Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
2
:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
3
:Hi everybody.
4
:This is Dixie with Unwanted Feline
organization, your host of Animal posse.
5
:Joining me today is Stephanie Smith.
6
:Stephanie is an animal lover, animal
advocate, and an independent rescuer.
7
:Hey, Stephanie
8
:Stephanie: hey.
9
:Dixie: Welcome to the show.
10
:I know the other day we spoke briefly on
the phone and you were talking about all
11
:these stories and rescues that you've
been involved in, and you talked about
12
:how you had a very successful social
media page that was getting a lot of
13
:information out there that got shut down.
14
:So I definitely wanna
talk about all of that.
15
:But before we get into that, can you
tell us a little bit about yourself?
16
:How is it that you.
17
:Became an independent rescuer,
an or an animal advocate.
18
:Stephanie: Let's see, back in 2022 I had a
friend call me, asked me if I could go and
19
:check this crate on the side of the road.
20
:Went and checked it.
21
:It was not a good thing
called animal control.
22
:They come out.
23
:It took a while to unscrew
the container the dog was in.
24
:It was in a container that you normally
take your dogs to the vet in or cats.
25
:The puppy, it was probably a six
month old puppy, probably younger.
26
:It was deceased.
27
:I'm not gonna go into details what was
going on with it because it was not good.
28
:And then I realized there was a problem.
29
:So I've always rescued
animals and took care of 'em.
30
:But that day I really got
involved with contacting.
31
:The mayor, Commonwealth attorney,
the Sheriff's Department trying
32
:to figure out what we could do
33
:and the problem that people
don't see is there's not enough
34
:manpower in these positions.
35
:And there's not enough people
like me , what I'm seeing is
36
:people get on the computer and
we call 'em keyboard warriors.
37
:If those keyboard warriors would actually
get up from behind that computer and
38
:start attending these city council
meetings the county meetings, , because
39
:there is two different entities
people need to understand there.
40
:, It is a true meaning when it
says it takes a village because
41
:it really does one person.
42
:Can make a little change, but it's
gonna take more than just one to get
43
:laws changed to help these animals.
44
:So let's fast forward a little bit.
45
:I had this page, it was going great.
46
:Had 14,000 followers.
47
:We were getting things done.
48
:We were getting animals rescued
from bad situations meeting a lot of
49
:other rescues from different states.
50
:I was on the phone.
51
:It's just me.
52
:I keep saying.
53
:We, but it was me.
54
:I made phone calls.
55
:I talked to sheriff's
departments in different towns.
56
:People would send me
photos, videos of an animal.
57
:I stayed in close contact with
different sheriff's departments
58
:'cause I couldn't actually get
in my car and drive 500 miles.
59
:But what information was coming into
me, I was translating back to them.
60
:I got a lot of animals
rescued just by doing that.
61
:Staying in contact with judges,
sheriffs, and you've got to be kind.
62
:You've gotta be kind.
63
:You can't go in there like
a bull in a China shop.
64
:You know these people.
65
:They work hard and there's not a lot
of them and I really feel bad for 'em.
66
:'Cause they do try and they get the blunt,
, people think they don't do anything.
67
:They really do try.
68
:They just don't have the manpower.
69
:Dixie: Let me interrupt
you for just one second.
70
:Stephanie: Sure.
71
:Dixie: What is the area that you are in?
72
:What state are you in?
73
:Stephanie: I'm in Kentucky, but I was
mainly gonna focus on Kentucky on my page.
74
:But I had so many people reaching
out from other states needing help.
75
:It's just not Kentucky,
it's just not Illinois.
76
:It's the whole United States
that's having problems.
77
:Dixie: So you were basically
sitting in front of your
78
:computer on your page, helping.
79
:Hundreds and hundreds of miles
away just by making phone calls
80
:and doing all those things.
81
:Yes.
82
:Wow.
83
:That's wonderful.
84
:Yes.
85
:Stephanie: I was not
being a keyboard warrior.
86
:There's a difference here.
87
:Dixie: Absolutely.
88
:Stephanie: When I say keyboard
warrior, I'm talking about someone
89
:that goes you need to go do something.
90
:Why don't somebody go help
that person or help that animal
91
:that is a keyboard warrior.
92
:I was seeing there was a problem and
I was taking those extra steps in,
93
:making phone calls collecting videos
from people that send it to me.
