Winfield resident Tina Richardson decided to produce her own show on the local access cable channel about adopting a dog, when she discovered how tedious the process was.
Based on her own experience, Richardson produced a show called Rescue Tails to teach residents how to conquer the adoption process and learn how the system works.
After Richardson's dog died last March, she began a search for another one on the Internet, looking for information about dog adoptions.
"I started looking on rescue sites. It became so consuming to me and there were just thousands of dogs," said Richardson. "This went on for months. I was online for hours at a time looking for the right dog. Finally, I was, like, this is crazy."
After struggling to find a reliable adoption agency, Richardson applied to Tails of Hope, a local rescue agency. She had to fill out a seven-page questionnaire before the agency came to assess her family and property to see if the living conditions were suitable for a dog. The approval process took about two weeks.
Richardson also found a pet search Web site that would e-mail her when it found a dog that fit her criteria.
"This was a lot better," said Richardson. "They'd say here's five dogs and they would tell us where they were and what their issue was."
Richardson finally got her now 5-month-old dog, Trooper.
Rescue Tails was shown on cable channel 19 and was broadcast through the Community Media Center.
Marion Ware, the center's director, said that few people in the county know that the media center facility, located across from Westminster High, is a place for organizations to air free public-service announcements and shows. These shows broadcast to more than 34,000 homes in the county.
"People like Tina Richardson take the video production course here and do orientation and they can use most of our equipment to make any show they'd like," said Ware.
"But we call this place the best kept secret in Carroll County, because many people don't take advantage of our facilities."
Richardson's show drew help from the Carroll County Humane Society and its director, Carolyn "Nicky" Ratliff.
"Any publication is always a help for us," said Ratliff, who has been involved with the humane society for 25 years. "People may not want a dog when they watch the show, but they will remember it, when they need a dog, maybe in the next year, or maybe they can share the information with their neighbor who wants to get a dog. The information keeps in people's minds and it helps give an understanding to the public."
The first episode of Rescue Tails, which aired last month, gave an overview of the history of the Humane Society. It also explained the rescue process, and showed viewers how essential volunteers are to the dog adoption and fostering process.
"It was very interesting for those who like animals and very educational," Ratliff said of the show. "Sometimes, even we don't know what other departments are doing and how the whole process works, so it was nice to see that."
Richardson said she hopes that viewers will learn from the show and be prepared for difficulties when searching for the ideal dog.
"The people that search need to keep in mind that you might not get the pet you exactly thought you were after, and that the rescue is always going to match up the best home situation for that particular dog," said Richardson.
"They want you to have the dog forever, so they want to find the best match so there's not issues. Searchers should just be aware of it, so they don't get caught up in it too much, or it can be a very emotional time."
Ratliff also warned future dog owners to do their research and find a dog that is right for the family and their time commitment.
"When bringing a pet into your home, be prepared for the responsibilities," said Ratliff. "Know what you're getting before you go out and get a dog. You have to study different types of breeds and find out if you're ready for that particular dog. Get the animal for what it is, not what it looks like."
Despite the response to her show, Richardson doesn't plan on dedicating all her time to Rescue Tails. After retiring in 2006 from Integrated Circuit Designs of Ellicott City, she has decided to produce additional projects for nonprofit organizations.
Richardson has already worked with Common Ground on the Hill, the American Music and Arts Festival, the Carroll County Women's Fair and various religious programs and concerts.
She said she also plans on doing her next show on how Carroll County residents remember the troops.
"I hope to become an affordable resource for nonprofits and other groups in the county so they can get their message out to the community," Richardson said.
eboni.preston@baltsun.com