Photo from Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue.
The past decade has been busy for Melody Whitworth.
In November of 2015, she opened Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue, but that isn’t where her passion for advocacy and dog rescue began. She came to Columbia from Virginia, previously working for Dogs Deserve Better. A few volunteers from Dogs Deserve Better came with her, starting Unchained Melodies with a small but mighty team. Whitworth herself was the sole proprietor; in fact, she was unable to take even a modest salary until recently. With a tiny team of volunteers and no building to speak of, Unchained Melodies grew, grew and grew.
In 2018, Unchained Melodies moved into their building on White Tiger Lane, which Whitworth cites as the turning point for the organization. While they are still mostly volunteer-based, they’ve been able to hire three employees as their programs and outreach have expanded.
“We’ve just grown tremendously,” Whitworth says. “Our training classes are doing well, we’ve added new programs and outreach has grown. Rescue is still the priority, but the programs have been big.”
Rescue is at the heart of Unchained Melodies’ mission, but they take a different approach. Rehabilitation is at the dog’s pace, meaning the transformation the dogs experience is a slow but worthwhile journey. They take an individualized approach to each dog, offering veterinary care and wellness support for the dogs along with proper education and training for the public, fosters and adopters.
With a small staff and a wide outreach, one might assume the work is exhausting; maybe too overwhelming. However, Whitworth’s passion has kept Unchained Melodies alive for the entire decade. “I’ve tried golf, I’ve tried this, I’ve tried that,” Whitworth says. “And I always just want to go back to work. I’m passionate. I want help for these innocent animals.”
For the future of Unchained Melodies, alongside fundraising, events, programs, classes and education, expect to see Whitworth in Jefferson City.
“I want to add more programs, but I also want to get heavier into state legislature,” Whitworth says. “Now that we have staff and volunteers that can hold down the fort, I want to get to the Capitol.”
Specifically, Whitworth is fighting to see a statement in Missouri law changed — the statement that dogs (family pets, not including service dogs) are property. “Essentially saying that your dog is the same as a couch or a car,” she says. “A family pet has no defense.” She explains that this verbiage is often used as a defense in cases of animal abuse or neglect.
This isn’t the first time Whitworth has fought for animal rights in Missouri — not by a long shot. She’s dedicated her entire career to justice for dogs across the state. In 2018, Missouri House Bill No. 2721 passed, making unlawful tethering (meaning the dog is tethered or chained for an extended period of time, in an unsafe environment, on too-short of a chain or out of reach of food or water) a Class B misdemeanor. In Columbia, an amended version is in Chapter 5 of the City Code. Whitworth says this was a major victory for animal rights, with much more work to be done.
“I’m super proud of what we’ve done in 10 years,” Whitworth says. “We’re right up there with the big guys.”
With 10 years down and hopefully countless years to go, Unchained Melodies is an integral piece of Columbia, with donations keeping its heart beating. By choosing to support Unchained Melodies, you’re offering a dog a shot at a life full of love.