94
:Pictures, addresses people's names,
and I was getting it out there.
95
:To the correct people, like the police
department or the judges or who it may be.
96
:And I'm gonna tell you, I met a
lot on the phone, didn't meet 'em
97
:in person, and I'm over the phone.
98
:I met a lot of very kindhearted
sheriffs, judges, lawyers.
99
:They care.
100
:They care, but they can only go so far.
101
:And then it takes the citizens to jump in.
102
:It really takes a village.
103
:It takes all of us.
104
:Dixie: When you say that you need
the citizens to jump in, explain
105
:why you need that to happen.
106
:Stephanie: Okay.
107
:Let me give an example.
108
:I'll just give you an example that
something that happened to me if I was
109
:someone that did not get involved I seen
someone physically beating their dog.
110
:This really happened beating
their dog, kicking it, punching
111
:it really abusing this dog.
112
:Now, see, if I didn't get involved,
I could just shut my door and the
113
:problem would never get solved.
114
:The animal would continue to be
abused, but the person I am and
115
:the community and the citizens
getting involved, I stepped out.
116
:And said, you don't need
to hit that dog no more.
117
:And I was filming.
118
:People need to understand they
need, and I'm talking, they
119
:judges, lawyers, sheriffs.
120
:They need that proof,
that video, that photo.
121
:They need that proof.
122
:To be able to prove that
this is what's happening.
123
:So I took the initiative to get involved,
take the video, take the pictures.
124
:I called 9 1 1 and said,
Hey, send somebody out here.
125
:And that's what I mean
by getting involved.
126
:I didn't shut my door and.
127
:Just let it continue to
happen every single day.
128
:I got involved, I got it
stopped, and I had to stay on it.
129
:It's not something that resolved
that very day because it takes time.
130
:People think I did report it.
131
:Okay, just because you reported it.
132
:It takes time.
133
:They've got to build up the evidence and
get their, because when you go in front
134
:of a judge, you've gotta have proof.
135
:If somebody come up to you and said, Hey
John down here,, that's just an example.
136
:He's down here punching his dog well.
137
:You don't know if you can believe
it or not, but if they've got video
138
:evidence that's really happening,
that's what it's gonna take to get
139
:done.
140
:The citizens need to get involved.
141
:That's why it was called Citizens
Against Animal Abuse and Neglect,
142
:because it takes the citizens
getting involved, not just one.
143
:Not just one citizen.
144
:It takes the citizens,
everybody getting involved.
145
:I would go to meetings
down at the courthouse.
146
:They're gonna listen to 50
people instead of just one.
147
:And when you're the
only one standing there.
148
:It makes it look like you're the
chopper, because it's okay, wait,
149
:why is there just one of 'em?
150
:She's not, really pleading her case here.
151
:But if you've got 50 people behind you or
30 people saying the same thing, believing
152
:in the same thing, you're gonna get
more of a response, something happening.
153
:You've got to stick together.
154
:It does take people getting involved.
155
:Dixie: I'm glad you said something
too about the videoing because this is
156
:something that I see a lot of, especially
with people who trap and dump cats.
157
:You constantly see people saying,
oh, somebody trapped and dumped my
158
:cat, and they'll go on social media.
159
:They will complain and complain about it.
160
:And I'm like, today there is no reason
for you not to have video with the
161
:cell phones that we have available.
162
:Correct.
163
:It's easy to get video
and then not only that.
164
:If you are suspecting that somebody
is trapping and dumping, which is
165
:illegal, by the way, if you are
suspecting that somebody is doing that,
166
:you can even go get a game Camera.
167
:Game cameras are inexpensive,
so you can hide it somewhere
168
:where you can get that video.
169
:But a lot of people wanna invest
all that time complaining.
170
:Like you said, they don't go out and
physically do anything, and people
171
:will even tell 'em, you have to
go out, you have to get the video.
172
:You can't just say, so and so
is trapping and dumping cats.
173
:You need to get some kind of video proof
of it, and with, yes, with everything
174
:available, there really is no reason that
you can't get something like that done.
175
:It's easy, and if you can't afford.
176
:A game camera to set up, ask somebody else
because they might have one to lend you.
177
:Stephanie: They may even
have cameras on their house.
178
:I have even went to the extent of
people saying this is happening,
179
:and if it is in my area, if it's
not, I go on Google and look around.
