IDA Blog

Hope Animal Sanctuary

The Hope Animal Sanctuary (IDA-HAS) Team has spent the past two months zealously rescuing and caring for abused and abandoned animals in our region.  Celeste, a precious horse for whom the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department solicited help, was unbelievably emaciated when we brought her home.  Her keepers readily surrendered her to our custody when they realized the seriousness of our joint effort.

A Grenada breeder sought out HAS for help placing six poodles last summer.  The breeder said she and her family were no longer breeding.  Her husband was very ill and her adult sons who lived at home were both unable to care for the dogs.  One son suffered a terminal condition and the other Down syndrome.  Her sister feared she might have become a hoarder, as it had been five years since she’d been invited into the home.

The breeder called again and asked that we place ten dogs for her, and that she’d like help with the remaining ten when she was able to get her ailing family use to the idea of letting go of their way of life.  But before the woman called again her husband had died and she was admitted to the hospital.  Another son outside the home stepped in to aid his brothers and discovered there were 23 poodles stored in small cages, 2 to 3 in each, suffering in their own filth.

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The plight of horses is worsening. Some blame the economy; others say banning horse slaughter in the U.S. meant “owners” who couldn’t sell their horses let them starve. I say it’s both selfishness and ignorance. Horses are being overbred just like other companion animals. Those who think they can make a buck breed and then find out there are no buyers, at least at the prices they want, and they don’t want to feed what they can’t make money off of and certainly don’t want to give away what they might someday sell. The glut of horses means you can buy a horse for $50, or get one from someone who wants to “unload.”  It’s cool to have a horse and to tell folks you have a horse. Horses are like “trophy brides”: they express status, and, of course, there are some who actually think they’ll ride. The question is how many of these people are caught up in a whim with no thought of how to actually care for horses.

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Thanks to Mississippi State University’s (MSU) student surgery team, Hope Animal Sanctuary was able to spay/neuter 4 cats and 27 dogs this week.  Deedra and Bryce Booker brought the dogs they’re fostering for us , Cindy Shaw brought the dogs Debbie Young is caring for, Arlin Arco brought the Winona Animal Shelter dogs we could fit on the list and there were 6 others, besides a few at the sanctuary.  It’s fantastic when so many people pitch in on surgery day.  Mike Martin came up just to help.  It was a long drive for him.  He and Lisa are devoted and appreciated volunteers.

Phoenicia and her pups were spayed yesterday.  They were abandoned in Montgomery County, Mississippi.  Little Bit too was found abandoned on the road.  Ronnie and Raymond were discovered with their 4 sisters on HWY 82.  The wonderful thing is the people who found them were willing to bring them in to IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary. IDA has done what we came to Mississippi to do – set up an oasis of hope for animals in one of the poorest states in the country.

My friend Theresa alerted me to a Wyatte, Miss. case of a 86 year-old man who lives in a gutted school bus.  John is a squatter who’s really fortunate that the man who owns the property feels compassion for him.  Theresa helps him and has helped the hoard of dogs he kept.  You may remember we took 19 pups our first 2 visits.  Sadly many of the pups suffered from distemper and didn’t make it.

Monday evening Theresa brought John’s remaining 3 female adults to be spayed. I was absolutely heartsick to think they would go back. They were covered in ticks and their feces was disgusting and parasite ridden.  We made a deal Theresa could take Daisy back but she would see that she gets all the preventive medicines she needs. Daisy is fond of John and sleeps with him in the school bus.

I was relieved that we would keep Iris and Rosie and Theresa would insure that Daisy was cared for. That was a deal I could live with. Iris and Rosie loved sleeping in with the sanctuary’s other dogs last night. They think this new life is pretty cool.

A huge thanks to MSU’s Dr. Busby and his team.  Without their help we wouldn’t be able to help all the animals we rescue and care for.

Please click here to donate directly to Hope Animal Sanctuary. The “double your donation” offer is still good – a very generous IDA supporter will match any donation you make through this link.

(See Part Two from yesterday for introduction to the folks mentioned below!)

