Photo Credit: Penny Duncan
What’s INSIDE This Issue
5
2015 BEST FRIENDS NATIONAL CONFERENCE Record number of AAU Leadership, Volunteers Attend
6
2015 FOREPAWS GOLF TOURNAMENT Annual Fundraiser Brings Out the Best in Atlanta Golfers
12
ADOPTIONS UPDATES Pets In Their Forever Homes
16
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR RESCUED PETS Meet Bonnie Bennett and Cricket
18
“A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN” A Special Tribute to Two Angels Named John and Lynn Copenhaver
24
ANGELS IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ravenel on Cover of GA Voice Magazine - Pets Issue
25 “FROM HORRIFIC PAIN TO HAPPINESS” The Story of our Rescued Pup, Amico
26 “THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER!” A Fairytale Ending for Denny and Drummond
34
“LOVE COMES IN MANY WAYS AND HEARTS” The Heartwarming Story of a Stray Named Dorato
37
“ADOPTED LIKE ME” Peggy Rydberg’s New Book about Adoption - available now
67
“HEADING HOME” to the RAINBOW BRIDGE Memorials to our Precious Pets Who Have Passed On
What’s INSIDE This Issue
14
“5 MYTHS OF TRAVELING WITH PETS”
28 “9 WAYS TO KNOW YOUR CAT IS IN PAIN”
32 “THE FRIEND WHO KEEPS YOU YOUNG” 33
“SWIMMING POOL SAFETY FOR PETS”
54 “THE TRUTH IS....” - A Poem About Rescue 56 “IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED” An Eye-Opening Article About A Group of Special Rescuers
62
“UNCONDITIONAL, FOREVER LOVE” A Very Special Goodbye To A Beloved Pet
64
“MOURNING A DOG”
66
“MEDICAL MIRACLE” What Happens When A Therapy Dog Steps In to Visit A Critically-Ill Child
78
“ABANDONED”
ON THE COVER Cover is adopted pup Wichita. Photo was taken by Penny Duncan, AAU Photography Team.
22 38 44 74 80 82 83
“Thank You - Individuals” “Thank You - Kids” “Thank You - Companies” “Animal Treats Recipes” “How YOU Can Help” “Fun With Dogs & Cats”
“Social Connections”
Every year, the Best Friends National Conference brings together leaders of the no-kill movement, experts in animal care and behavior, experienced marketers and fundraisers, animal welfare professionals, rescue groups, volunteers and attendees — so that together, we can do even more to save the lives of homeless pets. The 2015 Best Friends National Conference is being held on July 16-19 at the Cobb Galleria Centre and Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. These wonderful Angels Among Us Pet Rescue leadership members and volunteers pictured below (along with other AAU individuals not in the photo) joined with Best Friends Animal Society at the Atlanta Conference for a powerful week of inspiration, education and coming together for our nation’s pets.
Together, we can Save Them All® and “Rescue One Until There Are NONE”
Photo Courtesy of Chris Savas
On a bright, clear and gorgeous sunny morning in June, several hundreds gathered on the greens at The Country Club of the South - geared up and ready to take on the course “for a cause”...the annual Golf Fundraising Tournament known as “ForePaws”, benefitting Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. As you can see from the photo here, a great time was had by all who participated - from the weekend golfer all the way up to the professionals on the course. There were prizes awarded to individual golfers, as well as various foursomes, as well as golfing demonstrations, box lunches, along with an awards dinner in the evening, a silent auction and a “Hole In One” contest for a brand new car! Along with the great golfers having fun supporting Angels, there was literally an army of busy Angels Volunteers keeping everything humming right along all day long! We salute all who participated and who made the day a roaring success!
1st Place Score of 48: Ray Staffon Patrick Rossetti Dave Machost Marlin Glass 2nd Place Score of 55: Jerry Parsel Martin Sheperd Greg Streit Michael Graham 3rd Place Score of 56: Ann Redding Dickey Redding David Redding Jason Harris Closest to the Pin: Debbie Criste
Longest Drive: Dave Machost
Many of the golfers who attend this event play at a LOT of golf tournaments and they all say that ForePaws is always one of the best run, organized and well-appointed tourneys they have ever attended. We KNOW what the secret is: it’s because of the hard work of our wonderful volunteers. If you would like to join our events team, please send an email to: volunteers@angelsrescue.org.
