My earliest memories are of farm life, animals every where. Cows, fresh milk and beef every day . Chickens, fresh eggs [totally different taste from the ones in stores today] fried Chicken every Sunday with the Preacher and his family . There was always a dog or two, couple of cats [to keep down mice population] and hogs. 

 I remember my mom waking me up in the middle of the night to help a BIG hog birth piggies, they were coming so fast my mom couldn't keep up with cleaning out their mouth and noses. It felt like we were there for hours. I was so over come with the wonder of it all, knowing those babies needed me to help them get their first breath. I saw animals in a different way after that. They become friends instead of food. 

 For the next couple of years my mom had a hard  killing  anything I would try hiding them, crying 'their my friends'. Don't get me wrong, I love my hamburgers, steaks and fried chicken. Just don't let me see them die.. 

 All of my adult life I have taken in abused animals, most of them I've found homes for. My favorite cat 'Lucy' was thrown from a car with her mom on a busy highway. The mom was ran over.

 Sam, my dog and best friend  is a recovering meth addic. The first day I saw him he was hairless had sores all over his body. There was a rope around his neck and I could tell he had chewed thru' it. At first I didn't know what was wrong with him. I bathed him but he wouldn't eat, I was up with him for 36 hrs. before he could sleep. A lady saw him with me and said she was glad I had him and to please not let those people have him back, she then told me how they would starve him then give him meth in applesause, just for entertainment.. the best part of this story, he knows if anyone has drugs or is using them. And in my business that is so helpful.     

 I would rather have a rescued animal than a pure bred any day....