UPDATE 12/18/02 on the Montana Collies
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt
*Permission to crosspost*
Just returned home from Shelby, Montana.
I have seen the truck.
I have seen the crates.
I have seen the collies.
My heart is broken.
Only humans are capable of inflicting this level of degradation upon animals. Thankfully, only a few are so base.
We, the animal-loving community, are many. Together we can right his wrong. I direct my outrage at this unconscionable crime committed upon these 182 helpless dogs and cats into constructive energy to provide financial support, supplies, and volunteers for these animals, and the wonderful community of Shelby, Montana.
We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to the Montana people for ending this horrific journey. It would have been very easy for the authorities to pass that truck of horror through the port of Sweetgrass, and forget about it. Instead, they made a commitment to these animals at the financial, physical, and emotional expense of their community.
I deeply thank you for your continued support of this rescue. And now I present the further requests of Shelby to provide for these animals:
*Phone Cards (so the volunteers can report what they need to help the animals and so they can stay in touch with their families) – send to AWCA Treasurer Bethany Burke, address listed below.
*200 more Double-Ended Snaps (to be used to secure dividers in sheep pens) – contact AWCA Secretary Judy Cummings at jccollie@worldnet.att.net for shipping instructions.
*50 more Size Large Nylabones – contact AWCA Secretary Judy Cummings for shipping instructions.
*Financial Donations – send to AWCA Treasurer Bethany Burke as listed below.
As I moved about Camp Collie, I learned that residents of the Shelby area had personally considerably extended themselves financially to pay for supplies for the animals, i.e., plumbing supplies to make a temporary sink; hardware to install a surround gate at the front entrance to ensure an animal doesn’t escape; propane tanks to heat the “wash tent” where the hundreds of pieces of stainless steel are washed twice every day; scrub sponges; plastic overalls; gas for their vehicles so they can drive back and forth...and on and on and on. These people were thanking me as I was thanking them. Some apologized they couldn’t do more! I invited anyone who needed to, to give me receipts for the necessary supplies. Many did, all reluctantly. Many explained they were concerned about tax time, Christmas gifts for the children, their own bills. I assured them the collie community was behind them. I gave them cash for receipts that were confirmed by the presence of the supplies in use to help the animals. All sanitizable, reusable supplies, of course, will be retained by AWCA to be stored for future rescues.
When I called out a request for a “hunk with a pickup” to help me deliver supplies too large for my rental car, a nice man working near me said, “Ma’am, I’ve got a truck, but I only have enough gas to get to work tomorrow.” He offered to go with me in my car and do all the lifting if I was willing to make 3 or 4 trips. Instead, I talked him into letting me fill up his truck with gas. I said, “I’ll bet you’ve used a lot of gas helping the animals, haven’t you?” Embarrassed, he admitted he had volunteered every day since November 1.
If you would like to assist AWCA with this rescue effort, you may send a check to:
Bethany Burke
AWCA Treasurer
2807 Lee Trevino Court
Shalimar, FL 32579
Make the check out to AWCA and in the memo area note: collie rescue-medical, collie rescue-stainless steel, or collie rescue-general.
Calmly,
Jean Levitt, President AWCA
Lisa King, AWCA Director AWCA Rescue
Officers and Members of AWCA