Formal Group Photos by Bradley Mickelson & Georgia Event Group. You can view his photos at this link: http://bradleymickelson.smugmug.com/Other-1/Angels-Golf-2015/n-Qc2ZFk/ Ben Neill, Buy-Sell-Live Atlanta - www.buysellliveatlanta.com (Volunteer T-Shirts) Mark Stanley, Lee Burns (Lee Burns Photography) - ForePaws Photography Angels Among Us Pet Rescue Volunteers & Leadership Team Members for the Day!
It has been one year since we adopted our sweet Levi (formerly Lew of the Bombshell puppies) and we cannot be anymore in love with him and our decision to adopt though you all. We have gone through many ups and downs this year, and throughout the whole process, Levi has been with us to make us laugh with his crazy antics and hilarious personality. From the 12-lb puppy we adopted to the 70-lb love bug he is today, thank you from the bottom of our hearts Angels for everything that you all do. Kaylen, Steven and Levi Jackson
One year ago today we adopted the sweetest little senior girl, JimmyLou. She was a perfect fit for our home, and I feel sorry for all those who passed her by. She had been searching for a home for 3 years. When we saw her picture with her little upturned nose and read her story, we knew we had to bring her into our home. She follows me around everywhere, putting miles on those little feet every day searching me out. But she doesn't want to leave her Daddy out so she snuggles with him and one of her fur sisters every afternoon. JimmyLou was a little hesitant about exploring when we went on walks. But after awhile she got into it and now loves it. When she knows its time to go for a walk she runs to the door, talking the whole way. She also loves to ride in the car and asks if she's going too, just like her sisters do. She rides well and will look out the window or sleep as we're driving. We’re so happy to have this baby as a part of our family.
Juanita, Bobby and JimmyLou Garnto
5 Myths about Traveling with Pets Everett Potter, Special for USA TODAY www.usatoday.com Travel can be stressful at any time, but for pet owners bringing their beloved dog or cat along on vacation, the stakes are even higher. Cautionary tales abound, especially about incidents on aircraft. The Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that in 2014, there were 17 pet deaths, 26 pet injuries and two pets gone missing on U.S. carriers. While one pet death, injury or loss is too many, more than two million pets and animals are flown by the nation's carriers each year. Here are five myths about traveling with pets.
1. The pet cargo hold is either too hot or too cold on the aircraft. "This is a myth," says Laurie S. Coger, DVM, CVCP, who runs TheHealthyDogWorkshop.com and is resident veterinarian at Canine Camp Getaway in the Adirondacks. "The pet cargo area is temperature and pressurecontrolled, just like the passenger cabin." What is true is that some animals have a harder time than others, says Dr. Jeff Werber, who hosts Pet Care TV and is past host of Petcetera on Animal Planet Network. Dr. Werber says that "short-snouted breeds like bulldogs, Boston terriers and pugs are more prone to travel-related problems." If you are flying with your pet, Dr. Werber recommends choosing a non-stop flight to minimize the changes in temperature that your pet is subjected to. He notes that there are companies that arrange pet travel, but to be sure to find a reputable company with references you have checked. "Flying your pet is not something you do lightly or without vigilant involvement," Dr. Werber says. "Go on the same flight as your pet so you can keep track and check on him or her." 2. Animals frequently get injured or even die in the pet cargo holds.
