V.C.! I always love hearing from you. 😊

When I first started to consider closing the rescue and leaving Appalachia, yes. It was difficult. I cried many tears. But after living for three years without a flushing indoor toilet, waking to find ice on my bedroom walls, enduring abuse from locals like I shared above...well, to say I'd had enough is putting it mildly. Unlike Lot's wife in the Bible, I didn't spare as much as a single glance behind me as I left.

I worry for the dogs of that area, yes. But I am one person and I can only do so much in a social climate that's hostile toward change, even if it means improving their quality of life. I left a lot of good people back in the States, but I'm still in touch with them. So far I've found Europe to be refreshing and even therapeutic. I'm currently looking for a six-month stay in England until Michel can travel back with me to the States where I can get a visa sorted. I have to do that from my home country, but I definitely see myself living in Europe for a long time to come.