GUILA MANCHESTER

Over her lifetime Guila Manchester  cared for dozens of animals including burros, cats, dogs, and many species of birds.

She adamantly believed animals had the right to be treated fairly. Her actions and books of poetry will attest to this.

In 1980 she founded the Humanitarians of Florida, Inc. She knew that without a strong spay/neuter program, dog and cat populations would continue to go unchecked leading to the abandonment and destruction of countless companion animals.

Thanks to Guila's tireless efforts, we have a strong spay/neuter program in Citrus County. Some  may think it's inconvenient or against nature to have a pet altered but for those of us who have witnessed the death of a perfectly healthy pet, for no other reason than the lack of a home, we will be forever grateful to Guila and all that she has done for the welfare of animals.

"The Strays"

More and more we hear their stories;

The suffering and the pain.

And most of all the heartbreak;

They can't go home again.

After all the miles of wandering

The home's no longer there.

And the master that they search for;

The master doesn't care.

And you who call yourself a man

In God's own image made,

Took one such trusting creature

And then that trust betrayed.

If you could only understand;

There has to be a way

To make you see the hopeless plight

Of your abandoned stray.

by Guila Manchester

January 1976