February 26, 2003

Dear Diary,

Last Thursday was a touching day. Charlie and I traveled, first to Ripley where Dr. Harkness, of MSU met me to inspect the shelter we closed January 4th. Charlie was one of the dogs we rescued from the shelter. He spent a little over a month at Dr. Marble's in Cleveland, MS for rehabilitation.

Mayor Harrison planned to meet with us, but was delayed by a previous day's journey. He was represented by a gentleman from the Street Department. As sad as it was to revisit the site there was a moment of irony that mused me. The shelter was locked, and the City still hadn't gotten a key to it. My bolt cutters came in handy.

Dr. Harkness was his always-caring self. He found the facility to be the disaster site I believed that he would. His goal when we left was to furnish a report to the City and County to advise them that they need to start fresh. Bring out the bulldozer!

We parted and I went up the road to await the Sanitation Driver who reportedly saw someone put a live puppy in his garbage. Bob and Robin Crumpton, now of Compassion First said they would meet me there. They had some dog food for us, and they too were interested in seeing the offender prosecuted.

It was a long wait for the Sanitation workers. The morning rain probably hampered their work. I was excited when they finally drove up. I had spoken with, and tried to meet up with one of them numerous times.

Someone must have gotten to them. The story was rewritten. Now they didn't see the puppy put in the garbage. They heard it crying when they turned their compacter on. How discouraging.

They came out with the healthy, and clearly happy little Yorky. He was adorable. I had seen him before when I visited the residence to try and catch up with Roger. Bob said that there was at least a happy ending. I was still discouraged. What's to stop this person from other such acts? I hope that my call will.

It was time for Charlie and I to get going. We were on our way to Memphis to meet our new friend Margo, of Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue, TVGRR. With Charlie nearly ready for placement, and our need for space for newly rescued dogs, this was an answer to prayer.

My next stop was Senatobia, MS. I enlisted the aid of a police officer who assisted me in checking on two dogs that were reported to be neglected. He was worried about going into this neighborhood at night, but relieved when he recognized the guardian to be a "decent" person, just impoverished.

One dog was tied to a back yard tree, the other in the front. Neither had houses. They did have shots, were on heartworm prevention, and seemed to be content with their lot in life. I would have had better for them, but their size, age, and adoption prospects were poor. I returned with two doghouses.

Friday I responded to a call regarding two puppies that were tied in the rain. Sure enough they were. A Montgomery County Deputy assisted me with this Winona, MS. case. The girlfriend to the guardian gave us permission to take the pups. The dear officer cleared off his back seat, and mud and all they road with us.

I was concerned that we needed to see a judge for a court order, but the woman was cooperative. Too bad that her boyfriend, the "guardian" of the dogs was a Greenwood, MS. police officer who was willing to enforce his "rights". Sherri said she would take them. They would be easy to place.

Dr. Abernethy did not find the pups to be poor enough condition to press a neglect case. The officer and I figured that the court would likely return the pups if we pursued legal action. I guess in the long run things worked out. The dogs now have doghouses, I instructed the children, and their cousins on the proper care of dogs, and when I was finished they truly seemed to comprehend. They went in the house and got blankets for the pups, washed their bowls and feed them, and related to my comparison of how their health was affected by vaccinations, hygiene, and physical comfort.

I will return. Dad has to show me vaccination records, and proof of worming. Grandpa, who called me to begin with, will inform me if the pups are cared for. He lives next door.

It never ceases to amaze me as to how suddenly, and unexpectedly our plans must change. There's always the "I knew that was coming", and then there's, "Whoa! Where did this come from?" Well, the puppy case was the, "I knew that was coming, and Tuesday was the, "Where did that come from?"

Bob and Robin had to seize three horses, one died. They have also covered a number of other cases that we both got calls on. We are splitting the cases by distance, and our availability.

Tuesday I had to go to the dentist. I just cancelled two appointments for cases that arose, and I just had to go. Directly I set out to check on a dog an Entergy worker reported to be neglected. The case was on my way to Rena Lara where I was to check on 6 horses I found poorly last year.

In Charleston Police Officer Brandon Hodges assisted me with the complaint regarding the dog. Sure enough we drove up to find the emaciated dog standing in the yard. He had been chained without shelter. Mr. Subbs, the "guardian" came out and told me that he adopted his dog from the Grenada Animal Shelter, and that it was poorly when he got it. His account of when he adopted the dog differed from the facts as to how long ago the Entergy man saw the dog.

