My friend and fellow animal lover, Angel, asked me to go with her to
visit Estherville, a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter in Greenfield
Center. I had never been there before, but I had heard about the place.
The name Estherville always made me think of one of those scary movies with an old haunted Victorian mansion up on the hill. In addition, people filled me with images of Estherville as a depressing place. These were the erroneous preconceived ideas I had, but our visit changed all that. I came looking for a frightening, depressing place and I went away with an image of a loving sanctuary where so many animals that others had dismissed as hopeless, find care and hope for adoption. I also came away with a tremendous admiration for the four generations of strong women who have made Estherville a very special place, built on family, love, and a belief in the goodness of animals. But I am getting ahead of myself.
Angel told me she goes to Estherville regularly, bringing them cleaning supplies, pet food, kitty litter, and whatever else they need for the animals. So our first stop before heading out to Greenfield was the dollar store where we got mops and disinfecting solution. Next we stopped at the grocery store for kitty litter and bleach. With these purchases and some large bags of donated dog food we headed out of town to the unpaved gently winding country roads to Estherville. When we arrived there were a couple of volunteer dog walkers with pit bulls that had just returned from their jaunts out to a stream where the dogs could have a quick dip. There also was happiness among the volunteers and employees because two dogs had been adopted that morning.
The history of Estherville begins in the early 1950s when Edna-Ann Klare Senecal and her father Henry Klare began sheltering 48 homeless animals including a horse. There were few funds but they had the support of friends who believed in the cause. As the numbers of animals in need grew, Edna-Ann's father cashed in his government bonds and acquired a 50-acre site in Greenfield Center where the sanctuary still stands today. In 1954 Estherville received its first charter under the legal name of Estherville, the Alberta and Winonica Memorial Animal Shelter, Inc. The name came from three of Edna-Ann's childhood dogs--Esther, Alberta, and Winonica. In October of 2007 Edna-Ann died at the age of 92. Now Edna-Ann's daughter, Muriel Walter Gurren, her granddaughter, Tracy Gurren Palmateer, her granddaughter's husband, Andrew Palmateer, and her great- granddaughters, Jamie, Rosemary, and Angela Palmateer run Estherville.
The site includes four houses for the cats, each with windows and access to a small fenced area so they have both an outside and an inside space. For the dogs, each has their own run, again with both an inside and outside area. There is heat in the winter and AC in the summer for both the cats and the dogs. In addition, there is a small office building and an infirmary. In terms of personnel, at this time there are about 15 volunteer dog walkers and five paid employees. Muriel and Tracy consider them all as part of their family.
Muriel and Tracy sat for a moment and talked with me about their respective projects. Muriel created a thrift shop on the property to raise money. This project has been successful, but the need for garage sale items never ends. On the other hand, Tracy's project began in 1992 when she started taking in cats with AIDS and Leukemia. One of the cat houses is only for cats with AIDS and another is only for cats with Leukemia. Tracy noted that the public is misinformed about both these diseases in cats. One of her cats with Leukemia lived to be 18 years old!
Estherville often helps out when our Saratoga County Animal Shelter is too full. They come and take as many dogs and cats as they can handle. So some of the Saratoga County Animal Shelter cats and dogs end up in Estherville. And that is exactly what happened to Max.
Those of you who have been regular readers of this column will remember Max, the Rottweiler mix I adopted, but after three weeks he attacked my service dog, Vida. I felt I had to take him back to the shelter and later I learned he was adopted again in a few days. Apparently, this second adoption did not work out either because Max messed up again by attacking another dog. When I leaned this, I feared Max's days were numbered. But Max was one of the county shelter dogs to be taken in by Estherville. As I talked with Tracy and Muriel I could see Max in his pen. Muriel said one of the dog walkers is working with Max on his dog aggression issues.
There are many things people can do to help out Estherville. Dependable dog walkers are always welcomed as are cash donations. Sheets, blankets, and towels are useful as are mops, cleaning supplies, brooms, rugs, carpet remnants and returnable beverage cans and bottles. Cat litter, cat food, dog food, dog treats, and pet toys are great too. Estherville can also use stamps, note paper and envelopes for the handwritten thank you notes they send people who have helped them and the animals.
Perhaps the biggest need at this time is a replacement for their old van that they use to transport animals and supplies. Another need is for a carpenter to volunteer some time to make repairs. They also really need help with fundraising. Muriel and Tracy are so busy running the place, they have little time for organizing fundraisers or for writing grant applications.
As I sat with Tracy and Muriel, I could hear their 20 roosters crowing. They told me they also have horses, goats, a bull, and a geriatric rabbit that they call the energizer bunny. Both women are strong, caring country people who are dedicated to the many animals that end up in their care. They work with Dr. Stiffler, a veterinarian who adjusts his regular fees for Estherville animals.
So the expenses are great--heating, cooling, medicines, food, vet care, and the transportation of animals, while the funding is erratic and meager. I urge people to visit Estherville and find some ways to contribute. Estherville is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.
