My resignation from ACHE

Editor's note: Jesse Miller started the Animal Cruelty Heartline of El Paso in 2005. The following is an e-mail she sent yesterday (Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008) announcing her resignation.

***

Since many of you have been on my email list since I first started ACHE in September of 2005 I thought it would be appropriate to inform you of my resignation from ACHE effective December 31, 2008.

It is not easy running a non-profit, actually it is the hardest job I have ever had in my entire working career.

Due to conflict of interest; lack of support from my Board of Directors I am unable to continue my work for ACHE as the Executive Director and Cruelty Investigator.

Although I leave ACHE with mixed feelings of sadness and happiness I leave ACHE with NO regrets as I know I have given beyond the call of duty and made a tremendous difference in the lives of many abused animals. I leave knowing I did the best job I could do given the limited support and resources that I had to work with.

I am very proud of all the things that ACHE was able to accomplish these past three years. The main accomplishment of course is the many hundreds of animals that were served by the work I did for ACHE.

In a very short period of time I was able to bring much awareness to the issue of Animal Cruelty in our community. ACHE became the only agency able to rescue horses and to this day we served 52 horses since the first three horses were seized and rescued in September of 2006. In 2006/2007 ACHE had approximately 17 dog and horse cruelty cases pending with the Districts Attorneys Office. I was able to make an impact with Law Enforcement Agencies on how they dealt with cruelty issues; yes I gave the many abused animals a very loud voice. Because of my efforts in 2006 The El Paso Police Department entered into a Service Agreement with ACHE which allowed us to assist Police Officers in dealing with cruelty cases and take custody of the animals. I was also able to facilitate the warrant process through Law Enforcement so animals suffering extreme neglect could be taken into custody immediately. This is something that was almost unheard of until I made huge efforts in making this happen. I also pushed to remove animals without warrants understanding the law and knowing that we had to remove the animals or they would die if we delayed our efforts. I had countless people turn over animals to me to avoid being charged with animal cruelty. These animals were suffering due to lack of care and ignorance on the owner’s part. I educated a lot of people in the community about our cruelty laws and in return helped many animals out of very abusive situations. In 2007 then Chief Wiles nominated me for the Hero’s of the Pass award and I was selected to receive that award. Richard Wiles now our next Sheriff is a true advocate and will help many abused animals that are in desperate need in the County of El Paso. I hope to continue my efforts with him and the Sheriffs department to bring help to the many abused animals in the County. I was able to take part in Training Four Graduating Academy’s in 2006, 2007 and 2008 with the Police Department regarding the link between human violence and cruelty to animals. The first year of ACHE’s existence I was able to secure a shelter so that the many animals coming out of our cruelty cases had a place to go and find safe haven. ACHE offered many animals coming out of domestic violence situations rescue and a new chance at life. I was the first Certified Animal Cruelty Investigator in El Paso. I was also able to bring much Print and Television Media attention to the issue of Animal Cruelty in our community. For this I have the dedicated Media people to thank they took notice of what was happening and made a huge effort in covering the stories I brought them in order to help bring awareness to our community. Because of these stories many more abused animals were rescued. Thank you!

I want to thank everyone that supported my efforts in making ACHE successful I truly appreciate your support without you I could not have done the work that I did.

My hopes are that ACHE will continue to operate and reach or exceed all the goals that I had originally set for its success. ACHE’s continued success will mean that many abused animals will get the help that they need and a community will be educated and served regarding the very important issue of ANIMAL CRUELTY.

I am now in desperate need of adopting out the 11 horses we still have in our care. In the next few days I will send out complete Bio’s and pictures of the horses I need to adopt out before I leave on December 31st. I will ask all of you to please help me find these beautiful creatures a home. ACHE also has a shelter full of great dogs that are also in desperate need of homes. Many of these dogs came out of our cruelty cases.

It has been my pleasure, honor and a true privilege to have been the founder of ACHE which served many abused and neglected animals in our community. I will continue my individual efforts by giving abused animals a voice they desperately need. Thank you….for all your help.

Sincerely,

Jessie Miller

Founder Animal Cruelty Heartline of El Paso