Turtle Gardens takes a break
It is with sadness in my heart that this blog is written. After a full week of no money and collecting change to get the dogs to vet on Tuesday and again on Thursday, the horrific stress of the constant conflict; we as a small family decided tonight that we will close our doors to needy dogs everywhere until we have the finances to finish a home that will meet and exceed the Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operation. The straw that broke the turtle’s back is this comment posted on the TG blog.
Yvette. stan……. you keep wanting to drag me into this, whether I want to be or not.
ok fine. I am now in. Please stay tuned to our website for the REAL truth about Turtle gardens. Stan….. I didn’t show you all the pictures I took. There were more on another card. You can see them on our website, coming soon……..
And for the record. The email above from me, is added to, and parts are deleted. It was also sent back in October after your first blog posting. “A dark day for tg” Which I have saved if anyone would like to read that bit of filth. It was deleted pretty quickly, but I have it. It will also be available on our website.
I know you will delete my comment as soon as you see it. So for those that want to know the truth, here is an email from one of TG’s supports that was there that day:
“Hi Kelly,
This is a very belated thank you from the Canines North dog club for everything you and Bev did, and tried to do, for the Sheriff rescue dogs.
We are a small club, about 8 people, most of us have rescues or 2nd hand dogs, most of us are also members of the Northwest Animal Shelter Society and support Turtle Gardens.
None of us have ever been involved in anything like the sheer number of dogs taken in on the Thanksgiving weekend and as president of the club I am very proud of how so many people pulled together and gave up their holiday on very short notice to help these dogs.
We are shocked and upset by Yvette’s blog, and can’t imagine how you and Bev must be feeling.
We are continuing to help with the dogs as much as we can, they are starting to go to other rescues and hopefully from there will find good homes.
We would just ask that you do not judge all rescues or organizations in the “north” by the way Turtle Gardens has treated you.
Thank you again for your support.
Lorna ”
You will never get me to believe you have these dogs best interest at heart.
The only one that is egotistical is Stan himself. Get the chip off your shoulder and put those dogs first.
Shame on the both of you and shame on Turtle Gardens!
Kelly
The truly disheartening fact contained in this post is the lack of financial and general support from surrounding communities from which we rescue their dogs.
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
I’m sorry to hear that you are closing your doors. You do an amazing job with the dogs and have a gift that few people have. I realize that it is your choice and you are doing this due to public pressure and the stress it is putting you under. I once again thank you for our dog who has brought so much joy to our lives
Lynn
Comment by Lynn — December 14, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
“Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts… ”
Robert Fulghum
Anyone as giving of their heart as you have been are sure to be mortally wounded by the critisim you’ve faced. Whatever the nature of the comments, you of all people should be shown support and commradary from other rescuers. You deserve the break whenever you are ready for it, but it seems sad to see it come under these circumstances. You deserve to retire with celebration and honor.
Sadly, most of the people who knew of the posts were probably involved enough in the rescue communitee to know the difference, all the same the damage is done. Look at the dogs with you now and read the many words of support - know they are only a fraction of the gratitude felt for you, Dave and Stan.
Comment by Shannon — December 14, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Those ppl should look in the mirrors see what they see. The dogs or greed SHAME ON YOU. u gave all the dogs u have had over the years an awsome start on life when they had nothing before turtle gardens. now that the grinch has came and stole holiday cheer for turtle gardens by been forced by the ppl who wrote those horrible comments.somr ppl can never keep a good thing going its the dame shit over and over again when a big mouth is opened. i see many of thse dogs in my community and they thrive from the start of love and devotion of turtle gardens. Turtle gardens u gave it u best!! Remember the fond memries not the bad. May christmas come this year with lots of cheer:)
Comment by gimpy — December 14, 2007 @ 9:25 pm
I don’t believe the post said TG would close - they are taking a break - which isn’t a bad thing after feeling like you are being beaten up. Yvette I will be sending you a $1,000.00
check tomorrow in the mail.
Comment by sheila — December 14, 2007 @ 9:39 pm
Also the person named Lorna makes a lot of sense. She is a smart woman.