Not true, says Dr. Coger. "Most injuries, escapes or deaths occur on the ground," she says. "Heat stroke, injuries due to crates being dropped or broken, or other mishaps are most likely during loading and unloading." "The reason many airlines restrict travel during hot or cold times is the lack of climate control while waiting to board the plane," says Dr. Coger. "Tarmacs can get blazingly hot or dangerously cold, putting a pet sitting in an airline crate at great risk. Some airlines have climate-controlled pet areas where pets are held until they board. Always ask what an airline's procedures are for pets that are waiting to board, and for when they are unloaded." 3. It's safer to take my pets by car, even on a long drive, than to fly with them. In fact, this is really case-dependent, Dr. Coger says, adding that "traveling by car gives the owner control over when to take a rest stop, to feed, water or exercise the pet. This is safer and more advantageous for some pets, such as an arthritic pet, one with other health conditions or one that is extremely anxious. "
That said, she states that "travel time may make air travel the better choice for an individual pet. If you are going coast to coast, flying certainly lessens the amount of time the pet will be confined and potentially stressed. It's important to consider that the driver of the car is an amateur, sharing the roads with other amateurs. The airline pilot is a professional, and the traffic around the plane is not only piloted by other professionals, but also managed by air traffic controllers." 4. You should always administer a sedative or tranquilizer to your pet before traveling with them. Both Dr. Coger and Dr. Weber agree that this is false, even if many people commonly accept it as wisdom. "Sedatives and tranquilizers have an effect on heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory function, balance, response time and even temperament," says Dr. Coger. "There can also be a health risk for pets with conditions such as epilepsy or cardiovascular disease. Your pet should be at his normal physical condition for travel." That said, there are other preparations that pet owners can make before traveling. "Training and acclimating your pet to travel is vital," says Dr. Coger. "That means learning how to be in a carrier or crate, to urinate and defecate on lead or in a travel litterbox, and cope with the noises and motions of engines and the road. The more time and energy invested in training, the less stressful travel will be." Dr. Weber has some additional tips for those taking the family pet on vacation this summer. It's important, he states, to "get your pet accustomed to his or her crate well before the trip. Make it a comfort zone for them which will reduce stress otherwise associated with a new environment. Make sure your contact information, including your flight information and seat number, is attached to the carrier. The carrier must be strong and give your pet sufficient room to move. Make sure your pet has water. Freezing ice will help it last longer." He also suggests asking if the airline will allow you to watch your pet being loaded or unloaded from the cargo hold. It's important to notify your flight attendant that you are traveling with your pet. If the flight experiences delays, check with the crew to make sure the cargo heating or cooling system is operating. Long before you go, he says, "check with your veterinarian to make sure your pet is healthy enough to fly, and has no respiratory or other issues that will invite complications." 5. A "pet-friendly hotel" is just another name for a hotel that allow pets.
The term pet-friendly is used to mean many things in the lodging industry. A pet-friendly hotel can run the gamut from properties that simply allow pets "with or without restriction and fees, to catering to the owner traveling with their pet," says Dr. Coger. "I have stayed in hotels where the pet-friendly rooms were also the smoking rooms," an experience that she describes as "awful!" She's also stayed in "hotels that placed dog treats, poop bags, and directions to the nearest veterinary clinic in my room." It's an even bigger divide between hotels that merely accept pets and those who roll out the red carpet when the luxury element comes into play. A classic example of that, Dr. Coger says is "during the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City." For those who can afford it, there are hotels that "provide all sorts of dog services, from a dog room service menu to bathing and grooming stations, dog treadmills, massage therapy, and even indoor dog potty facilities."
Bonnie is a 12-week old American Bulldog/Pit mix pup. Foster mommy says she’s already crate trained and is diligently working on her housetraining. She is smaller than her siblings and only weighs 10 lbs right now but will probably wind up in the 55 lb range, full-grown. She is a true “wiggle butt” as she waits at her foster Mom’s feet, wanting to be held and loved! She’s spoiled and deservedly so! Bonnie’s a real sweetheart! Bonnie would love a home with an older fur sibling to play with in a fenced in backyard - she loves to play fetch and run! Small children make her nervous so she would do better in a home with grown-up humans and older children who would help her learn. Check out her petfinder bio at https://www.petfinder.com/ petdetail/31982962/ You can start the process by filling out, submitting an application to adopt any pet up for adoption at: www.angelsrescue.org/ adopt.
