Tazewell ARC

27/11/2024

Tazewell ARC as an entity no longer exists, but that doesn't mean our work has stopped. We invite all followers of this page to check out Manor Miravalles Animal Sanctuary, which is standing tall for the welfare of domestic animals in the jungles of Costa Rica. Far away from the politics of U.S. government overreach, volunteers have been able to make great inroads for the cause of animals, including very effective spay/neuter campaigns in rural areas. Have a look and see what you think!

30/07/2020

One of the last posts we were able to make before Facebook restricted our account for unknown reasons was about Hinda's puppies. Many may remember Hinda, the street dog from Sidi Bouzid who popped out a litter of puppies the first night of coronavirus lockdown. We are heartbroken to report that all seven of these puppies, plus five from another dog named Arqua, had not yet finished their vaccine series when their quarantine area became contaminated (most likely by flying insects that became vectors from the corpses of another litter of dead puppies the owner failed to bury.) All twelve of the puppies in our care died. It was one of the most horrific outcomes in all the years TARC has worked to educate, vaccinate, sterilize, and protect dogs in some of the most underserved and challenged communities imagineable.

We're moving on now, currently treating another parvo puppy we found short-chained to a pole in the blazing sun. We'll begin sharing updates about "Jesse" tonight as well. We've also returned Arqua to her owner after rehabilitating her broken leg. She is now spayed and fully vaccinated. We have a working business plan to reincorporate as a U.S. LLC and nonprofit and have a written proposal for town leaders about cooperative TNR efforts in Azemmour. Changing the face of animal welfare in Morocco will be a marathon, not a sprint. It won't come after one save or two saves or even a hundred devastating losses. But we can't just throw our hands up and say, "nothing can be done." Something can ALWAYS be done. Stay tuned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCR2W6nxGwk&fbclid=IwAR2wzMnU3kCpl9qGpGjrNooVbYAmQyQ0ElHZFJxHGT_l4BZG_REL_PeDRLI

We buried them by the sea, all twelve of them. They are missed. We have twelve puppy-sized holes in our hearts. We must work harder to raise awareness, raise...

30/07/2020

Much has happened in the past few months. Facebook had blocked our account at one point without telling us why. Hopefully that is resolved now so we can continue posting from this page.

We lost all seven of Hinda's puppies to an extremely virulent form of parvovirus. We lost Arqua's five as well. Those twelve had received one vaccine, but we were never able to raise enough money to pay for vaccines at the equivalent of $20 a pop so the puppies were sitting ducks for infection. We now know how to get viable vaccines in much the same way we got them in the U.S, from a reputable dealer who works with animal welfare organizations to make rescue in high risk conditions possible.

We'll post more information in the days to come because we have happy stories to tell as well, not just tragic ones. For tonight, we'll leave everyone with the thought of this tiny, starved kitten who enjoyed a personal meal of sardines tonight in the medina after we watched him struggle to eat ridiculously inappropriate foodstuff from a dumpster. Will he survive? It's doubtful. Too many diseases have been circulating in Azemmour for too long to expect this to end overnight. It will take years. But our goal as the re-branded "TransAtlantic Animal Relief Coaliton" is to vaccinate and sterilize everything, and hopefully over time not only will the populations become diminished, but healthy as well.

29/07/2020

This is a test post.

Several weeks ago, we received nasty communication from Facebook that our page violates a policy they did not specify. We reached out to Facebook for assistance with this matter and our communication was ignored. I don't know how we are supposed to resolve a problem if we don't know what the problem is. So let's see what happens with this post, shall we?

27/05/2020

New website, new blog post talking about our ventures in Morocco!

This article contains a link to our Patreon account. We need monthly sponsors--would you consider donating through Patreon? We also have a PayPal link at the bottom of the article. PayPal is great and has served us well, but Patreon would be a great tool for us if we could get some momentum going. It's notoriously difficult to start a new account on any form of social media and it usually takes a push from existing supporters. We have very attainable levels of $5, $10, and $25. We have also published specific goals if certain targets are reached. Second vaccines are coming due for a lot of animals here, so any help you can offer will be deeply appreciated.

One never knows what emergencies might make us change our minds, but right now there is no plan to intake any more animals until a reliable fundraising system is in place. We will, however, be producing A LOT of content in both written and video format, so please follow along!

Thank you!

http://abroadworld.press/?p=159

animals Introducing “Abroad World,” Where Animals, Travel, and Publishing All Live Happily Ever After by Rhonda|Published May 27, 2020 I never dreamed that Africa would be my future. When I was growing up in the Deep South, a region of the U.S. that is typically conservative and even a bit clois...

17/05/2020

Hello. Some big changes happening with TARC, so keep your eye on us!

For those who don't know, the TARC Director, Rhonda Kay, has landed in Morocco right in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown. This was not by design; we see it as a very fortunate accidental encounter with destiny.

