The Mary T. and
Frank L. Hoffman
Family Foundation
and All-Creatures.Org

Letters and Responses

Letter from Polly Schultz on Our Ministry, and Primate Research and Rescue - 25 Feb 2006

God bless you for what you are doing. Words can never express what these photographs can. I know this goes on every day, all over the world, but seeing these photos dropped me to my knees with grief- a sadness that no words can make go away that aches so deeply in my soul. I provide care for a monkey at the Oregon Primate Rescue facility (one retired from research). We are in the process of expanding our facility to be able to accept more monkeys from research, and I'm assisting another group in the beginning stage of doing the same in another state. I'm too small right now to make the impact you are making, but will work with every fiber of my being to help you stop this unfathomable cruelty. "Cruelty", the word in itself doesn't seem strong enough...I just can't even find a word that expresses enough how wrong this is.

I work with these souls everyday of my life. ANYONE who works with them HAS to understand that they have the same emotions, the same fears, the same desire to be free that we do. They are unique individuals just like we are! I don't understand what kind of a person could actually do this. I just don't get it. I talked with a lady a couple years back who used to work at a research center, who quit because of the nightmares she continues to have to this day. She said an experiment where infants were isolated in the dark, with no interaction, screamed out in fear to her every night in her dreams. I'm a very sensitive person, and I can feel these creatures pain, I can see it in their eyes and hear it in their cries. This has to stop. I think that education is the key, and to NEVER stop fighting for the rights these creatures deserve.

Please don't ever stop what you're doing. When we get to a point where we can afford financial support to your cause, we will certainly do just that! Until then I will refer as many people to your website as cross paths with us.

 You are Truly Angels!

 Polly Schultz

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Polly:

Thank you very much for your kind and encouraging words.

We believe the word you are seeking to describe those people is "evil". They have no sense of what it means to be compassionate, they feel nothing for another living being. They don't care if they're in pain and suffering.

You are doing a wonder job, too, and have a very nice web site. We receive a lot of interest in the animal stories we have posted on our web site, we didn't notice any on your web site. If you do have any stories (with photos), we would love to publish them with active links to your web site.

We have found that the most effective way to reach people is by grabbing them emotionally, either through "shock therapy" as our photos do, or through having people become involved with the emotions and feelings of the animals, which the stories do. Education seems to play a very minor part in making people more compassionate.

We will also place a link to your web site on our Rescue and Sanctuary link page.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary