01/30/2026
Free State Four Paws is a small, all-volunteer rescue — and the only animal rescue serving Winston County, Alabama, a county with no animal shelter.
Every single day, we receive up to ten calls and messages from people asking us to help abandoned, dumped, injured, and suffering dogs. We are always full. Our foster homes are maxed out. Our volunteers are stretched thin. And for every dog we save, there are 20, 40, sometimes 100 more we simply don’t have the resources to take in.
Our volunteers — most of whom work full-time jobs — foster dogs in their own homes and fund this rescue with their time, energy, and compassion. We operate entirely on donations. Vet bills for injured dogs can reach thousands of dollars, and the costs of food, vaccines, transportation, and medical care add up fast. Despite this, our volunteers are often harassed or blamed for not being able to save every dog in the county — a heartbreaking reality no rescue should have to face alone.
Without a county shelter, many Winston County residents are left to shoulder the care for dumped and abandoned dogs who wander onto their property in search of food, shelter, and kindness. Too often, there is nowhere to turn for help.
There is only Free State Four Paws — and the crisis in Winston County is so much bigger than our little rescue.
Please consider donating to help us save more lives and prevent more suffering. Donation links in our bio.
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