First of all, I want to tell you my story. A “never ending one” for so many of us. You humans have a saying, that it takes a village to raise a child; well it will take most of you to end these kinds of “Never Ending Stories”, for us, your companion pets.
Here it begins: First, let me introduce myself. I am an older lady dog. You could call me a Pitbull-Shar-Pei mix by your standards. For most of my life on this Earth, eleven years, to be exact, I lived in pain and discomfort. I was abandoned one day during the most special holiday, Christmas, in the winter of 2007, at a busy intersection, near a variety store in a small North Country town in NH, USA.
Suddenly I was alone, scared and confused, with all these cars zooming fast all around me. People driving with places to go. I was all-alone. I waited and waited with patience, pacing back and forth. See, we the dogs, are faithful even to those masters and caretakers, by whose hands we suffer, often greatly; from abuse, neglect or abandonment. As the time went by, I realized that nobody was coming back to get me and I was all-alone on Christmas. Finally, a couple of nice people took notice of me and called the local police for help. I could see the shock on everyone’s face, from seeing the horrible condition I was in.
I had suffered for a very long time with skin, ear and eye infections and fleas were biting me everywhere. I itched and hurt all over, most of my waking time and most of my hair was gone. My body was swollen; my skin was red, full of scabs and very painful to any touch. I could barely hear or see.
My life was about to change, but I did not know it yet. Lancaster Humane Society a no-kill animal shelter and safe heaven for abandoned, neglected animals was contacted to take me in. They suggested that I spend some time with one of their nice volunteers to make sure that I did not have any contagious disease. Before I was transferred to the shelter, I visited a doctor for animals.
I was named Precious and I immediately liked my new name. To describe what it seemed like to me, the Lancaster Humane Society was heaven for discarded animals such as myself. I began my long journey of physical and emotional healing. I was loved and loved and loved some more. My medications did some good, but also some bad, since I had to take so many. I was mess for such a long time, that my condition became chronic and thus almost impossible to cure. But, I heard through ” the animal grapevine”, that at this shelter “impossible” is not an answer.
My holistic healing had begun. To heal my spirit I received lots of love and attention. To heal my mind and body I played and ran in our fenced-in yard, played with toys in the shelter office or visited the kitties and horses that happened to be in the residence. In addition I was put on the best organic food (which by the way is being fed to everyone as there are no short cuts here). I also eat sardines for the healing Omega Oils, take daily supplements, natural allergy pills, pro-biotic to help to control yeast infections. Natural cleansers are used to keep my ears better. I am so much better, but not 100% and probably never will be, as I suffered with these conditions for too many years. By the way, the same couple that found me visited the animal shelter, where I still reside, to adopt a small animal. They were happy to see how much better I was doing after my rescue.
Lancaster Humane Society wanted to find out who owned and abandoned me, so they put “ wanted” ad in the area newspapers and on their website. They did find my owner. My story became a court case as well. There was a guilty verdict, but because of the human system of justice, there was an appeal, which one year and half later is STILL PENDING and I have to live at the shelter. I desperately need to be a part of a family, I need to retire, even though I love this place and the people who care for me. I pray every night when I am alone in my kennel, that my court case is resolved soon and then I can hopefully find caring, loving people who will not mind my older age and understand my problems to take me in forever.
While residing at this shelter I have witnessed a lot. I saw, what I consider miracles happened on almost a daily basis. Best Friends of Men coming through the shelter door, so frightened from not knowing their fate. They come and they come, homeless, scared, limping, in pain, hungry, full of nasty parasites or simply discarded, “just not wanted anymore”!
I’ve seen a small kitty found almost frozen to death in the middle of the road, ice cycles hanging from her skinny body, I’ve seen momma cats abandoned pregnant and giving birth to their babies here. I have seen guinea pigs, because the kids did not want them anymore I’ve seen a very old horse (42 years old) being healed and a new one coming in. I’ve seen blind and deaf dogs, dogs with seizures, dogs with head and ear injuries, dogs who look like skeletons, dogs that have nowhere to go.
We animals talked at night, always reassuring the new arrivals about this place. Nothing to be afraid of anymore! Here you will be treated like the most special and important beings. (They even joke that they have imaginary pedestals for you all.) When the time comes and we are healed, new and better homes will be found for all of us. This is my story and I hope for happy ending. Part of the happy ending is the hope I have for this shelter to be here to keep helping us in the future.
PART 2 -
This year the Lancaster Humane Society (founded June 1984) is celebrating 25 years of hard work and dedication helping animals. This is a long time to survive (quarter of a century) for a small no-kill animal shelter and humane society, operating on a hand to mouth budget in a rural area with a poor economy. Throughout all these hardships, including very difficult economical times for the country, personal tragedies, etc. the Lancaster Humane Society never gave up on us! Now I am asking you, please do not give up on them, because that would mean giving up on so many of us!
Many big corporations got bailed out financially so they can stay in business. I think we, the animals. and small struggling shelters that keep helping us, deserve a bailout as well.I am asking you to participate in our 25 Year Anniversary Celebration. If you could donate $25.00, that is ONLY $1,00 per year for all the hard work and dedication on our behalf. By donating $250.00 - that would be $ 10.00 per year, and so on.
The 25th year anniversary celebration gift or bailout can also be made by honoring a person or pet. Donors who donate $250.00 or more can have their beloved pet (or pets) memorialized with a story and photo in our new and upcoming “pet memorials” section on our website. The Lancaster Humane Society is non-profit/ tax-exempt 501-3c organization, so your donations are tax deductable. If you have an e-mail address to share with us, please do so, and you will receive regular updates and animal’s stories from us.
Thank you in advance...
