For The Dogs

Hubby, Darling Daughter and I were running errands the other night and the first place we stopped was the hardware store. As we were leaving the back of the parking lot we saw a vehicle parked near fencing full of dogs. Hubby drove around for a closer look. I insisted that if he drove us that close, it would be teasing if he didn't stop to see what was going on. We pulled over and met Debbie. She is a volunteer for Luv-a-Chin (a rescue organization for Japanese Chins). Debbie was heading from Minnesota to Florida to meet with some potential adoptees. She had pulled through our local coffee shop and stopped to let the dogs stretch, eat their dinner and do their business. She had gotten the dogs out and organized when her coffee was dumped over. She seemed a bit frazzled so we offered to run and buy her another. We came back with an unspilled version of her drink and spent some time getting to know her.
Debbie lives near the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. She has grown children, grandchildren and is retired. She volunteers her time with the rescue because she adores the dogs and knows they need people who care. She fosters as well and claims that "once you've fostered them for a while, you almost hope they don't get adopted because you fall in love with them and would love to keep them all yourself." Of course she knows she can't keep them all and wants nothing more than to find good, loving homes for them.
The dogs she had with her had been rescued from a puppy mill. They had been spayed/neutered, treated for worms, ear mites, had their shots and exposed to that which most of us take for granted with our pets but these dogs had not experienced (grass, baths, love). A few of the dogs seemed a bit timid, but for the most part they were all happy little bundles of pup.
It started getting dark so we offered to help Debbie load her vehicle and she gladly accepted. I told her I had a blog and would love to write about her. She was more than happy to have the word spread. We packed her up and wished her a safe and successful trip. She thanked us for our help, we thanked her for helping the dogs. Her sidekick Hunter (German Shepard) hopped on board and they were off. 

This morning I raise my mug of coffee in thanks to Debbie and all the animal rescue workers who work tirelessly to help those who cannot help themselves. I'm also thankful for my husband who has the patience to put up with the fact that I tend to stop and talk to everyone who crosses my path even if it ends up taking all evening.

Japanese Chins

Debbie

Hunter

Animal rescues and shelters are constantly in need of volunteers, donations of supplies and/or funds, and forever homes for their residents. To find a rescue near you, check your local yellow pages or go to one of the following links...

Pet Finder Animal Shelter List

AnimalShelter.org

ASPCA

A Stormy Week

The weather this past week has been very interesting.

We have seen blazing sunshine, hail, high winds,

massive downpour associated thunderstorms,

humidity, cold nights and more.

Up the street from us sits a little house.

At that little house they had a little sale.

Many days before, during and after that sale,

in all that crazy weather,

sat a little fish on a big dresser.

He survived a week of severe storms and hot sun.

The kids and I felt quite bad for the little fella.

He was for sale without a buyer.

They had named him Butthead.

Now he was literally homeless.

He was going to be sent off to a pet store

when they got around to it.

Every day the kids worked on me.

"Mommy, it's sooooo sad."

"Honey, Mommy doesn't need ANOTHER animal to take care of."

"But mommy, he needs a home."

"I know but maybe someone will come and save him."

"Mommy, it should be us."

"Ugh! I feel awful, but it's not a good idea."

--------------

Yesterday I woke up to a campaign to save the fish.

I had tucked the kids into bed the night before

thinking they went straight to sleep.

Now I know otherwise.

I headed down the stairs and found this.

UGH!

As I headed toward their room I saw this...

I arrived at their bedroom door to find this...

On their floor was this...

They must have hit a point of exhaustion

as the sign was not finished or hung.

I credited them for their care and creativity and got them ready.

Off to school with my fish militia.

Great. Now they've got me.

I dug through my purse and found $10.

I marched up to the house, knocked on the door,

woke a man covered in tattoos and made my offer.

It's all I had.

"No thanks" was the answer I received.

Kids came home from school.

I told them it was a No Go.

Second born scrounges another $5 of his own money.

Heads back up to the house.

Perhaps he hit their magic number.

Perhaps they fell for his pleas.

Perhaps they thought it would save them a trip to the pet store.

Whatever the reason, the mission was a success.

Into the bathroom with this fella.

He was in desperate need of house cleaning.

Yup. He's in there.

Look far left.

We found some extra food in our supply.

Cleaned him, fed him, found him a spot in the boy's room.

Meet Stormy (a.k.a. Storm)!!!

I am such a sucker!