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Peterson has always had a talent for rescuing pets in need
The 12-year-old girl stepped off the country school bus to walk up the lane to her home. Some movement caught her eye. In the nearby ditch was a dog resembling a collie. The girl had never seen this dog before. It had no collar or other signs of having a permanent home. After a few minutes of introduction, the girl persuaded the dog to follow her home. The dog was admitted to the home, where she slept beside the girl's bed. Three days later, there were 11 dogs by her bed. The stray had been pregnant and whelped 10 puppies.
This girl always had a knack for rescuing animals. She once raised 14 baby ducks in her bedroom as well. And as with other animals - rabbits, cats, dogs - she rescued them, found homes for them and buried and cried for them when they couldn't be saved. Not that long ago, she rescued 26 puppies and their three mothers from certain death as they were about to be euthanized. She took them all to her home, found foster homes for some of them and finally placed all of them in permanent homes, except for one. She named her Coty.
Forty years after finding the abandoned dog in a ditch by her home, this little girl found herself still rescuing and helping animals - mostly cats and dogs. She has Razz, Coty, Lady, Freddie, Zona and Buddy at home. At work, she cares for many more than that. Just last year, she rescued 250 animals and found homes for nearly all of them. She rescued more than 200 the previous year. By her own count, she has found homes for nearly 2,500 animals over the years.
The name of this person is Irene Peterson, currently president of the Decatur and Macon County Humane Society. In spite of the fact that Peterson states, "I don't want any praise," she is deserving of much of it. She works strictly as a volunteer, as do about 20 other people she manages seven days a week. Peterson not only rescues animals but also manages to carefully use donated funds to help injured animals that have no owners.
One of her own, Buddy, was a pet having frequent seizures due to a problem called a liver shunt, causing much of Buddy's blood to bypass his liver. Even though the seizures could not be totally controlled, Peterson adopted Buddy and manages to treat him to control his seizures as much as possible.
Much of the financial support for the society comes from good Samaritans, who know what Peterson has accomplished and recognize the good work she is doing. Peterson acknowledges that without the financial contributions of others, her work could not be done. Contributions make possible appropriate pet foods, veterinary care, pharmaceuticals as required and space for their care.
Even then, with the financial support received, the society must spend its contributions wisely to assist as many animals as possible with the existing funds, volunteers and space. And people who love animals recognize that it is people like Irene Peterson who can do the most with the least. If animals could talk, there would be a lot of pets telling Irene Peterson, "Thank you for saving my life!"
Speaking for Alex this week is Dr. Larry Baker, who practices small animal medicine and veterinary dentistry at 2800 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Decatur. To submit a question, write to Ask Alex, c/o Herald & Review, Box 311, Decatur, IL 62625 or e-mail jmatherly@herald-review.com.
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