Paw Pals Builds
a Bridge
“We build too many walls and not enough bridges”, penned
Isaac Newton in the 1600’s. Hill County
Paw Pals has been part of the building of an amazing 873 mile bridge that will be
instrumental in breaking through the wall that leads to pet overpopulation. Hill County Paw Pals has linked hands
with Friends of Aspen Animal Shelter (www.dogsaspen.com). We have been most fortunate to have
been introduced to these compassionate citizens of Colorado who share the interests
and goals of citizens of Hill County who are struggling to promote humane treatment
of our companion animals and bring an end to the pet overpopulation crisis in this
county. The Aspen group has adopted
Paw Pals as their “sister” organization. Although
our two organizations are 873 miles apart, our causes parallel one another—providing
shelter and hope for unwanted companion animals.
Citizens of Hill County, particularity volunteers with Paw Pals, are forever
grateful.
Pictured from left to right are Carole and David Huens
of Whitney and Lana Crow of Hillsboro—the core of Hill County Paw Pals’ adoption
team. This team in the past three months
has rescued over two dozen unwanted dogs from our county that would have met an
untimely and unnecessary death. Kathy
Moore and Andree Luallen are another vital component in Paw Pals adoption program,
but were not available on the day the photograph was taken.
Cheryl Wyly, notable philanthropist, promoted the idea
of adopting Hill County Paw Pals as the sister organization of the Aspen group. Cheryl is the daughter of Carole Huens,
Paw Pals board member, and the Aspen Animal Shelter is officially titled Cheryl
and Sam Wyly Aspen/Pitkin County Animal Shelter.
Cheryl and her mother are long-time animal rescuers. Cheryl and Sam Wyly have a home in both
Aspen, Colorado and Dallas where their private jet is routinely scheduled.
Fortunately, when the jet is scheduled to fly from Dallas to Aspen for positioning,
the empty space has been filled with adoptable dogs from Hill County.
This is a remarkable relationship as the adoption rate of our airlifted dogs
has been 100%--some of Hill County’s abandoned dogs have found homes with celebrities;
one now resides on Park Avenue-a real Cinderella story!
The kindness and generosity of the Friends of Aspen Animal
group is so deeply appreciated by Hill County Paw Pals.
However, this is not at all the answer to the crisis of pet overpopulation
that exists here. We must move forward
to build an animal shelter for Hill County and implement animal control for our
citizens. Isaac Newton also wrote:
“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”. We thank Cheryl and Sam Wyly and Friends
of Aspen to allow us to stand upon their shoulders and view first hand how a county
can achieve success with stamping out pet overpopulation and achieving a shelter
where pets are adopted and not euthanized.
For more information about Paw Pals, please visit:
www.helphillcountyanimals.com.