Georgia Magazine - July 2021 - 42

Hometown HEROES
By Amber Lanier Nagle
G
Jackson County couple
gives dogs a second
chance
reg Mathis screws another name tag into the ceiling of his Jackson
County woodworking shop amid tags reading Spot, Cooper, Simba,
Huck and Gabby. Each of the 105 tags represents a dog he and his
wife, Traci, have fostered at their 2nd Chance Dog Park before the dog was
adopted by a forever family. They've also fostered 45 dogs that were
transferred to rescue groups in other areas.
" We don't know what the dogs have been through before coming here
to our farm, " says Greg Mathis, an employee at Jackson Electric Membership
Corp. in Jefferson. " We take them in, care for them and show them
kindness and patience. We help them learn to trust humans again. "
For more than a decade, the couple has partnered with the Humane
Society of Jackson County, an organization that pays for the dogs' food and
veterinary care, publicizes available dogs and arranges the adoptions. The
Mathises put in the time and energy. Family members, friends and people
in the community help out, too.
" If we hadn't stepped up, 150 dogs may have been euthanized, " Traci
Mathis says. " That's why we foster. "
They encourage other animal lovers to try fostering.
" We understand the [hesitancy]-scared you'll fall in love with the
animals and not be able to let go. But it's worth it. They are worth it, " Greg
Mathis says.
They have kept only two of the dogs they've fostered, including a
lovable Labrador retriever mix named Hagrid.
When an adoptive family was chosen in Maine, " we took Hagrid to
Maine ourselves, " Greg Mathis says. " He was so excited-bouncing around
and stood up the first eight hours of the trip and watched the road with us. "
They stayed at a Maine hotel.
" [Hagrid] woke me up at 5 a.m. crying, snuggling and loving on me like
something was wrong, " Traci Mathis says. " When we got back into the car,
he held his head low and looked so sad. "
When the couple turned into the driveway of their Maine destination,
they both burst into tears.
" We told the family we had changed our minds and were going to keep
him ourselves. Thankfully, they were understanding, " Greg Mathis remembers.
" We got back in the car and said, 'Let's go home, boy.' His whole
demeanor changed, and he was happy all the way back to Georgia. We
renamed him Buk. "
The Mathises are full of dog stories with happy endings.
" Dogs enrich our lives, " Traci Mathis says. " Saving one dog isn't going
to change the world, but to that one dog, the world is changed forever. "
Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writing living in Adairsville.
Do you know a hometown hero?
See page 41 for information about submitting a nomination.
42 Georgia Magazine July 2021
Greg and Traci Mathis with Otis, an adoptable,
3-year-old dog they are fostering.
You can help!
* Donate money, food, supplies or time to the
Humane Society of Jackson County (hsjc.com)
or to an animal shelter or rescue group in your
community.
* Adopt a dog (or cat) from a local animal shelter
or rescue group.
* Spay or neuter your pets to prevent pet overpopulation.
*
Foster dogs (or cats) in your community.
TRACI MATHIS
http://www.hsjc.com
Georgia Magazine - July 2021

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