What exactly is Hopes Haven? Well, it's located in rural W Salem on beautiful acreage, owned and operated by the one and only Marsha Chambers. Can I just say this...Marsha is amazing. I can say that because she has no idea I'm writing this, but I will probably be in trouble once I hit publish. Marsha started Hopes Haven after a devastating case of dog abuse that sent her life into a tailspin of action to help dogs. Marsha has a heart as big as Texas. I don't know if it's comprehendible to the lay person how many dogs come in and out of the small operation called Hopes Haven. With that said, let me say this...IT'S CRAZINESS! Pure. Craziness. How else would it be when you are running around frantically trying to save the lives of dogs that don't have a chance anywhere else? Here is the woman that makes it all possible...MARSHA!
Hopes Haven is run by a handful of volunteers, all of which have families, lives and jobs. Hopes Haven takes in dogs from owners, shelters, the street, you name it! There are dogs coming and going all the time and half the time one volunteer doesn't know what the other is doing. We try so hard for these dogs and so many times it's a success! Marsha watches so many dogs being handed off to homes that are amazing beyond anything we could have dreamed up in our heads. Every day is like a whirlwind, yet an amazing one where you wake up the next morning and think...what dog's life is going to be changed today? But yet you know your own life will change when you see the heartache and abuse of a dog turn in to love and joy when that dog is adopted by someone that truly sees their value.
There is a point to all of this and here it is. We try so hard EVERY day to do the best work we can to help as many dogs as possible. Sometimes we fail. Sometimes we don't call back or we don't answer an email because we forget. We don't mean to. We are trying as best we can and we want to help you find YOUR dog. We receive a ton of applications for which we are so THANKFUL. We can't get through them all and many times we can't contact everyone. I wish we could, but we unfortunately don't have the manpower because...well...it's the best we can do.
Sigh. This is how the volunteers feel during those moments when we realize we have failed someone.
Thank you for all of our adopters and foster families. You makes Hopes Haven possible. Without you, it would all be nothing. There are no words to express the gratitude we feel when that perfect match comes along for a dog that you think would never be adopted. Or when a foster steps forward, just when you need them! As Marsha says "there is a lid for every pot". Here are some examples of our lids and pots!
Thank you all for your understanding and patience with us! Hopes Haven and the volunteers involved try so hard for the dogs and their potential owners and fosters. We love you! Now I will leave you with a few pictures of Hopes Haven! Take care everyone!
Until next time,
Katie(one of those volunteers ;))
Katie, you are awesome! This actually brought a tear to my eye! We do try hard and we do make a difference everyday in the life of a dog! We are small but mighty and couldn't do it without all our volunteers and foster families. Its frustrating and rewarding all at the same time!
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this, I hope everyone reads it and understands.
Bonnie (another Volunteer)