Susie Manning wakes up every morning at 4 a.m. to begin her daily routine of caring for 31 dogs. She feeds them, fills water bowls, cleans them, exercises them, doctors the sick and stops fights. She then drives to Columbus to work an eight-hour day as a manager in the OR at the Medical Center. After work she comes home to do it all again. And she loves it.

Manning, along with partner Stacey Nickson, runs Dogpatch Ranch, an animal rescue and sanctuary located about 15 miles outside of Auburn in Salem, Ala.

The two women rescue animals that would otherwise be put down, are not adoptable, are relinquishments or strays. The animals are rescued a number of ways from being found alongside the road to being a relinquishment from a family that can no longer care for the animal. While they have taken in other animals in the past, Dogpatch Ranch is now dedicated to serving mostly dogs. The women attempt to adopt out many of the dogs, but many will live at the ranch the rest of their lives.

Manning said the average amount of dogs to live at the ranch at one time is around 30, 20 of which will never leave.

“We average 30,” she said. “I thought we were going to stop at 27, then we get the frantic phone calls ... we got a new one Friday night, two last week ... sometimes people are just desperate. If they take them to the Humane Society, basically if they are a relinquishment they’ll probably be put down. People lost their homes, lost their jobs, our numbers are pretty much here and there. I get a call about every other day, not to adopt, but to try to place an animal.”
Manning and Nickson have both always been animal lovers. Manning said she grew up in the city in San Diego surrounded by concrete.

“I grew up in the city and didn’t even have grass,” she said. “I grew up basically with just concrete and it was just always my goal to keep working up to a point where I would end up with a ranch.”

Nickson, who is also the assistant director at Auburn University’s Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning, said that she’s always felt a connection to animals.

“The first animal I ever had was a cat named Tomacina when I was 4 years old,” she said. “Throughout the years I had cats or dogs or cats and dogs. I always enjoyed their love and companionship and communicating with them and caring for them. I think I’ve always had a deep-rooted appreciation for their roles in our lives.”

Manning and Nickson met in San Diego in 1999. The two owned a couple of acres together and began rescuing dogs until they were up to capacity on the amount of dogs allowed on the land.

“We knew this was something that we wanted to pursue, so we were trying to find something that would be big enough and open enough, and not have the neighbors, and able to have separate kennels and play areas for the dogs,” Manning said. “Stacey found a job at Auburn University and four months later I came.”

The women found the room they were looking for in Salem. Dogpatch ranch sits on 20 acres of land, has a 3,500 sq. ft. barn, 5,000 sq. ft. house, a guest house, a shed and a pool that Manning claims the dogs use more than they do.

Dogpatch Ranch ascribes to a “No Kill” philosophy. They believe that animals that are healthy and treatable, including feral cats and other undersocialized animals, should be saved.

The women work closely with Paws Humane Columbus, giving home to their animals that are scheduled to be euthanized. Paws supports the ranch with discounts on Spay and neuter services.

Clinic receptionist at Paws, Mary O’Brien, said their experience working with Manning has been wonderful.

“It’s an awesome place, she does wonders,” she said.

One aspect of pet care that Manning and Nickson care deeply about is spaying and neutering. All animals at Dogpatch Ranch are spayed or neutered before being adopted out.

“Spay and neuter is a huge issue down here,” Manning said.

Spaying and neutering is such an important issue to Manning and Nickson that they will pay to have any animal spayed and neutered for those pet owners that can’t afford it.

The two support an elderly neighbor that they call Miss Lou in this way. Manning noticed several litters of puppies at the woman’s house and found out that she couldn’t afford to have them spayed or neutered. Since then Manning and Nickson have spayed and neutered all of her dogs and some of her cats. They also help her out with food.

“We support her ‘mini-sanctuary’ fully- allowing us to spay and neuter a dozen neighborhood animals while developing a relationship with a senior that lives alone but stays young and vibrant through the love of animals in need,” Nickson said.

Manning and Nickson are always in search of loving families for many of the pets at Dogpatch Ranch. For pets to be adopted out the pet owner must have a fenced yard and value the dog.

“We don’t want our dogs to end up as bait, whether it be fish bait or bait for fighting,” Manning said.

The ranch does charge a small fee, but most of it goes towards the vet bills.

“Our charge is basically our vet bill,” Manning said. “We have a small nominal charge, application form to find out if they have any other pets, children, and that it’s a good placement.”

Although the ranch is classified as a 501(c)3 organization, which, makes them tax deductible, eligible for grants and tax exempt for anything that has to do with the animals, Manning and Nickson support Dogpatch Ranch financially through their own paychecks. This can be trying at times. Manning said that the two have endless property, but need donations to make the ranch’s amenities better to take more dogs.

“Before we can really take anymore, we need to have some in-kind donations of fencing, concrete, some electrical, plumbing ... I’m kind of at a point now that I want to stop because there’s just so many needs,” Manning said. “I want to make sure that I keep everything top notch for all of these dogs. Without any further donations at this time it’s rough. And it’s hard to say no.”

The ladies hope to receive some of those donations this weekend. A benefit for the shelter will be held at Standard Deluxe in Waverly to raise money for Dogpatch Ranch.

Standard Deluxe owner Scott Peek didn’t hesitate to offer his business for the benefit.

“I think it’s a really cool thing they’re doing out there,” he said.

The benefit will feature music from Will Dew and Mace Glasscock and will begin at 6 p.m. There is a $10 donation request to attend.

“We’re having people reach out ... it’s awesome,” Manning said. “So we’re really looking forward to Saturday. We really are in need of a donation.”

The women will also take any volunteer time people are willing to give.

“If you can come out and help us with the yard work, help us bath dogs, help us keep trails, food, towels, pretty much any donation. There pretty much isn’t anything we can’t use,” Manning said.

For the time being, even the dogs that are up for adoption seem happy at Dogpatch Ranch. From Bingo, who was found at a crackhouse, chained to the dog house, with 10 puppies and no food or water; to the dog they call Lucky Pete who was returned to the pound five times before living on Dogpatch Ranch, these dogs are, as Manning puts it, “living the dream.”

There are no kennels, just open spaces and plenty of land to roam free.

Even after working eight-hour days and coming home to take care of dogs that eat more than 50 lbs. of food a day, Manning and Nickson will never give up on their furry friends.

The love of the animals, Nickson said, is what keeps them going.

“The love of the animals and knowing you’re doing the right thing,” she said. “Love for the animals, love of the animals and the love you get from them.”

For more on Dogpatch Ranch, visit them online at dogpatchranch.net.