Early Monday morning we began loading the animals for transport to our adoption partners. Arlin and Mr. Weed, a member of Winona Animal Advocacy Group (WAAG), brought their dogs, Mike came back with the dogs they fostered and helped load and check supplies for the journey. Deedra and Brice, her son, arrived with their fosters and others followed. We rearranged some crates, added 2 large crates and we were ready to head for Vet. Assoc. We had 4 dogs waiting for us there and Deedra’s friend, Patricia and her darling daughter, Griffe, were waiting with the pups they fostered.

Weather has been a huge issue this winter. We’ve had 6 snows here. Keep this in mind.

We were well into Oklahoma when we needed to stop. We spotted a large dog in the parking lot, emaciated and looking for food. She’d had many pups but wasn’t nursing. We set out to help her. She clearly wanted help, but just wasn’t sure of our reaching hands. I ran back to get a leash while Sarah kept up with her. It took about an hour, but we had Esmeralda safely on board. What a dog. She was soooo sweet and easy-going. She joined our little group we allowed to bed down between the seats. Elizabeth was our baby for several years. Cupcake is so well behaved and doesn’t like being crated. Their pleasure and calm demeanor actually help us make the grueling 24 hour trip.

There’s a reason I mentioned the weather. Before we left Oklahoma, the storm due in the next day was on us. We were equipped with backup heat and supplies should we have to stop, but surgeries were scheduled at Every Creature Counts (ECC) and holding over with the dogs in crates wasn’t ideal. We pressed on. Snow from Oklahoma to Ft. Lupton. You don’t know what white knuckles are until you’ve seen mine baring down on the wheel and using my years of experience to keep us safe.  I drove a box truck for 11 years when I was a teamster. I’m more at home in a truck than a car. There were few souls on the interstates, mostly UPS and Fed Ex.

When we arrived, the back door to ECC never looked so good. There are times when reason and determination forge events that faint hearts would shy from, some folks would question the wisdom of, and only those participating can truly say it was the right move. Our friends and our determination, and your donations to In Defense of Animals (IDA), made this trip possible. WAAG members, ECC, and friends donated the cost of the transport and preparation. IDA’s Eric Phelps and Matt Rossell organized and participated in a 100 mile bike ride that raised money that built us a stable for our blind and aged horses, their new feeder, and this transport. Funds not spent will carry our next transport. Thanks to everyone who helped. By the way, the dog who was banned from San Mateo, California for “herding joggers” has been adopted by Deedra and Kirk.

We completed our first transport of the new year.  At this moment I can’t recall a more grueling test of my wits, patience, and courage.

The day we returned from our Dec. 15^th transport, 19 puppies showed up as we were unloading crates, towels, and supplies. No problem, Lisa and Mike Martin said yes to one family of pups.  Deedra and Kirk Bookout, were just a phone call away. Challenge handled.  Then there were the hoarder Theresa’s dogs and the stray Enid dogs I told you about yesterday, and Ollie, abandoned at our interstate exit. I rescued Norwood on the side of Hwy 7 as I headed for Yalobusha County to aid with dogs whose guardian passed, and the list goes on. Hope Animal Sanctuary (HAS) and our foster guardians were filled to capacity. There’s nothing new about this, but it just shows how vital the transports are. The new ACO for the city of Winona is awesome and the WAAG team, Winona Animal Advocacy Group, got busy preparing dogs for transport.

PetSmart’s Valentine Adoptathon is a wonderful opportunity for adoptions. We worry that some adoptions are impulsive, but our adoption partner in Colorado, Every Creature Counts, doesn’t fold to impulse adoptions. Our goal was to get 70 dogs to ECC in time for the Adoptathon.

Fewer cats are adopted. Though every cat is tested before being introduced to our cattery, one came in negative for FIV and then became ill and tested positive, along with several other cats.  A mother cat test positive for AIDS, and a cat we’d had for years became ill with FIP.

We decided the cats with us deserve to live their lives. If they become ill, we’ll address their illness, but we do not place for adoption cats who have been exposed to incurable disease, and we do not euthanize cats who are still enjoying their lives. Some spend the rest of their lives with us, some are placed in foster care until we can place them for adoption.

