Over the past five years the Homeless Animals Need Doctors (HAND) foundation on Lookout Mountain has funded treatment for more than 5,000 abandoned and abused animals, an organization official said.

The rescue service has been helping animals in Chattanooga, Tenn., and surrounding Georgia and Tennessee counties since 1999.

Tallulah Trice, vice chairwoman for HAND, said the organization was formed after a significant need for animal care was identified in this area.

“We raise money for veterinary care for the animals,” she said. “The animals are in foster care, and we adopt them out.”

Trice has stray animals living in her home near Covenant College. One stray available for adoption is Bella, a hound-mix, who was found in Walker County. Bella was rescued when she was about four weeks old, while suffering from heatstroke and starvation in a ditch. She had to go to an emergency veterinary hospital where she received fluids. The veterinarians thought she would not survive.

“She is one happy-go-lucky dog,” Trice said. “She is 35 pounds, spayed and up-to-date on her shots.”

HAND urges anyone who finds an animal in need in Northwest Georgia to contact the rescue agency, which will transport the animal to a local veterinarian’s office.

“Some veterinarians cannot afford low cost, so we spread it out all over,” she said. “The number of cases varies month to month, usually 20 animals a month, and they average $300 to $800 per animal.”

In the summer, more strays move around, so Trice rescues more animals in that season than any other time of the year, she said.

“We get 75 percent of our calls from Tennessee and 25 percent from Georgia,” she said. “We are a Georgia non-profit organization with a Tennessee post office box. People don’t know about us as much in Georgia.”

HAND began assisting shelter animals that are adoptable, but require some medical care beyond the finances of the shelter. The foundation then moved to help other animals in need of medical treatment that were rescued or brought in by people who could not afford the treatment, according to handfoundation.com.

When the rescue service added the Medical Finance Assistance (MFA), program, the foundation began paying for surgery for thousands of animals and many other treatments necessary for the homeless animals.

“We want to focus more on diseases such as heart worms, bladder stones, melanoma cancer, mammary tumors as well as accidents,” she said. “I post animals that need further assistance on the Web site.”

Six animals in need of further medical assistance are currently listed on HAND's Web site. The estimated cost of needed treatment ranges from about $200 to $1,500. More than one person can donate funds for one animal.

Trice is planning PaddleFest 2004, a fundraiser held in September for homeless animals. The raft race at Hiawasee Outfitters involves gathering flags along the river.

“We are getting funds in already,” she said. “We have animals up for adoption there, and we will have an intertube race this year.”

For more information on HAND, call (423) 756-HAND (4263).

Send a letter or donation to P.O. Box 67, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., 37350.

Visit ’HANDs Web site or e-mail them at info@handfoundation.com.

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