All is Well

Hot water came gushing back about 9 o'clock last night. I immediately went to work stomping my carbon footprint into the earth by running a load of laundry, the dishwasher, and taking an unnecessarily long and hot shower.

I've got a lot going on for a Sunday. There's an Animal Protection Society (www.apsrc.org) meeting this afternoon where I'm being voted onto the Board. I'm going to dive in and assume Secretarial responsibilities because, frankly, it seems the perfect match for my anal-retentive tendencies.

I'm VERY excited about the work the group has done and is doing. When they formed a year or so ago, GAS CHAMBERS were still being used to kill animals in our county (that's illegal in most states). The Euthanasia rate was close to 90% for animals at the "shelter" -- the tarp-covered building with cement floors where animals were stuffed in not-so-good conditions.

The euthanasia rate is now down around 58%, a new shelter director just came on staff and--best of all--the county has agreed an animal shelter is desperately needed and has put up $800,000 toward the 1.6 million dollar facility. The new facility will have a spay/neuter operating room, seperate spaces for dogs and cats, dog runs for exercise, a "meet and greet" room where people can spend times with animals they're considering adopting and more.

We have to raise $800,000 which is daunting in a rural county already suffering but I have hope. One couple just donated $50,000 (bless them). I think it's possible to raise the rest. So many people understand the love an animal offers and don't want to see animals suffer. Rather, they want to offer them a chance at a real home with people-parents who love them. I think shelter animals know how lucky they are when they find a a forev er home. Any one who's ever adopted a shelter dog or cat always says the same thing, "He/She is the BEST pet I've ever had."

We'll get there. Even if it's one dollar at a time.