Speaking Up for Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.
~Abraham Lincoln

The recent headlines concerning the horses out at the Kankey Farm help shine a light on a problem here in our area. When owners are arrested, pass away or are forced to leave their homes due to foreclosure, many times animals are left behind to fend for themselves.
Whether it be horses, goats and cows or cats, dogs and birds – these animals are left with no food, no water and no shelter.

Many times, in the case of loyal dogs, they will stay on the property, slowly dying, waiting for their owner to return.
You might think, “Well, friends or family will care for them,” or “Perhaps a neighbor will take them in.”
Too many times, there is no family to turn to, and neighbors may not be all that neighborly, especially if it’s a pregnant dog about to give birth to pups or an older dog, long past its prime.

At the recent Fulton County Quorum Court meeting, a young man asked the court members why Fulton County doesn’t have an animal control unit. As you might have guessed, the answer comes down to money. Running a unit takes a lot of money and quite a bit of man-power.

The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals.
–Anonymous

But there are alternatives currently available. Two organizations in our area rescue animals that have been left in this condition: Izard County Animal Rescue Effort (ICARE) and the Spring River Animal Rescue Effort (SPARE) in Cherokee Village. Both of these organizations are volunteer run, existing almost totally on donations and the kindness of their members, to shelter these animals, properly feed them and have veterinary care for them, and in the end find loving homes for these animals.

But both agencies need the community’s help to survive.
SPARE is an active local animal rescue which has been very successful in placing dogs with breed-specific rescue organizations and finding them wonderful homes. Donations are needed to assist SPARE's critical rescue effort.

Anyone wishing to contribute to help the animals can contact Spring River Animal Rescue Effort (SPARE), Inc. PO Box 364, Cherokee Village, Ark., 72525 or call 870-847-0727 to get more information. Every donation is tax deductible. You may also email them at spanimalrescue@aol.com.

ICARE’s mission is to promote responsible, compassionate care and relief of suffering and homeless animals. Their major need this holiday season is pet food, collars, harnesses, pens, tarps and straw, plus donations are always welcome and are tax deductible.
To make a donation to ICARE or for further information, call 870-368-5000.
In this season of “Goodwill towards all men,” I encourage you to broaden your scope and include the animals in your thoughts.

Be kind; it is hardly ever the wrong thing to do." –Anonymous