As transport time approached we were faced with seemingly insurmountable hurdles. MSU’s “Fix ‘em” team would not be able to make their appointed surgery day. The mobile clinic generator went out. Rescue friends had steadily aided animals they hoped would make the transport. Half the animals for transport hadn’t had surgeries and the shots and heartworm tests would have to be arranged. Money was now an addition obstacle.

Never fear, Hope Animal Sanctuary is here – along with a team of awesome friends. Debbie Young took our Polly under wing and had her heartworm treatment performed. Our foster guardians and Arlin, our ace ACO in Winona, took dogs for rabies and heartworm tests. Dr. Tim Lloyd of Cleveland, Miss. neutered 10 males for us and gave rabies and heartworm tests.  And Doc came out to help us, saving us the transport of animals to Veterinary Associates.

The day before, I went to Kenner, LA to pick up Velvet, a dog banned from a California county for herding joggers. On the way back I picked up 2 dogs from another group who would join the transport, and got back after midnight.  I took care of our older, younger, and challenged dogs, and hit the sack.

Dr. Tim is fantastic. Surgeries and paperwork were done by 1:00. I headed for Winona, and Arlin unloaded our precious dogs. I headed for supplies from our feed store, came back, unloaded, headed for general supplies and dog food, came back and unloaded, took care of the dogs back at HAS, did laundry, paperwork, and computer work. Simple days here are rare.

Transport day neared. The documentation of the animals was put together by each foster guardian and Debbie and Deedra were inputting the data onto our Petpoint site – right up to departure. Yes, there are always last minute changes. There were several adoptions, a couple of dogs just weren’t ready, other friends heard about the transport, and the most challenging factor was carting that many animals humanely. This transport we had so many large and adult dogs going we had to insist that everyone come to the sanctuary to load. I’d gotten the transport truck Friday and Mike and Lisa came Sunday to insulate it, load the crates, insert bedding, and sticker the crates for identifying occupants Monday morning.

Tune in tomorrow to read the rest of the story!

We apologize for the no-news span – there was plenty going on here in Mississippi. A quick recap does little justice to the events of the past 6 weeks, but I’ll fill you in a bit and then get into this week’s news.

So much has happened. Horses Eric and Roscoe were adopted into a wonderful family with lots of animal smarts and compassion. Eric and his 3 companion horses were rescued from a Yalobusha County man who claimed to feed them well with his lawn trimmings. Eric’s companions were adopted soon after their recovery. Eric required a home with greater understanding for his mistrust of humans. Roscoe too was rescued from neglect and indifference, thin with overgrown hoofs and a dull, unhealthy coat.

Six of our emus were adopted by a wonderful man and his family who love to care for and watch over animals. Over the years this man has reported multiple cruelty cases to us and we’ve had the opportunity to know him and become acquainted with his care for his animals.

Theresa, the hoarder who we’ve seized animals from twice before, was back at it. The blessing was there were only 7 dogs with her this time. We seized 28 dogs from her previously in Yalobusha County. We’re confident that this will be our last dealings with Theresa as a hoarder.  Tallahatchie County Deputy Patrick Tribble, who aided us with this seizure, is well-respected and people in the area have vowed to inform him if Theresa gets even one more dog. He is The Man when it comes to animal issues. In December, we placed for adoption nine puppies he rescued and Maury, the Chihuahua.

An Enid, Mississippi family began feeding 6 dogs who wandered to their neighborhood. The dogs took up on the family’s porch furniture for warmth. Nervous neighbors talked of shooting the dogs, fearing posed a danger. We got a call and rescued them. Five were already transported for adoption and Sugar Bear will be heartworm treated next week. Gay and Larry Evaldi, our treasured friends who moved from here to Florida, have paid for her treatment. They fostered or adopted 4 of our dogs, and she aided with animal care and cruelty cases while he babysat and rushed to our aid when needed.

We were so busy during our blog absence that the summary seems trite, but I hit on some important things. Tune in tomorrow for details on our first adoption transport of the year.

