Freedom for Fido celebrates 150th fence

  • Freedom for Fido recently completed its 150th fence build Friday, November 8, in Epworth. Volunteers are shown, from left, Nick Robinson, Pepperr McConnell, Dee Hoult, Sheila Robinson, Carol Shannon, Jimmy Jones, Eric Pavis, Co-Founder Jackie Gilbert, Co-Founder Fritz Gilbert, Andy Livingston, Peggy Caldwell, Robert Simpson, Sandra Simpson and Tom Corey.
    Freedom for Fido recently completed its 150th fence build Friday, November 8, in Epworth. Volunteers are shown, from left, Nick Robinson, Pepperr McConnell, Dee Hoult, Sheila Robinson, Carol Shannon, Jimmy Jones, Eric Pavis, Co-Founder Jackie Gilbert, Co-Founder Fritz Gilbert, Andy Livingston, Peggy Caldwell, Robert Simpson, Sandra Simpson and Tom Corey.
  • Sandra Simpson secures the fence to a post for Freedom for Fido’s 150th fence build to date.
    Sandra Simpson secures the fence to a post for Freedom for Fido’s 150th fence build to date.
  • Freedom for Fido Co-Founder Jackie Gilbert, left, and volunteer Pepperr McConnell work on the 150th fence build for the organization.
    Freedom for Fido Co-Founder Jackie Gilbert, left, and volunteer Pepperr McConnell work on the 150th fence build for the organization.
  • Freedom for Fido volunteer Robert Simpson rolls out some wire fencing while building a fence Friday, November 8.
    Freedom for Fido volunteer Robert Simpson rolls out some wire fencing while building a fence Friday, November 8.

    “We call this Freedom Day,” Co-Founder Fritz Gilbert said while helping complete Freedom for Fido’s 150th fence build to date.

    The build took place in Epworth Friday, November 8, with the help of 14 volunteers including founders Fritz and Jackie Gilbert.

    The fence will now provide a safe space for four dogs to freely roam and play off of chains. Watching dogs roam free on such a day is why they do what they do, Gilbert said.

    In addition to the fence, a plastic dog house and an insulated dog house were donated to the family along with dog food.

    In order to complete fences, a sponsor provides $1,000 to cover materials for each fence. This time, the sponsor was Peggy Caldwell.

    This coming April, the non-profit organization will celebrate six years of freeing dogs from lives on chains, and over 300 dogs have benefited from their mission so far.

    Through a screening process, help is available to low-income families within a 20-mile radius of Blue Ridge.

    Anyone interested in volunteering, donating or applying for a fence should visit the organization’s website at www.freedomforfido.com or call 440-679-1627.