An update

Hello anipals!

I know it's been quite a while since I've written a blog post here. To be honest, ever since Woody was killed, I've had a difficult time writing anything. My heart and soul were completely shattered at the murder of Woody by NYCACC.  I know I never met Woody, but he touched my heart. I still mourn for him and the life he should have had every single day.  Now I spend a little extra time playing with my two sweet dogs and give a few extra hugs and cuddles in honor of Woody.

I am working on some stories to post so stay tuned!  And always remember - adopt, don't shop!

In Memory of Woody

It was just a regular night for me.  I was sitting on my sofa, retweeting the posts of the pets on the "list" for the following day at NYCACC.  The list, if you're not familiar, is the kill list.  New York Animal Care and Control (such an ironic name for that place - "care") sends out a list of the dogs and cats they plan on euthanizing murdering the next day.  I have a silly little ritual I go through when I retweet those posts.  I always open up the link, look at the pet and read the little story.  I'd probably be able to retweet more if I didn't spend time opening up every link and reading every story, but I like to think it helps that pet somehow.  For a pet that has been dumped and left to die, for a few minutes I want them to feel that someone loves them, someone is thinking of them, sending them good thoughts and love, and praying that a miracle will happen and someone will rescue them.

I opened up another link on another post and that's when I saw Woody.  A tan Pittie boy, he had the most beautiful smile, adorable wrinkly face, velvety fur and eyes that looked right into my heart.  I was smitten.  I read the description that a volunteer wrote about the time she spent with Woody.  According to her, Woody was shy, quiet, and loved to play with his little stuffed rabbit. He'd hold it gently between his paws and nuzzle it softly, never hurting it, just loving it in the way that doggies do.  At that moment I knew I had fallen in love with Woody.  I read that he loved to play ball and fetch and I watched the short video provided.  Woody was a sweetheart.  He reminded me so much of my own dogs who loved to carry around their little stuffed  puppy dogs, especially when they feel unsure, sort of like a security blanket.  Woody was no longer just a name or face in a far away shelter.  He was just like my two little guys and all I wanted in the world was to save his life.

We tried so hard.  I contacted people from rescue groups all over the country. They contacted people all over the country.  We emailed and tweeted the link to Woody's facebook page late into the night and early into the next morning. We worked on getting pledges, so hopefully a rescue group would step up to save Woody.  Everyone who read about Woody agreed that he needed to be saved.  He was only two years old, healthy, got along with other animals, sweet and a little shy but warmed up easily. In other words, Woody was highly adoptable.  Someone in the world needed this sweet dog.  He was a dog without a family and we were on a mission to find them.  The people in my Twitter feed fell in love with Woody and his little rabbit.  He was someones best friend, we just needed to figure out who.

The next day came and we had no word about Woody. We'd call the shelter and get an automated answering machine telling us to check online.  His link was still active so we still had hope.  We kept tweeting, retweeting and sharing everything about Woody.  I prayed.  Oh how I prayed. I prayed we'd find the perfect family for him.  I prayed a rescue group would agree to save him.  I prayed that someone already adopted him and we just didn't know it yet.  Maybe he was already in his new home, surrounded by a new family and a bunch of stuffed rabbits and puppies and all the tennis balls he could ever want.  I wanted that so badly.  I couldn't sleep, thinking and worrying about this dog that I never met.

The next day we still had no word, so we kept tweeting and sharing, hoping for the best.  Then at midday, the message came that NYCACC killed sweet,  precious Woody.  People all over the world were trying to find a home for this wonderful dog and NYCACC killed him.  My heart shattered into a million pieces.  I could hardly comprehend it.  Who could do such a thing? How could you look at that face, in those eyes, and kill him - FOR NO REASON AT ALL?  Was anyone there with him that cared about him at all as the life drained from his body?  Did he at least have his little stuffed rabbit with him as as he was murdered by the shelter that was supposed to be taking care of him?  Did anyone stroke his fur as he lay dying?  Did anyone whisper in his ear that he was a good boy, that he was loved, that he will always be remembered?  Did anyone do anything at all to make that horrifying, terrifying situation any easier for that precious boy?

There's so much I want to say about New York City and the killing machine that is the NYCACC shelter. I'll save that for another post.  Right now, all I want to say is I'm sorry Woody.  I'm sorry that whoever owned you didn't care enough to keep you and give you the life you deserved, the life they promised you when they choose you as their pet.  I'm sorry that when they decided they didn't want you anymore, rather than rehome you with a friend or relative, or find a rescue group or no-kill shelter, they dumped you in a high kill shelter slaughterhouse where you had almost no chance of ever surviving.  I'm sorry that the human race doesn't seem to place any value on the lives of the animals we share this planet with.  I'm sorry that I didn't see your photo earlier.  Maybe one more tweet or Facebook share, or one more email would have saved your life.  Woody I'm just so sorry.  If you were my dog I would have loved you and cherished you every single day of your very long and happy life.  You'd be here next to me, with my two little guys, cuddled  up on the covers, dreaming happy doggie dreams, with a full belly and all the stuffed toys and tennis balls you'd ever want.  You'd be my best friend.

I promise you this Woody.  Your death has meant something.  I will fight harder than ever to make sure that horrible place changes.  I know thousands upon thousands of other pets have been killed there before you were so coldly murdered.  I will do everything I can to prevent it from continuing, even if I have to fight it the rest of my life.

I know that as you lay dying, no one was there to comfort you.  So I want you to know Woody, that you are a good boy, a very good dog, the best.  You are loved, sweet boy. You are wanted.  You are my dog now. You brought many people together, from all around the world.  We are going to make the world a better place because of you.  Run free at the Rainbow bridge, precious angel.  Find my sweet furbabies that have already crossed over - Lady, Pudgie, Buddy, Dottie and Benji. They will love you and be your best friends until we can all be together again.  I will see you again one day. Until then, know you are always in my heart, my good dog Woody.  Rest in peace boy.

