Meet The WAG Board Of Directors!

So far I have introduced you to Carol, Theresa, and Reagan. Today, I will introduce you to myself, Melissa. I am the owner of this blog, and I created it for WAG. I create most of the content, though some volunteers also add to this blog on occasion. I also create the FB fundraisers, and most of the FB Williston Animal Group page content. I also manage the WAG newsletter. I am the Secretary for the Williston Animal Group Board of Directors and the Chairwoman for WAG Gives Back. I also take most of the goofy dog pictures dressed up in various props.

My name is Melissa Ruede. I grew up in a very small town in upstate NY, and live in a very small town now here in Florida. I don’t really have any special education or experience. I am fairly humble, live a simple life, and am somewhat introverted. When I was 16 years old, way back in the 80s, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. There were not many options and since we were quite poor college did not seem to be an option for me. However, I was quite smart, learned very easily, and had an ambition not to be a Secretary. My mother told me not to be a nurse, so of course, I applied to nursing school at the age of 16. Back then, in NY, you could dual enroll for the LPN 2-year course during your Junior and Senior year. So, I did. I graduated from LPN school, and High School in 1987 and that is the job I have had my whole life. I have worked as an LPN in 3 different states, and can honestly say it is a profession that I have both loved, and dedicated my life to. I love to learn so before I had kids I dabbled in a few other things that I thought I might like to do with my life, but none of them suited my needs as nursing did. We moved to Florida in 2005 when my son was 5 and my daughter 1. My son had some issues with sitting still and being quiet, in public school, so I decided to homeschool my children. That has been the second love of my life. Being a mom and being able to teach my own children has been an amazing experience. My daughter will graduate this summer and I will no longer be a homeschooling mom. I was raised to believe in community service and it was my intention to teach my children the same. We volunteered at various places while my son was in high school. Once he graduated and moved on to college, my daughter decided she wanted to volunteer with dogs. I grew up with dogs, mostly little dogs, and was actually bitten by an English Bulldog due to poor advice from an adult. I have a fear of dog bites, and of dog fights. So, when my daughter decided she wanted to volunteer at a dog rescue I was admittedly a little nervous not being aware of what that would entail. It was difficult to find a dog rescue that would allow a minor to volunteer, even with a parent present. I discovered WAG quite by accident and decided to just give it a try. As long as I was on the grounds and volunteering with my daughter we could volunteer with WAG. We started at WAG in January of 2020. They had all large dogs, lol, no little dogs. Soon after two of my daughter’s homeschool friends also started to volunteer with us on our day. I worked them hard, no goofing off. One stopped fairly early due to time issues, but her other friend stayed right up until recently. They learned so much through this experience, as did I. By the end of 2020 we were pretty committed to WAG and its mission. It was at that time that I was asked to sit on the Board of Directors. I had no idea how to be on a board. I have never even thought of doing such a thing. I was told it would be easy, and not really much work. So, I accepted and was appointed the job of keeping up with the newsletter. Something else I had no clue how to do and I am pretty sure the first one was pretty junky. But, you know there had to be a but here, I am persistent and determined when I set my mind to something. So, I learned how to do a good newsletter. At the end of 2021, I was asked to be the new Secretary for the Board of Directors. A Secretary! Exactly what I wanted to avoid being way back in high school, plus I had absolutely no clue how to be a Secretary for anything. I don’t really like office-type work, and had no idea how to use Excel, Microsoft Word, or any other program. But, the President was certain I could do it and so I said yes. I threw myself into it. I would not say I am an expert on Excel or Word, but I can fumble my way around and make it work. I do have a natural knack for organization, keeping track of data and information, research, and learning. So, it is all working out. Plus, I really enjoy writing and taking photos! I hope my daughter will continue to volunteer at WAG even after she has decided to move out and start her working life, and maybe even sit on The Board someday.

The WAG Board of Directors is a very diverse board. We come from all different backgrounds and life experiences. Each and every one of us brings something different and special to the board. Yet, we all serve the same mission to find the best homes for the dogs in our care.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by volunteers and funded by amazing donors and supporters.

