Humane Society Foster Shelter (Suzzie Pollard)

Delivery of donations must be coordinated so please call & let me know your on the way!!

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Suzzie Pollard is a friend to all animals in Hancock County, MS. She offers up her home as a safe and loving haven of hope and care to the overflow for the local Humane Society, as well as taking in special needs stray animals. Many of the animals she fosters have been with her since the early post Katrina days.

Let us not forget that humans have the wherewithall, the means and the ability to pick themselves up, pull their boot straps on, and carry on in their recovery from a disaster such as what hit our Gulf Region when Katrina landed 8/29/05. However, animals are dependent on their human counterparts to help them stay alive and are dependent on us to be fed, loved and cared for. They deserve the same respect and help as any living, breathing human soul.

Suzzie can't do this alone. She goes out daily and feeds the stray ferrel in the Hancock County area. So far she's relied on the kindness of distribution centers and some generous donors, but she has no ongoing support for her efforts. She goes above and beyond and digs into her own pockets to assist these helpless four-legged friends. This is a crisis that doesn't get any better as time goes on.

Most, if not all of the animal advocacy and rescue groups have vacated their presence in Hancock County. You no longer see animals being transported to other parts of the country for rehabilitation, reunions with their families, or adoptions. Suzzie spends some time online seeking out adoption matches, but with the long term recovery efforts people just aren't clamouring to take on one more responsibility with so much already on their plates.

There are two types of animals Suzzie classifies:

The "storm crazed" are those that were former pets, left behind (or lost) by owners/residents that could no longer care for them (or find them). There is hope for these creatures even though they've had to resort to their wilder instincts for survival. Once an animal has been domesticated, with the right loving and rehabilitating environment, they can be re-introduced to living the life as a member of a new family for adoption.

The 'ferrel group' were either already strays to begin with, or are the offspring of ferrels and pre-domesticated animals living on the loose. Many of the dogs travel in packs. They eat whatever they can find in trash/debri heaps, out of trash bins and it's a dangerous thing for them considering all the toxins in this environment. They've not had the benefit of a regular diet, vaccinations or the touch of a human hand in an entire year (or ever in the ferrel case). Many live in or under abandoned houses that were destroyed by Katrina. Sometimes it's taken Suzzie months to coax an animal out from under a house, and then another 4 months to get them to accept the touch and love of a human. Some of the ferrel cats are being adopted by local farmers (and residents as well) to take care of the over population of rats that have begun to plague this area since the storm.

Before any animal is matched for adoption, they receive a health exam, vaccinations, spaying/neutering. If they are ferrel their ears are clipped and they are released. If there is hope for adoption Suzzie works her rehab magic with these animals so that another family can be blessed to add them to their circle.

Suzzie lives, sleeps, eats and breathes her rescue efforts. She needs our help so she can continue to provide food and care for these animals. Please, let us again not forget our responsibility to all of God's creatures. You can make a major difference by providing financial support or sending the much needed supplies she's listed here on the database.

Thanks and blessings!

Leslie Teltoe
Citizen Action Team Resource Database Volunteer