MARL E-NEWSLETTER JUNE 2008
On Sunday, June 1, 2008, Billy Barr, our cruelty investigator and the
employee that handles all our livestock came in to feed the horses and
much to his surprise discovered a new addition to the MARL family.
One
of our quarter horses that had been seized for neglect had given birth
during the night. We had two veterinarians tell us that she was not
pregnant. She was so emaciated, I'm not sure where she had the baby
hidden. Well guess what?
Here she is and she is beautiful! Mother and daughter doing very well. This is a first for MARL. We've had puppies and kittens born, but never a foal. Every staff member here has fallen totally in love with both of them.
This comes under the category of "Joys of working at MARL." Need 12% horse feed, Please!
Unless you work or volunteer here at the shelter, it is often hard to comprehend exactly what we do from day to day. So I thought I would give a brief description of two typical days at MARL.
Friday, May 30th: Pearl Police Dept. Animal Control Division seized 10 dogs from an animal hoarder and brought them to the MARL shelter. All dogs caked in dried feces and urine. Also, all had one of the worst flea infestations we had seen on dogs.
Bathing and grooming could not be done before our veterinarian documented conditions for court purposes. To bathe and de-flea all 10, required 2 baths for each dog they were so flea infested. This process took two volunteers and a staff member almost 4 hours. After drying, the dogs were then combed with a flea comb to remove dead fleas from their coats. This was in addition to answering the phones, taking in animals, doing adoptions and cleaning the shelter.
Saturday, May 31st: After receiving 82 animals at the shelter during
the course of the day, at about 6:00 p.m. we received a call for
assistance from the Hinds County Sheriff's Department Animal Control
Unit on a cockfighting ring raid.
Initial reports were maybe as many as
100 birds. After about 13 calls back and forth to work out details, a
MARL staff member met the sheriff's department at the shelter to load
crates for transport. time now is after 7:00 p.m.
After crates were loaded, a MARL employee (who is experienced with game cocks) proceeded to the location in rural Hinds County to offer any assistance he could. By 9:00 p.m. approximately 59 birds had been crated, loaded and taken to the Hinds County Penal Farm for housing. We had no room at the shelter since we were already housing game cocks for another community. Final calls for the night between MARL and Animal Control, about 10:00p.m.
Just because we close the doors at 5:00 p.m. doesn't mean we are through for the day. These two illustrations are not the exception to the rules, they are the rules.
It may not be summer yet, but the heat is here in full force. Please, please do not leave your dog in the car for even a minute without air-conditioning. Another thing, dogs riding in the back of pick-up trucks. I tried to chase down a lady the other day who had about a 4 month old chow in the back of her truck and it was so hot the poor dog was just dancing trying to keep his paws off the hot bed. If it is hot to your touch, it is hot to the dogs paws and they can get serious burns in minutes. I couldn't catch her as I was in the wrong lane, but I worried about that poor puppy all day. If the dog is good enough to ride with you, he/she is good enough to ride up front in the air condition.
Hurricane season just started. Please prepare for your pet now in case of an evacuation. Make sure vaccinations are up to date, and make sure your animal is wearing identification. Pack a small suitcase or box with needed supplies. Bottled water, a 3 day supply of food, bowls, toys and any medicine they might need, plus some bedding or towels. It's also good to pack a tee shirt or something that you have worn with your scent on it for comfort. If you do not have a crate for your pet, please purchase one of the appropriate size with your name and address and the pets name on it. Better be safe than sorry. Katrina's sister could come through tomorrow.
SPECIAL NEEDS FOR THE SHELTER:
• Dry puppy and kitten chow
• Pine Sol
• HP ink cartridge # 74 & 75
• Gas power chain saw with 20 inch bar
• (15) Fortiflex plastic buckets for the horses
• Gas power pole saw with extending pole
• Adams Flea Shampoo
We want each and everyone of you to know how much we appreciate all you do for us and your continued support of MARL. Your donations go a long way towards helping us take care of all the animals entering our shelter. If you would like to donate for the animals you can send your donations to: MARL, 5221 Greenway Drive Ext., Jackson, MS 39204 or go to our web site www.msarl.org and click on the Guidestar button.
Aileene Maldonado
Programs Manager
MARL
5221 Greenway Drive
Jackson, MS 38204
aileenem@netdoor.com
www.msarl.org
Jackson, MS 39209
601-969-1671