“Think lost, not stray.”

For Rescue 931 Facebook group admin and Dog Days Search & Rescue Co-founder JoAnn DeCollibus Powell, this is much more than a tagline or throwaway sentiment.

The phrase saves lives. 

By reframing the way we view lost and abandoned animals, our compassion is ignited, empathy engaged, and actions redirected.  

Through Rescue 931 and Dog Days SAR, JoAnn, Rescue 931 creator Barb Johnson, and a team of community volunteers are creating a brighter future for animals and animal owners in the Upper Cumberland.

Rescue 931

A Facebook group, Rescue 931 serves as a daily resource for those experiencing the trauma of a missing animal in Cookeville and the surrounding areas. 

“There are so many animals that get reunited through Rescue 931. I don’t know the exact percentage, but I feel like it’s a relatively high number. If there is a lost or found animal with an owner, there is a high probability that they will be reunited through the Rescue 931 page.” JoAnn continued, “People share our posts. They may share on HIP Cookeville, or Cookeville Strong, or another local community page. It expands the reach, it just does. The Rescue 931 page has a 60-mile radius range. If you’re within 60 miles, we’ll post your lost animal. That’s a wide area, Sparta, Jamestown, Baxter, etc, you can post your lost animal here. It’s a much bigger resource than most people realize.” 

The footprint of Rescue 931 is massive, and JoAnn and the other admins can’t do the work alone. 

She stated, “We all work other jobs. We’re all volunteers and we do it as much as we can. It’s hours and hours each week. We do a lot before work, after work, during lunch break. We’re out a lot helping people at night. We’re often online helping for a couple of hours per day with all that’s going on with lost animals in this town. If we can take two minutes out of our day, we can give them make-or-break advice that can help them rescue their dog.” Continuing JoAnn said, “Reuniting an owner with a lost animal is the most rewarding part of what we do. It’s very emotional and traumatizing for someone to lose an animal. You end up being a support on a lot of levels. We set traps, set cameras, etc, but we’re also their emotional support system. Helping stray animals get to safety and out of harm’s way is so rewarding. The page and members help us. We can’t do it all.” 

When asked about best practices tips for using the Rescue 931 group and aiding in the processes of preventing and remedying lost animal situations, JoAnn stated, “The Rescue 931 page is not a rehoming page, so there are times we don’t approve posts. You can’t just say, ‘Hey, I found these three puppies, can you come get them?’ You can’t by law give away found animals. Instead say, ‘Hey this dog showed up near our property, does it belong to anybody?’” She continued, “As a practical side note, remember to microchip and register your animal. That’s one way to get animals back quicker. It’s also proof of ownership for those difficult situations. You can see who the dog is registered to quickly sort out the truth of the situation.” 

To end the portion of our conversation dedicated to Rescue 931, JoAnn praised the help of community members in the process of rescuing lost or abandoned animals stating,  “The community has gotten behind this page. When we as admins can’t hop on immediately, members of the Rescue 931 community will give advice that helps owners reunite with pets in what are often urgent, time-sensitive situations. We are so grateful for their help and hope the group continues to grow.”

Dog Days Search & Rescue

Beyond her work with Rescue 931, JoAnn is an active leader with Dog Days Search & Rescue, a nonprofit that locates and rescues missing animals in the Upper Cumberland. Visit their website to learn useful tips in the event your animal goes missing. 

“Dog Days Search & Rescue (one of two locations JoAnn has helped launch, the first of which is still active in California) was co-founded by myself and another local (Kelly Hill) from the Livingston/Monroe area. We founded this search and rescue organization to aid owners in finding their lost pets and also to help lost or abandoned strays,” JoAnn stated. “We help the community in a variety of ways including spaying and neutering, giving advice, and paying for medical bills on a case-by-case basis. We work closely with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department (Sergeant Cody Meadows), Cookeville Police Department, and the animal shelter as well. We’ve been very successful working together.”

Much like Rescue 931, Dog Days SAR is a volunteer group, whose reach goes far beyond the city limits of Cookeville. 

JoAnn DeCollibus Powell, Barb Johnson, their volunteers, and the communities that surround both Rescue 931 and Dog Days Search & Rescue are saving lives, changing outcomes, and bringing renewed hope to the animals and people around us every day. 

We’re delighted to share their story in Cookeville Lifestyle Magazine. 

Looking to make a difference? 

Are you interested in contributing to the impact of Rescue 931 and Dog Days Search & Rescue? 

The Rescue 931 Facebook group is volunteer-moderated and needs the help of members to run efficiently and reunite animals with their owners! Your help could mean the difference between a lost animal and a found one. To get involved with this important work, join the Rescue 931 Facebook Group today!

Dog Days Search & Rescue functions through the aid of donations and your support would be greatly appreciated! To learn more about giving visit https://dogdayssar.com/ or the Dog Days SAR Facebook page.