180
:People may have cameras on their house.
181
:There's too many cameras.
182
:Too readily available nowadays.
183
:There's no excuse not to have cameras.
184
:And I'm glad that you said the trapping
and what you're saying, they're the cats.
185
:They don't want 'em in
their neighborhoods.
186
:And is that what you're getting at is
people's trapping 'em and relocating 'em?
187
:Dixie: So like in our area, okay.
188
:Yes.
189
:We have the TNR cats are considered Yes.
190
:Community cats.
191
:So yes, in my area they
are allowed to be there.
192
:A leash law does not
apply to a community cat.
193
:So if they're ear tipped and they're
around in an area and they're in
194
:A colony where they're well cared
for, they're allowed to be there.
195
:And you'll have people
that are just cat haters.
196
:Or animal haters.
197
:, They don't want to even see 'em.
198
:The cats don't even need
to go on their property.
199
:They don't wanna see 'em there, though.
200
:That's the problem.
201
:I understand situations where
they could actually be a nuisance
202
:and people, might not even be
feeding them in the correct place.
203
:They might not be feeding them enough.
204
:They might be.
205
:Feeding 'em to where they're leaving
food all around and then it does
206
:create a little bit of a nuisance.
207
:But to the ones that do it the correct
way, you'll just have these people that
208
:almost try to lure them into their yard
just so they could trap 'em and dump
209
:them, even if they're not bothering them.
210
:It's just like the sight
of them bothers them.
211
:They don't want them to be there, period.
212
:So they'll admit to neighbors that,
oh yeah, I trapped and dumped that
213
:one 'cause I didn't want it here.
214
:And it's like people will come out and
they'll be like, yeah, so and so that,
215
:lives next door to me trapped my cat.
216
:You don't have proof of it.
217
:They can tell you, there you
go, all they want that they
218
:trapped and dumped your cat.
219
:And you don't have any
proof of that though.
220
:So you need to have proof.
221
:You have to record it.
222
:, Exactly.
223
:And if you love animals, then you will
take that extra step to protect them.
224
:Stephanie: People need to realize
that animals don't have voices, so
225
:you have to be that voice for them.
226
:They've gotta remember.
227
:It's all hearsay unless there's proof.
228
:Video proof.
229
:Photo proof.
230
:I love video though.
231
:Let me tell you I started TNR
down at a place that I go to.
232
:I realized there was a big, major problem.
233
:So when I went to leave, I
immediately got on the phone.
234
:And this is what I'm trying
to get people to understand.
235
:It takes.
236
:You one person to get the ball rolling.
237
:I seen there was a problem, so
I financially could not do it.
238
:'cause there's 60 cats there and I
picked up the phone and made phone
239
:calls to people, I was like, Hey,
do you know somebody that can help
240
:me financially get these cats fixed?
241
:What do I need to do?
242
:Who do I need to call?
243
:And it ended up I did find
somebody that had a grant and
244
:was like, let's get 'em fixed.
245
:So let me tell you when I go and feed
'em, 'cause I feed 'em once a day.
246
:I do have an Amazon wishlist because I
can't financially feed all these cats.
247
:And plus I got cats of my own.
248
:I have a page, it's
called pet Blessing Box.
249
:It's got a blue box.
250
:And I'll talk about that in a
minute, but I do film when I go.
251
:First off, I did not start this just
by, Hey, I'm gonna start doing it.
252
:No, I found out who the
manager was of this park and.
253
:I asked them, it's a trailer park.
254
:I said, is it okay that I do this?
255
:This is what I'm gonna do.
256
:I'm gonna bring these cats back.
257
:They're gonna be fixed.
258
:They're going to have their
rabies shots and they'll have
259
:an ear tip when they come back.
260
:And if I'm lucky, can get 'em a home.
261
:Absolutely thrilled to
death that I was doing this.
262
:I have talked to, not all, but.
263
:90% of the residents in that
area, I'm very kind to 'em.
264
:I'm not rude.
265
:Some of them come out and said,
please don't fix these cats.
266
:I don't know who your
cat is out of 60 cats.
267
:I do film.
268
:I film when I feed.
269
:I don't film the people.
270
:I don't have the camera
filming everybody's.
271
:I'm very respectful.
272
:I film the cats when I feed 'em.
273
:I do take pictures of
the cats and I post it.
274
:That's one thing people need to
do to show what you're doing.
