Doll Stanley

Hi Everyone,

This is supposed to be a weekly report, but it is more like what happened this morning. By the time a week has passed and I have communicated with you I have to look in the mirror to remember if I ate, let alone what else went on.

Last week was hectic. We had to prepare for PetSmart's adoptathon which was this weekend. There were 18 calls on cruelty on Friday alone. My hair is really gray.

Friday we went to Jackson for the first day of the adoptathon. We placed a kitten and Adam, the German Shepherd pup that was abandoned under a bridge with his 8 siblings.

Saturday is my Sabbath and I had a cruelty case to address, plus a volunteer to pick up to help get to PetSmart for Sunday's adoptathon. Rita spent the night in our office, and stayed again last night. I am grateful. This morning has been crazy. We placed 9 of our friends in homes this weekend.

Highlights of this morning:

Obviously the care of our sanctuary friends.

A dog was shot in Nettleton, MS., and it was also reported that the police are still shooting stray dogs. I addressed the shooting incident with the wife of the shooter, and will take up the City's policy with them. State law requires that stray dogs (with, or without a collar) be held for 5 days before they may be killed.

The Federal Bills to prohibit the interstate transport of cocks for fighting
is still a very alive issue with us. As you know Senator Trent Lott was the Majority Leader of the US Senate. Last year he blocked the bill in committee. His office states that this was due to opposition from other
Senators. Our knowledge is that he sent letters to MS. residents claiming, "The gamecock industry is significant to the livelihood of many Mississippians." This is interesting in light of the fact that it is illegal to fight cocks here, and cockfighting is highly opposed. Anyway I am working with HSUS to pressure Lott, and now Senate Majority Leader, Senator Daschle to see that S345 is supported. I also contacted Rep. Bennie Thompson's office for full support of HR1135, the House version of the bill.

A Grenada County rottweiller was reported to be confined without food, or water. Working on that.

The Florida office of HSUS contacted me regarding a complaint they received on a puppymill that I am very familiar with. We will see what can be done.

Law enforcement and the justice department of the county back the owner. We had CH 5 from Memphis in the facility a while back. It aired on an exposé that Marshall and I were interviewed on. There will not be an easy solution to this case. The complainants never follow through with their affidavits, and the video the TV station took did not capture the reported violations.

Azura and Katrina flew to CA last Thursday. Judy Jones adopted Katrina, and Christine Husk adopted Azura. Joy, one of the dogs we recently rescued in Union. MS. is under our care for mange, and needs to have the bone fragment remaining on her shoulder removed. She had her leg somehow ripped off. She will then join Azura and Christine and her husband and boys.

I spoke with Doc and Dr. Ann this morning about ongoing, and needed treatment for some of our animals. Joy will have her surgery tomorrow.

A Courtland, MS case I went out on last Monday may be resolved. A vet has taken the involved horses under care, and they are being sold. We will follow through.

I contacted the Commercial Dispatch, a Columbus, MS. paper, for a copy of an article regarding the appeal of two puppymilll operators. They pled guilty to the neglect of numerous animals, but now are appealing the case. What a joke! During preparation for filing a complaint to seize the animals, and prosecute the operators, the Columbus Humane Society was in touch with us because we have had similar experiences. They did an awesome job.

Neighbors of a Batesville, MS. person keeping a "wolf-hybrid" enclosed without shade, or shelter called for help for the dog. I called the Police Department for action yesterday, but a neighbor called this morning to say nothing had been done. I have contacted the Dept. again and asked for the ACO to act immediately. I will follow through.

I contacted State Rep. Steve Holland for aid with a matter we are working on. He is on vacation until Wednesday. I will contact his office again then.

A Carroll County, MS. (our county) business woman called to report the killing of a puppy. A man who was at her business yesterday brutally killed a puppy in front of witnesses. They said the man, who was apparently intoxicated, lured the puppy to him and then beat it with a tire iron and snapped its neck. The business woman is documenting the incident and collecting information on the witnesses for me. The Sheriff's Dept. is going out to take photos, and we will file a criminal complaint.

A woman just called inquiring about adopting a pup. Her cousin adopted one of the dogs we rescued from Union, Ms.

It is now just after noon. There is much to be done, and I guess this gives you a grasp of why we are so often difficult to communicate with. True we have a mission, an agenda, but we also are dedicated to addressing the needs of the animals which may be presented at any moment.