 ?TheCalgarySun n WEDNESDAY,MARCH23,2011 KITPOOLE SpecialtotheSun There are tales - and then therearetails. AndEdnaJacksonhasplentyto sayaboutboth. "I've always loved animals," saysJackson."Buttherearepeoplewhothinktheirpetsaretotally disposable." And it was one harsh act that spurredJacksonintoaction,leading her to open Tails to Tell, an animal rescue shelter in CrossfieldlocatednextdoortoCritters, thepetsupplystore sheownsin the small town, 50 km north of Calgary. "Someone left a tiny kitten in a plastic bag, hanging from the doorknob at Critters," Jackson says. "SinceIopenedCritters, peoplehadstarteddroppingoffstray orlostanimals.Butitwasthatone actthatstartedTailstoTell. "Weneededasafeplacewhere wecouldholdanimalsuntilthey were spayed or neutered, then getthemadopted.Wecallit'safe' becausethisisano-killshelter." Jackson is a tiny wisp of a woman,standingbarely4-foot-10. But her passion for animals is enormous. Andso,at62,whenmostpeople are staring longingly at the promise of a quiet retirement, JacksonandherhusbandLionel re-mortgagedtheir nearby farm tostarttheshelter. Jackson was bang-on in the needforahavenforanimals. "We had 136 animals - cats and dogs - within three weeks oflastSeptember'sopening.We werefull." A step inside Tails to Tell, er, tellsthetale.JenFitzpatrick,Tails' sheltermanager,sitsbehindabattle-scarreddesk,herhandgently restingonablue-blanketedform besidehercomputer. As 10 cats of various vintages wreathetheirwayaroundavisitor, butting their heads against herlegsinabidforattention,Fitzpatricklookstothebarelymoving lumpunderherhand. "I keep touching her to make sureshe'sbreathing." "She" is a small, long-haired cat.Well,thehaironherheadis long,theresthasbeenshavedoff. "Wedon'tknowifshe'llmake it," Fitzpatrick, 37, says with a featherstroketotheanimal. "Whenshewasbroughtin,her furwasterriblymattedandvery oily. She's eating and drinking, butisverylethargicandstillquite emaciated." The jury may be out on the future of the little feline, but a happy ending is occurring for a smalldogatthatverymoment. A young couple has come in and wants to adopt Sonic, a bright-eyed black miniature pinscher, who had been abandoned in -20C weather. During her week-longstayat theshelter,Sonic was taken to a vet, given her shots, spayed, dewormed and microchipped. Nowitistime for her smiling new owners to pay $500 and takeherhome. AsSonicprancesoutthedoor, Jackson explains the fee barely covers the shelter's costs as all animals get the same treatment Sonichasundergone. "Weonlyhaveonestaffmemberatatimetoscooplitter,clean, dolaundry,feedtheanimals,do maintenance,administrationand adoption,"Jacksonsays. A step insidethe first door off thereceptionareaandavisitoris greetedbyabout40cats. Noneareincages,eventhough open-door crates are available shouldtheanimalsneedaprivate space. Most of the cats are sprawled on raised, padded platforms, scratchingposts,chairsandbeds. Onesmallgreyandwhiterascal launchesherself, landing on thestartledvisitor'sshoulder. "That's Flash," Fitzpatricksays, laughing."She'sashouldercat." Fitzpatrickthenreachesdown to pick up a largish black cat, whopromptlyputshisfrontlegs aroundherneck. "This is Timmy HoHo," she says."HewasfoundbyTimHortonsandhelovestohug." Shesmiles,pointingtoasleek, darkfelinesinuouslyweavinghis waytowardher. "Andthat'sJohnnyDepp." Inaseparateroomintheback areillandcontagiousanimals. "Right now, we have 96 cats, about 30 of which are kittens," saysJackson."Wealsohavethree dogs.We'reatcapacity." But the welfare of these lost, abandoned and illanimalscomes ataprice. "Wesurviveby donations," says Jackson. Fitzpatrick, with a wry look at Jackson, adds: "Donationsoutof Edna'spocket...." Jacksonshrugs offthestatement, but acknowledges the financialstruggle. "I'm hoping we can continue forever, but I don't know. We're maxedoutnow.Weneedtoraise money or find corporate sponsors." Herdreamsarebig. "Wewouldliketocreateaclinic in this facility so that vets can comeheretodotreatmentsand examinations.Wealsoneedfood fortheanimals." Herlistcontinues.Rentforthe space. Cleaning supplies. Bedding.Litterboxes.Litter.Groomingsupplies. Astotheabandonedkittenin the plastic bag that started this story? Well,hertalehadahappyending. She's now a sunny-natured calicowhogreetsvisitorstoCrittersby day,andguardsthestore with14otherfelinesbynight. She'sJackson's.Andhername isTrina. WAG41 StrayanimalshaveTailstoTellCruelactspursCrossfieldwomantoopenno-killshelterEdnaJackson,above, andJenFitzpatrick, inset,aresurrounded bycatslookingfor attentionatTailsto Tellanimalrescue shelterinCrossfield. PHOTOCOURTESYKATHYMARSTONPHOTOGRAPHY COOLWAY TORAISE FUNDS To helpoffsetcosts forTailstoTell,owner EdnaJacksonhasset uptwofundraisers, withtheproceeds goingtotheshelter. Thefirst,"HotStuff andCoolChicks," takesplaceApril2 attheWoodsideGolf CourseinAirdrie.It's adinneranddance andfeaturesfiremen -someofwhomwere photographedfor Calgary'sHotStuff calendar-being auctionedoffas waiters.Ticketsare $45perperson. Proceedswillbenefit bothTailstoTelland theCalgaryFirefighters BurnTreatment Society. Thesecondisa concertfeaturingJo HikkandJulianAustin, takingplaceMay14 attheCrossfieldand DistrictCommunity Centre.Becausethere willbebarservice, minorsarenotallowed. Therewillalsobea silentauction.Tickets are$40inadvanceand $50atthedoor. To purchasetickets totheevents,please calleither403-946- 0011or403-946- 0400,orgoonlineat www.tails-to-tell.com TailstoTellislocated at903MountainAve., Crossfield. -KitPoole
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