275
:If you're doing TNR, 'cause there's
somebody else in our area that does
276
:it too and does the same thing.
277
:It's to show the community
what you're doing for one,
278
:and also to protect yourself.
279
:And there's just a lot of
reasons that you need to do it.
280
:But if people are trapping these
cats and taking 'em and dumping 'em,
281
:people need to get that on recording
or maybe, go up to push record on
282
:your phone and go up and talk to 'em
and say, Hey, are you doing this?
283
:And if so, why?
284
:How can we fix this?
285
:Because I had a neighbor in
my neighborhood doing the
286
:same thing, trapping the cats
that I was getting fixed.
287
:He said, I didn't like the
cats coming in my yard.
288
:And I said there is
deterrence that you can buy.
289
:There's stuff that you can put around in
your yard and I do tell 'em the benefits.
290
:Cats keep mice and snakes and
things that you don't want coming
291
:in your home or around your home.
292
:They keep 'em down.
293
:So maybe talk to 'em about that
as well, if that's what they're
294
:doing, but definitely get that.
295
:Proof that they're doing it.
296
:Dixie: Yeah.
297
:See, I had a situation
a couple of months ago.
298
:We have a feral and he
had passed away suddenly.
299
:Stephanie: Oh no.
300
:Dixie: I went back on my cameras and
I looked, from . The time that we fed
301
:him the day before to the time that
we found him, we looked at all angles.
302
:Just 'cause I wanted to make
sure that nobody did come,
303
:intentionally put some food out.
304
:Or something to harm him.
305
:In this case, no.
306
:It turned out when we told my vet , her
best guess would be like, he threw like
307
:a blood clot or something like that,
and that just caused him to pass away.
308
:But it was beneficial to have those
cameras to know that we knew that
309
:nobody came and gave him something
that he wasn't supposed to get.
310
:Nobody came and harmed him.
311
:And at least that gave us some bit of
closure on that, because it's upsetting
312
:when they're fine one day and they're
like that the next and you just
313
:don't know what could have happened.
314
:You don't want somebody coming up and
kicking him or hitting him or leaving out
315
:something that he should not be eating.
316
:And at least with those cameras,
it did give us that peace of mind.
317
:'cause and it took us a long
time, but we went back and we
318
:watched every single angle.
319
:To track him to see where he was.
320
:And he never left the property.
321
:He stayed within the property,
so nobody did harm him.
322
:So it was just, like I said,
peace of mind knowing that
323
:Stephanie: Oh absolutely.
324
:Yeah.
325
:You've got to have that
proof most definitely.
326
:Dixie: Tell us a little bit
about the pet Blessing box.
327
:Stephanie: I noticed that there was on
the pages that I follow, people would
328
:be on there asking for cat food or
dog food, that they couldn't make it.
329
:Maybe a couple of days until
their next payday or whatever.
330
:So at my church, we have a
blessing box for the people and
331
:I thought this is something that
nobody has around here for pets.
332
:So I talked to my church
and they were great with it.
333
:They said That would be awesome.
334
:I gave my husband a plan
on how I wanted it built.
335
:So he built it and we installed it.
336
:Because I didn't have my
Citizens page anymore which
337
:I have been trying to appeal.
338
:Since May of what?
339
:Of 2025?
340
:I'm still trying to get it back.
341
:It's just sitting there.
342
:I went ahead and made the
pet blessing box page.
343
:People send me food to feed the
cats in the colony down here.
344
:And they also send me food or.
345
:People can stop and put food in the box.
346
:The box has helped a lot of people.
347
:I've had people contact me and say,
Hey, just for a couple of days,
348
:a lot of times I'll take it to
'em, 'cause some people don't have
349
:cars, so I'll take the food to 'em.
350
:Sometimes they'll meet me over there.
351
:To make sure that they actually get the
food, 'cause I don't wanna put it in the
352
:box and somebody else come and take it
when this person's in need right now.
353
:So the box is there basically . A person
can put food and they'll have like pet
354
:clothes and collars and that's just fine.
355
:Anything for a pet people put in it.
356
:And I've known it's helped a lot of
people and I'm really thrilled because
357
:it was something I was hoping that would.
358
:Be like a virus and spread, people
would start picking it up and
359
:doing it, other places would do it.
360
:So now out by the mall area, they
have a pet blessing box out there now.
