Sarah Dubler’s eyes filled with tears each time she drove away from the Coffee County Animal Control (CCAC). She did not know how deeply it would affect her when she first saw posts on Facebook asking for donations of items for stray pets left behind. Dubler has always loved animals and wanted to help, so she drove out to the shelter to donate blankets, but she was shocked by what she saw when she arrived — facing the desperation in those puppies’ eyes firsthand and seeing how rough their lives must have been as strays broke her heart. Dubler quickly realized she had to do more.
“Once you see that, it’s really hard not to do something… the first month I was bringing stuff out there, I left in tears every day,” Dubler said.
Dubler moved to Manchester when her husband, Seth Dubler, was hired as an aircraft mechanic for Air Methods. The couple has three children — Madison Fredrick, Aiden Dubler, and Raygan Dubler. Their family currently has four dogs and 10 chickens, so caring for animals is nothing new to them. She and her husband also own “A Little Bit of This,” an at-home business they started that sells handmade decor, including refurbished whiskey and bourbon barrels repurposed into items like candle holders and custom wooden coasters. Their business offers flexible hours, allowing Dubler to focus on her passion for helping dogs.
“I have 4 dogs of my own that I have been training. I took them to Wag It Better Boutique and Training Center in Murfreesboro, and it helped me see things a little bit differently and understand the bond that you can create with a dog,” Dubler said. “Knowing their temperament and recognizing their body language to know what they enjoy doing helped me see things from a new angle. So I was just trying to think of ways that I could help them.”
This led Dubler to volunteer at CCAC. With Manchester City Animal Control and Tullahoma City Animal Control also serving the area, many residents don’t realize three separate entities are operating in the county.
CCAC, now settled into a new facility after a ribbon-cutting on July 11, runs on a staff of four and takes in between 80 and 100 dogs each month. About 70% of those dogs are transferred to rescue partners up north, where demand for adoptable dogs is greater. The remaining 30% try to find homes locally or elsewhere in Tennessee. When medical emergencies come up — like when a semi-truck struck a foster dog that Dubler met on the interstate — the shelter’s already thin budget takes the brunt of the costs.
“They’ve got a great team,” Dubler said. “They’re doing the best that they can with the resources that they have.”
As Dubler worked to find ways to help, she realized the community was ready to lend a hand but wasn’t sure how. Since the shelter could not yet accept formal volunteers, Dubler organized a community group to prepare enrichment items — frozen Kongs, treat pans, and food puzzle toys for staff to distribute. She then created a closed Facebook group, Coffee County Pawsitive Enrichment Team, to coordinate supply drives. When she put out a call for satin balls — high-calorie meat-and-oats mixtures for emaciated puppies — multiple people responded immediately. The Dublers have fostered 8 dogs in the past year, with her college kids and family at home pitching in to help.
“Fostering is so important because it gives a dog a temporary home while opening shelter space for another dog in need,” Dubler said.
Partnering with Wag It Better Boutique and Training Center has also made a huge impact. Their ongoing “Fill the Waggin” campaign allows customers to purchase wagons and baskets full of supplies, which are donated directly to CCAC.
“Wag It Better has been a huge supporter of CCAC,” Dubler said. “I just feel so blessed that I have these opportunities to help the animals and work with great partners in the cause.”
As the volunteer group grew, Dubler started dreaming big — and that’s when the cleverly named Barkaroo event was born. The dog-centered music festival held in June 2026, the weekend before Bonnaroo, raised an impressive $17,000 for the shelter. Dubler launched a public Facebook group, Friends of Coffee County Animal Control, to keep the momentum going year-round.
“I wanted to do something that would bring people out and raise awareness,” Dubler said. “It warmed my heart to see how much the community came together for it.”
Dubler says there is always a need for more people to give, volunteer, and adopt. Together, CCAC staff, volunteers, rescue partners, and community supporters are helping more dogs survive and thrive. GN
To find out how you can help, visit the Friends of Coffee County Animal Control Facebook page, wagitbetter.com, or contact CCAC directly.
To find “A Little Bit of This,” go to www.facebook.com/shopalittlebitofthis.
