Linda Ozier, founder and director of Isaiah 11 Ministry, Warsaw, is driving in her car with her dog Tippy. Ozier adopted Tippy from a wildlife rescue facility and now he is one of her best buds. Isaiah 11 is located at 6256 W. 100N and is a mental health and animal rescue organization. Photo provided by Linda Ozier.

By Laurie Lechlitner
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — “I’ve learned through the years that people who help animals through trauma can often recognize their own pain and suffering better,” stated Linda Ozier, founder and director of Isaiah 11 Ministry in Warsaw. “Our ministry here is a combination of a mental health center and animal rescue facility. We pair suffering animals with people who have their own injuries and hurts.”

Ozier has always had a heart for those who were struggling in life. She got her undergraduate degree in psychology and education. She went back to get her counseling degree from Capella University. When she and her husband Ron lived in Illinois, she was a special education teacher for 30 years.

“Ron and I were foster parents for four years when we lived in Illinois as well,” she said. “When I discovered that I had a hard time reaching our foster children who had suffered severe trauma, I went back to school to earn my counseling degree.” The couple adopted two of their foster children.

Ozier did her internship at White’s Institute in Wabash, working with children at risk. The internship was sponsored by both White’s Institute and Bowen Center. She than worked for a year at Michiana Behavioral Health with in-patients.

“When I began my work as a counselor for Lifetouch Ministries, a nonprofit counseling center in Warsaw, I was also volunteering at Seven’s Heaven Wildlife Rehabilitation in the area. Some of my clients at the mental health center were non-communicative. I just couldn’t get them to open up to me. But I discovered that when I took them with me to visit the animals at the wildlife rescue, they’d talk and open up.”

That was her inspiration for her own mental health and animal rescue facility. “Isaiah 11 is located on four acres at 6256 W. 100N, Warsaw. The name comes from the Biblical account of God’s Kingdom, where ‘the lion shall lay down with the lamb and a little child shall lead them.’” Ozier has domestic and farm animals living at her facility.

“I believe I could fill a book with all the miracles I’ve seen in this ministry. One account is about a girl who had been abused and neglected by her birth family. She was adopted but very angry. She had so much pent-up wrath inside that she’d growl at those she came in contact with.”

Ozier paired this young lady with her oldest horse Sarah. “I encouraged her to tell the horse her story and she did. She wanted to walk the horse on her next visit. She learned that Sarah did not respond when she was angry. She had to learn to be gentle.”

When Sarah got sick and had to be put down, Ozier did not know how to tell the young lady who was so attached to the horse. “She came in, saw our sad faces, and said, ‘Sarah is dead, isn’t she? I’m going to bury my abuse and trauma with her. Now I can go on with my life.’ ”

A therapeutic pet for Ozier is her dog Tippy. “Tippy came to the wildlife rescue facility with a scar on his back from scalding liquid being poured on him. I adopted him and now he’s one of my best buds.”

Those interested in volunteering or donating to Isaiah 11 can go to isaiah11.business.site.