My Voice Failed

I applied for a permit to have my NE MT Pet Rescue at my residence in the City of Glasgow. I was already active and decided that since I helped out with the ordinance for this, I should abide. The open City Council meeting was Jan. 2, 2018. (Meeting minutes are public if you would like to read them.)

My voice failed my rescue. I couldn’t utter the words that I had in my heart. I just sat there and listened, barely comprehending what I was hearing statements like, “Your heart is in the right place, but you do not belong in town, not in our neighborhood. Property values will go down if we allow you to rescue dogs in our neighborhood. Dogs will get out. They will run. What if they are dangerous and attack our children? They will poop in our yards. Dogs will bark all night and all day long, uncontrollably.”

What Is NE MT Pet Rescue? This is the question no one asked. Is it my home? Is it my yard? Is it my community? I take in the unwanted, some broken, some healthy, some dehydrated, some lonely, some dying, dogs and puppies. I give them food, water and shelter. I spend endless hours cleaning, coddling and getting vet care. I find homes when I can. I find transport when I can’t. I have held lifeless bodies and paws. I have buried the dead. I have laughed. I have cried. They have all touched my heart, they have all been a part of my family. I treat them like my own. They come in at night, some sleep on my bed, some on the floor. Some whine all night.

Through trial and error, I have learned that I have limits. I can only take in a few at a time, all depending on needs and size. I do not take in aggressive animals. I do not take in pit-bulls (only because they are stronger physically than me). The Wolf Point Pound Puppies Rescue has helped numerous times. They do the transports out of Wolf Point. They are my main support.

NE MT Pet Rescue is non-profit. Not only do I donate my time, my home and my heart, but I also dig in my own pocket. Your donations are tax deductible. No, I do not get government money for what I do. I also have a full-time job. No, I am not home all day. My dogs bark. They bark to let me know there are people or other dogs nearby. They bark when they are happy and playing. They bark when they want in. They bark at the birds in the trees. I will put bark collars on them.

I was voted down for having my rescue in my home here in Glasgow by my neighbors, by the city of Glasgow, because I was unprepared. Because I had no voice. I apologize for not being prepared.

I would like to send a big THANK YOU to all who have believed in me and trusted me with their pets, their family members. Thank you to all [who] have donated in one form or another. I could not have done what I LOVE without you. Thank you to the members of The Wolf Point Pound Puppies and Darla and Tina for all of your support. Thank you to all of you [who] adopted the dogs and the puppies and gave them forever homes. THANK YOU.