Speuter day at TG and Dave speaks out!
The intercom rang to wake us up – was it 7am already? It is speuter day at Turtle Gardens for Chico the cocker spaniel and Myra the little Chihuahua who will also have her knees and heart checked – these are problems that are affiliated with Chihuahuas. Stan had his quick cup of coffee and asked me several times if I would call the bank to check if money had been transferred – he has only enough gas to get to Burns Lake but not to come back. Each speuter day averages $30 in gas. Never mind the time it takes for the one hour trip in then out then in today with Muskwa for his vet check and vaccinations and than out again with the recovering dogs. Does it sound like I am upset about something? Well yes I am.
Chico has a home on Houston.
Myra has a tentative home in Kits pending her vet visit.
You may remember we had an unfortunate encounter with a rescue and our veterinarians about a stray dog. That altercation resulted in the veterinarians returning their $2000 cheque for the sheriff dogs with a letter. This resulted in our veterinarians refusing to take any money directly from any rescue for any dogs – they requested the money go to TG and we give it to them for general account. None of the rescues involved did so.
Without the supporters of Turtle Gardens it would have been a very bleak future for the sheriff dogs. We received a larger than normal donation of which well over half went directly to the veterinarians in Burns Lake and Smithers for the Sheriff dogs. We also received a donation from the Kensington Foundation in Smithers and Burns Lake for the Sheriff dogs. All monies donated through canadahelps and paypal for the sheriff dogs went to the sherrif dogs. The speuters, vet checks and vaccinations so far has totaled $6923. There is now a bill starting for the sheriff dogs – we are up to $235 with 3 last spays to go – Makenna who was nursing, Trip who was nursing her pup and Sheba who was too sick to spay until next week.
But most disconcerting is the personal attack on the rescue forums we use to facilitate our homevisits and transport from these same rescues. They are trying to discredit TG by questions and innuendos and quotes and people are believing the mistruths and exaggerations. We are not a pretty facility – we have never had any direct funding. We have devoted our lives and our home to the care of the dogs. Their needs come first. Stan is becoming so very discouraged with all the backbiting, slander and defamation of a 20 year reputation. He is doing most if not all the work of the sheriff dogs – the 25 in the kennels – the special feeding, the water hauled twice a day, getting up at 3 am to fill the hungry wood stove that heats up their home (we have had -20 weather). The cleaning of the feces is his job too – what goes in must come out. Plus how many hours does it take to drive 11,000 kilometers? He does all this for no wages – his reward is the happy endings and this negativity is trying to take even that away from all of us.
These dogs don’t need another rescue – they need homes. And badmouthing TG is stopping people from spreading the word about these wonderful dogs. What they need are families for their very own to love, nurture and respect forever. That is what true rescue is all about – the dogs. This is the only way to make a bad to bad situation to a happy ending.
With the recent happenings on the internet – a bc rescue forum, it brings to mind that I have been the only person in the past that tells Yvette to shut the place down. I get tired of no money, I get tired of dogs always underfoot, I get tired of all the work – the drives in bad weather to the veterinarians. I just get tired of the whole thing after 20 years and 4000 dogs that I took to the vet before they could be adopted. We haven’t had a holiday or even a day away together in over 10 years. So in retrospect I was instrumental in TG retiring in 2005 – no money, 250 dogs, a big vet bill, beat up cargo van with 700,000 kms, no community support. I could go to work on a real job, with real money and benefits. I had enough. TG retired April 8th. And dogs died. The hope was that someone would step up to the plate and take over. But no one did – and dogs kept dying. In March of 2006 Burns Lake set up a Dog Task Force to look at the problem of stray dogs needing a safe place. After several meetings TG was asked to reopen and the pound dogs would be vetted at their expense before sending them to TG. That way tax dollars stayed in the community and tho TG didn’t receive any $$$ - the animals were vet checked/vaccinated and speutered if needed. Although we were closed we still adopted out 169 dogs that year – dogs that people left in the van when I went shopping, dogs thrown over the fence, a pail of unweaned puppies, dogs that the vets would tearfully ask us to take them. I have to mention that our home based business is pet cremation and dogs that were dying were coming in for communal cremations – how sad is that – they were worth more dead than alive! What a contradiction! So Yvette and I decided to reopen TG and set up a 3 to 5 year program so TG would be self – funded and can continue to help unwanted dogs when we do retire as we aren’t getting any younger. TG will be subdivided and will own the property it sits on and have a home for the caretakers.
