Archives for August, 2009
We received this letter in the mail this week along with a bunch of donations. It was too precious not to share. Houma is a dog that had battery acid poured all over him. He was also tied to a pickup truck and left to die during Hurricane Gustav. Rescuers got him to us where he recovered but then became seriously ill again and we almost lost him – twice. He goes home with Janet every night because he has been through so much, she can’t bear to leave him here, alone. He is special needs and has a special diet due to some stomach issues…but he is healthy and happy and great with cats…and SOME other dogs. Although Janet loves him dearly, he is not an ideal mix in her household with multiple dogs and other assorted animals. We are still looking for a forever home for Houma. Here is the letter we received:
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Dear Houma,
Today we celebrated my 4th birthday with hats and cake! My how my life suddenly changed. Last year at this time I was sitting in a cage at the APL – a scary place. As a “bully” breed some shelters won’t even put us up for adoption and we are euthanized before we are given a chance – even the pit puppies. My mom helped with the Vick investigation and she saw firsthand the pain, torture and suffering the dogs endured at the hands of the ignorant, and irresponsible people. After almost giving up on ever leaving the shelter – SHE PICKED ME! I got to work with her and visit Veterans in the hospital while I work on my therapy certification. Life at home is hte best! I sleep on the be, chew on toys, and have fields and pastures to play in.
The reason I am writing is that we don’t want you to give up. it makes my mom sad to see you’re still waiting for a home. She does not understand why people keep passing you up and not giving you a chance. If they only knew how kind and gentle we pits are. If there wasn’t already five of us and no more room on the bed, you would be here celebrating with us.
Houma, we don’t want you to give up, so I am sending you my birthday money to buy bones and toys to cheer you up while you wait for your forever home.
DON’T GIVE UP HOUMA!
Your friend, Neela.
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Featured Letters by kerry on Aug 21, 2009. There are comments.
Hi everyone. Matt here. Yes, I am still alive. Yes, I still work here. Yes, I know you haven’t heard from me. Yes, I am, as Kerry says, the other director. I don’t tweet or twit or whatever else it’s called. I work. Although I have been called a twit and much worse. Now that that’s out of the way…
More than a thousand dogs pass through our ramshackle little slice of heaven every year. Every single one is special. We have found that there are degrees of special. I love every dog I meet here. But some stand out. Some of the dogs we meet stay with us, leaving their indelible mark on our hearts. It is an intensely personal thing.
We pull them from other shelters. We gently take them from their crates and get them into their temporary homes, either in the kennel or in the warm weather outside in the dog area. We examine them carefully and lovingly. We pet them. We wash them. We brush them. We kiss them and tell them we love them and they’re safe now. Then, when we’re just getting used to them, playing with them, noting their eccentricities and likes and dislikes and pouring out our hearts with love so they feel comfortable, happy and cared for, as they return that love with their own affection, they leave us to go to their forever homes. Every single one leaves a mark on our hearts. Some leave much, much more.
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Why we do this by matt on Aug 16, 2009. There are comments.
I would like to show you a sample of my mail. We get a TON of mail here. We can’t take in every animal that we are asked to take in. We do the absolute best we can, but every animal is considered on a case by case basis and every animal is considered special to us. We agonize over the ones we can not take and lay sleepless at night, wondering what will become of them, what will happen to them and are they safe right now. It is a terrible part of this job and one that torments those of us that are involved in these decisions. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it when these please actually follow up and let us know they were able to keep the pet, or they found good arrangements. Below are two examples of people asking me to take in cats. You will note the difference immediately. Isn’t it interesting? The first is from a volunteer that comes here every single week, a few times a week, with her two children. They walk dogs and help out any way they can. They are gracious and loving and wonderful and also adopted two dogs from us. Two “not so easy” dogs I might add.
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Hi folks: This is a long shot–I know you guys are always full up with cats, but…..
The kids and I were away in NYC for a week and my nephew stayed at the house with Kip and Henry (Note: those are the dogs they adopted from us). While we were gone Matt (nephew) was driving along Shoddy Hollow Road and came across a dead cat in the road–with a kitten sitting next to it. He got out and moved the kitten off the road, and of course it returned to what was left of Mom. So he brought it home with him.
