Irving House is near and dear to my heart for two resons. First, I
know what it is to have 'special needs' because I am severely visually impaired. And, second, I have never wanted to do anything
other than write books and take care of animals. So, when I realized the shelter system is not equipped for dealing with special
needs animals, including seniors, I knew I'd found my purpose.
The animals who come to
Irving House come with baggage. They are sick or they are old and sometimes they are both. They have been neglected, abandoned,
abused and overlooked. They are scared and even aggressive. They are not easy. We work to gain their trust and then their
love and we promise them no one ever again will hurt them. We make their time comfortable and happy and filled with love.
So often we hear how sad a situation is (an abandoned cat outside,
an injured dog alongside a busy highway) and how "somebody" should do something. Please take a moment to consider
YOU are "somebody" and even if all you do is get the animal to the nearest vet, you are doing something that can
make the difference between that pet living or dying.
Please, get involved
because turning away is not a solution, it is the biggest part of the problem.
Chris Hammer
Irving House is growing and we hope you will grow
with us and be a part of our incredible family. If you have room in your home and in your heart, consider becoming an Irving
House 'permanent family' foster. Let us know you are interested and we will send you an Agreement Application explaining your
role as one of the special people helping to care for one of our special animals. You supply the love and we supply
everything else and we cover the expense for it too!
~ IRVING HOUSE ANIMAL SANCTUARY ~
where special animals are cared for by special people... like you...
Pets in Our Lives
We aren't house-proud.
If we were, we wouldn't abide the scratches on the door-frame, the holes in the screen, the darkened shine of worn spots on
the chair. We would wince at the mottled carpet and fret at the hair clinging to our clothes. We don't. If anything, we lovers
of pets are a tolerant lot, finding greater value in the unabashed affection of our furry friends than immaculate sofas.
Things can be replaced, but faithful friends are timeless. Without pets, our homes are cold receptacles for things. Pets make
a fire warmer with their curled presence. They wake us, greet us, protect us, and ultimately carve a place in our hearts and
in our history. On reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our pets.
-- Paul Fersen (Author)
(Adapted and reprinted with permission of Francie
R. Remmert)
