Lately I've been getting a lot of people asking me to spread the word about the continued effort to find homes for a group of animals rescued Feb. 12 from a property in Kinsman, Ohio.

A whopping 162 dogs, 18 cats, horses, fowl and chickens were taken from that 58-year-old woman's “Humane Sanctuary” - or as most define the operation now, a hoarder who ran a no-kill shelter.

The collection included Johnny Walker, the roughly 1-year-old black and tan Coonhound pictured throughout this blog. Click here for a glimpse into how he and other dogs lived there.

Now, of course, all need good homes.

The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County was the first to swoop in and take most.

Located at 545 Brunstetter Road SW, Warren, 44481-9600, the Animal Welfare League is open from 1 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. "Volunteering time or willing to foster and/or adopt would be great," President Barbara Busko tells me. "E-mail with their name, address, phone number, best time to call and what days and times they are available to volunteer. Or they may call 330-394-3512. And we will need monetary donations." The group can also be contacted at AWLTCO@neo.rr.com.

Another non-profit group that helped, PAWS, will hold its “PAWS 4 a Cause Adopt-a-Thon and Family Fun Day” on May 15 at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Moreland Hills. Mark your calendar. The event, hosted by meteorologist Dick Goddard, the event will include a dog walk, adopt-a-thon, merchandise vendors and demonstrations, dog contests and much more.

Yet another, For the Love of Pits, claims one local warehouse wants to clear its rescued dogs by this Wednesday.

“As a result I contacted the organization in charge,” President Shana Klein said, “asking if I may visit the dogs to temperament test and possibly rescue a couple. These dogs are amazing and certainly deserve to see that life is better than living at the end of a chain with no food, water and human affections.” To foster for For the Love of Pits, click here and complete a caregiver application.

And then there's Marilyn’s Voice, which asked me to put a face on this whole tragic story – the face of Johnny Walker, perhaps the most visibly neglected dog they took in.

Whichever dogs the rescue operator did not warm up to were kept at the furthest corners of the property and mostly forgotten, a former Humane Sanctuary volunteer has told the group. The only footprints to Johnny’s 6-foot chain and non-insulated doghouse were those of that volunteer. There were never any food or water bowls.

But Johnny is a sweet boy despite his neglect, with a magnificent voice. He was terrified the first time volunteers put him on a leash to walk him to the car for his ride to foster care, but is already getting used to life indoors.

It's groups like all of these that really turn these dogs lives around.

Thanks to the generous donation by Mentor's TLC Pet Lodge, some of the most serious cases taken in by Marilyn's Voice will be boarded at the lodge, where employees are offering around the clock care at no charge. Most of them are not quite ready yet for adoption, but if you are interested in learning more, adopting one of these dogs, or assisting with a much-appreciated donation, contact Marilyn’s Voice at 440-255-1450.

Thanks to all for all you did, and continue to do, in this terrible undertaking.

-- Sandra M. Klepach, SKlepach@News-Herald.com