I found out when we got back yesterday and told him to put up some signs in Otisville, though the kitten was full of fleas and the Mom had no tags–probably not a pair anyone was looking for, but who knows?
Matt has taken the kitten back to my sister’s house but is not allowed to keep it (they have a load of animals already so my sister doesn’t want anymore. We are trying to find a place for it. My husband, the kids and I are all very allergic so we can’t take it. I’m not big on outside cats—too many cars on Derby Road, too many other nasty things could happen.
If you guys could consider taking it in that would be terrific. My sister is willing to cover the surrender fee, I think between all of us we could cover the neutering.
It is a young kitten, very playful. Eats solid food. Classic grey tiger type. We don’t know anything else about it. It hasn’t been vetted at all as of now. It has been bathed.
If you guys can’t help out, we fully understand. (And we promise not to dump it on your doorstep!) If not, do you know of any other no-kill cat groups that are fairly local that might be able to help?
Thanks for your time– The kids and I will probably be up there walking dogs tomorrow if the weather cooperates.
I wrote back:
Of course! Bring the little guy in as soon as you like. Staff is onsite by 8am. Janet can take a look when she gets in to make sure all is ok!
…and no surrender fee. You do a lot for us. Just bring the little guy in.
…and then THEY wrote back:
Hi Kerry: Just checked my email…thanks so much. We’ll come up later today–we have to wait for my nephew to come over (he is 19 and as such is so not a morning person!). I passed the good news on to my sister and she is sending along a donation anyway because she is well aware of the costs involved in taking care of even one small kitten. We’ll hope to see you later today, and thank you so much again.
OK, so there you have an example of the kind way to get a dog or a cat into a facility – VOLUNTEER there or donate there! Offer to try to help with expenses! Be polite! Do what YOU can first to try to help the animal! OK, so on to letter number 2 from this week:
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Hi My name is xxxxx. I have a cat that I want to get rid of. The reason I need to give her up is that she is a horrible cat. I have tried breaking her bad habits but cant seem to do it . She goes in the garbage and she also steals food off the counter. She gets fed 3xs a day so there is no reason for this stupid behavior. When I origanally (sic) got her I was told she was a male. Next thing I know she is giving birth and spitting out kittens left and right. No one wants her. I don’t blame them. She’s a pain in the ass and there is nothing good to say about her. I don’t feel it would be nice to lie about her bad habits. Let me know if you would be willing to take her. I can’t give any money for any fee though. She really isn’t worth it and I have other things I’d rather spend the money on anyway then this dumb cat. Also can you come and pick her up. It isn’t convenient for me to drive all the way over there, but let me know when you can come and I will make sure I am here to give her to you.
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So there you have it.
Who do I feel worse for?
Who should we help?
Should the cat suffer because her owner is a piece of garbage?
How would YOU decide if you could only take in ONE?
Not too easy, is it?
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Featured Letters by kerry on Aug 11, 2009. There are comments.
Linda Brink is the director of Sunnyskies Bird & Animal Sanctuary. I consider her a good friend but more importantly she is a tremendous force in the animal world. When Linda gets her teeth into abuse, she cannot and does not let it go. She does everything she can, within the letter of the law, to see justice done on behalf of the animals who have suffered. I find her inspiring and a tremendous resource. She does this in the wee hours of the morning or night, as she works every single day, 14 hours a day (minimum) at her own rescue and sanctuary – and yet she still finds time to help us at Pets Alive as needed, or to take up a cause and fight for it. Recently she wrote the below and I found it amazingly insightful and want to share it with all of you. Thank you Linda for being who you are. Thanks from all the animals you work tirelessly to save.
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I was recently asked, by two people: But, if she doesn’t get the horses back, and is barred from ever owning horses–isn’t that enough?