Meet The WAG Board Of Directors: Reagan

Today, I am introducing you to Reagan. This is Reagan’s first year serving on The Board of Directors. She is a young college student who is full of great ideas and is very tech-savvy. She manages WAG’s Instagram page and is the co-chairwoman for WAG Gives Back Community Outreach Program. She is hard working and dedicated to the dogs in our care. She works the kennels and adoption events.

Reagan’s Story:

My name is Reagan Anderson and I’m currently a graduate student at the University of Florida pursuing my Master’s in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. I study nonprofit leadership and how to make nonprofits more effective. One day I hope to work in a nonprofit. Two of my biggest passions are volunteering and animals. Growing up my family fostered many dogs from our local animal shelter, often because they were undergoing heartworm treatment. As foster dogs shuffled in and out of our home, I saw first-hand how much fostering positively impacted everyone involved. The dogs got a break from shelter life, the animal shelter had room to rescue more animals, and my family and I got to experience the love and joy that comes from caring for an animal. When moving to Williston I wanted to find a way to give back to the community while also interacting with animals. Enter WAG! I started volunteering with WAG in August 2021 and immediately fell in love with the organization and all the dogs they’ve rescued. The love and care WAG volunteers have for every dog we rescue is heartwarming and inspiring After volunteering for a couple months I decided I wanted to give to WAG even more, so I signed up to become a board member! Since becoming a board member my passion for WAG has grown even more. I’m so excited to see how WAG will continue to help the community.

Visit our Facebook page.

Sign up for Williston Animal Group’s newsletter.

View or current dogs available for foster and adoption.

WAG Important Links.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by volunteers and funded by awesome donors. Every dime we make goes directly to the care of our dogs and the facility they reside in.

Meet The WAG Board Of Directors!

The other day I introduced you to our Treasurer. Today, I am going to introduce you to our President, Carol. Carol’s own written story is below, but you know I like to add a little more to it. Carol came to be President kind of by surprise. She was new to The Board herself, at the time. Carol has brought so much to the Board of Directors as President. Through her leadership WAG has started to pull dogs that are harder to adopt, investing in their needs to help them become awesome pets. She pushed for a more diverse board with broad backgrounds and opinions. She increased interactions with our volunteers, and listened to their concerns, making a happier and more sustainable volunteer pool. She works endless hours and truly loves these dogs.

Here is Carol’s story in her own words.

My name is Carol Tchebanoff, President of WAG. I retired in 2019 after 35 years in the wholesale air
conditioning business. It only took a few months before I realized I needed more to do and I made a call
to WAG to ask if they needed any volunteers. I started right away and I have loved every minute of it.
I currently teach Zumba 2 days a week and previously taught Jazzercise for 27 years. My 2 biggest
passions are dogs and dance exercises.
When we lived in South Florida I volunteered with Florida Basset Rescue and yes we acquired many
basset hounds through that rescue (a total of 8). We currently have one basset left, his name is Kirby and
he will be 14 years old on July 9th.
Shortly after joining WAG, I was asked to serve on the board of directors. The following year I became Vice-President and then a few months later took the office of President. It is so rewarding working with our awesome volunteers and all the wonderful dogs we have saved. To date, Mike and I have fostered 16
WAG dogs and currently have 2 living with us. I usually bring home the puppies and the dogs with
medical issues. Fostering these dogs during their extreme time of need is so rewarding. We get them at
their worst and when they go to their forever home they are healthy and happy. I also LOVE when the
adopters keep in touch with me. We get very attached to these fur babies and we love to hear how well
they are doing in their new forever home.
We have an awesome board of directors and I look forward to all the things we are planning to make
our community a better, safer & healthier place for all dogs. All dogs deserve the unconditional love
back that they extend to us!
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the events that we are planning.

Visit our Facebook page.

Sign up for our WAG newsletter!

Are you having a hard time affording your dog? Read about our new initiative WAG Gives Back.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in beautiful Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by volunteers, and every single penny we raise goes to the care of our dogs and the upkeep of our kennels.

Lucy Has Been Adopted!

I’m so excited! My name is Lucy, and I just got adopted. I am doing the happy dance. I loved my foster parents very much, and I will surely miss them and my playmates. But, this nice family wanted me and Carol decided it was OK to let me go. I love her so much for that.