Hi, I’m Cricket! I’m a gorgeous blue-gray girl with shiny fur and stripes on my legs and tail. I’ve heard some people call me ‘Russian Blue’ but I’m an all-American kitty if you ask me! I love playing with all kinds of toys. I’m very talkative and enjoy being petted. I love people and being scratched on my chin and cheeks. I enjoy all kinds of food, I’m not picky at all - but fish is my favorite. I’m calm and easy-going, and get along with other cats. My dream is to get adopted into a wonderful furever home! You should make it a point to come meet me... I might just be the purrfect kitty for you! For inquiries, email catinquiry@angelsrescue.org. Be sure to check out and "like" our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/angelsrescue.cats To see more of our pets up for adoption, please visit our website at www.angelsrescue.org/adopt/
A Match Made In Heaven
Turning True Love Into a Lasting Legacy Diana Lynn Copenhaver Memorial Fund Established to Give Animals a Second Chance Article by Elizabeth Hale, Photos by Mark Stanley On a bright summer day, I was graciously welcomed into a beautiful home in the Atlanta area where, upon entering, it was readily apparent to the most casual observer that it was a home of “love” and one where two hearts had truly lived and loved as “one”. The home of John and Lynn Copenhaver is a warm, loving place filled with memories as well as two white balls of fur, fluff and joy known as “Hubbell” and “Gatsby”. Their wagging tails told us we were, indeed, welcome as barks floated easily through the air! This is a story of love and of loss, but it is ultimately the story of a wonderful woman who lived life to its fullest...never looking back, but always looking forward with a smile that lit the world, and a smile her husband wanted to honor with his decision to establish a Memorial Fund in her name benifitting rescued animals through Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. John and Lynn Copenhaver were married for twenty glorious years before death suddenly invaded that happiness in 2014 and took Lynn out of John’s arms, but never from his heart. Lynn died tragically and unexpectedly in March, 2014 from an aortic aneurism and left this life at the very young age of 58. Her loss was devastating and left huge holes in so many lives, but none deeper than the loves of her life – her loving husband, John, and her two furry children. But this article is not only about loss, it is truly about the life and legacy of this wonderful woman, and the tribute to her life, passions and legacy that will live on through the “Diana Lynn Copenhaver Memorial Rescue Fund”. I was able to sit down with John and have him share with me, and our readers, their love story and why he has chosen to honor his late wife with this tremendous gifting memorial. John and Lynn were married in 1994 and lived a life full of love and dedication until her passing. He graciously shared with me how they met, and how they were “meant to be” from the first moment their eyes locked upon the other – destiny and desire culminated in a perfect union. “I had just moved to Atlanta in 1993, was living in an apartment and in a dating relationship with a wonderful lady who was helping me find a home to purchase. As it turns out, she found the perfect home in Marietta and we went over to look at it. As fate would have it, it was the perfect home and I purchased it. Not long after moving in, I was out one morning and saw this beautiful woman across and up the street walking her little white fluffy dog (named Rambo and who “adopted” John after he and Lynn were married) and I thought ‘WOW! She must be a vision!”
They didn’t see each other for a while after that until one day, a beautiful blonde whizzed by, hair blowing, in a black Ferrari, looking every bit like Christie Brinkley in the famous movie, “Vacation”. As his heart was skipping a few beats, John thought to himself, “I think she lives in this neighborhood!” He was right! Their next meeting was at the subdivision HOA President’s Christmas party. There she was, again. As John would describe it, “our eyes met, locked and it was kismet – we knew at that moment we were meant to be!” It would take a few months for both to extricate themselves from current relationships, but they were able to start officially dating in June of 1994. They started down a fast road to “forever” and in August when Lynn arranged for a limo to pick them up and take them to the premiere restaurant in Atlanta to celebrate John’s birthday on August 18 th, that ride in the limo, complete with champagne, turned into a trip of destiny when John dropped to one knee, pulled out a beautiful ring and asked Lynn the ultimate question: “As another birthday present to me, would you do me the honor of marrying me?” They arrived at the restaurant as an engaged couple and would marry in December of 1994 to start their love-of-a-lifetime partnership. I asked John to share some of Lynn’s passions in life and he shared with us that she/they loved to travel and were able to take trips to such ports of call as China, Japan and even taking a dream trip to England aboard the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) ship, spending time taking trips