Project Hope Weekly Highlights of May 28, 2003Sorry my report is late. I was on cruelty cases yesterday and didn’t get time to do both.

I am pleased to see the wonderful work all of you are doing. It sounds like the P&G Global Boycott was just one of many bountiful events this week.

Yesterday I revisited a case of multiple horse neglect. The horses were doing great. Sometimes a camera, and a few words can make all of the difference. The property is even looking a tad bit better – lots of toys, old cars & parts, etc. everywhere. The important thing is that where the horses are kept is junk free, and the horses really look great.

The other case involved the neglect of over 20 horses. We hope that technicalities in an arrangement with the “owner” of the horses, and their guardian may have resolved their plight. These horses have been starved. One lies dead. The party that reported their plight has rented land to their neglectful “owner”. She had a contract that if he failed to make payments for the lease of the land, she could keep the horses. The problem is, the contract reached maturity, and wasn’t renewed. She seems to think that she can take possession of the horses. She is working with the Sheriff’s Dept. on filing cruelty charges. The question really is who has standing for guardianship of the horses at this time. This issue often makes such cases that much more difficult to resolve.

At this point we are on standby. I have advised that a vet we know be asked to aid with the case. The vet she asked refused to be involved, and she no longer feels she needs our involvement. We do have a third party alliance that will keep us informed.

The Kirks alerted us to a terrible abandonment case several years ago, and since have sought our help with a neglect case, and a lost dog are donating the proceeds from a High School reunion they just held at their home. They asked guests who wanted to contribute to the party to make their donations payable to Project hope. I plan to see the Kirks tomorrow. The money will aid our Rescue Fund.

The three pups Patricia is bottle-feeding for us are mostly doing well. She just called to ask for veterinary help for Emily. She may have a respiratory problem. I told her to get Emily to the closest vet. I will hear back form Patricia following the exam.

We placed three of Zena’s pups on Sunday, and another pup we just received. It was wonderful, but hard to say good-bye. Zena’s pups are so healthy. Sheila looks like a beaver when she lies down.

Heather is slowly recovering from her horrid plight. Her mange is under control, and she is putting weight on. She is as sweet as can be.

Ol’Red got a home, and he seems to have a fan club. We have had calls to adopt him all week. One caller said that he looked like the dog her husband had, as a child, and he didn’t care how old Ol’Red was, he wanted him.

Rita and I went to the McIngvale’s yesterday and gave our foster pups shots. What a wonderful foster home. Rita and I left wishing we were being fostered. I want to be one of their cats.

We have a number of dogs, like 30 or so in foster care. Yea!

Today Rita and I are trimming nails, and administering heartworm/worm-worm prevention. Of course we are aiding Tina with a portion of the animal care.

I am working several other new cases, and following up on others. Some of our alliances, and allies are molding real progress. There are several communities that are working towards founding shelters, and humane societies.

The weather is beautiful.

Wednesday, May 21 2003

Dear Diary, it’s May 21, 2003

I always thought that having lots of choices was the ideal. Choices gave flavor to life, a sense of freedom from being controlled, even excitement. It didn’t occur to me that one day the many choices I would have to make could mean delaying relief for some animals while helping those in most imminent peril, or that the necessity of communicating their plight, planning, mounting, and executing life saving campaigns, managing rescue funds, physically caring for the rescued, maintaining supplies, and more would be so time sensitive.

We can all give a self-laden doer such good advice on how they should pick and chose to gain the most from their time. It’s funny how when we board their train we see that the train can only go so fast, there are only so many stops, and the passenger, and cargo capacity is finite. The tragedy is that this train means life or death, relief or suffering for all the passengers that get left behind. The cargo area must carry what’s needed to sustain those that live. Would you take your own advice now? Who would you chose to leave behind? Wouldn’t you pack the train to capacity? The key is to keep the train in good repair, or no one can board.

The one factor that totally impacts the effectiveness of any team effort is partnership. The one given is that teams are living organisms, gaining, and shedding cells. While I would want for every volunteer, co-worker, associate, and supporter to never part from our mission, lives change. We’ve experienced friends moving, burning out, responding to family cares, job demands, and sometimes-diminished health, or resources. Now we are blessed with a season of new foster homes, and associates with common goals. How good it feels to be able to share our tasks, and mount our hopes. We haven’t been forced to turn a single puppy away this spring. Even the adult dogs we have rescued under a cloud of concern for where to house them have found haven. We’ve scrambled to the rescue, heated up communication lines, and wedged unanticipated transport trips into already taunt scheduling. It’s been one reward after another.

Addressing cruelty cases has bent our spirits. We can’t be everywhere. Yet, we are employing every means to at least gain some relief for the circumstance.

A Belzona resident called last week to seek help for two pups her neighbors were abusing. The pups were repeatedly struck, deprived of shelter, and apparently food. Thankfully, the Chief of Police, though he has no fondness for animals, acted on my call for his aid. I was able to get the complainant to file charges, and the chief to have the pups impounded. Now I am seeking their release into foster care while awaiting the trail. There is a small window of opportunity to aid the pups in bonding with humans, their only chance for a future.

A number of caring people who gave fine haven to animals have asked for our aid because circumstances have ended their ability to continue their work. We have arranged for a number of abandoned cats and kittens to be cared for. A number of us are networking to find help for the dogs in need. We are all operating to humane caring capacity.

This spring has brought devastating tornados, and rain-bogged fields cannot be planted. Yet, in the midst of others’ trials I have relished the mild temperatures, open door nights, awesome spectacles of lightening storms, and the coziness of escape under a metal roof resounding every raindrop that strikes. Between storms the sun has danced on new green leaves and lush ground cover. Dazzling blossoms, and flowers break my stride as I move between sanctuary care duties. Our fields are a captivating display of purple, yellow, and white topped growth. The tiniest flower impresses the spirit, and mirrors the diversity, and possibilities of life.

Tina is a delight to me. Her personality, and responsiveness to the myriad of tasks, and issues Project Hope meets is a blessing. I knew Tina, but hadn’t seen her in some time. She simply drove by one day and I flagged her sown to see what she was up to. Daneal was moving to Texas, and we were looking for a caregiver. I knew Tina loved animals, was artistic, reliable, and neat. She also catches on quickly, and is innovative. Yes!

Ol’Red was adopted Sunday. The elderly hound with a horribly lame right rear leg, heartworms, and a skeleton of frame, who fearfully and almost phantomlike approached and fled from our haven until I trapped him would have perished had he not found us. Certainly he would have been culled by both hunter and crowded shelter. The now handsomely full-bodied, heartworm-free and delightfully rejuvenated fellow has his own family. After a confusing moment when he struggled to head for our van, he unhesitatingly took position behind the steering wheel of the pick up of one of three sons of his new family. He also has two canine buddies to romp with. He does love to cut up.

I am foster mom to three of eight pups discarded at the Montgomery County dumps. My pals Elaine, and Judy are caring for four of the pups, and Katie lost her struggle for life Thursday morning on our way to Doc’s. I haven’t bottle fed since I lost three kittens a couple of years ago. When Dr. bailey told me I was their only hope, I took the commission. Everyone talks about how demanding bottle- feeding is. Despite more loss of sleep, and the additional time management challenge, I love caring for the little angels. The real stuff is coming. They are beginning to open their eyes, move about, and their anticipation, and demand for feeding is taking on a wrestling theme. They are adorable, plush little balls of fur after I bath and blow-dry them.

Diary, my pleasures are simple, my focus is sure, and I just felt like leaving out all the heavy stuff. I don’t want to look back on the cruelty of the week. I want to remember the sweetness of this spring.