News Archives: April 2002 News: 2002-04-01
Please Note: Information in this archived article may no longer be accurate.
April 2002HSPC APRIL NEWS
Spring is an exciting and challenging season at HSPC. We are anticipating new opportunities for growth and public awareness. We believe these are the keys to saving as many homeless, abused, neglected and injured animals as possible. We remain full, full and then full.... but we have many new projects in the works. Most of these have been in process for months, but we are proud to announce some new initiatives!
1. We have been funded for a wonderful grant for expanding our spay/neuter program for companion animals.
2. We are forming a Foundation Board, which will work to provide funding for a secure future for this agency.
3. We will be opening a Saturday satellite site at University Mall that will be opening in May!
4. We are currently working on concepts for our junior volunteer program and have a teamleader for this effort!
5. We are working more with other animal groups to provide comprehensive coverage in Pulaski County. We have taken abuse calls from Care and Helping Hands and worked on the Mena dogs collector case with Care. We hope to continue to build animal coalitions in the future.
Whew!
We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped us financially when our donations were down. We also thank the Osborne Family for joining our efforts by making a very generous donation that will help our animals for years to come. It is the dedication and support of all of you that enables HSPC to provide a place of compassion and healing for the homeless and abused animals in our care.
With your continued support, we will be able to fulfill our commitment to provide a loving refuge for our precious animals until they have a permanent home.
Animal update for May: Recently there have been questions about two animals that HSPC has in our care. One little white dog which was found rambling in Otter Creek. Severly matted and underweight this little dog was rescued and brought to the shelter. Upon first glance we feared the worst but she has proven to be healthy, just old. Some would say we will never find a home for her, but they are wrong. We have many folks who are willing and provide homes for elderly animals.
It is a shame that our society finds the young animals so enticing, but throws away the elderly like yesterday's garbage. The animals have given their lifetimes to serve us, we owe them our best when they become older. We could not help little dogs like this without the help of our warm hearts. Fortunately a wonderful donor, who we rely on often, has paid for this little dog's care!
And now for you cat lovers, let us introduce Sloppy Joe. It's a story that will warm your heart! A gray cat, who was promptly named Gray came to HSPC on an injury call. No one knows for sure what happened whether it was a car or a dog or another type of trauma, but he had a bad eye and both jaws were dislocated. We'd previously had a cat named Jeremy who had similar though more serious jaw injuries when he was attacked by a dog. Though he needed some TLC and time to heal, Jeremy surprised us all by crunching dry food by the time he was adopted!
So we knew this kitty had a good chance.
Gray had surgery to remove the bad eye and repair the jaws. After a little while being hand fed, he was able to eat just fine, but his eating was so messy that the clinic staff named him Sloppy Joe. Sloppy Joe has continued to improve since his surgery and has been eating quite well, though his new name continues to be appropriate! Recently, the vet technician who cared for him after his surgery decided that she missed him so much, she wanted to adopt him. We are all delighted that he has a great new home and is doing well!
Saving Sloppy Joe was possible because of our emergency medical fund. While generous donors have provided us contributions to cover the cost of Sloppy Joe's surgery and treatment, many other animals need similar help. Some might think these injured animals should be destroyed or claim they are not adoptable, but those people have not seen the incredible will to live that is so often in the eyes of an injured animals; nor have they seen the exuberance when healing animals find loving families. A second chance. Isn't that what HSPC is all about?
| -Cindy Alberding, calberding@aol.com |