361
:It's taken time, but it's happening
and I'm glad that it's happening.
362
:Because . We don't need just one.
363
:We need more than just one
box because it's just not in
364
:this area that needs help.
365
:It's all over.
366
:I do ask people, I put a sign in
there because, and I know this is
367
:going off topic, but I did reach out
to people and talk to 'em in other
368
:states that had pet blessing boxes.
369
:When people put things in boxes,
this is even in the people box,
370
:they need to cut that barcode off.
371
:'cause I didn't know people actually
take the items and try to return 'em.
372
:I learn something every day.
373
:A lot of times I write donated on the food
because people will take it and resell it.
374
:Even if the barcode's gone
they try to resell it.
375
:It's just part of it.
376
:Dixie: Wow.
377
:Stephanie: But that was off topic, so
378
:Dixie: It's good information
to know because I will tell
379
:you I feel inspired now.
380
:I am already thinking about going
to approach a few churches in
381
:my area with a pet blessing box.
382
:'cause that is a phenomenal idea.
383
:Stephanie: I'm gonna tell you something.
384
:It says a lot about a church when.
385
:They love animals.
386
:To me that means a lot.
387
:And I've had people reach out from
Wisconsin California, different
388
:areas and ask where the church is.
389
:I'm like it's in Kentucky, and they
said if it was here we would go because
390
:with a church caring about animals also.
391
:That means a lot.
392
:And another thing that I'm gonna talk to
my pastor about is having pet blessings.
393
:Set aside a day aside for our pastor
to bless an bless animals, for people
394
:to come up and bring their animals
to be blessed because to me, animals.
395
:Have souls and they're gonna go
where we're going and they're
396
:gonna wait up in heaven for us.
397
:I just, I feel that way.
398
:I feel that they've been put here
to comfort us, to show us what
399
:true love is, and they should be
treated kindly and they, they need
400
:blessings too, just like we do.
401
:So that's something I've been
meaning to talk to my pastor about
402
:is ha setting a day up for that.
403
:Absolutely.
404
:And encourage people to to donate.
405
:And also the news station
around here did a story on it.
406
:On the box to try to get the
word out so people know that
407
:the box is there to donate.
408
:Let's help each other.
409
:'cause we do come up on hard
times, especially nowadays,
410
:and there's a lot of elderly
people that has called and
411
:said, I don't know what to do.
412
:Do I feed myself?
413
:Do I buy my medicine?
414
:Or do I get my pets some food?
415
:If you can offer just a little
bag of food that takes a lot of
416
:pressure off of somebody, and
plus you're feeding that animal.
417
:Dixie: Yeah, it does.
418
:And it keeps them in a home because I
don't think a lot of people realize how
419
:difficult it is to rehome an adult animal,
and not just because of the scarcity of
420
:homes for them, but it's also so stressful
for the animal that a lot of times
421
:, especially like an older cat will grieve
themselves to death because they're used
422
:to being with one person their whole life.
423
:If you're on hard times, it's a
lot easier for you to ask for help
424
:and ask for food and ask for litter
than it is to rehome that animal.
425
:Stephanie: Yes ma'am.
426
:And I've got an example, matter
of fact, he's listed on my page
427
:on the Pet Blessing Box page.
428
:I need to film him.
429
:Prime example, this very elderly
orange cat shows up at my house
430
:not a couple of weeks ago.
431
:It is very heartbreaking.
432
:It hurts my soul to no
end because this cat.
433
:Walks around crying, crying, walk, comes
in the house, goes room to room, crying.
434
:I know he's looking for somebody.
435
:So he come in one day and he had a
little blood on his lip, so I took
436
:him to vet and yes, this cat is
elderly and she did agree with me.
437
:Someone dumped him.
438
:I think maybe an elderly person passed
away or maybe got put in a nursing
439
:home and the family didn't want it.
440
:So they thought, oh, let's drop
it at Stephanie's house 'cause
441
:she's got all these other cats,
and boop, they dropped it.
442
:What people don't understand.
443
:Animals imprint on us, and they
can Google it, they can read it.
444
:They are just like people.
445
:They imprint on us.
446
:They love us.
447
:We are their family.
448
:We are their mom, we're their dad.
449
:We are their human.
450
:And that's what's important to them.
451
:And this poor cat is walking around
looking for its person and can't find it.
452
:He cannot find his person and he cries
453
:and he's grieving.