Comment by sheila — December 14, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Yvette and family. I am so sorry to see your post that you will be closing your doors. I know Penny and Willow are eternally greatful to you for their lives as so many others are. Take care of yourselves.
Comment by Chantelle — December 14, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
My mistake - it does sound like the close is temporary. I hope this mess clears up for more ‘day in the life’ stories to inspire donations. I don’t have much but I hope a little goes a long way…
Comment by Shannon — December 14, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Hi Yvette, Dave and Stan
I can’t believe “closing your doors”! - temporarily, I hope. I have several small cheques to be sent shortly. I am having trouble getting the whole picture, but I can’t help but feel that whatever Turtle Gardens is doing is for the sake of the dogs. We all have different ways of doing things and I’m sure you are doing the best with your limited resources. I hope for the sake of the dogs and all the future families who will have homes for the dogs, that you can hang in there and weather the storm. Take care…our thoughts are with you.
Comment by Jude — December 14, 2007 @ 9:58 pm
Oh Yvette, I am so sorry. I hope these people who’ve inflicted all these
negative comments are satisfied now - where would all those unwanted dogs go?
It is a sad day. I am sure this is not the way you wanted it to end. But on the
other hand, everything happens with a reason. You have always put the dogs
first before yourself, so for the time being, you now have to take care
of yourself first. I really don’t understand Kelly’s comment “The dogs are
not thriving on your property.” I don’t know what planet she is from, hasn’t
she seen the before and afters? Most of the dogs are ready for homes.
Maybe TG isn’t a 5 star hotel, the dogs have received so much LOVE from
you, Dave and Stan - that is what counts the most.
Hang in there, take care. Big hugs.
Comment by cynda — December 14, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
I can only say that this is one of the saddest days I can imagine for rescue. I somehow knew that it would come down to some sort of closure..may those that drove it be pleased in what they have accomplished, for those dogs that have no where to go for the next while we are sorry …take a rest TG and do what you feel necessary to recover.
Comment by cheryl — December 14, 2007 @ 11:25 pm
Dear Yvette Dave and Stan,
I feel great sadness but also understanding at you withdrawing from this horrible arena you have found yourself in. Take time to heal from the wounds but please know that there are caring kind people who only say and believe in you and the wonderful work you and your family are doing up North. I have truly learned and grown from the gifts and knowledge you have shared with me both on your blog and on the phone. Poppy and I thank you for all you have done. I wish there was more I could say or do but I do understand the hurt you are feeling when gossip and slander and misleading statements cut you to the core. I will keep supporting you with money and prayer and I hope that you will let me know of anything else I can do. Rest well valiant warriors know you have people behind you believing in what you do
Theresa and Poppy
Comment by Theresa — December 15, 2007 @ 5:17 am
It is with great sadness that this has happened to you. I found your blog a few months ago and continued to follow your great care and love for the dogs. I also am in a situation where it seems that some around me are attacking overtly and passive agressively to the point I could not sleep last night. I found help in prayer. The Lord will protect you and your dogs.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
~ Philippians 4:6-7
Comment by Katieq — December 15, 2007 @ 5:38 am
Oh Yvette, I am so sorry to hear this. A break is not a bad thing, but when it is triggered by an attack from another rescue it is heartbreaking. Enjoy the Christmas season, hold your family and dogs close to your heart, and come back into rescue renewed and refreshed and strengthened.
(((hugs))))
Jean
Comment by Jean — December 15, 2007 @ 6:45 am
I am not sure what the whole picture is here but it brings tears to my eyes to think you are closing your doors . People like you are one in a million, giving these animals a second chance. Whomever these people are that are critisizing your work etc . need to give there heads a shake. We are awaiting our first resue dog ( Muskwa ) from you and know in our hearts his transition at TurtleGardens has been wonderful. Hang in there folks,there always seems to be people in this world who get great pleasure out of causing pain to others .We will continue to advocate for you here on the Island !!! Kim and John Hosie
Comment by Kim — December 15, 2007 @ 7:04 am
Some people just don’t get it do they ? Unfortunately they continue to pick and scratch away over time, it just wears you down. You don’t need a big flashy hotel with neon lights to do the great work you do. We already have enough of those type around.
