Doll Stanley

I found myself having too interesting a Thanksgiving. Natalie, our nearly 700 lb. hog, decided she had enough of being separated from the horses. During this time of construction the horses have been in our hay pasture across the road. Our new entrance is not complete. Natalie simply stuck her nose under our both temporary gates, lifted them off their hinges, and joined the horses in the hay field. Buster pony took the opportunity to come to the front yard to look for winter grass. What a day it became. I was invited to dinner, for which I had spent most of the night cooking vegan dressing, a peach pie, and cashew-macadamia nut gravy. Goes without saying I never made it. After getting everyone back where they belonged I spent hours toting materials to insure that the gates were Natalie proof - not an easy task.

Natalie has since discovered that the fencing on the old feedlot side has weakened spots. I will seek immediate funding to make the critical repairs.

I rounded up Thanksgiving Day by initiating an investigation into complaints that a Gore Springs couple have horribly neglected 3 horses. Oh yeah, I felt sorry for my self and ate the whole peach pie.

I had already undertaken a case of neglect in Holcomb. A colt had died of neglect, but the report came too long after death for Doc to be able to declare neglect "beyond a reasonable doubt." After a brush with the "good ol' boy" interaction between law and offenders I laid down some ground rules for the care of the 2-yr-old and the 2 shetlands in the field. When I took them hay the next day, they had already been well supplied. The good folks that reported the case will keep me alerted to any failure in the care of the horses. I hate cases that are so clearly offensive, but technically short for justice.

Our legislative session is fast approaching. Marie Taylor, Mississippi Animal Welfare Alliance, Sec. and I met with Senator Neely Carlton today. She will introduce our bill to add definition to our anticruelty to animals Statutes. There has been a good deal of preparation for this. Marie has been great. We also have a meeting scheduled with the MS. Board of Vet. Med. We have made changes to our bill to give authority to the Board to certify, license, and regulate Euth. Techs. for MS. animal shelters. Currently ignorance, and lack of ability to obtain humane euth. drugs is lending to the death of thousands of animals in most inhumane methods.

The Greenville, MS. animal shelter is using the exhaust of a lawnmower motor to kill. Rolling Fork, MS. is among the scores that are shooting unwanted dogs. Greenwood, MS. is using a paralytic, preceded by a sedative. Times are awfully dark for animals.

I am working on multiple cruelty cases. Currently most of them involve horse, or dogs. The drought has brought on hunger for horses that have unconcerned keepers. Neglect, a hot summer, and now a cold fall have made life miserable for dogs.

Last night and tonight I froze in McDonald's parking lot. There's a new group of kittens that need assistance. I have helped 4. I will try to get someone in town to take up the effort. There is just too much to do here.

The canine care center is crawling to completion. Everyone involved in the undertaking has been waylaid with one thing or another. Two of the men are dealing with health problems that have kept them away. I may have to look for replacements for them this week.

We placed 4 dogs this week. Yesterday Ginger rode home in the front seat of her new families car, muddy feet and all.

Were are participating in PetSmart's photos with Santa fund raiser. It will aid us with our outstanding vet bills. It's a real trick to care for our sanctuary and be in a Santa suit in Jackson by 11:00 Sunday a.m. Sleep is but a daydream around here.

We took in MS. Beasley, a wonderful dog that Q105.1 employees rescued. That's a Jackson oldies station. They asked Project Hope to foster her. They did not tell us she hated other dogs until they put her leash in my hand. Turns out they were totally wrong. She loves the other dogs so much she has all but abandoned her attention to us.

The paralyzer for us right now is that law enforcement who are receptive to addressing cruelty are overwhelming us with their need for assistance. So few communities have shelters, fewer have humane societies, and it is inexpressibly disturbing to logistically not be able to address pleas with expediency, or resources. We can't get everywhere that we are needed, and we cannot take in any more large dogs right now. We still need two equipped enclosures to handle the dogs we have. We are looking at nearly $9,000 for just the two.

We are looking for a new employee to aid with the care of the animals, and my work. The person we are looking for must be 100% passionate about protecting all animals. This person must be knowledgeable about animals, and have all around handy skills, and strength. I am looking for a cheerful and gifted individual who is willing to give their all to Project Hope's mission.

I am thrilled with the progress we have made in construction, and we have done so much to help animals since I last corresponded with you. I know that this should drive me to extend the great news to you. I do relish accomplishment. I simply hurt because there is so much to do, so many animals without relief, and resources restrain us all. Time, which "heals all wounds" also shares in the suffering of wounds. Lack of time is my greatest advisory. Lack of time challenges me beyond my senses. It is only my will for a stable and effective mind that stops me short of madness in my struggle for achievement by the mega-second.

Immediate sanctuary needs:

4 more quality hoses - $40.00 ea.
More fencing - 2 $1,500.00 enclosures & $3,800.00 for the entrance and feedlot enclosure
4 more decks - $500.00 ea.
2 more dog quarters = $2,000.00 ea.
2 more shade-clothes with support and hardware - $150.00 ea.
Approx. $1,500.00 for electrical and plumbing needs.
New food bowls

Next project - a BARN