There is an American Indian legend . . . when a human dies, there is a bridge he must cross to enter into heaven. At the head of the bridge waits every animal he encountered during his lifetime. The animals decide which humans may cross the bridge and which ones are turned away.
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This site is dedicated to the beloved animals that have
blessed my life. The site is successor to the site for Animal
Advocates of Iowa (AAI) which I co-founded in 1997. I served as
AAI’s President and contributed the articles and information
for its website. AAI, a non-profit 501C3 corporation was in
existence for 7 years.
AAI's mission was
to eliminate human imposed suffering of all animals. A
primary focus was to promote lifetime commitment to, and
responsible guardianship of, companion animals.
Spaying/neutering and educating guardians about health and
behavioral issues were
emphasized. Efforts were made to reduce human/urban wildlife
conflict and educate about the abuses of animals in the
entertainment
and food industries.
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Teddy
2/14/97-3/16/03
Read about my beloved Teddy in the new book, ANGEL CATS: DIVINE MESSENGERS OF COMFORT. Teddy taught me lessons about life, living and loving. Teddy was a kitten when I adopted him, Keisha and Coco from the Humane Shelter on 2/14/97.
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Squeaky
5/74 - 10/30/96
Squeaky was my sole (soul) companion longer than any other living being. I adopted him and his housemate Stripes from their prior owner in 1982. They made me laugh every day.
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AAI funded farm cat spay/neuter days, assisted with TNR of
feral cats, paid medical bills for special needs homeless
animals and assisted rescuers with spaying/neutering homeless
animals. The group also started Companion Animal Network, a
network of rescuers and foster homes working to place homeless
cats and dogs in forever homes.
Veterinarians Dr. Becky
Meier, Dr. Jenni Doll and Dr. Mike Anderson provided
invaluable assistance to me over the years. I am deeply
grateful to each of them for tirelessly providing their
expertise and guidance.
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It is my desire to continue the educational efforts started
with the AAI site. I am an attorney and writer. My
vegetarian essay was
published in Voices from the Garden, Stories of Becoming
a Vegetarian in 2001, and my memorial to my beloved Teddy
will be published in Angel Cats, Divine Messengers of Comfort
in September 2004. More of my writing can be seen at
http://www.prairieden.com/stone.
I hope you will find information here that you can use to help
the animals with whom you share your home and your world.
~ Laurie Crawford Stone
 Blessed by Keisha, Coco, Frankie, Lucy, Cooper and
Winston; forever in my heart Teddy, Squeaky, Stripes,
Reasonable Cat, Sam, Popcorn, Purr Puff, Lollipop and Buttons;
and countless others that I’ve rescued/fostered/loved.
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Stripes
5/73 - 6/19/89
Stripes was the sweetest boy. He would find a way to touch me no matter what I was doing. He loved to sleep on my chest with his paws pushed against my chin.
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Laurie's memorial for her cat, Teddy, has been published in Angel Cats: Divine Messengers of Comfort. Read an interview with Laurie at One Woman's Writing Retreat. |
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worked with the new city parks commissioner to
utilize a non-lethal method to address nuisance bird
issues in city parks in
2002.
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served on a city task force to re-draft the city's animal
control ordinance to provide greater protection for
animals
2001-2004.
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raised funds to test all cats/kittens at a no-kill shelter
for feline leukemia/FIV and to spay/neuter their cats
and dogs in
2001.
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raised funds to spay/neuter a feral cat colony in
Tipton, Iowa in 2001.
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implemented a program to assist homeless animals with
medical bills, foster homes and adoptive homes in
2001.
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contributed to the defeat of a pro dove hunting bill in
2000 and
2001.
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worked with others to gain passage of
Iowa 's
first felony animal cruelty bill in
2000.
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helped keep a no- kill shelter in operation via volunteer
and fundraising efforts in 2000.
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worked with national groups to keep a circus with a
history of violations from performing in several
rural
Iowa
towns in
1999.
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helped prevent urban deer slaughter in
Iowa
City
in
1999.
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directed efforts that resulted in the City of
Cedar
Rapids
purchasing
a non-lethal method of bird removal in 1999. The Fund for
Animals provided invaluable
assistance.
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coordinated a multi-group effort to remove a proposed zoo
from the local option sales tax project list in
1998.
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educated people through various training and informational
activities about the neglect, abuse and exploitation of
animals.
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