Marcia Goodman cared for neglected dogs, cats and an underweight pig rescued in rural Arizona
April 8, 2011 – When Marcia Goodman imagined herself visiting
  UAN volunteer Marcia Goodman takes photos of animals rescued from neglect in Apache County, Arizona in March 2011.  |
As a volunteer with California-based United Animal Nations (UAN), Goodman travels around the country at her own expense when abused and neglected animals need help. She uses her skills in photography and creative writing to document UAN’s work, and also cleans and assembles cages, prepares meals and cares for the animals — many of whom are sick, injured and traumatized.
“I can’t think of anything better to do with my free time than help animals who have never known a loving human touch or a kind voice,” Goodman says. “Hoarding is a serious psychological problem that causes both animals and people to suffer, and puppy mills are deplorable ventures into cruelty. I am honored to be able to respond when UAN puts out a cry for help.”
Goodman retired from her job as a lawyer with the Connecticut legislature in 2006. Now she has an online bookstore and does bookings for her musician husband’s bands. She trained to become an emergency sheltering volunteer with UAN in 2005 and has since deployed to cruelty cases in Mississippi and Maine. She also volunteers with the Connecticut Humane Society in
“Marcia brings incredible skills to every UAN emergency sheltering response,” said UAN Emergency Services Manager Janell Matthies. “Not only does she take beautiful and moving photos to spread the word that help is available for abused animals and to help UAN generate donations to support our work, but she will jump in and do whatever task is needed, from scooping poop to mixing pig feed.”
The rescue in Arizona was set in motion after the Apache County Sheriff’s Department received tips about allegedly cruel conditions and neglected animals in need of veterinary care on a private property. When responders arrived, they found 200 dogs, 50 cats, several chickens and ducks, and one pig who was so malnourished she was half her normal weight. Many of the dogs suffered from medical ailments such as skin infections and untreated wounds. The cats were living in a filthy trailer on the 40-acre property. The dogs were housed in feces-ridden outdoor pens and inside several dilapidated structures.
Goodman returned home on March 30, exhausted but rewarded by the subtle kisses and other signs of emerging trust the animals showed. The animals will remain at the temporary shelter in St. John’s, Arizona until at least April 11, when a court hearing will determine their custody.
UAN volunteers provide manpower, free of charge, that enables local animal control and law enforcement agencies to respond to large-scale animal cruelty cases, like hoarding and puppy mills – large-scale breeding operations where animals are housed in substandard conditions without proper food, water, socialization and veterinary care. UAN has more than 3,000 active volunteers in the United States and Canada, including 30 in Connecticut.
* Learn more about animal hoarding, a psychological condition in which people collect more animals than they can provide proper food, shelter, sanitation and veterinary care for at www.uan.org/hoarding
* Learn more about puppy mills at www.uan.org/puppymills
* Support UAN’s work to shelter and care for animals rescued from cruelty and neglect by donating to our Emergency Relief Fund.
MEDIA CONTACT: (916) 429-2457, ext. 314
Founded in 1987, United Animal Nations (UAN) focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. Learn more at www.uan.org.
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