What John says is very true. And I know for a fact that @rhondak feed the @tarc animals before she feeds herself. One of my donations in the summer meant that she could afford mustard sandwiches to go with her serving of lawn greens instead of spending every penny of her grocery money on dog food.

I've been following the Tazewell Animal Rescue Coalition (@tarc) since before it had a name. I've seen her beg her community for support. Beg them to treat their animals with just a modicum of decency. Beg them to at least obey the mediocre animal welfare laws of the area. But the area is so poverty-stricken that thinking of animals as anything more than disposable is beyond most of them. And those who try to support her often find themselves facing opposition in the community, where the leaders would prefer things stay as they are.

Rhonda takes in abandoned, abused, and neglected animals. She does what she can to get them the necessary vet care and to do whatever training is needed to get them into loving homes. Unfortunately not all can be rehomed responsibly and those have permanent home with her in sanctuary care. Most of the animals she can rehome are transported North--often at her expense--for adoption through rescues and organizations in more affluent areas.

Her greatest dream is to some day be able to fund a low cost spay and neuter program to help put a stop to the tidal wave of unwanted animals. There are no programs of that sort available to her community. She works with a wonderful vet, but the vet has expenses as well.

This is an organization where 50 steem will make a huge difference. This is an organization where every penny or partial penny MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

I remember Eve. Her story is quite the tear-jerker. If not for Rhonda, she'd have died from the cold or the infection.... unless a fox or other predator got to her first. That is the fate of many unwanted animals in that part of Appalachia. Eve is lucky Rhonda came along at the right moment to give her a happy ending.