Dear Friends,

It was Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002

It was cold and getting colder. I had done everything I could to beat sundown, but it just wasn't to be. We had received a call just before noon asking for our help with three pitifully neglected horses. This call had followed another asking for aid for a neglected dog.

There were responsibilities to complete at Project Hope, and they couldn't be left undone. Rick and I wrapped things up, and I headed first for Grenada, and then to Panola County. The Grenada Chief of Police was very helpful in looking into the report regarding the small pit bull that was chained, and very thin. His guardian claimed, "The lady next door throws food over the fence and makes him sick." The opposite neighbor confirmed that he fed the dog when the woman was away (including three days last weekend).

I knew the woman next door was not making the dog sick by throwing scraps over the fence; that in deed it was likely her occasional feeding and watering of the dog had helped him survive the summer. However, she was not willing to come forward, and the police officer that accompanied me suggested that the guardian should file trespass charges against the informant if she came into the guardian's yard again - or continued to throw food over the fence.

I knew the real story, but had to take a few steps back. The actions of the informer had actually flawed what was a good chance of removing the dog from the guardian's custody. Intervention on the behalf of a neglected animal, without being carefully thought out, and documented, can prove to greatly impede the legal action that may be necessary to affect change for the animal, or to seize him, or her.

I explained the needs of a dog in this region. The guardian was not knowledgeable of the hazard of heartworms, believed that buying a wormer (any wormer) at the feed store would fatten a dog, etc. I advised that the dog be taken in for heartworm testing, and if negative be put on a prevention regimen.

The officer, and I left. I explained what had taken place, and said we needed to return. He was more than willing to do whatever was needed to aid the dog. I told him I would speak to the complainant and get her cooperation with developing the right circumstance for aiding this dog. (It's been done.)

On the way to the Panola County Sheriff's Dept., just north of Batesville, MS. I had to stop and remove a beagle form I55. I saw him trailing his two buddies onto the Interstate. They just cleared the traffic, but his timing was tragic. Without getting into details, I'll just say that the vehicles that were barreling down on him tried to stop, one even swerved. Poor little guy. At least he didn't suffer. Then I had to stop and chase his buddies about a 1/4 mile to the off ramp. I didn't see them come back down the other side. I could only do what I could. They wouldn't come to me. (That area of the Interstate must have residences, or a hunting club. I had the grief of pulling a couple of dogs off in just three days.

At the Sheriff's Dept. I began to get anxious. Day was rapidly waning, and I needed to get good documentation of the condition of the horses. The deputies were in the midst of a shift change. Fortunately, one of the dispatcher's is an animal person, and so is her deputy husband. She called and asked him to come ahead to aid me. While we waited we spoke of past cases we have aided them with. We also discussed a few animal issues currently facing them.

When Deputy White and I arrived at the property where the horses were reported to be kept, it was dark, cold, and windy. Though it challenged the documentation of their plight, it was just that much more impressive that they were in peril. The gelding and colt were gaunt, and begging for food. The poor mare was absolutely pitiful. She had at least been separated from the gilding, that we learned was bullying her away from what little food they were receiving, and the nursing of the nearly year-old colt who was pulling her further down. Yet, blinded in her right eye, she was stumbling and thrashing about a small area in which a pile of broken pallets, and a tree with low-hanging branches were endangering her. As Chief Deputy Rudd had exclaimed when he called to ask for our help, "It made me just sick."

While interviewing the property owners we learned that the "owner" of the horses had moved to another county, and was having financial problems. It was wonderful to learn that they had the phone number where they believed he was staying.

We returned to the SO and I set out to the Super center in Batesville where I knew I could get my photos developed. They were taken by flashlight, but I hoped that they would turn out. I spent the time waiting picking up supplies I needed.

Back at the SO I gained entrance just in time to learn that the property owner had alerted the man that we were planning on seizing the horses. I guess they were covering their bases, but I was anything but happy about this. No matter, we had a phone too.

We immediately put a call into the man. I instructed him that he was facing a very serious legal issue. I heard him out; his sad reasoning as to why everything in his life was going wrong, how he would have someone there the next day to move and care for the horses (I actually felt sorry for him even though I knew he was largely, if not fully to blame, until he spoke of how much $$$ he had in the horses), and then gave him his choices.

If there was someone he knew that would care for the horses, we were going to meet with them, check out the site where the horses would be rehabilitated, and have authorization for following their progress. Only a breath away was his response that it would be private property and he couldn't expect that of them.

Now we were down to just two choices. seizure & criminal charges, or relinquishment.
I was so relieved when he said, "I guess I need to relinquish them then."

I called Chief Deputy Rudd at home and gave him the good news. We agreed that he would have the horse out of there by noon the next day. Neither of us would allow friends, family, or associates to take the horses in. There should never be any doubt as to why animals are seized.

Friday morning Chief Rudd called with the good news that the horses were being removed. I love Departments like his.

The need for our presence here, and our mission are crystal clear. We simply must have the support to expand, and fine tune.

Past diary entries