Wednesday's Woman: Lindy Barrett-Grove

It started off with Lindy Barrett-Grove bringing home stray animals when she was a kid.

Her parents made sure not to squelch any interest she had, and by the time she was in her 20s, she'd taken in a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix that she decided to call Fergie.

The dog was abused, starved and wandering along a mountainside. About 14 years later, in 2004, Fergie died, and it was her death that led Barrett-Grove to do what she does today.

As the owner of Hightower Farm & Animal Sanctuary, the 49-year-old mother of two is basically a one-woman show these days. She's been running the nonprofit shelter since 2006, and finances have always been tough.

"It becomes overwhelming at times," Barrett-Grove said. "There are a lot of days I do say, 'OK, I quit. I can't do this anymore,' and then the next day a dog gets adopted or finds a home or something really great happens."

The animal sanctuary is located at her home, and the animals -- horses, dogs and cats -- have become part of the family. No concrete shelters for them. Recently, Barrett-Grove took in Jake and Randy, puppies that are likely Labrador mixes.

In addition to romping around the home, apparently Randy also likes lobster-baked potatoes from Longhorn Steakhouse. Just when Barrett-Grove wanted to finish her entree yesterday, Randy jumped up and gobbled it all. 

"Story of my life," she said.

Over the past year, the Barrett-Grove's organization had to stop taking in animals. In part, there was just not enough room and time to keep up with the growing numbers of strays. Some folks were dropping off animals at her doors.

Even though she hasn't had the space, Barrett-Grove still drives around the city ready to help any lost animals she comes across. In her minivan, there are creates, leashes, food and water -- at all times.

"The need is so great," she said. "There are just so many homeless pets out there, I just can't turn my back on them."

With Georgia having a high overpopulation of pets, the need is undeniable. Across the country, it is estimated that 6 million to 8 million cats and dogs are taken into shelters. About half of these animals never make it out of the shelter, and die there, according to information from Animal Spay Awareness Partners of Georgia.

And, it's not the animal's fault, Barrett-Grove said.

"With dogs and acts, we domesticated them, so we should be responsible for them," she said.

This year, she'd teamed up with Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen to bring the area's first portable pet food business. They hope to be in at least 15 counties, but are only in Gwinnett County at the moment. The two companies are merging, Barrett-Grove said.

The change helps Hightower Farm to focus more on prevention, as more people will be able to keep their pets because of food supplied through the new venture. 

"I feel pretty good about changing the focus from rescuing on the back side to prevention on the front side," she said.

In the past few years, Barrett-Grove said donations have decreased despite the growing need for pet rescue and prevention. She also has not taken in a salary. Thanks to her father, the animal sanctuary has stayed up and running. She calls him "Hightower Farm's ultimate benefactor."

Several months ago, he was involved in an accident that nearly left him dead, and Barrett-Grove has been caring for him since then at her Snellville home. For her, it's the least she can do after what he's done to help her and the business.

"My father is a wonderful, wonderful man," she said.

Not only has Barrett-Grove's father had health issues in the past year, but she also received some unsettling news from doctors. Last year, she was diagnosed with lupus, an auto-immune disorder that attacks normal, healthy skin and other organs. Barrett-Grove said she's tired and achy all the time. 

Holding down normal 9-to-5 jobs seems out of the question. She's tried, and not been very successful with part-time jobs as of late. Lupus is part of the problem, but maybe another part of it is just Barrett-Grove wanting to do something that matters -- to her.

For a long time, she worked in the banking industry, and about five years ago, she was laid off. But, with her father's accident, her illness and the difficulty in hanging on to an office job, running Hightower Farm is more clearly becoming her mission in life.

Sometimes, she thinks her family doesn't get it, but Barrett-Grove said she -- like others -- doesn't know how much time she has left. With this life, she wants it to be about giving back and doing what makes her happy.

"I need to do what's in my heart first," she said. "Doing something that matters to me -- that's what it's all about."

For more information on Hightower Farm & Animal Sanctuary, check out the Facebook page or email hightowerfarm@gmail.com.