There’s this: if a person had done to other people, or to children, what was done to the two horses in this abuse case, they would, at this juncture, quite possibly be in jail without bail. If children had been found starved, with wounds inflicted by ill fitting clothes and shoes–wounds left ignored for so long that they had caused agony, had become infected, necrotic, life threatening, wounds that would leave physical scars for life–if the victims were children, those responsible would be hauled off in handcuffs, arrested, charged, and held, reviled by all, until the full wrath of our system of justice could send its flaming arrow their way. With crowds cheering.
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Animal Rescue by kerry on Aug 10, 2009. There are comments.
PLEASE CROSS POST
(This was put together by Linda Brink, Director, Sunnyskies Bird & Animal Sanctuary, Warwick, NY)
Dear Friends of Suzi and Whisk:
It’s been weeks now since Keum H. Lee last appeared at the Wallkill Courthouse. Although, surely, the case must be progressing, we have become greatly concerned by the amount of time that has passed–even since the rally. Our calls to the ADA remain unreturned.
At this very important juncture, we feel it is absolutely essential that all of those in support of justice for Suzi and Whisk once more contact the ADA and DA’s office and let them know: cutting a deal with Keum H. Lee, after the suffering she has allegedly inflicted, is absolutely unacceptable.
It will be too late, after the fact, to express your outrage. The silence is–very disturbing! We all know: the law seems to change when the victims are animals. We all know: in the eyes of the law, too many times, the suffering of animals is dismissed as inconsequential. And how many times are the animals returned to the very monsters who hurt them? Too many times.
PLEASE, take a moment to once again raise your voice in support of justice for these two horses, who have been through so much. Their suffering is representative of the suffering of so many, and pursuing and enforcing felony charges, and reasonable punishment, will not only achieve justice for Suzi and Whisk, it will help so many other animals now living in despair. Horses in particular, ignored, starving in fields, wounded, in need of medical treatment caregivers see no reason to provide –this case, if properly handled, will state loud and clear: somebody does care. I care! You care! There is such a small chance of punishment, when the crime committed is abusive to animals–no matter how heinous. A positive resolution of this case can, and will, send a message to all those who shrug off their abuse: you will be prosecuted. You will be punished. Because: we care.
PLEASE, for Suzi and Whisk, make one more call,
send one more fax, write one more letter–and roar.
For justice. For animals who can only, themselves, suffer in silence.
The message: No deals for Keum H. Lee. No compromises. Only: justice. This is a felony abuse crime. If convicted, Lee deserves felony abuse punishment. For the crimes she allegedly committed against Suzi. For the crimes she allegedly committed against Whisk. Be their voices–and roar.
Who to Contact:
Francis D. Phillips, District Attorney
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 291-2050
Fax: (845) 291-2085
fphillips@co.orange.ny.us
Jamie Ferrara, Assistant District Attorney
255 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: 845-291-2050
Fax: 845-291-2085
Please help. I truly fear we don’t have much
time in which to act and make a difference.
For the full story, you can click here but if you do not want
to see graphic pictures, do NOT scroll down!
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Animal Rescue by kerry on Aug 07, 2009. There are comments.
Sanctuary animal updates:
Since my last update on June 14th (has it been THAT long? I’m sorry!), the following dogs were adopted: Posey, Harold, Rusty, Boogey, Jackson, Racer, Dilly, Jethro, Possum, Sasha, Borus, Koasha, Lucy, Luke, Sebastian, Kibbles, Patches, Spot, White Foot, Lil Bit, Sebastian again, Brownie, Twila, Boogie, Peanut, Bunker (again but again returned, poor guy!), Johnny, Van, Buddy, Fresco, Lizzie, Spangle, Little Richie, Cade, Rocky, Misty, Bengal, Pauly, Teona, Rosemary, Rachel, Poppy, Choco, Pilgrim, Buddy2, Tor, Shu, Shea, Lady, Orlando, Buddy3, Chase, Rico, Carrie, Penny, Celia, Dinky, Doty, Pepsi, Bibi, Brownie2, Yogi, Pumpkin, Layla, Lady2, Tinkerbell, Penny, Cupid and Edison. 69 dogs? Not too bad!
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Updates by kerry on Aug 01, 2009. There are comments.