Major differences exist between Morocco and the U.S. Remarkably, these differences may result in the evolution of a much more efficient, humane, and lifesaving system of stray dog and cat management than we have seen in the U.S. or other developed nations.

Municipal shelters are not a factor in Morocco. Previously, street dogs and cats were killed with bullets or poison, but recent legislation is ending that practice as Morocco emerges as a developing and progressive nation. Communities feed and care for their street dogs and cats. Sometimes resources are limited, but the effort is there and we've seen vigorous and heartfelt efforts to feed and treat medical issues even when there is no budget for veterinary care.

What this means is that in Morocco, one hundred percent of our efforts can be put into sterilization and vaccination of feral cat and dog populations. There is no "death row" in shelters or urgent need to "place" any of these animals. No resources will ever be wasted on warehousing them or disposing of their bodies after lethal injection or gassing. Every dime, every labor of love goes directly toward sterilizing them, vaccinating against rabies not only for their benefit but for public safety, and releasing them right back to the streets they love and call home.

TARC will occasionally post about specific animals needing TNR or other medical services. We are also willing to manage funds that are given for those specific causes. Please contact us here on Facebook if you have questions.

14/05/2020

I'm facing some issues here in Morocco that may require a decision, the kind of decision that not only impacts my own life but every life connected to mine. I thought I had retired TARC the nonprofit, and I have, actually--the Tazewell ARC iteration of it, anyway. But what if the work is still calling to me in another country? What if Africa is my future, and TARC's?

I wrote an article about the choices I may have to make and you can find it at the following link. Perhaps give a thought to sharing it--I would like to get a sense of how much international support I might have for a project like this. Because amid all the things I do not know, one thing I understand with total clarity is that this is not the kind of endeavor one undertakes alone.
https://hive.blog/tarc//tarc-2-0

“I said, ‘Somebody should do something about that.’ Then I realized, I am somebody.” Above is a famous quote from… by tarc

13/05/2020

Huge THANK YOU to all the people who gave so these puppies could get their initial core disease vaccines! They had those administered a few days ago, and as you can see, they're healthy and happy and growing like little weeds. Around the first of June they'll be ready for their second vaccine in this series as well as deworming. After that comes a third vaccine, a rabies vaccine, microchipping, sterilization, and a trip across international borders to find forever homes!

08/05/2020

Puppies, puppies, puppies! Hinda made some beautiful ones.

For anyone not familiar with her story, here is a link: https://hive.blog/life//finding-my-place-in-the-world We later updated everyone with information that Hinda was already pregnant and past the point of safe sterilization surgery. She had nine puppies on March 20, two of which failed to thrive and died almost immediately. The remaining seven did well and it's now time for their first puppy shots.

Let's find some sponsors for these cuties! Would you like to get involved with the work we're doing here in Morocco? This would be an excellent way. You can sponsor one puppy for $20 USD or find a friend to help you sponsor a puppy at $10 from each of you. We will provide proof of vaccines to each person who gives so you will know your money went for exactly the purpose you intended.

TARC is no longer a nonprofit because we're are working outside the U.S. For larger donations that require a tax receipt, please donate through our affiliate organization, ERHAM. For these pups, though, it's best to send directly through PayPal. Our ID is [email protected] . Make a note through PayPal about which puppy you are sponsoring. This is a great cause and we hope you'll get on board!

This is the first vaccine in a series of three that will be administered before these pups receive a rabies vaccine at twelve weeks. We will be seeking adoptive homes for these pups in the UK through rescue partnerships there and are prepared to meet all requirements for entry into the United Kingdom, which are complex but not impossible. We'll consider adopting to families in the U.S. and Canada but adopter must assume cost of transportation, and this will not be possible until Moroccan borders open again for international travel.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life everywhere, but we'll keep saving animals with every resource at our disposal. For now, we need to get these babies vaccinated so we can protect them against parvovirus, which is quite prevalent in Morocco. They don't deserve to be infected with that. Immunization is the only way to guarantee their safety.

Thank you!

29/04/2020

Our work continues here in Morocco, even during lockdown. Yesterday, a banging on our door led us to discover that a neighbor's dog had fallen off the roof and injured herself badly, and community children were begging us to help her.

Rooftops are a common place to see dogs here in Morocco, as most often they are terraces with gardens and sitting areas. Ours is the same way and we keep dogs up there as well. A tumble from these heights is unusual, since most terraces are walled in a way that provides safe areas for human children and pets to play. We're not sure how Arqua came to land on the pavers below, but she didn't walk away from it. She ended up with a leg broken above the stifle joint and a whole lot of pain.

