Letter to the Editor

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[When an animal is brought to the shelter they can't tell us their tales, so we look to their health, appearance, and personalities to speak for them. Like so many animals that come through our doors, Elvis's story is a sad one. However, part of his narrative was obvious - this dog was in agony. The open wounds encircling Elvis's neck tell the story of an embedded collar and his attempts to remove the offending object with his own claws. The excruciating pain and suffering he must have endured are beyond description.

This type of injury is often the result of severe neglect. Collars are put on animals when they are small, and down the line after they're forgotten about, neglected, or tossed aside like garbage, the collar becomes painfully embedded in the neck as the flesh grows around it. After it is embedded the animals find it difficult to breathe, eat, or simply to bark for someone to help. Due to the extent of his injuries, Elvis needed special care. He required several different medications, daily cleaning, de-briment, and constant care.

Because of the location and serious nature of his injuries, a great medical staff along with the RCHS volunteers took their time with Elvis to insure his wounds did not get infected. The unbearable itching as it healed made it difficult for Elvis to resist scratching the wounds open again, but after several months of love, attention and good care, he was healed and made it to his forever home. He now lives in a beautiful home with a doctor and family, and he is enjoying the good life he so deserves.

So much of what we see at the shelter makes us cry and our hearts hurt, but when you see an animal that has been abused with its sprit broken, you put yourself into care mode and do what has to be done. In the end we receive licks and kisses and a wagging tail, but most of all, LOVE! It's this kind of story that makes each and every one of us continue on with what we do on a daily basis, but your help is needed. In order for us to continue serving the county the Randolph County Humane Society is in need of volunteers. It is only with your help that we can continue our mission to save the animals like Elvis that are suffering. We'd love to tell you that Elvis is an isolated case, but it isn't, and we need the help of animal lovers of all ages, once or twice a month, to volunteer a couple of hours at the shelter. If you can just give us a few hours one day a month (weekends included) it will help. We are also in need of monetary donations to help us pay for continued medical care for the animals that come through our doors. They are not all as bad as Elvis, but they all need care, love and a soft place to fall asleep to dream of the day they are adopted into their forever home.

If you are interested in volunteering, come in a fill out a volunteer application, or go on line www.randolphcountyhumanesociety.com) and send us an email. We want to thank all of you that have helped us in the past, present and future, for all your continued support. Because of you we continue to save lives, one by one.

Sincerely,

Heidi Snyder, President

Randolph County Humane Society

618-443-3363