The simple way out is to close our doors. I don’t need it, Yvette doesn’t need it and Stan definitely doesn’t need it. We live in poverty and it is our choice – the dogs come first. The renovations of our house are for the dogs – so they will have a comfortable place to live. We will live with the dogs not the other way around. But it has made me more determined especially as I look around and see the dog faces around me who would have died otherwise, that we will persevere so that when we do leave here the dogs will have a comfortable place to survive, be rehabilitated and find forever homes. Most of the dogs that come in here are feral dogs, stray dogs who have never had a home. We rarely take in family pets. Instead of using so much energy to disgrace TG – why not find homes for the 100 dogs that we can’t take in? We have a question for you –
“What do you hope to accomplish here?” Things are tough enough out here – now we are stressing about the negativity that will deter these dogs from real homes. The average stay is 6 weeks from arrival to new family homes. The sheriff dogs have already been here 8 weeks. A lot of them are ready for new homes. The harder to adopt ones need one on one rehabilitation inside with us. To do that homes for those ready to go are needed.
My most personal insult was when the rescue person refused to use our clean, well built outhouse with a real toilet seat – not even cracked – with lots of soft toilet paper and a door that locks! I am sure glad that the ladies working at our work bee that day had no issues about using the outhouse.
Thank you so very much for the special treats that have been arriving in gift paks for dogs and us. It may seem insignificant to many but it sure brightens our day.
If you have some answers for this problem of the 300 per year homeless dogs please tell us as we have been doing TG for most of our adult lives and have been trying to address this enormous undertaking without dogs dying, without wages and without funding. Now is the time to put your money where your mouth is. In our experience this continued negativity will result in death.
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
Well said, Dave. I have read the discussion forum referred to here, and I implore you not to be discouraged by the words of someone so petty and blatanly rude. Anyone who cannot get over a missing word in a sentence, and a perceived slight that occurred several weeks ago and has to publicly air her grievances is a glowing example of someone not selflessly devoted to rescue.
Many of us wholeheartedly applaud the work you Yvette and Stan do, and realize the personal sacrifices that you all make on behalf of the dogs. I wish all of you peace, and peace of mind this holiday season.
Comment by Karen — December 13, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
I am so sorry you are going through this attack. I know beyond a doubt that you are conscientious and truly put the dogs first, and I don’t have to come up there to know that. I know through the thoroughness of the homechecks Yvette has asked me to do, through her conversations with me when I have concerns about a potential home, and through reading this blog about your day-to-day lives.
What the rescuers fail to acknowledge, aside from the differences between doing rescue up north and doing it down south, is that any rescue that experiences a series of crises (flood, broken bones, housing disasters, and the HUGE influx of dogs), while running on a shoe string and with few volunteers available, would hardly look like Martha Stewart lived there. I once volunteered at a well known sanctuary down here, run by a wonderful person who truly loves the animals, and I can assure you that there were days when I went there when I could only wonder what it looks like through the eyes of a stranger - days when the poop and pee and dirty laundry was everywhere, when the ground was muddy beyond belief, when the dogs were barking and barking and barking, and the feed was spilling over, and animals were getting out where they shouldn’t be, and the owner was frustrated or upset or angry or just plain exhausted. It doesn’t mean she should be shut down. It means it was a bad day, an overwhelming day, and probably visitors were the last thing the place really wanted to see that day.
Hang in there, Dave and Yvette and Stan. There are better days ahead.
Jean
Comment by Jean — December 13, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
By any measure, the following definition of ’success’ applies to You, Yvette, Dave and Stan.
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children (and doGs); to earn the appreciation of honest critics; and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a little better; whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is the meaning of success.” Anonymous
Those among us who have not lived or worked in small northern communities cannot begin to appreciate the obstacles you face each and every day and yet when reading your blog most days, I can hear the caring, commitment and love you have for the endless stream of throw-away dogs you shelter, rehabilitate and rehome. All that AND a lock on the outhouse - now that’s classy!
Comment by Carrie — December 13, 2007 @ 7:06 pm
Hi Yvette, hi Dave,
As I’m fairly new to reading your blogs (started with the Sheriff’s dogs), what
discussion forum is this bad mouthing going on? And these people/idiots who
are lambasting your work call themselves “Rescue?” Well hello, I’d like to
see them quit their day jobs, give up their lives, with no wages and no
comfortable perks and live and work under some of the harsh conditions that
you, Dave, Stan and your volunteers have to endure.
