The Davis Dog Farm is a new, nonprofit all-breed rescue located in Grantville that has a mission to provide a safe haven for dogs until they can find their forever homes.

Currently, the rescue is in need of local residents willing to foster a dog or volunteer at the facility as a dog walker or someone who visits with the dogs until they are permanently adopted. A number of dogs that have been rescued by the organization are also available for adoption.

"We take dogs from private surrenders - owners that can't keep their dog any longer," explained rescue founder Janea Davis, who volunteered for the past 15 years fostering dogs for other local rescues. "We pull dogs from shelters and help other rescue groups if they get overwhelmed. We also take dogs from bad situations where they are not being cared for."

Some dogs receive training in basic obedience to make them more adoptable. "They learn how to break bad behaviors like jumping up and stealing food," Davis explained. "The goal is to really know the dog well before we get them ready for adoption."

Further, dogs that live at the farm are given plenty of opportunities to walk the grounds, swim in the pond and spend time with volunteers. "(My husband, Brian, and I) bought the house in October of 2020 specifically for the rescue. Five acres are devoted to the dogs, and we have a pond that we keep clean and healthy for the dogs to enjoy," Davis said. "It's been a big pleasure for us to see people hang out with the dogs and play."

Volunteers also visit with the dogs in different social settings at the farm. "We want them to become socialized and not kept in a kennel while waiting to be adopted," noted Davis. "There is a patio that is fenced in where volunteers can (play) with the dogs. We want people to eat around them to teach food manners and cuddle with them like they would in their living room. We expose them to all different environments. They get human interaction all day."

Davis said those who wish to foster a dog should keep in mind the important role they play in the dog's life, especially at that difficult time when a foster family has to let the pet go to his or her new family.

"The first couple of dogs are the hardest because you know what you are getting into, but you don't know what the end will look like. After you do it for a while, you protect yourself," Davis shared. "You give them love and affection but maintain a little bit of distance."

"The more fosters we have, the more dogs we can save," she added.

The ultimate goal is to construct a building on the property specifically for the dogs and volunteers. "We're hoping to build a facility that looks like a house with a living room setting and a kitchen, and people can spend time with the dogs, and they will get that real home feel," Davis said.

Davis Dog Farm is located at 2686 Sand Beach Road, Grantville. For more information about volunteering or fostering or to view adoptable dogs, visit http://www.davisdogfarm.com. More information is also available at http://www.facebook.com/davisdogfarm.

The rescue is also accepting donations of items, including leashes, training treats and towels. For details, visit http://www.davisdogfarm.com/wish-list.