Hope Animal Sanctuary's Doll Stanley at work giving these guys another chance.

It’s so exciting to share the news of the transport finale. Seventy dogs and a cat arrived at our friends at Every Creature Counts in Ft. Lupton, Colo. Over the past year, ECC received nearly a thousand animals from us. Wow! A thousand animals who didn’t die on roads, in the woods, in dismal backyards, in shelters.

I’d like to say that without Every Creature Counts placing these animals would be nearly impossible. Without MSU’s student surgery program the cost of providing spays and neuters would break us. Without Debbie Young, Sheri Norquist, and Loretta Ford I would have been up all night preparing paperwork for the transport, and then ECC would still have had to put the data in its PetPoint system.

Lisa and Mike Martin not only fostered pups and bottle-fed them for us, they made the journey with me. Mike insulates and readies our rental truck for the trips and then he and Lisa put the crates on and tag them. The morning of the transport Mike, Lisa, and our Hope Animal Sanctuary Team load our precious animals.

On this transport many of the animals were fostered by Deedra Booker and Loretta Ford, who performed miracles, even bringing their fosters for S/N day and then making the trip to pick them up.

Sherri Norquist’s niece, Rebecca, cared for Sugar and Lady Bug (from the Wyatte hoarding case) up until they were altered. Loretta then added them to her fostered babies to make it easier for us to hook up on transport day.

Fay Welch of the Winona Animal Advocacy Group made certain the dogs rescued from the Winona Pound were cared for until we got them to our sanctuary for S/N day and she kept up with their shots, worming, among other necessities. Melissa Weed Greenlee, of WAAG, aided with transport, and her mother and the Mortimer’s aided with the cost of caring for and moving the dogs. The Weeds have sponsored the heartworm treatment of Speck, who will very likely be on our next transport.

Dr. Abernethy, Dr. Reece, and staff (of Veterinary Associates) assisted with the care of many of the animals as they recovered from the neglect and abuse they experienced before we rescued them. A few of the dogs came from the Winona Pound, others from the Winona region so they wouldn’t end up at there. We worked with the Bolivar County/Cleveland Animal Shelter to take 12 of its dogs, along with the four puppies from a rescuer from Carthage, four from a woman in Kilmichael, Miss., and five abandoned pups from the amazing Anita Tribble, of Yalobusha County, who found these sweet babies on her property. Hope Animal Sanctuary rescued all the other dogs we transported from the hoarding case in Wyatte, Miss., and the ten puppies and Maury, a chihuahua/miniature pinscher, who were saved after a Tallahatchie County Supervisor packed up and moved on, deserting them. (I sobbed when I left Maury at ECC. He was my constant companion after I saved him, begging me to get him away from the puppies who adored him.) Even William of HAS brought four puppies—Rita, Katlin, Antoinette, and Lindy—who were dumped at his house in Daiden, Miss. We’re still working the Wyatte hoarding case, where the remaining animals have a big barn to sleep in and a lovely Tate County resident, Tricia, who is feeding and overseeing them until we can fit them into our program.

One of our passengers, Boy, a rottweiler mix, was a favorite of the man squatting in the school bus (the story was covered previously on our blogs about the hoarder in his eighties who had at least 30 dogs where he lived in community of Wyatte, Miss.). While I was working the case, the hoarder refused to allow me to get Boy neutered (he said it wasn’t natural), and I discovered that Boy had an ear infection, so I packed him up and drove him away as the man was screaming at me. I knew at that moment I was not bringing him back, even temporarily, where he wouldn’t get the care he needed. The other dogs had been fighting amongst themselves, and, Boy, smaller than the rest, was terrified, and I would not have him ruined for life. He’s gone to Every Creature Counts, where on adoption day, someone will meet him and determine that this endearing, shy young man deserves a guardian to protect him forever.

Hats off to the wonderful people who joined us in saving these extraordinary individuals—abandoned, hurting, in need—and to all of you who have participated in sponsoring our efforts in making these fantastic events a reality.

Stayed tuned: In just a few days you’ll hear more about the activities at Hope Animal Sanctuary.

