Mississippi needs a state-of-the-art Animal Rescue Center
By Terry Lynch, Founder of GSDAR
There are tens of thousands of homeless dogs in Mississippi just like these. Unless everyone gives a little to help, they will only continue to suffer and die. Will you help save one of them? Photo courtesy of Greg Jenson/The Clarion-Ledger
Rescue workers raided Raven's Hope on March 10, 2010, arresting Kemper County home owner Valerie Robinson, 56, and charging her with disorderly conduct. Over 100 dogs and cats were seized in the raid which was led by Kemper County Sheriff James Moore and facilitated by United Animal Nations, which assisted with the temporary shelter; the Humane Society of the United States, which aided with securing and transporting the animals, and the Jackson-based Mississippi Animal Rescue League.
The conditions at Raven's Hope were quite deplorable and illustrate what happens when a caring person tries to single handedly rescue homeless animals without having the financial resources or the manpower to deal with the problem. It is estimated that some 73,000 homeless animals are destroyed in shelters every year in Mississippi, plus many more suffer on the streets throughout the state. If it cost between $250 to $1,000 per animal to rescue them, the total needed to fund a state-wide rescue effort would be between $18,250,000 and $73,000,000 annually! This would just begin to deal with the homeless animal problem in Mississippi!
These dogs were rescued from deplorable conditions and represent the ten of thousands of homeless animals throughout Mississippi. Unless everyone helps, such dogs will continue to suffer. Photo courtesy of Greg Jenson/The Clarion-Ledger
What is needed is a state-of-the-art Animal Rescue Center, that is well funded and well staffed with a veterinarian, technicians, trained animal rescue workers, and a large number of volunteer trained to properly care for rescued animals. A well funded Animal Rescue Center would also advertise and promote such programs as spay/neuter, responsible pet ownership, and pet adoption and the humaine treatment of animals. Educational efforts would be coordinated through schools, clubs, groups and organizations as well as through public events sponsored by the host organization. That is exactly what GSDAR is organized to achieve.
Given the enormous number of homeless animals in Mississippi and surrounding states, to even begin to make a dent into this horrific problem is going to cost millions upon millions of dollars. Unfortunately the state and many local municipalities are not properly funding animal rescue shelters, or contributing nothing at all to save the lives of homeless animals. Hence tens of thousands of dogs and cats continue to suffer in Mississippi and surrounding states. Apparently funds for animal rescue is at the bottom of the list, after such things as more money for police, fire departments, or other much needed public services or works projects.
It is a terrible and tragic situation that more money is not being allocated to rescue homeless animals. That is exactly why GSDAR was founded! I want to build a state-of-the-art Animal Rescue Center. But of course I don't have the millions of dollars this would require -- hence it remains but a dream.
Is it unrealistic to have high hopes and to dream the impossible dream? Perhaps, but it is difficult to see so many suffering animals and not do anything. That is why I started Good Shepherd Dog Animal Rescue. I want to at least try to raise awareness and let everyone know that there are thousands of homeless animals, and that only through a well funded effort to which communities and individuals both contribute, can we hope to save the lives of the many suffering homeless animals. For you see, the real crime is to not do anything and just watch as animals suffer and die.
Dogs taking shelter from the rain and cold. This scene is repeated over and over throughout Mississippi. Millions of dollars is needed to help Mississippi's homeless animals. Will you help? Photo courtesy of Greg Jenson/The Clarion-Ledger
I have never met Valerie Robinson, but I imagine she is a woman who loves animals and has too big of a heart to be able to refuse trying to help all the homeless animals. The problems is that with tens of thousands of homeless animals in Mississippi, this is not a problem that can be solved by one person. It is an enormous problem which is going to require a group effort and proper funding. Likely as not, help is going to be needed from people who have more money and who live in other states, as Mississippi simply does not have the financial means, or the will, to solve its homeless animal problem.
If anyone wants to help me, I am working to create a foundation, GSDAR, that can address the homeless animal problem in Mississippi. However, I'm not stupid. I'm not going to run out and round up every homeless animal on the streets and bring them home. What I am going to do is try to raise awareness and the funds and ask everyone who wants to help solve the homeless animal problem in Mississippi to please help.
If I can get $1,000 maybe I can get GSDAR up and running as a tax exempt organization. If I can then raise $10,000 maybe I can put together an organization of concerned citizens to begin working to save the lives of a few homeless animals. If I can raise $100,000 or $200,000 maybe we can a mobile animal hospital to do spay and neutering in rural communities. If I can raise $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 then maybe there will be money to buy some land and begin construction of a state-of-the-art Animal Rescue Center. If I can get $100,000,000, then maybe the dream will become a reality.
This lonely dog is one of the lucky ones. It was rescued and will soon have a forever home. Yet ten of thousands of homeless dogs will not be so lucky, they will be destroyed in shelters or remain on the streets to suffer. Will you do your part to help? Photo courtesy of Greg Jenson/The Clarion-Ledger
That the type of money it is going to take just to start solving the enormous problem which Mississippi faces with respect to homeless animals. But the problem is greater that that, for all the surrounding states have a similar homeless animal problem. And if we include the entire nation the problem is so astronomically large in scope, that it boggles the mind to even try to comprehend it.
Yet all is not lost. Beginnings can be made and little steps can be taken that over time great achievements can be made. But I can not do it alone. I need the help of everyone who cares about homeless animals. So if that applies to you, please show how much you care by taking out your check book and writing a check to GSDAR!
Yes, it is going to take tens of millions of dollars to even begin to solve the homeless animal problem in Mississippi. My plan is to build a state-of-the-art Animal Rescue Center on a large piece of land, which will have a veterinary clinic, heated and air conditioned indoor kennels, and be full staffed with trained professionals. The center have mobile units and will serve to rescue, house and treat homeless animals prior to their adoptions which will be screened to be sure all spayed and neutered animals find good forever homes. Mobile units will enable the whole state and regional area to be serviced and the Animal Rescue Center may then serve as a model for how other centers can be created in other states.
If there are any rich philanthropists who want to help me bring this dream to reality sooner rather than later, your generous contribution would be welcome. I personally plan to never own more than one or two dogs at a time, so no one has to worry about me hoarding animals as has happened to so many other people who have gotten involved with animal rescue beyond their means. But I would get much satisfaction out of being able to build and operate a state-of-the-art Animal Rescue Center and save the lives of thousands upon thousands of homeless animals.
