2003: Looking Back
2003 was a year of explosive growth for Compassion
First, as what began as a grass-roots campaign for change blossomed into a
challenge that would shatter all original expectations.
Continually fielding calls from individuals, Humane
Societies, other rescue organizations, and law enforcement agencies, our
meager resources—human and financial—were stretched to the breaking point.
Still we moved forward. The economy may have taken a pause in 2003, but animal
abuse, cruelty, and neglect in Lee and surrounding counties did not. We
responded.
So many calls were received that the urgency of each
case had to be evaluated and prioritized, leaving some seemingly less severe
cases still pending. We apologize for our limitations and urge all concerned
citizens to continue reporting unresolved cases. We pledge to continue to do
our best for any animal in trouble.
While investigating calls and rescuing animals, Compassion First was equally
aggressive in adoptions, and spaying and neutering. We decided to increase
potential adoptions by moving our
Adoption Gallery from our local website to
Petfinder.com, and it paid off in
spades. In addition to our ongoing local adoptions, we placed animals into
good homes in California, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Florida, Tennessee,
Alabama, South Carolina, and other states.
Each adopter endured the comprehensive screening
process, including detailed interviews, and veterinary relationship screening,
and brutal interrogations. We're serious about adopting only to homes that are
a good match for both pet and people. As a result, Compassion First has
received many heartwarming letters from adopters.
Included in those adoptions were two horses rescued from Prentiss County,
Rusty and Ginger, now fully rehabilitated and thriving together on endless
acres at a wonderful new home. Thanks to a local veterinarian and Susan's
daily care and feeding, these two recovered to become beautiful, healthy,
happy horses.
Our two somewhat famous Great Danes, Magellan and Mastasia, returned under
contract from their previous loving adopter due to unexpected financial
hardship, have been re-adopted together to a wonderful new home in North
Mississippi with a
new playmate named Jethro. Reports are that Jethro is quite smitten with them.
Twice rescued and twice adopted together into loving homes, Magellan and
Mastasia are among our fondest achievements and remain an unrivaled
inspiration for our organization.
During 2003, Compassion First began regular monitoring of all live animal
vendors at the Tupelo Furniture Market Flea Market. With the immediate
approval of management, Compassion First served notice to all vendors of the
basic requirements regarding live animal display under state statutes. We
continue to monitor all vendors to ensure compliance, and we have made it
clear that violations will be dealt with on the spot. This action has resulted
in more cleanliness, no crowding, and no sick or suffering animals at this
site. This effort will continue each and every market date.
Along with these regular inspections, Compassion
First has twice secured its own booth at the flea market for purposes of
adopting our spayed and neutered cats, advising the public on responsible pet
ownership, providing information on locations of spay/neuter clinics, and
accepting donations to keep us going. Having adopted about fifteen of our
happy, healthy cats so far through these booths, it has exceeded our
expectations and we intend to continue this rewarding effort.
2004 is off to another big start, and so are we.