454
:The first couple of days he didn't eat
and because I took the time with him
455
:and I held him and just showed him some
compassion, he's starting to eat now,
456
:but he's still looking for his person.
457
:Because I'm not his person.
458
:And people don't realize what
they do to these animals.
459
:Dixie: Lately in my area, we've been
having a lot of people trying to
460
:rehome senior cats and Yeah, currently
they're in a home and they'll have
461
:these random reasons why they cannot
keep their 10, 11-year-old cat.
462
:But I'm gonna say in the last week it was
about eight cats that I saw that people
463
:were trying to re, that is so broken.
464
:And I know I've spoken to two different
people and I'm very frank with them
465
:because as a rescuer, I feel it's my
responsibility to, to educate them.
466
:And I will tell them that, look.
467
:, I understand you might have something
going on in your life, I understand
468
:that, but I also want you to understand
that rehoming, these elderly cats,
469
:'cause I mean they are seniors at
this time and I'm like, yeah, they've
470
:been with one person their whole
life and I'm like, rehoming them.
471
:They are likely going to
grieve themselves to death.
472
:And it happens all the time.
473
:And I've had two people cry this
week because I've told them that.
474
:But at the same time, it's also something
that needs to be said because a lot of
475
:the times I think they just think they'll
just go into a new home and they're fine.
476
:And it does, they'll never be fine.
477
:Yeah.
478
:It doesn't work that way, and a
younger one you might have a better
479
:chance at, but even the younger ones
grieve, they get really pissed off.
480
:Stephanie: I read because I wanted to
find out when they imprint on a person.
481
:I'm thinking it takes now,
don't quote me on this.
482
:I think they could get up to six months
old or six weeks old and imprint on you.
483
:They imprint fast.
484
:People need to take that in consideration,
they need to sit and think that's
485
:like getting rid of their child?
486
:I know people get mad at me when I
it's different than a human child.
487
:I get that, but.
488
:They love us.
489
:These animals love us.
490
:And when you take an animal,
you take that animal for life.
491
:Don't take that animal just 'cause
it's cute, and it's gonna get older and
492
:you're gonna get older and life changes.
493
:And you just need to know
that when life changes, that
494
:animal's gonna stay with you.
495
:I don't think I've ever
re-homed an animal, not mine.
496
:All the cats that I
have been dumped on me.
497
:When the pandemic hit, I never had cats.
498
:Not that I hated 'em, I
just had dogs and chickens.
499
:But when the pandemic hits, someone
dumped 22 cats on me and I thought,
500
:oh my gosh, what am I gonna do?
501
:What I did, I reached out, I
got 'em fixed, and there you go.
502
:And I feed 'em every day.
503
:And they love me and I love them.
504
:I didn't ask for 'em.
505
:They just were dumped on me.
506
:But I'm not gonna be mean to 'em.
507
:Dixie: Let me ask you
before we end the call.
508
:You had this very successful
social media page, you said it
509
:was citizens against Animal Abuse
and Neglect, so it got shut down.
510
:Yes.
511
:What led to it Getting shut down
512
:Stephanie: and I had no idea why
Facebook did not send me an email.
513
:All my admins were took
off and . I've sent appeal.
514
:I've all but begged.
515
:Please somebody call me, email me, let
me know why my page was, the page is
516
:sitting there, it's just sitting idle.
517
:And I knew something was up because a day
or two I wouldn't be able to get on it.
518
:And then I'd be able to get on it and
then I wouldn't be able to get on it.
519
:And then I had to go through the back
door through Instagram to get on it.
520
:And so I put on there, to follow my
Instagram account because I was trying
521
:to keep my page going and they shut
my Instagram down and my Facebook.
522
:They didn't shut it down.
523
:It's still floating out there.
524
:I can't get on it.
525
:It's, I don't know what happened.
526
:Like I said, I never got
any kind of notification of
527
:why no explanation, nothing.
528
:And so I have wrote.
529
:Facebook since May.
530
:Please, what do I need to
do to get my page back?
531
:This page made a lot of differences
in animals' lives and what do I need?
532
:And never have I heard
anything back from anybody.
533
:So I know a lot of people didn't like
me and and everybody knows in rescue.
534
:I don't understand it.
535
:I may never understand why one
rescuer may not like the other one.
536
:That makes no sense to me.