Are they having to go out in -30 degree weather at 3 am? Do they have to chop firewood just to keep themselves warm? Maybe they are lucky and have ‘thermostats’ that do the job. And maybe they’re even luckier that they don’t have 1 million km on their
vehicles. Unless they have walked in your shoes, work 24/7 with no day
off and no holidays, then they should just keep their mouths shut and try
to offer some help. Do they think you’re in it for money? What a joke.
I admire all the people who dedicate their lives to rescue but surely there
is no need to put down TG or add negative comments. How does that
help your dogs and your situation? As I mentioned earlier, I haven’t read any of the discussion forums so I’m just reacting - if I’m way off base please correct me.
Yvette, look at all the happily ever stories - all those happy endings - it’s a true
testament to the wonderful work you do, you’ve changed the lives of so
many dogs and their families. Thank you so much.
Comment by cynda — December 13, 2007 @ 7:21 pm
Although it must be hard please don’t let it get to you…I can’t imagine what it must be like to run something the size of your rescue and most folks wouldn’t…keep on doing what you do as long as you want to. And if you ever choose to not continue then do so for your sake’s as you will have more then earned the downtime.
Please enjoy the holiday season and I am happy to see so many requests coming thru for homechecks for the Sherrif’s dogs. You are right..they need homes now.
Comment by cheryl — December 13, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
I too have read the petty comments on that board. And also the write-up the rescue had put on their site. How small minded of those ladies. I suppose everything in their world is blissful and perfect. I suppose it must be with only 2 dogs, or 6. Perhaps if they spent just 24 hours walking in your shoes, they would see it differently. But no, they clack away at a keyboard in their perfect homes, with water running freely from taps, with a wonderful furnace for heating their perfect homes, with perfect running vehicles that never travel more than 5 k’s a day, etc etc etc etc, these perfectly pitiful peanut gallery people. People see through them though, trust that. For them, it doesn’t seem that it is about the dogs. It’s something twisted and wrong. Do not give them the power to upset you. They are truly not worth it.
Please know that the huge majority of people involved with rescue, and those that have adopted from you, and those that will soon adopt, are cheering you on….they/we are standing beside you Yvette, Dave and Stan. Hugs to you all.
Comment by Frankie — December 13, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
In my opinion, it seems like many people on these rescue boards like to wrap themselves around a blanket they name “I am only questioning because I care about the animals”. I don’t find how typing words on a message board is a useful endevor as no solutions are ever discussed only the very strong need to critize. For as many supporters that you loose because some people believe everything that they read without a thought, there will be many who will support TG because it really only take a bit of common sense to figure out what is really going on. It is pretty apparent that someone did something to piss someone off which pissed someone else off and it just became ugly. I have being watching this crap from a distance for several years now. This is my interpretation of rescue people who post on message boards (and this has nothing to do with the fact that they take animals and rehome them to the best of their ability): sure rescue people (mostly women) are passionate. However they are not passionate about animals. They are passionate about their anger at the world and the injustice the perceive has been done to them. They also have a very strong need to lift their leg higher than the next rescue person and piss on them. But it is all done in the name of “becaue I care”
For God’s sake what would anyone expect when your house is being renovated and you took on 50+ dogs that the SPCA didn’t take. As far as I know, there isn’t anyone else out there doing what you are doing - no matter what dogs lives are being saved. Most of these rescues who are complaining the loudest (and some of them are just individuals and not rescues) do not runs shelters which is very different from rescues who have foster homes. To be honest, I wouldn’t accept their offer to help because who wants help from someone who is being a bitch to you. If they really wanted to help, they would help you get locally funding so you are not functioning a shoe string budget. All the best to TG and its supporters
Comment by LV — December 13, 2007 @ 8:01 pm
I have been an avid reader of your blog for some months now. I read a number of different blogs (including the one where the comment in question was raised.) I read because I want to learn about rescue work and because I love dogs. I hope I will be in a position someday to help or maybe to be able to give a home to one of the dogs you have helped.
I read and I learn things about life in Northern BC. I learn about just how hopeless the situation can be at times and then yet you can still manage to hang on to help one more lost soul. I can feel the frustration when you write at times and in other writings I can feel the love you have for each and every one of the dogs passing through your place. Your happiness at receiving a bag of coffee and your trek to the facilities in -20 degree temps reminds me just how lucky I have it in my comfortable world.
A blog is an avenue to vent a bit or maybe say whats on your mind and to let others have some insight into another persons life. For someone to take your writing and put it on another forum and ask for comments somehow feels like a violation of your private thoughts. I myself feel privileged to be able to peek in and learn from your blog. From you I have learned the true meaning of rescue.
