Our Story
Beth Cochran
- SEGSP Founder -
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Beth personally fostered more than a hundred dogs as well as vetted and cared for countless dogs for rescue. She has touched and impacted hundreds of people through her work saving and rescuing dogs, and by creating the Southeast GSP Rescue. Her dedication and love of GSP’s will live on forever in the dogs we rescue.
Thank you Beth – you will always be in our hearts! |
Back in 1990, Beth Cochran got her first GSP. She joined the GSPCA, got the journal and saw an article about rescue. There was no one in the southeast and she saw a need she could address. For the first few years, Beth managed rescuing dogs on the East Coast as a very small group, communicating with a few volunteers by phone and mailed newsletter - there was NO email or Internet then.
Beth fostered and placed some dogs and some went to other regions including the New England area. She kept a phone log of calls and dogs and conversations. There were often no home visits and dogs were transported by networking along the route to folks who could help out. Technology advanced and soon there was email. Beth lived in NC at the time and drove hundreds of miles to pick up and deliver foster dogs in GA , FL, TN, SC. Beth was the coordinator for the Southeast states with about 3-5 volunteers total at any one time – it was small, but the rescue was on its way.
Slowly, Beth grew the rescue. SEGSP placed about 10 dogs a year. Beth often funded them out of her own pocket, sometimes having rescue owe her a thousand dollars or more until she could place some dogs. In 2007, Beth moved to GA for work. The SEGSP website was created and with better networking and communication, the number of volunteers increased considerably.
Beth soon joined Facebook and from there SEGSP Rescue has grown exponentially. SEGSP now rescues over 100 dogs each year and has 1,000 volunteers in 7 states – quite an accomplishment thanks to the tireless work and dedication of Beth Cochran!
Rest In Peace Beth...
Beth fostered and placed some dogs and some went to other regions including the New England area. She kept a phone log of calls and dogs and conversations. There were often no home visits and dogs were transported by networking along the route to folks who could help out. Technology advanced and soon there was email. Beth lived in NC at the time and drove hundreds of miles to pick up and deliver foster dogs in GA , FL, TN, SC. Beth was the coordinator for the Southeast states with about 3-5 volunteers total at any one time – it was small, but the rescue was on its way.
Slowly, Beth grew the rescue. SEGSP placed about 10 dogs a year. Beth often funded them out of her own pocket, sometimes having rescue owe her a thousand dollars or more until she could place some dogs. In 2007, Beth moved to GA for work. The SEGSP website was created and with better networking and communication, the number of volunteers increased considerably.
Beth soon joined Facebook and from there SEGSP Rescue has grown exponentially. SEGSP now rescues over 100 dogs each year and has 1,000 volunteers in 7 states – quite an accomplishment thanks to the tireless work and dedication of Beth Cochran!
Rest In Peace Beth...
Dorothy Thompson's Retirement
- SEGSP Florida Coordinator -
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We are forever indebted to the volunteers who were there at the beginning of SEGSP’s creation and development. One of those volunteers is our Florida State Coordinator, Dorothy Thompson, who has recently announced she will be retiring from that position but thankfully staying on as a board member. Here is her story…
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It began in the late 1980’s when Dorothy shifted from horses to dogs. At the same time the North Florida GSP Club, which fell under the GSPCA new rescue program, needed help and Dorothy volunteered. Dorothy said, “It was very rewarding to be able to place a dog that needed a home thru the club, and when word got around about my background in horses, I realized I could answer a lot of questions in relation to all animals. At the dog shows I met Beth Cochran and Missy Neal, who were doing rescue in the SE, and we started putting our heads together in moving and placing dogs. Our heads were in the same place as to what was needed (more people, i.e. volunteers) and so I became part of Beth’s dream, SEGSP Rescue, then social media took over, word got out and the rest is history.”
We are truly blessed that Dorothy has shared her many years of experience and knowledge with the breed with her Florida volunteers (what she called her school of torture lol), as well as the other state coordinators and board members. Dorothy also said, “Here we all are, 34 years later, and I’m tired, but not of rescue. My family, my rescue family, how I love you all and how I am thankful for all you have done for me and rescue. Thank you!”
Dorothy’s right-hand woman, Linda Kratochwill, who fostered for Dorothy over many years and helped SEGSP get their 501c3, will be taking over as State Coordinator in Florida (while also serving on the board as Treasurer). On behalf of everyone involved with SEGSP, THANK YOU Dorothy for all you’ve done to help the over 1200 GSPs that have entered the SEGSP Rescue (and continue to arrive)!
We are truly blessed that Dorothy has shared her many years of experience and knowledge with the breed with her Florida volunteers (what she called her school of torture lol), as well as the other state coordinators and board members. Dorothy also said, “Here we all are, 34 years later, and I’m tired, but not of rescue. My family, my rescue family, how I love you all and how I am thankful for all you have done for me and rescue. Thank you!”
Dorothy’s right-hand woman, Linda Kratochwill, who fostered for Dorothy over many years and helped SEGSP get their 501c3, will be taking over as State Coordinator in Florida (while also serving on the board as Treasurer). On behalf of everyone involved with SEGSP, THANK YOU Dorothy for all you’ve done to help the over 1200 GSPs that have entered the SEGSP Rescue (and continue to arrive)!
