The next recipient of a 2018 Peter and Debbie Hope Fund grant is the Animal Defense League of Texas. This is another group we selected because of the impact they had on our family when our children were younger. We got two of our family dogs through their adoption service – Spooner, a high flying Spitz, and Louie the Beagle, aka “The Happy Wanderer”. These animals provided us decades of love and loyalty, and the ADL made the process of adoption so painless and easy. In addition, our children volunteered for a period of time as dog walkers there. This was an easy choice for us.
…Debbie and I visited them on a Friday morning, and got the grand tour of the facility accompanied by Executive Director Janice Darling and Development and Marketing Director Jessica Anderson. Even though it was early, employees and volunteers were already working hard throughout the 12 acre campus – cleaning the kennels, walking the dogs, preparing for the day’s surgeries in the hospital, etc. There was a sense of purpose in everyone we met – each so dedicated to the animals they took in, provided medical services to, and prepared for eventual adoption. We learned that the ADL is a “no kill” shelter –
This means that no animal is ever euthanized if it can be treated and returned to health. If the shelter reaches its maximum capacity of 400 animals, no additional dogs and cats can be taken in but no animal will ever be euthanized to make room for others. Animals can be brought in and cared for only as others are adopted.
There were dogs with worms, dogs who had injuries, and very sick dogs who had been conceived by generations of moms and dads who never had vaccinations of any kind. There were cats everywhere – some in the kennels, others wandering the campus – so many of the little kittens shaved because of lice and looking so tiny, scared, and vulnerable. But, remarkably, each of the animals had the dignity of a name, and each had a clean bed to sleep in at the end of the day. (Janice told us more than once how much it cost to keep all those beds cleaned, and we saw washing machines whirring away all over campus.) I worked hard my whole life, or so I thought until I saw what this organization goes through every day. Being able to help them in their mission through our small gift is one of the more gratifying things I have ever done…
…I suggest each and everyone of you make a visit to the Animal Defense League or a similar agency and learn what they do each day for the defenseless animals in our community. To learn more, click here.
The Peter and Debbie Hope Fund 