Last Tuesday, I hopped three planes, picked up a rental car and drove several hours to meet a woman whose farm in a remote part of the Midwest is in trouble. While I'm not at liberty to disclose the specific details, I can say that some 200 animals, mostly horses, are in desperate need of placement, and the clock is running out.
I first learned of the situation from through postings from other sanctuaries. In e-mail exchanges over the following days, the owner hinted at her desperation. Her hay supply was running low. She was out of funds. She had no community support, and "Farm Services" was threatening to send her animals to auction (i.e., to slaughter) to recoup some of the money she owed them for leased farm equipment. And yes: she was singlehandedly responsible for the care of 200 or more animals.
I let out a deep sigh. The scenario was all too familiar.
In the ten years since Catskill Animal Sanctuary opened its doors, we've received animals from a over a dozen cases like this. Among the more notorious were:
a. Eighteen sheep and goats locked in a filthy, rat-infested stall and fed moldy bagels. A decomposing cow carcass was in the stall. Outside the fetid barn, dozens of dogs were chained to a fence without food, water, or shelter
b. Twenty-two animals living on an abandoned property with a woman whose arrests for cruel practices associated with hoarding dated back to the 1970s. Dozens of dead animals were on the property. Though not a non-profit, she considered herself a rescuer
c. Twenty horses removed from a woman who had a pile of dead bodies in the woods and numerous complaints on record
d. Four horses removed from a "rescue" whose volunteers complained only after horses were dying from starvation
e. Potbelly pigs removed from a "rescue" that had dozens of dogs stacked in crates inside a house no one was allowed to enter.
Mind you, I hardly relished the thought of a trek to a remote part of the country to deal with animals in crisis. It was a tough time to be away from CAS: I was juggling everything from construction projects and fundraising to staffing issues and a speaking schedule for my newly-released book.
But several factors governed my decision. First of all, the woman's attorney was advising her not to surrender any animals to shelters in her home state, which obviously limited the assistance she would receive from reputable organizations. Further, she claimed to be out of money, and winter was fast approaching. Both factors pointed to the likelihood of enormous suffering unless someone stepped in. Finally, she was actively seeking help, something I've never seen from folks in this kind of trouble.
Another deep sigh. If we were going to help, I wanted to see with my own eyes both the animals we'd accept and the ones who'd remain behind: we could network to place them if we knew more about them. I booked my ticket, and after a thorough search for a responsible transporter, hired "Horse Jitney" (www.horsejitney.com) to bring our animals home.
Four days and nearly three thousand miles later, we are, indeed, home. Eleven miniature horses and ten little hens have joined the Catskill Animal Sanctuary crew.
I'll blog in upcoming days and weeks about this situation and the animals left behind who desperately need our help. I'll blog about animal hoarding and the disturbing trend of 1 in 4 hoarding cases occurring at animal "rescue" organizations, and about hot-button topics like agribusiness and its impact, "humane" meat and more. Soon, I'll introduce the permanent residents of Catskill Animal Sanctuary, daily reminders of why we happily take on the many challenges of sustaining a sanctuary for animals whom some of you will argue aren't "worthy" of saving. "They're food," you'll say, for we take in cows and pigs and chickens, too. Among these animals are Rambo, a wise old sheep featured prominently in my first book, Where the Blind Horse Sings, and Franklin the pig, porcine star ofAnimal Camp: Lessons in Love and Hope From Rescued Farm Animals. Be forewarned: these guys are exceptional teachers. I predict that, thanks to them and the rest of the crew who call CAS home, you'll soon be thinking in entirely new ways about our hooved and beaked friends. I also predict that though some of you will think I'm nuts (a refrain I've heard once or twice), more of you will agree that I'm the luckiest lady alive.
I am honored and delighted to share this challenging, wonderful life with the readers of Huffington Post. I hope to hear back that you're falling in love with the blind horses and old cows, the free-range piglets and lap turkeys who share this sacred space with us. And maybe, if you do, you'll continue reading throughout the holidays as I invite you into our kitchen with chef Kevin Archer, director of our Compassionate Cuisine program. You guessed right: we won't be eating turkey. In addition to direct emergency rescue of animals who've run out of options, we also "rescue" by inviting folks to adopt a plant-based diet, and Compassionate Cuisine is a program that helps those who'd like to try. I'll ask Kevin to share his favorite recipes, and we hope to hear back from you...about everything! About the recipes, about how you make your food choices, about the animals in your life, about the disconnect that allows the vast majority of "animal lovers" to dote on their pets but eat others every time they sit down to dinner. Let's talk about all of it.
Meantime, welcome to my world. It's a good one.
Follow Kathy Stevens on Twitter: www.twitter.com/casanctuary
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The work you do at Catskills makes me hopeful for animals. I love your approach to promoting compassion and empathy toward animals, followed up by real action to protect them. It's so important to talk about hoarding and to expose it, and not just pointing fingers in a voyeuristic or sensationalist way.
It is true that sometimes a person's desire to "help" animals, can be motivated by personal pain and dysfunction, which can sometimes lead to hoarding and abuse. I wish so much there were a stronger infrastructure in place to protect animals in this predicament. Too much time and energy is wasted pointing fingers at "crazy hoarders."
The real question for all of us - and this is empowering - is, "What am I doing for animals?" It can start with simply talking to friends or neighbors who may have gotten in over their heads with the number of animals they have "rescued." We can evaluate our own behavior. We can assess what we eat too. And of course we can support responsible animal sanctuaries and rescue groups, like CATSKILLS!
For me, living in NYC, which has an epidemic feral cat problem, my focus these days is TNR - Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats. Thank you so much for your very real support of TNR and cat rescue. You guys change lives every day.
This is a perfect first post and I am looking forward to reading more posts about CAS. You've inspired many people and I for one will support your efforts forever. (In fact I've already communicated with Julie about volunterring for a week in the spring!)
I agree with the latter:)