Arqua is an interesting case. She's one of the unfortunate dogs "trained" in Morocco to guard property, but the "training" involves negative enforcement and harassment until the dog finally snaps. Immediately upon examining her, though, I noticed a strong urge in her to be affectionate. Plus, she's nursing five puppies. It would be unconscionable to just do nothing.

We convinced the owner to let us have her spayed if we agreed to help, quite a feat since they intended to use her for breeding stock. The puppy trade here in Morocco is no less abominable than the puppy mills and backyard breeder market of America, but there's a different motivation. It's less greed than a desperate attempt to earn money to feed hungry children, not for pocket change to buy drugs or alcohol or support other vices. It's still wrong, animals still suffer, but the people are different. They're more willing to consider alternatives. Even just the opportunity to have a conversation with Arqua's owner about other choices has made this a win.

Now we have to follow through. Dr. Abdelbaki Zryouil came immediately to examine Arqua, but had to postpone treatment due to her aggressive behavior. I was able to get her safely muzzled yesterday so he returned and was able to confirm that her leg is indeed broken and prescribed a course of treatment. This will involve lots of rest and restricted movement, with the possibility of surgery down the road if the bones don't knit together properly.

For now, we need to raise $100 USD to cover the expenses of care Arqua has already received as well as vaccinations to come next week. This is a tiny amount compared to funds we've raised in the past for needy animals, so I feel sure we can find a few people to sponsor her, even in these tough economic times. She will have more expenses down the road, such as spay surgery and possibly an orthopedic procedure if her leg doesn't heal the way it should. But we'll cross those bridges when we come to them. Right now, we just need to take things one step at a time and cover the cost of treatment she has already received as well as rabies and core disease vaccines in the very near future. Our PayPal address to donate is: [email protected] .

TARC no longer operates at a 501c3 so please make a note of this. Donations are not write-offs, but they definitely go to the purpose advertised rather than disappear into some mysterious bank account while animals go uncared for. Our long-time supporters will verify this a thousand times over--we do what we say we will do with the funds you donate. Be mindful, though, that this is Morocco. Paper trails are virtually nonexistent here, which is one reason that retainining 501c3 status to work in a developing country did not seem reasonable, especially since no funds are warehoused in U.S. banks or any other banks, for that matter. They go directly to the expense we have posted to tell you about. Just as we've done with Hinda, the Sidi Bouzid street dog we helped last year, we will keep you updated with progress reports, photos and videos. There is a new update about Hinda coming soon.

And for those who really want to get involved and see up close what we're doing--after the pandemic is over and travel is possible again, we will be able to accomdate guests right here at the River House so curious supporters can visit Azemmour and see the work firsthand! This was always a dream for us in the States but we lacked everything we needed to make that happen. Not in Morocco! So everyone, please stay safe and dream of Africa. We'd love to have you for a visit.

12/04/2020

Recently, I introduced everyone to Evangeline, a mother cat dumped in the Azemmour medina with her five kittens. We took Evangeline and her litter in on behalf of ERHAM and are pleased to report they are all doing well.

But that isn't where the story ends! A few days later, I came upon a litter of kittens that were being murdered by a gang of starving street cats and managed to save one before he was eaten. So meet Tango! He's the tiniest little marmalade baby in the photos included with this post. Evangeline took him in without question and began nursing and caring for him without having to be convinced.

Then, a few days after that, I found another slightly older kitten alone and howling in the middle of a medina street. There was no sign of a mother cat even an hour later, so I brought her home, too, and turned her over to Evangeline. Once again, Evangeline accepted the newcomer without question and is now caring very successfully for seven babies. Evangeline is our 2020 Superhero Mom and we owe her a great debt!

05/04/2020

A few days ago, while out feeding cats in the Azemmour medina, I came across a mother cat and five kittens someone had placed in a box near a rubbish tip (trash dumpster.) I took them back to the River House with me, cleaned them up, made sure mommy cat had plenty to eat, and held my breath to see if they were going to survive overnight. They did, and during the next few days, grew strong and healthy.

Then yesterday, again as I was feeding cats in the medina, I came upon a gruesome scene. Feral cats had set upon a mother cat and her kittens and killed all but one of them. I scooped up the survivor and, knowing I had zero chances of locating and catching the mother cat, rushed the days-old newborn home to Evangeline, the mother cat I'd found near the rubbish tip.

Evangeline needed no coaxing. She accepted the new baby instantly, grooming and licking him vigorously until he began to nurse. Though much tinier than his five adopted siblings, "Tango" pushes his way right through the crowd and eats his fill. Evangeline is keeping him just as fluffy and fat as her other babies, and I love her dearly for it. She has truly earned my respect.

Here are some photos of Evangeline and her brood, including tiny Tango. I'm sure you'll think they're just as precious as I do!

To donate for the cause of Moroccan cats during this crisis, please give directly to ERHAM: https://www.paypal.me/ERHAMCATS