Contents:
Ten Commandments of a Responsible Pet Owner
Kallie
Letters to the Editor
President's Message
Press Release
HS Members Speak at Schools
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas
When I first laid eyes on you, you couldn't hold up your head. A series of kitten
dilemmas had left you nearly dead.
In the animal control cage where you waited out your fate, You didn't clean
yourself or eat, as if you knew it were too late.
Other kittens in the cage with you jumped around and meowed out loud, You were
the only silent one, curled up, in the whole crowd.
As you barely lifted your head up, one of your eyes was matted shut. My heart
right then was deeply touched, had that feeling in my gut.
I couldn't turn away from you, as much trouble as I'd get in, The minute I brought
you home with me, skating on ice that I'd made thin.
For I'd brought so many home with me, just as precious as are you. I follow
the voice within my heart, what else can this girl do?
You didn't have leukemia, so we were off to a very good start, We would do what
we could for you, and you would do your part.
We set up a kitty playground in a crib in a room for you. Here you'd sleep,
recover, and eat, until isolation time was through.
You had a contagious virus, and your litter could hurt the other pets. We made
it almost through two weeks before our shitzu got through the net.
She got her some, and ate some bites, before we could get her nailed. She ended
up in isolation, but that's another tale.
You once looked so pitiful, I never imagined that You would have grown, as time
passed by, into such a beautiful cat.
I remember coming home from work, as I drove up to the house, Watching you,
with your excited eyes, as you caught your very first mouse.
When there's a scratch on the screen outside, we both know just what to do.
It's Kallie wanting in the house, that's her special cue.
She'll curl up on the bed inside, to stretch, and yawn, and sleep. She'll take
a nap and play some more, there's no timetable for her to keep.
Sometimes when she looks into my eyes, I love just what I feel. That reassuring
bond we share that is so very real.
You're my special cat!
The following letter appeared in the Rome News Tribune this March:
Active members of the Rome Floyd Humane Society are often involved in rescuing
animals. We would like to share one such rescue. This is the story about a dog
we have named Gus.
Gus's dilemma was brought to our attention by someone in our community that
knew one of our members. When we first met Gus, we thought he had two broken
legs. He was unable to walk and had a small piece of his front left leg missing.
When Gus was brought to the vet's office, it was discovered that Gus had been
recently shot with a shotgun. After shaving the area around the missing piece
of tissue, the vet found many small holes filled with pellet. His back leg was
found to be an old break that never received medical attention, causing the
bone to grow back in a deformed manner. Gus was also found positive for heartworms,
which can be fatal if not treated aggressively.
Gus has had a hard life, but we are committed to giving him a new life. One
filled with caring and a family for him to belong to. He will be exercised and
gradually regain his strength and ability to walk. After an initial period of
healing, we will begin his heartworm treatments, which, though expensive, are
necessary for his recovery. We hope to find a loving home for Gus where he can
get the individual attention he deserves, but until that time, he has been placed
temporarily in the home of one of the members.
We are often overwhelmed with the number of animals that end up euthanized at
Animal Control, that roam our streets without homes, or are left chained somewhere
without love and needed medical attention. We can become discouraged with the
number of unwanted puppies and kittens that are brought into this world because
of lack of spaying/neutering.
We take a moment to rejoice in our victories. To be grateful that Gus is safe.
To think of many of our other victories. To thank the people in our community
who have chosen to care, chosen to do what they could. We will continue to do
our best. But we need the support of our community, for we are only volunteers
who believe this is a battle worth fighting.
Starla Wages
[Editor's Note: At the time this newsletter went to press, Gus was still
available for adoption.]
We received this letter in response:
Dear Humane Society:
I read your story about Gus and was touched so I am enclosing a check toward
his care. I wish I could send more, but I am a 79-year-old woman on a fixed
income. But I have always loved animals and been concerned about their care.
I have raised three stray dogs myself and they lived long happy lives. I still
have one, a beagle 16 years old but happy. He had heartworms when I got him
and went through the treatment but recovered fine. I hope that Gus will be fine
and you will find a good home for him. Good luck in your work and my prayers
are with you.
Best regards,
Margaret Andrus
It's hard to believe that six months have already
elapsed since I was elected President. I think back over what we have been able
to accomplish thus far and am very pleased, to say the least. I'm sure that
I will not be able to remember every event, but I feel that the following milestones
are noteworthy.
1. The Adoption Committee helped adopt a total of 563 animals from the Rome
Floyd Animal Control during 1997, a 241% increase over the previous year. As
of the end of March 1998, a total of 156 animals have been adopted. This puts
us well on our way towards my goal of exceeding the 1997 adoption figures.
