Pamela Vandergriff Vandergriff

After being retired for 5 years, I went back to work as an Administrative Assistant at Chickamauga Battlefield. I retired from the military after 22 years active duty with the Navy and Coast Guard. My heart and soul are in my dog rescue shelter. I started my non-profit rescue, For the Love of Dogs, in 2007. I bought 6 acres on Bakewell Mountain and finished building my kennel at the end of 2008. However, I am moving within the next 6-12 months to Dayton on 16 acres I purchased earlier this year. I am renovating a barn to turn into a kennel and will live in an RV until I get the house renovated. The property is beautiful and has a big pond with fish and geese. Lots of wildlife around and can't wait to get me and the dogs moved up there. I routinely take care of up to 25 dogs of various ages and sizes that have been abandoned or surrendered by their family. I make sure they are seen by a vet, spay/neuter them, update all their shots and try to find them a forever home. I run a no-kill shelter so dogs that don't find homes will always have a home with me. I have soft spot in my heart for senior dogs and that is my rescue focus now. Taking care of these dogs has been the most fulfilling thing I have ever done in my life. Many of them are blind, deaf or just old and have a difficult time getting around (don't we all these days?). Some of the seniors I've had as little as 2 weeks before they passed and others several years. My rescue is more of a sanctuary these days but all of us seniors just enjoy each day that is given to us.
My website is www.fortheloveofdogs.petfinder.com. Very sad that the dogs have been so loyal and loving their entire lives and then end up in a shelter because no one in the family wants them anymore. If I had more room and more money, I would take everyone. I love these little senior babies. I try to keep my numbers below 25 because I now have about 35 dogs, many of whom probably are not adoptable but are very sweet dogs and don't deserve to be euthanized because their family couldn't keep them or because someone abandoned them on the side of the road. 2010 was a record year for my rescue. I had almost 60 dogs at one time but am now back to around 35.

My favorite memories of my time at CHS were being a majorette and the friends I had that were in the band. I loved the night before the first football game. We would have a practice on the practice field and then gather in the band room to watch movies of concert routines from years past. Band members, drum majors/majorettes, and majorettes from years past always attended. It's a memory I will always treasure. It is really sad that the CHS we knew no longer extists.