Officer Hodges informed Subbs that he was going to be cited for not having a rabies tag for the dog. I told him what he had to do to keep the dog, and enforced it by telling him that we would be back unexpectedly. As we left the poor dog tried to get in the van with me, then chased me down the street. I wanted to open the door, but when this dog came with me it would be finished business.

Officer Hodges asked me to spare a little more time to see some issues he was troubled by. After seeing what the City called their "shelter", taking pictures of the pit bulls he has heard are to be fought, discussing how we might handle two local hoarders, and agreeing on working together for protective ordinances, and a small, but humane shelter we parted. It was all I could do to keep from going back for the Boxer. I actually drove most of the way back and had to remind myself how the puppy case went.

The good news: When Officer Hodges returned to serve the citation on Mr. Subbs, he decided that having a dog too much of a hassle. I was off to the horse case, so Officer Hodges is holding Ralph for me. I plan to demonstrate his plight, and my disappointment with the Grenada City Council for procrastinating on implementing our suggestions for the City Shelter's adoption guidelines. Mr. Subbs wasn't even charged an adoption fee, let alone told to neuter Ralph, and get his shots, and worming.

I'm glad that our suit against the City of Charleston was delayed. Two years ago the attorney that helped us when a Charleston police officer was shooting dogs in their own front yards had to pull out because of a conflict of interest with his firm. I was heartsick. We were aiming at federal action for violations of the 14th amendment. It is strange how when you think things have gone badly, they suddenly change. The new Police Chief is asking for our help. Had the lawsuit gone through it might have put us at odds. I had a great talk with him yesterday. Next week we will set a meeting for us to begin working on plans to aid the animals, and people of Charleston.

I went to Clarksdale to the Sheriff's Dept. for assistance with the complaint regarding the horses. I was delighted that the Deputy that was to accompany me was totally awesome on a previous case.

When we arrived my hope for the horses faded. Their "guardian" pursued the officer that he was a caring provider for the horses and his health, and the weather had naturally caused their decline. I could tell the officer was no longer their advocate.

Thankfully, I had contacted Dr. Andrea Marble for her assistance, and she was on her way. Last year Dr. Weatherly had accompanied me and written the report. The horses were moved to another property where they prospered, and it seemed all would be well.

When Dr. Andrea arrived I cautioned her that the officer that the officer had plainly told me that if we planned to take action against the man he might have another heart attack, and as much as he loved animals he wasn't choosing their welfare over the man's.

I took care to share a number of case histories with the officer, hoping to ease his concern for the man, and at the same time instilling an appreciation for how often people use their circumstance to attain pity, and thus an excuse for their failure as guardians.

Dr. Andrea was great. I documented while she explained what needed to happen for the horses welfare. We set the date for our return, and we left the officer content, the man informed, and our bases covered.

We then met down the road to discuss her dismay, and that there would be no second chance should we return and find the horses poorly.

We even drove the levy in search of thin cattle that the man informed us of to divert attention from his negligence. We only found surprising full-bodied steers, calves, and cows. For winter in Mississippi, they were in great shape.

We will return.

There were so many cases this week that I can't even remember them all. I even asked Bob to go all the way to Derma to check on a report that a dog was half dead. I couldn't get there. When he arrived he found a happy healthy dog that simply liked the rain. His guardian graciously invited Bob to look at anything he needed to. She was even kind to the man who called us when Bob invited him over to learn what to look for if he should happen across another situation in question.

In the midst of the activity I put out a news release for a $1,500.00 reward for info leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for poisoning five dogs we seized, and two others that were at the foster home. Only someone directly involved with the seizure could have known where to find the dogs. The man the dogs were seized from made some threatening, and bragging noises that cast suspicion on him, but a case requires evidence beyond reasonable doubt. I guess it depends on who's doing the reasoning. Three of the dogs died.

Rick and I have a humane trap set for an injured feral pup. I need to go check it. I wish it were a sunny day. My heart is cloudy.

Oh yes, I heard back from Euporas' Chief of Police. If his officers were shooting dogs, they aren't now.

I know I will not likely look back on this entry, but should I, I hope that much has changed, and I will have learned to be more concise. Unedited!