Please don’t lose heart by the actions of one naysayer. There are many many of us out here who think what you do is amazing and vital and show true humanity to be so giving. As Dave said, it would be so easy to turn away and close the door. I pray for the dogs you will find the hard road a better path to take in the long run. Thank you so much for all that you do.
Comment by DA — December 13, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
at the end of the day when the dogs are tucked in, safe and warm with bellies full of food, learning for the first time what it feels like to be loved and wanted, you guys have to know that what you are doing is making a huge difference in this world.
You are good people!!
Comment by Caroline — December 14, 2007 @ 6:35 am
Dear Yvette, Dave and Stan,
Please keep doing what you are doing. We adopted our dog Rusty through you in March of 2002 and he was a sad story (found as a newborn pup under a trailer in November 2001, the mom had starved to death and died) if it it werent for you and all that you do for the dogs up there - Rusty would have surely died as well.
Because of you, and your love and care, 4000 dogs who would most likely be dead have found homes! Let those women say what they want - you have the ability to say that you have saved 4000 lives. What can they say?
I keep an eye on your site and am always amazed at what you are up to, and that you manage to keep a sense of humour through it all. Please keep saving those dogs as you are the only ones who will. Not many of us have the strength to do what you do everyday and I respect and admire you greatly for it.
With sincere appreciation for saving Rusty, and 3999 others,
Amy
Comment by Amy — December 14, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Your own living conditions are your own business. The issue is the quality of lives for the animals you are rescuing. There is no doubt that you have done good work & saved lives. But the conditions that the animals are in at your property are apparently only marginally adequate. The people who drove up (on their own time & money) did not do so with any intention of maligning you. They did so with the honorable intent to offer a helping hand to a rescue which took on an unexpected large influx of dogs. They were rebuffed. They reported back what they observed and they have shown photos of what the situation is like. Your intentions are good, and the rescue community wants to help you. Please accept the offer of help in the shape of home-based foster homes which would ease your population and your work load. Sometimes you need to know and accept when you’ve taken on too much. The only help you apparently want to accept is money/food and permanent homes but in the meantime, the dogs are not thriving on your property. Is that in the best interests of the animals? Please Yvette, accept the help of foster homes & other reputable rescues taking some of the animals over. And then let’s get on with helping animals & rebuilding the trust and community in our rescue network.
Comment by mama22kids — December 14, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Yvette, Dave and Stan,
You are going to get some kick back even here it seems. I have no idea who is attacking you or whether their intentions are misdirected or spiteful. All I know is that reading your blog almost daily and enjoying the fruits of your labour (a wonderful dog that my family loves) is proof enough of who you are. Despite the fact that you are volunteering your time, resources and your very home to take care of those that others won’t, you face the same challenges as businesses - competition and customer complaints. It’s sad to see. We all hope you chanel your enegies into positive thinking and not allow this destructive critisim to tarnish your unflagging devotion to dogs and their potential families. We love you for what you do - know it and believe it.
Comment by Shannon — December 14, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
The majority of us who read your blog have no idea what is happening on the rescue blogs. When you post this kind of information I believe it does you more damage than good. Please, remove these posts from your website and deal with these issues in private. This is very bad publicity for a very good rescue group. What if the newspapers were to get ahold of this stuff?
Comment by Darlene — December 14, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
I agree Yvette..you need to arise above all this terrible mudslinging as it may end up bad for all sides and the animals will suffer. I feel nauseated reading the rescue sites and now here as so much energy is going into so much negativity..the work being done is good and if folks choose to think otherwise then so be it. I don’t think anyone can win now at this point. You have your good name and keep it that way…
And you will have folks leave your blog in anger and upset just like they leave the rescue sites because they just want to sit back and enjoy your stories of the animals and what goes on.
Comment by cheryl — December 14, 2007 @ 4:01 pm
Thank you for the comments and support. I am sorry if you feel unhappiness and frustration doesn’t belong on my blog. Sometimes there is negativity in life and sometimes it really helps to share it. If I offend you I am sorry, Happy stories will come back - my guys will bring my smile back with their antics and I will share that too. “Til the sun shines again, Yvette
Comment by yvette — December 14, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Yvette and Dave: I welcome you sharing your real thoughts and feelings–your “unhappiness and negativity” are part of what make you whole persons, with so much to give.
As for those who want to sling mud, including “mama22kids”, I, with so many others, will let your numbers speak for themselves. When we ones with our “southern ideals” (as Carol from SAINTS once put it) can match you for 4000 dogs re-homed (including 169 the year you were retired), that might buy us a coupon to make the comment.