Doing The Right Thing - Pittie Pups Need a Home!

Anyone who knows me knows that I believe there are very few reasons to ever give your pet up.  In fact, I think the majority of pets given up by their owners are dumped there for really lousy reasons:

• "I'm moving and can't take him/her with me."
• "I got a new job and don't have the time to spend with my dog."
• "We just had a baby."
• "We just got a puppy."
• Or worst of all (and I've actually seen it) "He's just too old."

There are hundreds of thousands of pet parents around the world who have all been in these exact same situations yet they never considered dumping their pet.  It's all about love and commitment.  When you take a pet into your family you are committing to love it and take care of it for the rest of it's life.  Sometimes it's harder than others.  Sometimes it takes a lot of work.  And sometimes it can be just plain heartbreaking.  There are situations when rehoming or relinquishing a pet are the kindest, most loving things to do.

If you love your pet, you will do what's absolutely best for it, not what's best or easiest for you.  Love and commitment is what drove a California man to recently give up three beautiful Pit Bull puppies to BADRAP, a California based animal welfare, rights, protection and rescue group. The man (who has not been identified) has long taken care of himself and his dogs by collecting bottles and cans.  When BADRAP spayed the mother of the puppies over the weekend, the man asked if they would be willing to take the puppies to give them a better life.  As much as he loved them and was doing his absolute best to take care of them, he knew he had to give them up so they could have the life they deserved.

These three adorable puppies are available for adoption through BADRAP.  There are two little girls and one little boy.  If you live in the San Francisco Bay area and have thought about adding a puppy to your family, why don't you consider one of these little darlings?  Not only are you giving a puppy a wonderful new home, but you're helping BADRAP save another life by opening a spot for another dog in need!

Please visit BADRAP'S website and Facebook page to learn more about them and these sweet little puppies.

To the man who gave up these beautiful puppies - I know it must have been heartbreaking to give these little guys away.  Your selfless deed will not only give these puppies a wonderful life, but it will undoubtedly bring happiness and joy to the lucky families who adopt them. I wish you every blessing and happiness in the world!

Chiwi Needs a Furever Home!

Chiwi is a very special little Dachshund/Chihuahua mix with a sweet personality available for adoption through the Furever Dachshund Rescue.  Chiwi is currently being fostered.

At three years of age, Chiwi has grown out of those destructive puppy years.  She is a happy, outgoing, friendly little dog and never meets a stranger - only a friend she doesn't know yet!  She loves to play, especially fetch with a ball or stuffed toy.  According to her foster mom, Chiwi will play fetch for hours.  She has lots of energy and would be great for an active family.  She also gets along well with other dogs and even cats.

At only 10 pounds Chiwi is small little girl, but she loves mealtime! She is completely housebroken, microchipped, spayed and up to date on her vaccinations.  If you'd like to know more about Chiwi, please click here to visit her webpage.

If you are interested in giving Chiwi the furever home she deserves, please contact the Furever Dachshund Rescue.  They encourage adoptions from all over the United States and can help arrange transportation if needed.  Please see their website for details.

The Purpose

Those of us involved with animal advocacy or rescue in any capacity understand the importance of networking. Networking animals who are running out of time can truly help save lives. All it takes is one click - one person to see a dog or cat that they fall in love with, and suddenly that dog or cat's life is changed. Rather than facing the euthanasia room, the pet can look forward to going home with a new family to care for it and give it all the love it's been longing for. We have to utilize every tool possible to get these beautiful animals' photos and stories out in front of people. With websites, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, we've never had so many tools to help. But, it still isn't enough. Between 2-3 million pets are being killed inside shelters every year in the United States.

Clearly we all need to do more. By that I don't mean the people already involved in rescue who are usually running on fumes, maxing out their own credit cards to pay for foster animals and vet care. The general public must do more. You must spay and neuter your pet to help decrease the number of animals born every year. There simply aren't enough homes for them all. Spaying and neutering your pet is the kindest, most responsible thing you can do if you really love animals. If fewer animals are born, then fewer animals will be killed in shelters due to overcrowding.

Secondly, everyone must realize that pets are not disposable. They are living creatures with feelings. We must be responsible when considering adopting a pet into our families. That cute little puppy you fell in love with will grow larger (usually much larger depending on the breed) in the next 6-8 months. Puppies are a lot of work. We must realize that when we adopt an animal, it is for life. A dog is not like a handbag you decide you don't like anymore. You can't (or rather you shouldn't) just take it back so you don't have to look at it anymore.

Walking down the rows of kennels at our local humane society, the reasons why these precious animals ended up in their current situation are always the same: don't have enough time, got a new job, moving, got a new puppy, having a baby. None of these excuses are a good enough reason to dump an animal that loves you unconditionally. In your life, you have family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Your pets have you. To them, you are their world. Dumping them at a shelter is the ultimate betrayal. Believe me when I tell you that they suffer and miss you till the very end.

Our fur friends deserve so much more from humans than they are getting right now.  We must do better.  The purpose of this blog is my little contribution to helping animals.  I am tired of seeing the precious faces of innocent cats and dogs on death row every day.  The didn't commit any crime yet they will pay for the ignorance and stupidity of the human race.  We have done this to them and it is up to us to put an end to it.

I hope to help educate people about the plight of animals, especially animals in our shelter systems and to hopefully help save some lives.  If I can convince just one person to rethink dumping a dog or cat in a shelter or help them to see an animal as more than just a temporary plaything, then the work I put into this blog will be worth it.