Please support our Animal Rescue Fund – So next year we can save even more!

On Thursday, November 18, Hope Animal Sanctuary Director Doll Stanley responded to a plea for help from Theresa, a Wyatt, Mississippi resident. Theresa was seeking help for an 86 year old neighbor, John, who had several momma dogs and litters of puppies. John lives in the rusted-out shell of an old school bus and is barely able to take care of himself, let alone his ever-expanding pack of dogs, so experienced help was desperately needed.

Doll met Theresa and her son at John’s property that afternoon. Theresa and her son had been helping to feed and care for both the dogs and John. They gave Doll the lay of the property and filled her in on the personality traits of each dog and pup. As this was happening, John arrived. He said he was happy for the help, but didn’t believe in spaying/neutering animals – that it was “unnatural.” Clearly in over his head because of this belief, he relented after speaking with Doll and agreed to let us spay/neuter all the adults and take all the pups for adoption.

Doll left with ten puppies initially and went back a few days later for another litter of three. All of these puppies will be altered by Mississippi State University’s mobile vet team in the coming weeks, then transported to our adoption partners, Every Creature Counts, in Denver for adoption.

Hope Animal Sanctuary Director Doll Stanley and volunteer Lisa Martin departed the sanctuary this past Sunday afternoon and proceeded to pick up animals from all over northern Mississippi. In addition to the animals on this transport from Hope Animal Sanctuary and the Winona, Mississippi city shelter, animals were pulled from shelters and individual rescuers from Carthage, Clarksdale, Cleveland and Indianola. The final tally of animals on this transport was a mind-blowing 85 dogs and 11 cats. By far our biggest and most ambitious transport to date.

Everything went smoothly, including the unexpected roadside rescue of a dog found wandering alongside a busy highway in north Mississippi. Delta Dawn, as she’s now named, joined the transport and was welcomed with open arms by the good folks at Every Creature Counts. Many of the animals from this transport will be adopted this weekend at a adoption events held in and around the Denver area.

We’re so grateful to our rescue partners, Every Creature Counts, for their continued support in helping us find homes for dogs and cats who otherwise would have no hope of finding a good home. We want to thank Dr. Phil Bushby and his team from Mississippi State University’s vet program who spayed/neutered most of the animals on this transport. Finally, thanks to HAS volunteers Debbie Young and Sherri Norquist for hours of data entry work that made this transport go so smoothly.

This is Nicholas - One of Eric's new friends!

I spent nearly the entire month of October in Mississippi filling in for Doll at Hope Animal Sanctuary (HAS). Doll was on much deserved and much needed vacation and they needed an extra pair of hands, so I offered to help. This was not my first time at the Sanctuary, I’ve been down several times and spent almost three months there at the end of 2007.

I was grateful on this trip to be joined by my nephew, Zach, who helped me immensely with the day-to-day operations and afforded me the ability to give the three employees, William, Lisa and Elizabeth, some much needed extra time off. I was impressed with the efforts of this team and I admire very much the work they do for animals, both in and out of the Sanctuary.

To me, there is no better way to remind yourself of what truly matters than working hands-on with animals. Animals who in most instances are coming from situations of abuse, neglect and violence that most of us cannot imagine. Had a rough day at the office? At least no one dumped you and your siblings along 70 mile per hour Interstate 55, like what happened to a group of weeks-old puppies who were recently through the Sanctuary – all had been hit by cars and despite receiving immediate medical care, none survived their injuries. Or Nicholas, a dog I took in while I was there. Nicholas had finally broken through the collar that chained him likely in someone’s backyard. More a lawn ornament than and living, breathing, feeling animal, Nicholas’ collar had become partially embedded in his neck, undoubtedly bringing him agony for only he knows how long.

These are just a couple of recent stories from Hope Animal Sanctuary. Sadly, not every story is a victory, but had HAS not been there to ease the suffering of animals who would ultimately succumbed to their injuries, they would have had to suffer for much longer. And had HAS not been there to rescue the ones who survived and thrived, they never would have gotten out of their hopeless situations.