"There's a good side and there's a bad side. I have been through not only domestic violence, but also abuse from homeless shelters, and I even tried to consider giving up my dogs. But I toughed it out and lived homeless for a long time, also due to a domestic violence relationship. My dogs were there to protect me, and I protected them, and I wouldn't leave them. So, I stuck it out.
There were a lot of tears, but I made sure they were fed even when I wasn't. I made sure they were warm when I wasn't. They were there for me.
Now, a lot of people feel like, 'Oh, okay, these people who are homeless, they're on the street, they're probably doing drugs, they're running from the law.' No, not everyone is like that. And I'm guilty too; I used to think the same thing until I got into a shelter. Because, see, there's a good side to the shelters and a bad side to the shelters, and there's a lot of mistreatment in them. And I refused to give up my fur babies because they are my children.
So, once I got out of homelessness and out of the domestic violence abuse, which is also featured on the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, and I also have video coverage of us being homeless at the very location. I reached out to churches, I reached out to organizations. Yeah, I did. And I'm giving it to you raw. A lot of them knew I was out there, but they didn't help me until I was attacked at Century Plaza, which is now Amazon.
So, once I got settled in housing, I started the nonprofit organization. It started with one bowl feeding the cats, then it turned into twenty, and now I'm serving over five thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight cats and dogs, vaccinating them, providing spay and neutering, and even burying them because once they're euthanized and there's no room in the shelter, they stick a needle in their shoulder, and their bodies go limp like spaghetti. If you want to know exactly how it is, watch the video called 'Kiss the Animals Goodbye,' and you'll understand why euthanasia should be eliminated and why spay and neuter must be promoted. I'm trying my best to do that.
I am a Black woman, and I'm not playing any 'Black card.' I've faced prejudice everywhere I went. I've faced many obstacles, and I didn't even think it would be fathomable to face this when you're helping animals. I've even met people who have a prejudice against the color of the fur of animals because they Black, and one wants to adopt a black or senior, or disabled dog, when some people are just that. But guess what, damn it I got them here with me. I couldn't believe it. So I fight tooth and nail; I give all I can. I'm on a limited income, and I give everything, even if it means I don't have shoes or I have holes in my feet. I put paper in them. I save every dime I get, and I do it for the community because it's about saving them.
Right now, I have five rescues in my home, and I get up and I cook breakfast for them, and they sleep on a pillow-top bed, and they only know love, and yes, they have pajamas. And that's why I do this.
I have struggled hard with trying to get funding for this and funding for that. NOT TO WORRY ILL DOOR DASH AT 60 MOW LAWMS. iD RATHER FIGHT STANDING THEN DIE BEGGING.
#AccesstoCare
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Lisa Mardis
Director
RESCUES ON85TH
AL
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