I planned the last Tail Talk of 2009 to be a celebration of the Tail Talk family, regaling you with stories of our family now that it has grown to three inside cats with three large inside dogs and the challenges and laughter that has ensued over the past months, filling our hearts and lives with such joy that words won’t do these stories justice. But real life has gotten in the way, and the horror that is the Christmas story of the Randolph County Humane Society will be my final article instead. As you know I am constantly begging for people to come forward to donate their time at the shelter to take care of the animals, cleaning cages, walking, feeding, etc. It is an every day task. The volunteers that step up become an important part of the RCHS family. Not because of the work they perform but because they become invested in the animals we all strive to save. We work together to find forever homes for the animals that have no one, the least of them among us that have been abused and mistreated, that are left, unloved, for disease to grow through their body until they are at death’s door. That’s where we find them. We come together as a family to nurse them back to health until they are well enough, both physically and mentally, to be put into a home where they can be your comfort during your darkest days when you need that gentle touch of unconditional love to heal your sagging spirit. The animals that grace our doors have seen much sadness before they see the joy when they meet their forever family. Much care is taken insuring they are put with the right family so they don’t go through more trauma and abuse because pets are not a one size fits all piece of clothing you can pick up at the store and expect to fit as soon as you bring it home, and if the wrong breed is put into the wrong environment it is a recipe for disaster. Home visits are required, along with background checks, before adoptive parents are approved to take their new family member home. Some folks are never approved for adoption because they don’t have an environment in their home that would support and give life to a shelter animal. This weekend the ultimate horror happened at the shelter, the nightmare beyond all others. A member of our family took one of our animals and sold it to a person that was on the “never approved” list for personal gain. It’s one thing when you find out that someone comes into your home and takes from you, but when you find out it is your own family member that not only has so little consideration for your organization but has no true love for the animals in their heart that they would put money over the welfare of an animal, well, the pain we feel is beyond my ability to describe. Those of us associated with the RCHS have cried every day since this deed took place. We all know the suffering these animals endure, and to have one of our own put greed over the safety of a shelter dog is beyond comprehension. It is not something you expect to happen in this place that we are proud to call their soft place to fall, the one place where they no longer have to worry about being abused, starved and neglected, the place where they will be loved until we find that one special person that will be their end-all, be-all. It has been a very long year, but never in my wildest imaginings could I have dreamt this scenario. To all the good people out there that have volunteered over the years, thank you for the help you’ve given. We didn’t know until now that it wasn’t a given that you would be here for your love of the animals, so thank you from the bottom of our heart for all that you’ve done. You are appreciated now more than ever because we are able to see that when you came to us you were a special person that truly has the best interest of the animals in your heart. God bless you. And I pray 2010 will begin with only good things for the animals in our care. I hope you’ll all pray with me also because as you can see, we need your blessings, now more than ever. And never forget, it only through you that we continue to save lives, one by one.
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About animal lovers and shelter dogs
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