Too bad some of our locals around here in my city don’t take lead from people like you and dave. We need more people like yourselves, not less. Its unfortunate THEY see the need to beat your family down, some very unecessary work from people who call themselves animal advocates ???
Many thanks for ALL your work and keeping All your charges safe in the North. You will be victorious in the end, The others need to go and get some golf memberships and review what it means to love and care for animals, SHAME !! on those causing you grief, it all comes around, just takes some time !
Muskwa thanks you I’m sure !
John
Comment by John — December 15, 2007 @ 7:35 am
Good morning Yvette,
How are you this morning? My husband and I were up till the wee hours discussing
TG. The bottom line is that some people just don’t understand and don’t want
to understand TG at all. You can’t go back and change the course of events, and
what goes around comes around. Her statement “You will never get me to believe
you have these dog’s best interest at heart” just questions her credibility even more,
She has “the pictures” and “more pictures on another card” to prove it.
Hey she can come to my house - we are in the middle of building a sundeck
and shed she is welcome to take pictures of our debris too. I hope she can
sleep well at night knowing that some of these dogs up north have no
where to go, and in her own words, “Is that in the best intersts of the animals?”
Yvette - please don’t waste anymore energy on people like this, you are a
wonderful, postive, caring person.
On another note we are thrilled about the pending arrival of Teya and Gryhon, I
know without a doubt they have had the best possible care with their best
intererest at heart.
Big Hugs to all.
Comment by cynda — December 15, 2007 @ 10:19 am
I so upset and saddened over the fact that TG has decided to close the doors, and I hope for all concerned, it is only temporary. It is hard to take a break over circumstances like these, but sometimes no action, is the only kind of action you can take. Where would my Lucy have ended up without you? and who would have graciously kept care of my handsome Finn, to wait for me to move, so he could have his forever home. I have learnt so much from you both. thank you for giving, and sharing your heart and soul to all of us. I will continue to be an active supporter and advocate of TG.
As for you other 2 Bev, and Kelly, I am not ashamed to put my name to the pen. I have no doubt you are still monitoring this site, so this is for you..
Shame on the both of you, nothing good has come from all the back-biting, name slaying, the he-said, she-saids, and dissing of TG, and all the people up there, who work in front and behind the scenes, from volunteers to vets, you have slapped everyone of them, you have implicated people where you had no right to. It has taken rescue org.’s years and years of hard work, tears and sweat to overcome the stigma, that rescues are a quick way to a buck, making money at the expense of homeless dogs., from the dog circle I came from, that was how any rescues years ago were viewed, like it or not, everyone stayed away, and no one supported any of it. The good have prevailed, the honest ones have risen to the top, people were beginning to trust., and in one fell swoop, of your finger pointing session, you have caused the grief and tears of many who actually do care, explain that to the dogs waiting for adoption, will Sally understand, Road or Tiguak, when no one comes for them? Not only have you damaged TG, you have done irreparable damage to all the rescues, and to the people that would have supported them, by airing your dirty laundry in a public forum. And by doing so have severely damaged your own german shep rescue/bc in the process. If the board of directors don’t ask you to leave, they should. Would any rescue want you to represent them for the bad press you have brought down on them? or anyone? Its time to do what you do best and rescue is not it. It is also not up to you to decide how things should or should not be run, TG has earned the respect and dedication of people, by doing what they do best. . Period. Clean up your own backyard and Leave them alone
K. Dowling
Comment by Kate D. — December 15, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
I am hoping that we can find a lawyer for TG and find out what we can all do legally to help them and keep Kelly and Bev away and stop the slander….I know that I am calling out a few favors and begging a couple of Lawyers I know to help in this situation as things have been taken public it is EVERYONES reputation at stake…. not that I care about the namecallers….
Comment by Chloe — December 15, 2007 @ 3:15 pm