Ike's Animal Victims Still Need Your Help!

I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to Anahuac, TX. I spent about $500 (all donated by 2 people, much more by 1 than another), drove about 600 miles, delivered I don't know how many hundreds of pounds of pet food & supplies, and transported 5 dogs -- all in just over 48 hours.

Those dogs could've been put to death. Instead, they will be spayed/neutered, nurtured, and adopted into carefully screened & approved homes, only when they are deemed ready. One poor momma dog had teets that literally dragged the ground. It was all she could do not to step on 'em with her back paws :( They sure were happy doggies. It was almost like they knew they were on a journey to a new life. That's why transporting is so rewarding, worth every mile it puts on a vehicle (and a rear-end)!!! Of course, one pupper wanted to listen to sports talk radio, one wanted the All Elvis station, and the others just couldn't decide. I told them that if they didn't settle down, I'd sing. That threat worked for a while. The rest of the afternoon, we were flippin' stations.

The supplies that were delivered to Anahuac are available at the vet clinic, for distribution to the people in the community who are in need. Dr. Whitten is a true animal angel. She had been providing supplies at her own expense before the supplies were delivered. Dr. Whitten has also been providing care to rescued or abandoned animals, at her own expense, without having to be asked, since day one.

I may be making another trip soon, this time to Beaumont, if they do not get a shipment very shortly. Houston may be returning to normal, with 99.9% of power restored and supplies being trucked in daily. Galveston has a lot further to go, but is also getting supplies on a regular basis; however, the smaller communities are desperately waiting for the most basic supplies. It was next to impossible just to find stainless steel dog & cat bowls in various sizes! Things that we take for granted, that we can pick up on a run to WalMart (well, our little Wally World in da' boonies only had 3 cat-sized ones), are a commodity there.

The 5 dogs from HS of SE TX are now safe in the arms of rescue in the TX Hill Country, on their way to a wonderful new life, never to produce for another backyard breeder! WOOHOO!!!!

There are still links here in the blog for the different animal-related non-profits that could use your help. Now that I've been there, I'd like to put in a plug for one :) I would like to encourage donations for the Humane Society of Southeast Texas. Their website appears to be down right now, but I'm sure it's a glitch because I've been in there quite a bit. I'll update as soon as it's available. This doesn't mean I don't think the others are worthy causes!! I'm not discouraging donations to any of them. I'm just putting it out there, saying I have seen the need, I've met in person a wonderful, wonderful woman named Ann whose character was immediately apparent. The bottom line is that there are animals in need.

Dr. Whitten is someone else whom I'd trust with my animals' lives and with my last dime. She is not a non-profit, but she has given from her own pocket and the bottom of her heart. I can't begin to tell you all she's done. She loves not only animals, but her community. I truly feel like I'm a better person just for having met her and her staff. I will never be able to pass through there on one of my many trips to Louisiana without stopping by just to say hello and thank you. There aren't enough people in the world like Dr. Whitten.

I'm too tired to be too organized or do much photo editing, so here's all ya' get. I didn't photograph damage, I would've been too ashamed to have anyone see me taking those pictures & I just didn't think it was necessary. I wanted the happy shots. I'm a picture freak, but I actually didn't take many because everyone down there really is so dang busy. The lady in the Humane Society shirt is from Beaumont, the HS of SE TX. Her name is Ann (great name! lol). As busy as she is, she brought the 5 dogs from Beaumont to cut my drive down a bit. Dr. Whitten is pictured with her staff and Pitty, a Staffordshire Terrier that she and my friend Christine rescued after Ike. Pitty is being treated for what was a bad skin infection, starvation, and heart worms. She is on the mend and will go to rescue when she is well enough. She has beautiful hazel eyes and a gentle, wounded soul yearning to heal. There's a bit of mischief in those hazel eyes!