through London, England by motor coach and culminating with the trip home aboard the Concord, traveling at speeds of 1400 mph. John was able to watch the sun come up from his window aboard the Concord as they were swept to their destination at JFK Airport in New York. Lynn also had an obvious passion for animals! She loved the little white fluffies such as Rambo, and now Hubbell (an almost 12-yr old Poodle mix) and Gatsby (Maltese boy who is 7 yrs. old) the “supermodel boy”. Her heart was always full of love for her “children” – and those children would play a huge part in getting John through the devastating loss of Lynn. Lynn was an RN and had a passion for nursing and for her patients. She worked for a plastic surgeon in Marietta. Lynn dearly loved nursing, was very attentive and loving toward her patients, especially through the recovery process. Lynn retired in 2005 after she and John moved into the current home where John and the pups still live today. John said Lynn had quite the “fiery” personality along with a wicked sense of humor. He shared with us a funny story about the time he questioned Lynn as to why they kept the Ferrari which needed lots of work and was expensive to maintain. She simply said, “Come with me,” and proceeded to take John on a raceway-type exciting and breathtaking 20-minute trip, causing him to hold on for dear life during the ride to share with him how a Ferrari should be driven. When they returned home, Lynn asked “Do you still want to get rid of it?” John replied, “No, honey, I just want to go inside and change my underwear!” Author’s Note: In fairness, we should also say John shares Lynn’s love of cars – just another thing they had deeply in common. He has a Tesla that he loves “almost” as much as his pups, but not nearly as much as he loved Lynn! We asked Mr. Copenhaver to share with us what drew him to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, and why he chose our organization to benefit from the Memorial Fund honoring his late wife.
“I felt very strongly after Lynn passed away that I needed to make a gift in honor of her memory. At the time, I didn’t know what organization to work with, or give to. I contacted friends who live in Chicago (Marty Kowalski and Judi Haft) who had a doggie daycare center, to ask their advice and recommendation of an organization. They called me back, saying they felt AAUPR was the organization I should contribute to, but I had to go through various stages of grief before I could proceed with the donation in Lynn’s memory. I’m happy to say I am now ready to move forward and make it a reality.” John added that, “So many organizations have such a huge overhead and bureaucracy to support that incoming funds often don’t reach those who need it most – I wanted to work with an organization where the majority of donations and gift-giving will go towards rescued animals, and not overhead.” Angels Rescue is happy to say the large majority of donations goes directly to the care and support of our rescued dogs and cats. More and more, AAUPR is being made aware of pets who, through no fault of their own, are left without owners or caretakers when their humans become gravely ill, or their owners simply pass away with no plan in place to care for pets after their passing. It is becoming more and more evident in all our daily lives that just as we “plan” for our family members, our assets, and how we wish things to be carried out after our passing, we also need a written plan in place, along with funds if possible, to take care of our pets who cannot take care of themselves when it comes to home, safety, food, comfort. Many people have the heart, desire and funding available to give but simply don’t know how to go about doing so. We asked Mr. Copenhaver what he would suggest pet owners do to prepare and this is what he said. “Do your homework. Give this issue the thought it deserves. No one likes to think of a world without them IN it, but it’s going to happen to all of us and even if you haven’t changed the world in the ways you thought you would, you can still make the world a better place by thinking through this issue and by giving of yourself – if you don’t have much to give, at least give “something”. If you can give time, then volunteer. If you have very little time, then give financially what you can. Just “think about it” – give it the importance it deserves in our lives because it’s a really important issue.”
John Copenhaver joins AAUPR Leadership member Lisa Zambacca to tour one of our vetting facilities.
Mr. Copenhaver said in a recent article on the subject of unwanted animals in shelters, “This is an extraordinary difficult problem to solve because it has a number of components. It starts with puppy mills, people not spaying/neutering pets, puppies/kittens coming into the world as unwanted, often abandoned from birth (along with the animal mom). It goes through irresponsible humans who acquire pets as toys/property/things, then treat them as such – disposed of at will. All of these behaviors lead to the mass euthanization of unwanted, healthy animals or those who are ill because of neglect, no medicines or preventive care. Killing a healthy animal is an extremely unfortunate event!
