In the News
Alaqua Animal Refuge in the News
85 animals rescued from Calhoun County in “heartbreaking conditions”
WJHG.COM
CALHOUN COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – An Altha woman is behind bars facing felony charges for animal cruelty after Calhoun County deputies say they found dozens of animals living in dire conditions.
Alaqua Animal Refuge said 85 animals have been rescued and are getting treatment.
Dawn Elrod was arrested on May 3, 2026, after the sheriff’s office received reports of dead and malnourished animals on the property where she was living.
It all started in 2022 when Elrod asked for help moving animals to protect them from a fire. A Colorado rescue group, Pack 22 Alpha, and Alaqua stepped in.
Calhoun County Cruelty Case
When the call came from Calhoun County, there was no time to prepare.
There was no fundraising campaign already in place. No emergency budget waiting on a shelf. No guarantee that we had the resources needed for what we were about to face.
There were simply animals in desperate need.
Over the course of three days, Alaqua Animal Refuge helped rescue 85 animals from one of the most heartbreaking cruelty situations we have encountered. Dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, chickens, a horse, a donkey, and wolf hybrids were found living in conditions that no animal should ever have to endure.
Many required immediate medical attention. All needed food, shelter, and a safe place to begin healing.
The truth is that cases like this place an enormous burden on animal welfare organizations. The cost of emergency response, transportation, veterinary care, housing, feed, medications, and rehabilitation begins the moment we say yes, and continues for months long after the headlines fade.
Yet saying yes was never a question.
Because when animals are suffering, someone has to step forward.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Alaqua was able to answer that call. And because animal cruelty does not wait, we must always be prepared for the next one.
If you believe every animal deserves a second chance, please consider making a donation today. Your support allows us to respond immediately when animals have nowhere else to turn.
Every rescue begins with a yes.
Every yes begins with people like you.
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How Rescue Animals Are Teaching Students Emotional Awareness
Edweek.org
Can animals help students better manage their own feelings? The leader of one popular Florida field trip destination says yes.
The Alaqua Animal Refuge, which stretches across 100 acres in Florida’s panhandle, is home to more than 350 rescue (and adoptable) animals—dogs, cats, horses and other farm animals, birds, tortoises, and more. As part of its educational program, Humane Heroes, the refuge hosts field trips for local schools and youth groups. Last year, 2,200 students visited the animal sanctuary, and this year, Alaqua is on track to host more than 4,000.
“Initially, we just wanted to create a program where the kids could know that they could help animals,” said Laurie Hood, the refuge’s founder and president. “It was clear that there was something deeper happening. So many animals have been survivors of neglect or abuse—learning to empathize with animals, the kids were starting to reflect on their own issues. It became about helping kids grow into more compassionate and emotionally aware people.”
Emaciated Dog Found Abandoned in a Cage Inside an Empty Sweltering House Gets a New Start (Exclusive)
People.com
Gracie Girl is finally being treated like the good girl her rescuers know her to be.
According to Alaqua Animal Refuge in Walton County, Fla., the organization took in the dog after a local sheriff’s department discovered Gracie left in an empty, sweltering house on a 100-degree day in June. Rescuers found Gracie abandoned in the powerless home, stuck in a dirty crate without access to food and water.
“We got a call from the Sheriff’s Department asking if we could take in a dog they had just removed from a cruelty case. She had been locked in a crate inside a home, abandoned without food or water for what appeared to be several weeks. They told me she was in bad shape, unable to stand on her own, and asked if we could help. Of course, we said yes.” Laurie Hood, the founder of Alaqua Animal Refuge, tells PEOPLE.
My Vet Told Me My Dog Only Had a Few Days to Live—And Now, She’s Thriving
Kinship.com
Laurie Hood, the founder of the Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Florida, says that she has heard about this happening many times. Sometimes, it may be a subtle comment like “there’s not much we can do,” while other times, parents are told that their dog is too old to justify treatment. This is particularly hard to hear when, as in my case, the pet is present and engaged.