Karen- as you are somewhat familiar with our area- the Animal Rescue League closed their Salem branch last spring (03). They promised that they would continue to help the north shore. They said north shore shelters had promised to help. Well, we asked those shelters- (I'm in Ipswich and asked)- they laughed and said they never got any such phone call, letter, or message. Since they have said they would come up to help, it has just been one problem after another. Jan told me a story from about 3 weeks ago where a cat had been hit by a car and was lying between two fences of his own yard in the pouring rain and obviously needed help (jan, correct me if i get this wrong- but the facts remain- no help). A friend called ARL, they said, not our area, call the dog officer. He said, I don't do cats, call ARL. The cat died. The owner came home, found her cat dead and was furious. There is noone helping on the north shore at all. We are letting Toms go unnuetered, females go unspayed, I can't tell you how many females I see that I know have litters (in rotten neighborhoods) that I DON'T tell Jan about because what's the point? Whose gonna pay for the deworming and vaccines and etc? ARL used to help us with home placements fast- but without that- it's too costly to foster anymore! Besides, Jan knows about these areas and purposely avoids them because she has enough in her own town! I see them because I work in those areas- I put down food and turn the other way.... It's heartbreaking but hopeless.