Many of you have seen this post so I wanted to do an update for you. This is for everyone but the goal is, at this time, a regional focus around Iowa as there is a prevelance of millers (Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa) so I encourage you if you are from the Midwest - please read!!!!
I spoke with Mary LaHay today for about an hour. Mary is working so hard to educate communities in Iowa about millers, byb's and the outcome of their business (the animals AND the stores like Petland).
I know she needs help but not necessarily financial help - she needs your voice, your passion and some of your time. She WANTS public meetings filled with people to educate them on what is going on. She is seeing that people are STEPPING UP and helping. Many of them do not know this is going on and once they are informed, they jump in to donate their time, money, food, blankets, etc. to support their own communities. The stories she told me broke my heart but also angered me so badly.
I told her about these forums online that have extremely passionate individuals that are AGAINST millers and byb's. These people use their voice. They have the passion needed as they understand the love of their furbs and cannot even fathom how people can treat dogs the way they do. I invited her to this forum to talk, to ask questions, to gain more information from reputable breeders.
I want to encourage you that when she arrives (and I will try to post a LOUD THREAD), please talk to her. Tell her your experiences. Let her share hers so all of us understand even more the process to get laws changed in states.
I would be honored to be a part of her organization to educate/teach people in rural communities the reality of what is happening in their OWN BACKYARD and how to stop it.
I am sending her more information tomorrow on these sites AND on some potential grants to apply for to assist in getting shelters set up or to provide technical assistance to people in communities to set up safe shelters for dogs. To educate them on the importance of altering their animals.
Please, send me a PM and let me know if you are interested in her contacting you also to be a part of this. I feel I can be a very good source in SW IA, NW MO and Western Nebraska. We need people in N, N central, NE, Central, Se and southern Iowa to assist her - it may be just getting her names of people to contact. It may be to assist her in stuffing envelopes or sending out emails to petition to stop these millers and byb's.
I want to thank you, in advance, for your generosity. I know that our time is valuable. Mine is too but I look in the eyes of my babies and know that I have time in my life to assist more so they have just as good of a life as mine do.
Theresa |