More needs to be done, including legislation, against euthanization. Of course, legislators will say, “what do we do with all of these animals?” “How are we going to develop the capacity to take care of all these dogs, cats not euthanized?” Just as overcrowded conditions in human jails, one can understand that concern. But I would say, “Let’s attack this challenge as a number of different components and address each one of them. In order to outlaw euthanization, one must develop the alternative to handle the resulting animal population capacity. First step: break the cycle! Mandatory spay/neuter laws, enforcing those laws, would be the first step toward reducing the unwanted pet population. Breaking the cycle of unwanted births would go a long way toward naturally reducing the pet population.”
We can all agree! If the cycle is not broken NOW, the next generations will be doing the same thing we are doing today. Millions of voiceless souls who belong to NO ONE will continue to be killed, thrown away together in mass graves – loved, wanted, and remembered by NO ONE. Voiceless souls treated like unwanted trash = tragedy! In closing, when asked what their legacy would be, John thought for a few moments then responded, “I really don’t know what my legacy will be but I would hope to be remembered as someone who cared, and someone who tried to make a difference.” He shared with us that Lynn’s headstone says, “Beloved wife, loving sister and daughter, caring and generous friend – she will be loved forever.” Through tears of love, he said she was “as beautiful, if not more so, inside as she was outside”. Lynn Copenhaver’s love for her husband, her family, her friends, former patients, her pets and all who were fortunate to know and love her was tremendous and she left a profound, lasting impact and legacy on them all. John went on to say how deeply their two pets, Hubbell and Gatsby, have helped pull him through the grieving process. He said, “There were so many days that I thought, ‘what’s the point?’ but then I would look down at their loving, giving faces and eyes of love, and it was in those moments that I knew why – it was our dogs, sweet Hubbell and Gatsby, who depended and still depend on me – they showed me why and have loved me and gotten me through each day since the loss of Lynn.” All one has to do is spend a few moments in this home, around John and his two dogs, to know how very much they love and adore him! We are so grateful to Mr. John Copenhaver for sharing his life, his home, his pets and most of all, the treasured memories of his beautiful wife, Lynn, with our readers! It truly is a story of a “match made in Heaven” and one well-lived on earth. We have no doubt this great “love” story will continue throughout the ages as their souls are once again reunited beyond the stars.
Memorial and Tribute Gifts are a powerful way to honor or remember your loved ones by continuing to move the mission of Angels Among Us forward. Your gift provides critical funds to allow AAUPR to rescue animals from urgent situations, including kill shelters in and around Atlanta, GA. All angel dog and cats receive crucial medical attention, vaccinations, spay/neuter, training, and surgery (if necessary). To learn more about how you can donate to AAUPR, please log onto www.angelsrescue.org/donate. Within that page, you will learn how you can help Rescue ONE Until there are NONE through individual, corporate, and planned gifts. Questions can be emailed to megan@angelsrescue.org. As a registered 501 (c) 3, all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Thank You So Much!
We always love it when our own volunteers and fosters also work to raise funds and collect supplies for our organization. Beth Boswell is one such tremendous person! Beth launched a neighborhood donation drive to help with our needs for supplies to use with our rescued dogs and cats in need. A huge ANGELS THANK YOU and SHOUT OUT goes not only to Beth, but to the generous residents of Nerine Circle in Dunwoody, GA for all of these fantastic donations! As you can see, our adorable adoptable pups TRES, LAURA LEE, SKI and ROSARIO immediately volunteered to test out the gifts, quickly claiming their favorites! Beth, we love you and appreciate you so much!
Thank You So Much! Angels received a call from a young female named Maxine, expressing that she had used her allowance to purchase some items for dogs and cats that, "have no real Mommy yet" and would like to make a donation to us! She asked that we come pick it up for her since she can't reach the brake or the gas pedals. Curiosity got to our volunteer, Mari Chitwood, so you can imagine her surprise when she found out MAXINE was an Australian Shepard mix DOG! She generously donated 24 various sized bags of dog food, 20 collars, 15 leads, 20 tennis balls, 10 harnesses, several Pro Collars, (she knows what the cone of shame is like, and she didn't want another to suffer with that embarrassment), and a large bag full of various other items. Maxine added a note with her generous donation that read, as follows: "I hope this offering will make it easier for all you pup's without a home of your own. My heart goes out to you, but I know that you are in good hands with the Angels until then. Licks, Wags & Love, Maxine!� Angels would like to give a HUGE Bark Out to MAXINE for the wonderful items that she spent her hard earned allowance on.
