The week of May 29 – June 2

• I am on-line, sorta.  I wrote you 2 reports today that were swallowed as my on-line connection shut down on me.  I'll catch on by 2010.
• Thanks for the great work you are all doing.  The experiences of life here seep in and are not easily shared.  Even if computers could capture full sensory perception, our interpretations might vary.  I will be satisfied knowing we share the bond of compassion, and that our joint efforts carry each of us far beyond our plateaus.
• This week has drawn on my courage, conviction, and patience.  My truck pleads for relief.  The Northeast Mississippi Sheriff's Depts. have kept us busy with the Minteer case - scheduled for court June 24.  Kirk and Deanna Minteer had 7 dogs and 2 horses confined in horrid conditions.  One horse was tied to a pickup with no water or food. In the 2 weeks we had the horses 1 gained 33 lb., the other 11  lb.  The horses have been returned to the woman who loaned the horses to the Minteer's to keep the "pasture down."  The acreage was no pasture - it was all sage grass.  We still have the 6 dogs we confiscated.  One dog was not there when we the seizure took place.  Honey, one of the dogs had 7 pups day-before yesterday.  Five are doing well, 2 were still.
• We received a report from MARL that a woman reported Chihuahuas being deprived of ventilation in a shed and trailer.  We could not find the site, the Sheriff's Dept, verified that they found no dogs, and the woman is saying that she didn't make the call.  I believe we have an uncooperative witness who simply gave a wrong address,  We are diligently trying to get to the bottom of the report.
• Andy, the rotweiller we rescued recently had his left front leg amputated Friday.  You may remember that Andy was reported to be vicious and injured.  Andy was suffering from a puppyhood injury.  His leg had been crushed and it grew into a club.  The bones were detached and wearing on each other.  He had also been shot with a wad-cutter bullet which is lodged in his lumbar area.  Dr. Pierce, a specialist in Memphis performed the surgery.  He said, "He's the most lovable dog we have had in here.  He is a special dog that deserves a special home."
• Yesterday we located a hunter's pen on a logging road.  It was reported that emaciated beagles were surviving on the carcass of a pen-mate.  When we arrived the dogs were gone.  Law enforcement had not been able to find the site, but a game warden had.  We are stressing the importance of all parties involved communicating.  We had a very long drive.  We are now trying to find out where the dogs were taken, and if charges will be filed.
• The chicks, hen turkeys, and chicks, geese, and ducks taken week before last are doing very well.
• Huckleberry Hound is finishing off the furniture that previous rescues have not been able to demolish.  Huckleberry is the young blue-tick hound we rescued with a the bone of another animal jammed into his hip muscle.  He is beginning to walk a little better.
• Abby came home yesterday.  She is a beagle we rescued.  Her leg was broken, and she is recovering from that and other elements of neglect and injury.
• Another dog was poisoned with what has been reported to be strychnine.  This substance is being produced and distributed by a Texas company.  An all out war is being fought by a Mississippi man to put this product out of production.  It is supposed to be banned.
• I am going to check on 3 horses today.  It was reported that they do not have access to water and the "owner" was arrested on drug charges.
• The man who is to dig our water line to the new canine site first broke the component of his tractor that he was using to break the ground -- then he hurt his arm.  We are hoping to get started on the water line next week.  The dozer guy says he may not charge us anything.  He hopes to come next week.  He will ready a trail for the gravel man to put a road in for us.  He had a heart attack.  Gay and I are taking him a fruit basket this afternoon.  (Gay Evaldi is one of our volunteers.)
• We tried to save a kitten and a fledgling brought to us this week.  Tears.

Past diary entries

May 22 – 26, 2000