537
:If we could all work together,
what a difference we could make.
538
:If it was reported, I
would know who did it.
539
:I can't prove, so it's just
my mind thinking, who did it?
540
:Because there is people that felt
offended because, and rescue, if
541
:you do one step ahead of anybody
else, they're gonna get angry.
542
:And what better way to lash
out than to keep reporting and
543
:try to get your page shut down?
544
:And they succeeded.
545
:Whatever, whoever did it,
whatever, they succeeded because
546
:now I can't access the page.
547
:So if anybody knows of anything, anybody
I can reach out to, they'd be great.
548
:I've tried to figure out
how to get back on it.
549
:I've reached out to people
and they're like me.
550
:They don't.
551
:Really know how Facebook works.
552
:Dixie: Yeah.
553
:It's a shame when you're out there trying
to do so much good and then something like
554
:that happens and then, the ego with some
people that are in rescue is a lot too.
555
:'cause you do have these
people that are selfless.
556
:They will help anybody, they'll
help any rescue, they don't care.
557
:They just wanna get animals to safety.
558
:And then you have these other
people, they just want the glory.
559
:Stephanie: Yes.
560
:Yes.
561
:And I will say another thing that I've
seen that questions that makes me question
562
:, if you're gonna start a Facebook
group that is a lost in found group.
563
:Don't block people.
564
:Those kind of groups do
not need to block people.
565
:Whe whether you don't like people or
not, because that is strictly for helping
566
:the animals, and it shouldn't be about.
567
:Getting you the glory.
568
:Because we do have several groups in our
area that are lost and found and they
569
:block all the rescue groups in this area.
570
:So how is that group even helping animals?
571
:They're really not.
572
:That's another big thing.
573
:You need to put your feelings
aside when it comes to this.
574
:Does that make sense?
575
:Dixie: Definitely.
576
:I actually run a few lost and found pet
groups , I'm not the only admin, there
577
:are several admins on these groups.
578
:Yes.
579
:And what we do is a lot of the
times we pre-approve the rescues.
580
:Because we want them on our pages
looking to make sure that either they
581
:don't see that animal or, and we've
had many successful reunions because
582
:we have so many rescuers on there.
583
:They can spot a difference between
a cat and another cat or a dog and
584
:another dog like you wouldn't believe.
585
:And so there's so many pages that when
they're on there and they see matches.
586
:We get 'em reunited all
the time because of that.
587
:Because we have all
these rescuers on there.
588
:And the shelters too.
589
:Yeah.
590
:Stephanie: You need all hands on
deck, and the more the merrier.
591
:I know these groups around here,
they even have animal control.
592
:The shelter, they have 'em all blocked.
593
:And that's, I know that's off topic, but I
could go on for hours about things that I
594
:wish people would see what they're doing.
595
:A lot of people, I feel like they
get into it for the wrong reason.
596
:I think they get into it for the glory,
the shine, the get their name out there.
597
:That's not what it's about.
598
:It's about saving animals and
making life for animals better.
599
:Dixie: Absolutely.
600
:Thank you so much for coming
on to speak with me today.
601
:I enjoyed listening to everything
that you do and like I said, I'm
602
:definitely gonna start reaching
out about getting PET Blessing
603
:boxes around, because that is Yes.
604
:Phenomenal idea.
605
:Stephanie: Yes.
606
:If anybody knows anything I need to do
to get that page back, citizens Against
607
:Animal Abuse and Neglect have them contact
me because I've really tried hard to
608
:get it back and I've been unsuccessful.
609
:And check out my page Pet Blessing Box.
610
:'cause I do post about a lot
of animals and what I do.
611
:Because I dibble into a lot of things, not
just TNR and, anything to do with animals.
612
:I'm gonna try my best to help 'em out.
613
:Dixie: Yeah, definitely.
614
:I'll get that page from you and
I'll include that in the show notes,
615
:so anybody that wants to check
it out can go take a look at it.
616
:Stephanie: Okay.
617
:Thank you so much.
618
:. Dixie: That's it for today's episode.
619
:I wanna thank everybody for
listening and supporting us.
620
:If you wanna take that an extra
step, consider becoming a member.
621
:We just added this to our
website, animalposse.com,
622
:scroll down, look for the support tab.
623
:Our membership program is going to
help us directly support animals
624
:in need, whether that be through
vaccinations, food or spay neuter efforts.