2. The Spay/Neuter Committee has been empowered to begin their worthwhile cause
of reducing the number of unwanted animals in our community and, hopefully,
the number of euthanizations performed at Animal Control. My personal goal is
to see those numbers reduced substantially from he 4,018 that were euthanized
in 1997.
3. The Fundraising Committee has completed a major fundraising event, the First
Annual Alice in Wonderland Valentine Lobster Quadrille. This one event has resulted
in donations to our Society of over $6,000 and still counting. More fundraisers
are right around the corner.
4. The Education Committee has begun its task of educating the community's youth
on the importance of responsible pet ownership. Field trips have been made to
local schools, with more expected in the near future.
5. The Membership Commitments has completed this year's membership renewal drive
and has compiled an up-to-date listing of all the society's members. In addition,
communications with the membership has greatly increased due to the committee's
efforts.
6. The Public Relations Committee has developed and maintains an Internet site
specifically devoted to the Society. In it you can find membership information,
current events, inspiring stories, links to other animal related sites, and
pictures of animals waiting to be adopted. An excellent way to put the power
of information to use for the benefit of animals.
7. The Society's by-laws were amended and approved by the membership, allowing
the Society to continue to forge ahead with our mission and goals.
8. The Board of Directors has met twice and acted upon two very important issues:
1) Approving a new budgeting process which allows each committee to function
more independently, and 2) Establishing a reserve policy and fund. Both actions
are representative of the Board's commitment not only to the health and welfare
of animals, but also to the fiscally sound management of the Society's activities.
As I mentioned before, I'm sure that I have not enumerated all of our successes,
since they have been so many. When I reflect back on what we have already done,
I realize that much more awaits us. The summer brings with it thoughts of weekend
adoptions, additional fundraisers, and my personal favorite, people... sorry,
pet washes.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have so unselfishly
donated their time, talents, and energies for the betterment of our Society.
It is you who have made the Rome Floyd Humane Society the success that it is
today - and for that the animals and I are truly grateful.
Julio A. Trujillo, President
March 20, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rome Floyd Humane Society
Fundraiser a Success!
Rome, GA - The Rome Floyd Humane Society's first annual fundraiser,
the Alice in Wonderland Valentine Lobster
Quadrille, raised more than $6,000, primarily from individual
contributors. The non-event was held from January to mid-February "at the
home within your heart." This was the non-profit organization's first major
fundraiser, and Board members were pleased with the results.
"We started with a small database, put up
posters and were able to keep our expenses down, and the response from individuals
was overwhelming," said Julio Trujillo, President of the Rome
Floyd Humane Society. "Our goal was to raise funds to support current programs
as well as to be able to implement new ones. To that end, we are well on our
way." Trujillo continued: "We plan to hold another non-event next
year at the same time, and everyone is invited."
Dr. and Mrs. Harlan Starr were the recipients of a copy of
Lewis Carroll's book Alice in Wonderland that was offered as a thank
you to the individual who contributed the largest donation. "We are deeply
appreciative of Dr. and Mrs. Starr's kindness, as well as the generosity of
all who contributed to the Rome Floyd Humane Society," said Maia Santamaria,
Board member and coordinator of this event.
In conjunction with the Lobster Quadrille, the Humane Society also contacted
a random sampling of corporations, and received a positive response. "We
have put together information packets, and we will continue to contact companies
throughout the year in order to increase corporate awareness of our mission
and goals," Santamaria said. "We appreciate contributions throughout
the year, as well as during fundraisers."
Corporations that contributed to this fundraiser are: Alto Heating and Air Conditioning, Citizen's First Bank, Ford, Gittings and Kane Jewelers, Galey & Lord, Georgia Power, Glenwood Veterinary Clinic, Northwest Georgia Credit Union, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Regions Bank and Rome Electric Motor Works.
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
was the recipient of the Alice in Wonderland book given as a thank you
to the corporation making the largest donation.
The Rome Floyd Humane Society has other fundraising projects in the works.
Mary Gresham and Nina Trujillo participated in the Coosa Middle
School Career Day. They took a puppy and a kitten and talked to four groups
of 8th-graders about responsible pet ownership.
The students enjoyed seeing and petting the animals and were attentive to the
information they were given. Most were surprised at the number of animals that
go through Animal Control.
We hope the students will be encouraged to be responsible about their pets and
understand the importance of neutering.
Thanks to Barbara Johnson, School Counselor, for inviting them to attend.
Mary Gresham
Russell McClanahan and Animal Control Officer Moore went to McHenry
School to talk to the 4th graders and gave them a presentation on the duties
and the work that is done by Animal Control and the Humane Society.
This was successful and they hope to be able to do this at least once a month.
They hope to be able to take some pets with them and an Animal Control vehicle
on some of these trips so that the students can see a hands on presentation.