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Maddox spends a lot of time running the roads. She said, \u201cSome days, I probably drive 60 to 70 miles because I visit some of my customers three to four times per day. I have gone from Flat Creek to Wartrace to Bell Buckle to Unionville. My services also include overnight stays at the pet\u2019s home, feeding them, and giving them potty breaks. I have regular weekly visits with some; others book me while they are gone on vacation. Sometimes, they book me a year in advance. They pay a deposit to secure those dates. My husband helps occasionally, but his health is not really good. I\u2019m grateful that I have a supportive family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On July 24, 2024, the Maddoxes\u2019 home was destroyed by fire. Although their blue heeler, Belle, and their shar-pei, Freddie, who was partially blind, survived, the animals had suffered so much trauma that both had to be humanely euthanized. In the midst of their suffering, friends Marty and Jennifer Barr, who own Phoenix Charity, reached out. Others also helped as the Maddoxes walked through this heartbreaking journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had already been through so much after the fire that putting our animals down broke our hearts. Dr. Sally Schmidt from Northpoint Animal Hospital went through this with us, and she was so compassionate. God sent us DugE, who is a corgi. He belonged to Marty and Jennifer Barr. He was their personal dog. DugE has helped so much with our healing, especially to my husband, who has post-traumatic stress disorder. DugE is so great with our 8-month-old grandson. They love each other. We had to have a kid-friendly dog.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the Phoenix Charity, a nonprofit based in Tullahoma, usually provides trained service dogs to American veterans, the Barrs made sure the Maddoxes had a peppy little buddy to comfort them during this difficult time as well. After the fire, the Maddoxes moved into town. They also have two outside cats \u2014 Mango, who is yellow and white, and Kiwee, a tabby. Mango came from the farm where they had lived, but they had to rehome their goat and pony after the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI love animals with all my heart,\u201d Maddox said. \u201cMy heart breaks for any mistreatment of them. Bedford County needs to work more on the importance of having pets spayed and neutered. There are so many pets who are unwanted, dumped, or just neglected. There are many rescues that need help with food, finances, and volunteers to help with the problem. Middle Tennessee Spay and Neuter Clinic offers help with spaying and neutering, so there is no excuse not to. These animals are God\u2019s creatures, and I believe that He expects us to help take care of them and to love them. I think we will be rewarded for doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make pet ownership more affordable, she suggested creating boxes similar to Blessings Boxes, which provide food at different locations around town \u2014 these would offer pet food, cat litter, and other supplies that can be costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis would help those who have found it a challenge to feed their pets but don\u2019t want to give them up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the last five years, Kathy Maddox has loved and cared for her neighbors\u2019 pets as if they were her own. Each time she pulls up to a client\u2019s home, tails start wagging. The cats start meowing, and the horses stamp their hooves in excitement to see her. She stops and thanks God for this beautiful life He has granted her \u2014 pet hair and all. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Find her on Facebook and Instagram at Kathy L. Maddox or Kathy\u2019s Pet Sitting Services.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Kathy Maddox was laid off from her job in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she needed a pivot \u2014 and fast. She saw it as her opportunity to run like someone had left the gate open. From the time she was a toddler and was gifted a collie mix named Lady, she had formed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":26005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[75,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shelbyville","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/11\/1-1024x683.jpg\")
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