I’ll always wonder about the kind of person who sits in an armchair and watches others get into the frey, get down and get dirty–who’s there when the cookie crumbles and when the rubber meets the road–and then tell them how they’re “doing it wrong.” How easy it is to let someone else go into the front lines and take the shots meant for the rest of us–and criticize them while they do it.
Because, really, the problem of 300 homeless dogs is the problem of all of us. Yes, it’s a problem of spay and neuter. Yes, it’s a problem of irresponsible pet ownership. But when those structures break down, it’s really up to the rest of us to step up to the plate. But it’s really Dave and Yvette who’ve ended up doing that on our behalf. Since they’re out paying our bar bill, we owe them our support, respect, and admiration–not our criticism.
Maybe as you say, Yvette, your rescue “isn’t pretty.” Well, there are many aspects of my life that “aren’t pretty”; the difference is that I’ve never taken on anything anywhere near as big as what you’ve taken on. My “things that aren’t pretty” are private: in my own little closet. You’re out there in front of God and everybody, standing in the bright light, out on the skinny branches of the tree, exposed.
But that’s because you’re heros. You’ve given that all up for the sake of the dogs.
Here’s the thing about heros: heros get bitten by gnats.
My wish for you this season, and this year, is that you’re able to get past the gnat bites and accept the respect and admiration of the people who see what you’re doing.
All our best.
Comment by Lindsay — December 14, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
hi yvette,
I to as many others have been following the threads on the other forums. keep your chin up. there will always be a “rescue” who will be criticized that does not meet the HIGH standards of other rescues.:cry: who will be next??? where would these “sheriff dog” be now…if it were not for TG?
As for your blog… you are right there are ups and downs in life, most people read your blog to learn about rescue….and what’s happening right now on the forums and here is reality this is a part of rescue. (and there is many parts to rescue) It’s another hurdle and as soon as we stretch your legs:wink::wink: you will clear it
and I too will continue to send people your way when they are looking for a forever friend…i even call the “dogs wanted” ads in the paper and tell them about your rescue…for most believe only the spca exsists
keep up the good work all of you!!!
Comment by vadie — December 14, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Hi to all at TG.
I would just like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and praise all of your efforts. Although kind words cannot always solve problems, I can only hope that they will offer some glimpse of hope in this VERY unnecessary battle.
Through the multiple pictures, blogs, stories, and comments, it is painfully evident the love and kindness that runs throughout TG. One family has given up so much for these animals. Although I am an animal lover, I cannot honestly say I would do the same. (Although I would love to be able to, and proud as well!) You cannot let these discouraging words from these ignorant people bring you, or your wonderful shelter down. THOUSANDS of families and dogs are eternally grateful for your undying effort. Even though I have only become aware of this foundation for a short time, I am completely astounded at the amazing things your family does.
I will continue passing on information about TG. I truly believe that with a bit more exposure, your shelter will thrive.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
Comment by Liam — December 14, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
To all the members of your family, including your children, their spouses, your grandchildren, your parents and friends - because your devotion to TG does effect everyone in your lives and you have all had to suffer, in being apart, in not being able to see each other because you can’t leave, in not being able to afford a cushy life with all the trappings - THANK YOU!
Without TG there would not have been a spoiled brat named Phebie Lee Giles. There would have been a 15 pound 8 month old puppy picked up fozen solid, or dead of starvation, or run over, or beaten and disposed of. She would never have survived her first winter without you and my heart would never have been had whole again without her. THANK YOU
Yes rescue is ugly, yes sometimes your blog isn’t all roses and happiness. Life is sometimes ugly and life is sometimes not happy either. I think that is the entire point. You are not writting us bedtime stories - you are sharing your own personal experiences and thoughts with us. How dare anyone critize you for it. In our society people don’t want to deal with things that are ugly - they don’t stop to see if the homeless person on lying on the side of the road is alright. They don’t stop to see if there are puppies in the box in the middle of the road. We don’t want to deal with anything that isn’t pleasant - but that just isn’t reality. Yes I enjoy the happy times on your blog, and I respect you more for not painting everything with a rosy outlook and telling us what is really happening with your life. I feel honoured to be allowed to glimpse your life, your strength and your passion about each other and the animals that you help each and everyday. THANK YOU! To those people who would like everything to be all happy and nice - pick up a novel - because in real life people get hurt, animals get sick and words written actually have meaning!
Bless you, bless your home,
Melissa Giles
Comment by Melissa — December 16, 2007 @ 4:34 pm