Catskill Animal Sanctuary is officially at capacity. Twenty-three horses, eighteen cows, sixteen pigs, fourteen goats, ten sheep, two turkeys and umpteen rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese are as much as we can effectively manage right now. Not only are our costs increasing (as yours are), but we have so very many special needs animals. Blake the one-legged duck. Helen the blind cow. Mirage, Buddy, and Bobo, the blind horses. Policeman, the elderly pig. Beacon, the ancient potbelly. And so on. "The greatest good for the greatest number" is one of our mantras, but that mantra must always respect the bottom line, the physical space, the limitations of our heroic staff and volunteers.
Notice, however, that I used the word "officially." Catskill Animal Sanctuary is OFFICIALLY at capacity.
Unofficially, when a U-Haul pulls in the driveway loaded with furniture for the drivers' move to South Carolina -- and oh, yeah, with two grossly overweight and hyperventilating pigs--and the drivers say to you, "We've been driving all day--no one will take them", and you can see in their eyes that this is their final stop--they won't be searching for more sanctuaries, they won't be making phone calls for help -- then you hear yourself saying, "Yes, we'll take them," while another part of yourself is (at least internally) stamping and swearing "What's the matter with you??!!!"
Welcome, Pinky. Welcome, Miss Piggy.
And when you receive a phone call from Schoharie County about a horse named Mr. Bones, and the voice is ranting that "You're a ****ing sanctuary: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T TAKE THE ****ING HORSE. I'm going to TURN HIM LOOSE...LET THE GODDAMN BUZZARDS GET HIM FOR ALL I ****ING CARE!!!", then you hear yourself saying, "We'll take Mr. Bones," because, after all, people abandon their animals all the time--you know this now, seven years into rescue work--and because in Schoharie County, NO ONE is on the animals' side: not the police, not the district attorney.
Welcome, Mr. Bones. We'll give you a new name and more love than you knew existed.
Yes, Catskill Animal Sanctuary is officially at capacity.
Comments (1)
I read your book, then looked you up on the internet. I've read all your postings with the exception of the slaughter truck one. I read a few words and saw where it was going.. and clicked off. I have been in this animal rescue business for twenty yrs or so and you would think one would become numb to the stories of cruelty. In my case it isn't so, it gets harder and harder to bear. Thats why I quit going to animal rescue sites on the net,couldn't handle the heartbreak. But your blog is different..it's happy endings, with love and a sense of humor. Oh how I love happy endings for animals!!! Your "officially full" blog sure brought a smile to my face, because with 20 goats, 15 cats, and six dogs I'm full to capacity also. All the dogs and cats except for one are strays. All have their shots and have been neutered except for the recent arrival of a pregnant cat who had two new born kittens, Sweet Pea the pup,and a recent stray dog we call Smokey,who has the saddest eyes I've ever seen. But by hook or crook they will be neutered and get their shots, one by one. I have given up buying "nice" clothes and eating out in "nice" restarants, and some few other things. I don't care about those things enough to make them a priority over the animals who need me. I was a vegatarian, then turned vegan a couple of years ago. I turned vegan almost overnight; I wondered if I could live without cheese! But it was so easy..... Thank you for sharing your stories on the net; you have no idea how much it helps me. No one else I know is a vegan, no one else I know is crazy about animals,so I don't feel so alone and foolish when I read your blog.(I am ridiculed a lot especially when it comes to eating meat.)Not a lot of enlightened people around here.. Not even friends and family. Anyway...you have a friend in Tennessee.. Much love and thanks, Sharon
Posted by Sharon Sizemore | July 7, 2008 11:00 PM
Posted on July 7, 2008 23:00