One of our local animal control officers has had a tragedy, and we are trying desperately to help her. Someone (not her) left a door open at her home with tragic consequences. She lost one of her dogs, and two are in serious condition, plus she accidentally ran into her ex-hubby, whom she had taken in when he had lost employment due to an accident on the job. Holy moly, could anyone have worse luck on one day??? Anyway, she is the current ACO for the shelter where I got Sioux and Maska, so I feel compelled to try and help. Here's the article describing the incident in greater detail, including the place to send contributions. Maybe idoggers can keep this lady from losing her farm.
Also, one of my colleagues in the area is planning a canine fun day to help raise funds. I may be there to test dogs for CGC, depending on the date they choose. Any idoggers in the MA/NH/ME area - I'd love to meet you:-))
AMESBURY — It was Monday when a door at the Taylors' home on
Whitehall Road accidentally got left open. Three of their four dogs ran into the
street and were struck by a car.
Becky Taylor, who works as the Newburyport animal control
officer, witnessed her dogs get hit and rushed to her van.
Then things got worse.
In the frantic scene that included the distraught driver, Taylor
began to back down her driveway to quickly get to the dogs and get them out of
the road. In the midst of the confusion, she didn't see her ex-husband, John
Taylor, and hit him as she backed up.
He was rushed by ambulance to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport
with a broken shoulder blade and clavicle, and minor injuries. He is now
recovering at home.
The dogs weren't so lucky.
One of the three dogs, Tess, a 2-year-old terrier mix, died on
the ride to Merrimack Valley Animal Hospital. The other two dogs suffered severe
injuries.
Now the Taylors face a large pile of veterinary bills and medical
expenses to treat their pets, so Becky Taylor's fellow animal control officers
and friends have put out a call to help the family pay for that medical care.
It was Taylor's dream to work with animals, and she has
transformed her property into a farm full of rescued animals. Her dogs were all
strays that she took in.
Her friend Eileen Cashman, Amesbury's animal control officer,
sent out an e-mail plea Tuesday, and by yesterday morning, she had been
inundated with phone calls and e-mails from people promising help and sending
donations.
The response came from across the country — including from
Mississippi, where Taylor donated her time to provide animal rescue and relief
following Hurricane Katrina.
"I'm getting hammered with e-mails; I'm getting phone calls,"
Cashman said. "Everybody is helping."
Taylor's 2-year-old German shepherd, King, has gone blind from
the injuries he suffered, Cashman said. Following the accident, he was in shock
and bleeding internally. He had a head injury, several lacerations and lost a
toe.
"He's still fighting for his life right now," Cashman said
yesterday. "He's definitely not out of the woods yet."
The Taylors' third dog, Daisy, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd,
left the accident scene after getting hit. Volunteers searched for the injured
dog for hours.
"It was very hard for the family; we searched all night for her,"
Cashman said.
Daisy was found Tuesday morning by construction workers
excavating at an abandoned property two doors away from the Taylors, just over
the border in South Hampton, N.H. She had fallen on her injured leg.
"She was out behind the barn; she couldn't get up," Cashman said.
Daisy was rushed to Merrimack Valley Animal Hospital, where the
veterinarian discovered her rear leg was shattered in four places. She was
scheduled for surgery yesterday and will need to be fitted with plates and
screws to treat the injury.
The dogs were transported to Brentwood Emergency Hospital in
Brentwood, N.H., for further treatment and care.
In addition to the financial assistance, volunteers are also
coming forward with offers to circulate buckets to collect donations, Cashman
said yesterday.
"I am raising this awareness to everyone that it takes a minute
for an accident to take place and your world turned upside down," Cashman wrote
in her e-mail seeking donations.
Cashman said the turn of events has depleted Taylor's savings,
which was put aside for mortgage payments on her farm.
"I heard her say in tears that to save her animals she will 'lose
the farm' in the process," Cashman said.
The Taylors have three horses, four goats and one other dog,
Taco.
"I don't want to see her lose her farm," Cashman said yesterday.
"Everything on her farm is a rescue — a life she has saved."
Donations can be sent to the Provident Bank, 5 Market St.,
Amesbury, MA 01913 in care of Rebecca Taylor.