the house while recovering from the surgery.

"He was supposed to be an outside dog, a companion to our dog Goofy but after his hip surgery he became such a big baby," she said. "He sleeps with us every night. He comes in usually when we get home and goes out when we leave. He loves Goofy and our cats, especially Lucy. They are best friends and play and sleep together."

Goofy is also a rescue dog and the Eppersons have three cats as well -- all strays or adoptees.

"Our animals are a part of our family and my babies," she said.

IF YOU GO

The second annual Poker Run Riding Hawgs for the Dawgs will benefit Middle Tennessee Spay/Neuter Clinic with registration 8 to 9:45 a.m. and bikes leaving the courthouse square at 10 a.m. Saturday. For more information, call BCAC, 205 Lane Parkway, at 685-1130.