Chamblee Abernethy
Receptionist / Rescue Coordinator
Since 2008
Chamblee grew up in Cherokee County and earned her degree in Journalism from The University of Georgia in 1991. Chamblee worked in a law firm as a paralegal and recruiter for 13 years before making a career change to working with animals at The Village Vets in 2008. Chamblee's love for animals came from growing up on a small farm with dogs, horses, ducks, chickens and other small pets that she and her three sisters cared for daily. It was the abundance of dogs "dumped" at her family's rural address that got Chamblee involved in rescue in the late 90's, and that's how she eventually came to The Village Vets, with dogs she'd rescued needing vet care. In 2008, Chamblee co-founded Southern Animal Rescue and Georgia Voters for Animal Welfare, the organization behind the successful lobby to outlaw gas chambers in Georgia animal shelters. Chamblee and her husband, Cesar, live in Decatur with their five dogs: Boo, Sam, Murphy, Toby [pictured] and Wylie, who was a Village Vets Rescue dog.
Why she does this: "Domesticated dogs and cats are not native species. We put them here, so it's our duty to cherish and protect them."