I was rescued by WAG last year. I moved into foster care because I had a skin issue that needed lots of bathing and treatment. Foster care is so important to rescue dogs like me. At the kennels, it can be stressful, but all of the volunteers take such good care of my doggie friends at the kennel. I so hope for them all to get foster parents or be adopted. I learned so much in foster care about being a good dog, family manners, how a house works, and potty training. These skills are so important for a foster dog to learn. Plus, my skin and fur are so beautiful and lovely now.

I can not wait for my new adventures in life.

Would you like to foster a WAG dog? Please check out our Petfinder page to see all of our current dogs. You can contact WAG at 352-528-9888, or info@willistonanimalgroup.com for any questions you may have on the foster, and our adoption process. We have one dog, Simon, that is really in need of a foster for his Heartworm treatment. Please consider fostering him.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by volunteers and funded by amazing donors. We can not do what we do without the community.

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Not Andy’s Opie

Welcome to Woof Woof Wednesday. Did you grow up watching the Andy Griffith Show? I did. But, I am not talking about that Opie, today. I am talking about WAG’s Opie.

I met Opie for the first time yesterday. This young boy, about 8 months old is super sweet and fun. He is quite handsome too. Opie came from Putman County via way of VCOP. One of the volunteers from VCOP took him home overnight and he was good with cats and other dogs. He is neutered, and has hid rabies shot. We have made an appointment for him to get his other vaccinations. He will need to get these before he can be adopted. He is heartworm negative, and on heartworm prevention.

Opie walks very nicely on a leash, no pulling. He does need to learn to walk on one side. He does not jump much. As you can see in his photos he is quite funny. He sat and waited patiently with his hat on while I got the camera ready, as soon as I had it ready to go he took off on a run trying to figure out how to get the hat off. This hat is a special hat. I use it on all of our male dogs, that will wear it. It makes for the most adorable pictures. Opie weighs 46 pounds and appears to be a chocolate lab mix breed. He will probably get much larger as he is only 8 months old.

If you would like to meet this handsome, silly boy, please contact Williston Animal Group at 352-528-9888 to make an appointment, or you can email us at info@willistonanimalgroup.com

Check out our Petfinder page to see all of our awesome dogs.

Read about all of the ways you can help WAG.

Follow us on Facebook and if you can spare a dollar donate to our April fundraiser.

We could really use more Twitter followers to help increase our exposure.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in beautiful Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by amazing volunteers, and funded by donors and community sponsors. We are always in need of volunteers, and donations.

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the State. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State. CH#: 29245.

A Min-Pin Mix and A Lab Mix?

Hello, and happy Friday! If you get weekends off I hope you get time to relax and refresh. Today, I am introducing you to Roxie and Libby.

Roxie, we think is a Min-Pin mixed breed dog. She is a lovely size at only 34 pounds. WAG rescued Roxie in October of 2021. She was found to be heartworm positive and moved into foster care, per our policy, for the duration of her treatment. While in foster care she became bonded to another heartworm-positive dog named Libby. They are so bonded, and close, that her foster mom is willing to hold onto them until a home that will adopt both of them together can be found. Roxie is house trained and in fact, uses a doggie door, smart, treat motivated, high energy, and lots of fun. She will need a high-energy family, though Libby keeps her entertained, a fenced yard, and lots of treats, lol.

Libby, fostered by the same family as Roxie, is a Lab mixed breed dog. WAG rescued Libby at almost exactly the same time as Roxie, and she too was heartworm positive and moved into foster care. She weighs about 45 pounds and is very food-oriented. She is smart, active, housetrained, and learning to walk on a leash. She uses the doggie door as well as Roxie. She is bonded with Roxie and will need to be adopted by the same home.

Check out their adorable pictures, below. Roxie is the one with the brown, and black.

Please remember that WAG offers the option to foster any dogs first, before officially adopting that dog or dogs. If you think you would like to meet these two lovely young ladies, please call WAG at 352-528-9888, or you can email us at info@willistonanimalgroup.com

If you would like to learn more about fostering any of our current dogs, to make room for more dogs at the kennels, please use the same contact info above to reach out to Williston Animal Group. We really need fosters willing to take in reactive dogs, and heartworm-positive dogs, so they can get treatment and feel what a family home is like.

