Fosters, Medical Funds and TLC

We are blessed to live in an area that is striving to remove itself from the national perception that Missouri is a haven for puppy mills and ineffective companion animal laws. The southeast Missouri area is home to many truly dedicated facilities that go above the requirements to provide exceptional care to companion animals that are being abandoned or surrendered in record numbers.

One of these facilities is the Humane Socity of Caruthersville, Missouri. When you hear the mention of Caruthersville the first thought is the gambling boat. What so many people do not realize is that Caruthersville is also the home of one of the more outstanding animal shelters in southeast Missouri. The shelter is lead by President Karol Wilcox and Manager Erma Page. These two women are tireless. Their dedication is becoming legendary.

These qualities have never been more apparent than when they braved traffic congestion and seemingly insurmountable odds to bring two abused American Pit Bull Terriers to appear on the KFVS-12 Pet Segment, Friday, July 31. Our subject was to have been the desperated need of medical fund donations and foster homes. KFVS is to be commended for doing everything in their power to insure this message was shared with the public. At the very last minute, Queenie and Boo Boo arrived at the station in time to put a face on the results of human neglect. Putting a face on the issue is the key to our communities realizing just how serious the problem of abuse and neglect are becoming.

In the case of Queenie and Boo Boo, they have endured the added stigma of being born Pit Bull. Our society has become so predjudiced against this breed, that we forget these are living, breathing dogs capable of just as much owner devotion as any dog. Queenie and Boo Boo entered the television station with tails wagging and smiley faces beaming. They also came bearing the fresh wounds inflicted on them by uncaring, cruel owners. They are the proof of the powerful spirit of forgiveness dogs possess.

The point of our message was to beg the public to get involved. We are all experiencing the economic crunch. There is not enough money, too little time, and it is taking an emotional, as well as, physical toll on all of us. The non-profit networks are feeling the effects of recession maybe more than the private sectors. Record numbers of companion animals are flooding into the shelters. The news is full of stories of the vast numbers of dogs being confiscated from horrific lives of torture. This has left our already burdened shelter and rescue network over whelmed even more.

That is why the shelter in Caruthersville was willing to beat the odds and come all the way into Cape Girardeau for a two and a half minute presentation of the severity of the abuse and neglect they see on a daily basis. Your shelters and rescues are in desperate need of medical funds to continue to aleviate the type of suffering of otherwise perfectly adoptable animals such as Queenie and Boo Boo. We are implementing training programs aimed to insure the dogs being overlooked as potential companions are the very best we can offer. With the added medical needs, and the time required to provide top notch training, this has led to an increased need for foster homes capable of lending their homes and their hearts for dogs that have known very little care and love in their lives.

Please take a moment to find out about the shelters and rescue facilities in your area. Contact them and find out how you can help. All the groups have outstanding veterinarian bills. That is just the nature of the work. Donate directly to these accounts or send your donation directly to the facility with a note to earmark the money for medical needs. Fostering is a difficult, yet deeply rewarding job. The more dogs that can be removed from the shelters and rescues, the more dogs that can be saved. Consider opening your home to an animal that just needs a break. In so many cases, these animals are living the best lives they have ever known when they come into the shelters. Give them the chance to know what it is to be a cherished pet.

Lastly, when you get the chance to share a kind word with the people that have made it their life's work to do what is a most difficult job, please do not hesitate to share a simple thank you. Sometimes just hearing that two word phrase can ease the pain the animal advocates face every day.