Monday, June 28, 2010

"Dr. Dolittle" Hirt Does a Lot for Rescued Animals

From Barbara McGrady of S.P.A.:

"Dr. Dolittle" Hirt does a LOT!

Dr. Hirt not only talks to but HEALS castaway animals that others aren't willing/able to help.

The Short of it:

This amazing veterinarian in Clyde, OH is in the process of forming a non-profit animal rescue sanctuary... Another Chance Sanctuary Rescue & Rehabilitation Retreat.

When her clients bring in pets with serious health issues and are unable or unwilling to pay for medical care or specialized surgery necessary to save their lives... Dr. Hirt doesn't consider euthanasia as an option, unless the animal is suffering and CAN'T be helped.

She spends her money to save these animals' lives, and cares for them for the rest of their lives, if responsible homes aren't found.

CURRENT CRITICAL SITUATION

Dr. Hirt is hoping others who love animals can help...

A client of Dr. Hirt's recently passed away unexpectedly
and she had a rescue of her own...
to the tune of 58 cats and 3 dogs.

Donna Schneider passed away three weeks ago.
She lived in Castalia, Ohio.

As a rural mail carrier
Donna rescued many cats along her route.
She couldn't stand to see them suffer along country roads.
Dr. Hirt vetted most of these cats
and did what she could to help Donna.

Dr. Hirt is volunteering her time to go to Donna's house to feed, scoop and water, and when I can, I have volunteered my time to ride along with Dr. Hirt to help.

Someday, when I make my exit, I hope that at least a few will join together to properly care for the animals S.P.A. has rescued, too.

Last time I met Dr. Hirt at her clinic
to help care for Donna's cats
and walked over to her SUV,
this is what I saw...




Dr. Hirt takes various groups of her rescues to the clinic with her each day.
I was finally able to make room on the seat for me!

When we arrived at Donna's house
I could not believe all of the cats.
Most appeared to be very healthy,
except for a few with kidney failure and old age.
A couple were diabetic,
but Dr. Hirt took them to the clinic soon after Donna's death.

Donna has photos and cat plates, cat cards, cat calenders, etc.
all over her house!
Not to mention hundreds of cat toys.

She had placed an electric blanket over her dining room table
so the elderly, ill cats could keep warm and comfy.
It was still turned on my first visit there three weeks ago,
soon after her death.

I found this photo of a few of Donna's cats
in a stack of photos on an end table...


Donna's son will be selling her house soon
and all of the cats have to go!

Dr. Hirt is taking all of Donna's
beloved rescues under her wing...

Dr. Hirt has 35 dogs living in her home, as well as pot bellied pigs, birds, cats, and in her barn; goats, sheep, horses, AND MORE.... ALL RESCUED ANIMALS!

She is personally in financial trouble from spending all of her own money on the hundreds (probably thousands) of animals she's rescued. She should have filed for non-profit status long ago. She has been personally funding her no-kill sanctuary.

We think that all veterinarians must have big bucks, right? And attorneys? Why, of course...

Last night, when I was trying to fall asleep, trying to stop thinking about all of the animals lined up who I needed to help "tomorrow"... I began thinking about how the people I most admire in this life always seem to be hurting for money.

They are somehow driven to make a difference and are not only compassionate enough but also intelligent enough to know just exactly how to do that... focusing their efforts on stopping the madness regardless of the monetary pay-off. And yet money is a necessary part of this life, isn't it...

I guess the moral of this story is that being a good guy isn't easy. Money and glitz has a powerful pull but aside from that, we all have to eat. Where does one who is so motivated to make a difference draw the line?

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “A little integrity is better than any career”.

He also said, “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

That's what I admire most in these special individuals... their courage.

Dr. Hirt is trying to figure out a way she can afford to convert part of her outbuilding into a cat shelter for Donna's cats. There is already a cement slap as big as a two car garage, she said. What she needs is insulation, wall board, ramps, propane heat, windows, etc. and then all of Donna's cats will be safe.

Every time I have gone to Dr. Hirt's place I am moved to tears that someone would undertake so much, that she would do so much to stop the suffering for all of the animals who reside there.

Does anyone have a way
to contact Ellen or Oprah?
Dr. Hirt would be a good candidate
for help from a national level.


In the meantime...
anyone wishing to donate to

can do so in one of the following ways...

1.
ANOTHER CHANCE SANCTUARY PAYPAL LINK...
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZGY32JTAUQEV4

2.
OR SNAIL MAIL TO:
Another Chance Sanctuary
3320 C.R. 175
Clyde, OH 43410

Thank you!

Barbara McGrady
Society for the Protection of Animals

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