Check out our April fundraiser to benefit Rudy. I will be writing more about him, and fear-based reactivity in a future post. Even one dollar will help. If 2500 people donated just one dollar, WAG would have the funds needed to get Rudy the training he needs. If you do not want to donate via FB fundraiser you can donate via our Paypal, which is willistonanimalgroup@gmail.com, or you can mail a check to Williston Animal Group at PO Box 752 Williston, Florida 32696. Please mark your check or Paypal payment for Rudy.

Sign up for our monthly newsletter. The next one will go out in a few days.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in beautiful Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by volunteers, and funded by awesome donors.

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the State. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State. CH#: 29245.

Come Meet Momma Maddie!

Hello Friday readers! Today, I am going to introduce you to Williston Animal Group’s newest intake, Momma. Momma has had her name changed to Maddie since coming to WAG.

Last fall a good samaritan found Momma and her puppy alone in a ditch. She took them home and tried to find the owner. No one claimed Momma or her puppy. The kind lady was going to possibly keep Momma, but Momma did not like one of her dogs, though she got along fine with the other dogs. Unfortunately, Momma had to be brought to Levy County Animal Services where she stayed until WAG rescued her just this week. LCAS reported that Momma was good with other dogs, and was very sweet.

Since being at LCAS the volunteers have learned that Maddie walks very nicely on a leash, seems to like the other dogs, and may be house trained. She is calm, gentle, and loves to sit with you. Maddie is about 4 years old, a little underweight, vetted, spayed, and started on heartworm prevention. Friday is Spa Day at WAG and I am sure she will be just beautiful by the time her spa is over. Check out her super cute face in the photos below.

If you are interested in possibly adopting Maddie, consider fostering first, and then adopting when you are sure she is a good fit for your lifestyle. During foster care WAG provides any vet treatments needed, and heartworm prevention meds. Just like with adoptions you have to fill out a foster application and have an interview with a WAG staff member, and the dog. Fostering is available for any of our dogs, and no payment is made until you have decided to adopt the dog. Fostering is a great way for a dog to get to be in a home, instead of the kennel, and learn to be part of a family. Please consider fostering.

If you can not foster, or adopt a dog, we offer the option to sponsor the dog. For $25 dollars a month you can sponsor any dog at WAG of your choosing, through to adoption. We will give you updates on the dog monthly, and if you are a business we will advertise your business on this blog and social media. We may even let you name the dog if you choose to. Check out our Petfinder page.

If you would like to make an appointment to meet Ms. Maddie, learn about fostering, adopting, and or sponsoring our dogs, please call WAG at 352-528-9888.

Donate to our March fundraiser, here.

Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter.

Williston Animal Group is a 501C3 dog rescue located in Williston, Florida. We are fully staffed by amazing volunteers and funded by wonderful donors and community supporters.

First Elephants, Now Peanuts!

Hello, and happy Monday! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. Did you get out to the Two Tails Ranch over the weekend? Did you meet up with any of our WAG dogs? I hope you got to meet some of our wonderful dogs, and volunteers.

In case you missed us, for that event, we have another one coming up this weekend, The Peanut Festival in beautiful Williston, Florida.

WAG will be there with some of our amazing dogs, and volunteers on Saturday October 2nd from 9 AM to 3 PM. Location of the Peanut Festival is Heritage Park, NW 1st Avenue in Williston, Florida.

Come out and have some fun. Hopefully the weather will be beautiful, and stop by and say high to Williston Animal Group!

How can you help WAG? Click to read.

Meet Ms. Maggy Mae!

OK, so her name is just Maggy, but I like Maggy Mae. Below you will see two very short videos of Ms. Maggy uploaded by me today.

Ms. Maggy is 2 1/2 years old, and only 47 pounds. She is a lovely size, and a real sweet heart. She walks lovely on the leash, and loves to snuggle. She apparently does not like cats, and I believe they are going to introduce her to another dog to see how she does. As you will see she is very photogenic, and she loves to ride in the car and behaves quite well in the car. Please ask about the adoption fee when you call.

If you would like to meet Ms. Maggy call Williston Animal Group at 352-528-9888 or you can email at info@willistonanimalgroup.com

While you are meeting Ms. Maggy be sure and ask about our volunteer program. If you would like to help us rescue more dogs from the community shelter, you can donate to WAG via Paypal at willistonanimalgroup.com

We are located in beautiful Williston, Florida.