January 15, 2025
ATTN:
Liberty County Pct. 3 Commissioner David Whitmire
119 S. Fenner Avenue
Cleveland, TX 77327
Liberty County Judge Jay Knight
1923 Sam Houston
Room 201
Liberty, TX 77575
RE: Colony Ridge stray dogs
Dear Commissioner Whitmire and Judge Knight:
Hello from nearby Montgomery County. My name is Janice Thompson. I’m a Christian author who lives in Spring, Texas. You might be wondering why I’m writing to you today when I’m not a resident of Liberty County. I’m coming to you because of a situation that has intrinsically linked me to your county, one that requires your attention.
I am on the board of an animal rescue/sanctuary in Old Magnolia called Mustard Seed Farm.
We do all we can to rescue dogs from shelters and to save stray dogs from the streets. For the past couple of years, we’ve found ourselves in Colony Ridge (Liberty County) on multiple occasions to care for dogs that were in critical condition and/or desperate situations.
We love animals. This is what we do. But we are at a breaking point, with so many dogs that we’re having trouble vetting and re-homing them. It’s heartbreaking, really, but the situation is dire. And many of our woes lead straight back to Liberty County. Why? Because the strays in Liberty County have nowhere else to go.
Someone has to step up.
So, we do what we can, often at our own expense.
And we’re just a drop in the bucket. I’ve watched literally hundreds of other rescuers in Houston, Humble, Spring, Tomball, and all across south Texas rush in to do the work in a county where they don’t even reside.
If you don’t believe me that the situation in Colony Ridge is overwhelming, ask my friend Raquel Reyna, who lives there. She goes out to the streets every day to feed and tend to dogs who roam by the dozens, many of whom suffer greatly with all sorts of illnesses, skin conditions, broken bones, and varying degrees of neglect or abuse.
She saves dogs of every breed and size, without any thought to her own well-being. She does this at her own expense and often when there are no funds to put gas in her car or to purchase food for the animals.
Through Raquel, our rescue found little Princess, a terrier mix who was so eaten up with Sarcoptic mange that she was almost unrecognizable as a dog. After tremendous vetting, TLC, and expensive care, Princess healed up and was adopted by a wonderful family in Montgomery county.
We were happy to help. But our help was needed again with little Luna, a five-pound puppy found thrown in a ditch in Liberty county. Luna was a hydrocephalus pup who stood a zero percent chance of survival without immediate help.
There was no place in Liberty County to take her…
So we agreed to save her.
She required tremendous vetting (all coming from our own pockets) and she was tough to place, but we eventually found her an amazing home. In Conroe. Another situation where residents of Montgomery County had to carry the load for a Liberty County dog.
I could tell you about the amazing Lidia Martinez, a Cleveland resident who works tirelessly, caring for dogs who have no place else to go through her rescue, Alaska’s Hope.
In spite of personal loss and grief, she has poured her whole heart into the strays. This woman gives, even when there’s nothing to give. She’s a tireless advocate for those who are most helpless.
Last year we helped her out with dog food when her stockpile ran low. We were so happy to be of service. And I’ve watched as people have come from all over south Texas to help her build shelters for the strays so that they don’t freeze to death in the winters. But, how much better would it be if those strays had actual kennels to sleep in at a local shelter?
Speaking of sleep (or the lack thereof)
I’m currently fostering five dogs, many from the streets of your county. We were fortunate with little Freckles, a rat terrier mix who was found roaming on a major highway in Liberty County. She adjusted well and was adopted by a good friend.
Terrier mix Dolly wasn’t so lucky. She was found in a field in Liberty County as a tiny puppy and is currently unadoptable due to her fearful and aggressive tendencies. That’s okay. She can stay with me, where she’s safe. I don’t mind keeping Liberty County dogs in my home if it means they stand a fighting chance.
As I watched the news story today on KPRC, my heart broke. It became evident: The rescue community can’t keep moving at this pace. We can’t keep sacrificing at this level. The Liberty County residents are weary. The street rescuers are completely tapped out. The adjoining county rescuers are overwhelmed. And much of this problem is coming from one small section of your county, one that has been grossly overlooked for far too long.
I’m writing this letter to shine a bright, penetrating light on the problem. I implore you to look. See the situation for what it is. The stray population in Colony Ridge is out of control. It’s hazardous, not just to the dogs, but to drivers, to local residents, and to other animals. It’s exhausting to those of us in the rescue community.
I know that many were incredibly upset after the second news story broke on KPRC tonight. I don’t really blame them. Hearing county officials ridicule constituents was tough to listen to. I’m sure it was embarrassing for you guys to realize you’d been video-taped making fun of them. I know that many people feel you should resign as a result of these actions, but I actually have a better idea.
Step up. Become a hero, not just for the dogs (wonderful as they are) but also for those who love them, both in your county and beyond. Step up and help bring about change. Create a safer situation for your people. Create a kinder situation for your neighboring counties. Create an opportunity for the animals who, through no fault of their own, have been cast aside like trash.
Prove the nay-sayers wrong. Create a solution. And when you do, we’ll be right here, cheering you on, grateful to work on the same team.
One last thing:
Many of these rescuers from Cleveland/Colony Ridge are people of faith. I read their Facebook posts, even on the hardest days, and marvel at how much they lean on the Lord to help them as they do their work. And isn’t that what the Bible says we should do, to rescue the perishing?
The dogs of Liberty County are perishing. And on some level, the people are perishing too, because their hearts are so heavy with grief over this problem and their bodies and pocketbooks are at the breaking point.
I invite you to enter the rescue community alongside us, to help us change this situation for the next generation of people. . .and pups. We need and welcome your help.
Prayerfully yours,
Mustard Seed Farm Animal Sanctuary board member