If you do pay a visit to Estherville, I hope you get a chance to meet these two remarkable women who are now the backbone of the shelter. Clearly the love of animals and the strength of character to make a difference run in the veins of these four generations of Estherville women. Perhaps one day Muriel and Tracy will see Edna-Ann's dream of a time when there will no longer be a homeless animal problem.
For more information on Estherville or any of the cats pictured here, call (518) 893-7451.
Angel told me she goes to Estherville regularly, bringing them cleaning supplies, pet food, kitty litter, and whatever else they need for the animals. So our first stop before heading out to Greenfield was the dollar store where we got mops and disinfecting solution. Next we stopped at the grocery store for kitty litter and bleach. With these purchases and some large bags of donated dog food we headed out of town to the unpaved gently winding country roads to Estherville. When we arrived there were a couple of volunteer dog walkers with pit bulls that had just returned from their jaunts out to a stream where the dogs could have a quick dip. There also was happiness among the volunteers and employees because two dogs had been adopted that morning.
The history of Estherville begins in the early 1950s when Edna-Ann Klare Senecal and her father Henry Klare began sheltering 48 homeless animals including a horse. There were few funds but they had the support of friends who believed in the cause. As the numbers of animals in need grew, Edna-Ann's father cashed in his government bonds and acquired a 50-acre site in Greenfield Center where the sanctuary still stands today. In 1954 Estherville received its first charter under the legal name of Estherville, the Alberta and Winonica Memorial Animal Shelter, Inc. The name came from three of Edna-Ann's childhood dogs--Esther, Alberta, and Winonica. In October of 2007 Edna-Ann died at the age of 92. Now Edna-Ann's daughter, Muriel Walter Gurren, her granddaughter, Tracy Gurren Palmateer, her granddaughter's husband, Andrew Palmateer, and her great- granddaughters, Jamie, Rosemary, and Angela Palmateer run Estherville.
The site includes four houses for the cats, each with windows and access to a small fenced area so they have both an outside and an inside space. For the dogs, each has their own run, again with both an inside and outside area. There is heat in the winter and AC in the summer for both the cats and the dogs. In addition, there is a small office building and an infirmary. In terms of personnel, at this time there are about 15 volunteer dog walkers and five paid employees. Muriel and Tracy consider them all as part of their family.
Muriel and Tracy sat for a moment and talked with me about their respective projects. Muriel created a thrift shop on the property to raise money. This project has been successful, but the need for garage sale items never ends. On the other hand, Tracy's project began in 1992 when she started taking in cats with AIDS and Leukemia. One of the cat houses is only for cats with AIDS and another is only for cats with Leukemia. Tracy noted that the public is misinformed about both these diseases in cats. One of her cats with Leukemia lived to be 18 years old!
Estherville often helps out when our Saratoga County Animal Shelter is too full. They come and take as many dogs and cats as they can handle. So some of the Saratoga County Animal Shelter cats and dogs end up in Estherville. And that is exactly what happened to Max.
Those of you who have been regular readers of this column will remember Max, the Rottweiler mix I adopted, but after three weeks he attacked my service dog, Vida. I felt I had to take him back to the shelter and later I learned he was adopted again in a few days. Apparently, this second adoption did not work out either because Max messed up again by attacking another dog. When I leaned this, I feared Max's days were numbered. But Max was one of the county shelter dogs to be taken in by Estherville. As I talked with Tracy and Muriel I could see Max in his pen. Muriel said one of the dog walkers is working with Max on his dog aggression issues.
There are many things people can do to help out Estherville. Dependable dog walkers are always welcomed as are cash donations. Sheets, blankets, and towels are useful as are mops, cleaning supplies, brooms, rugs, carpet remnants and returnable beverage cans and bottles. Cat litter, cat food, dog food, dog treats, and pet toys are great too. Estherville can also use stamps, note paper and envelopes for the handwritten thank you notes they send people who have helped them and the animals.
Perhaps the biggest need at this time is a replacement for their old van that they use to transport animals and supplies. Another need is for a carpenter to volunteer some time to make repairs. They also really need help with fundraising. Muriel and Tracy are so busy running the place, they have little time for organizing fundraisers or for writing grant applications.
As I sat with Tracy and Muriel, I could hear their 20 roosters crowing. They told me they also have horses, goats, a bull, and a geriatric rabbit that they call the energizer bunny. Both women are strong, caring country people who are dedicated to the many animals that end up in their care. They work with Dr. Stiffler, a veterinarian who adjusts his regular fees for Estherville animals.
So the expenses are great--heating, cooling, medicines, food, vet care, and the transportation of animals, while the funding is erratic and meager. I urge people to visit Estherville and find some ways to contribute. Estherville is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.
If you do pay a visit to Estherville, I hope you get a chance to meet these two remarkable women who are now the backbone of the shelter. Clearly the love of animals and the strength of character to make a difference run in the veins of these four generations of Estherville women. Perhaps one day Muriel and Tracy will see Edna-Ann's dream of a time when there will no longer be a homeless animal problem.
For more information on Estherville or any of the cats pictured here, call (518) 893-7451.
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