Pictured Above: Jennifer Dray, adopter current foster and volunteer with AAUPR
Photo courtesy of Lisa Plummer Savas
Look who made the cover of the Georgia Voice Magazine’s Pet Issue - our own beautiful Ravenel! This pup, along with many others, are up for adoption through Angels Among Us Pet Rescue! See them all by visiting our website at: www.angelsrescue.org/adopt - pick out your next best friend! To see Ravanel, and many other pets adopted from Angels, check out the digital copy of this magazine by clicking this link: http://issuu.com/ gavoice/docs/071015-digitaledition? e=3167111/14072212
We at Angels Among Us Pet Rescue are so excited to announce our organization and volunteers were recognized by the GA Voice 2015 Awards as the winner of the “Pet Events” Award!
They said this about us on their website: “Dedicated to saving dogs and cats from high-kill shelters, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue (www.angelsrescue.org) corralled the highest number of votes. The organization has all kinds of events throughout the Atlanta area and North Georgia to raise money to save pets, including pet adoptions.” We’re thrilled to receive this award! Thank you, GA Voice!
Little AMICO was found by animal control on the side of the road, with all of the hair and skin literally stripped away from his body from the base of the tail to the tip! They called Angels Among Us and we rushed him immediately to the hospital where he received excellent care and treatment with Dr. Smith at Chattahoochee Animal Clinic. Thanks to the quick work, this pup is now well, living in a foster home, and is ready to be adopted! To read about and watch the news story on little AMICO, just click the link below. We thank George Franco, and the Fox5 Atlanta TV news family for covering Amico’s story. http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/ story/28958037/rescue-group-saves-abusedAMICO is Well and Ready to be ADOPTED!
www.angelsrescue.org/adopt
AMONG US PET RESCUE rescued these two cocker spaniels as a bonded pair back in November, 2014. Years of abuse and neglect had caused Denny to lose his vision. Precious Drummond has just enough sight left to be Denny's eyes. They both suffered from horrific skin conditions, along with horribly infected eyes and ears. Former Angels Among Us Pet Rescue adopters adopted another Angel dog about a year ago. When they heard about Denny and Drummond, they hoped they could also provide these deserving dogs with a loving home where they could live out the remainder of their years together in comfort and harmony. Their new home has 10 acres of land where these lucky boys will be able to sniff and explore to their heart's content. It is a dog haven where they will be spoiled for the rest of their lives! These two lives couldn't have been saved without your support and generous donations. Thank you so much for following Denny and Drummond's amazing journey. They have gone from extreme neglect with painful skin infections, heartworms, and broken hearts to living in a Happy Forever home in just a few months! Angels knows that Time and Love truly DO heal! Denny and Drummond are perfect examples! A special thank you to the skilled veterinarians from the following clinics for their top notch vetting care: Chattahoochee Animal Clinic (skin), Baranik Animal Care (heartworm, neuters), and Atlanta Veterinary Eye Clinic (eye care). You truly worked MIRACLES for these boys! Thank you to their foster, adopters, and everyone at ANGELS AMONG US PET RESCUE who helped them on their journey to happy-ever-after. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELS AMONG US PET RESCUE and our mission to “Rescue ONE Until there are NONE� by visiting our website at www.angelsrescue.org and by following us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/angelsrescue. Watch their story on 11Alive News by clicking here: http://www.11alive.com/story/life/pets/2014/12/31/rescued-blind-dog-guidedog/21091315/
9 Ways to Tell Your Cat Is In Pain Jane A. Kelly, www.catster.com
Cats are instinctively driven to hide suffering, so be on the lookout for these subtle signs.
Some of the most profoundly heartbreaking moments of my cat-caretaking life revolve around being unable to tell how much pain my beloved friends were suffering. Even though I know cats are very good at disguising their pain, I can’t help but guilt-trip myself sometimes over this health issue, because as a person who’s lived with cats almost all my life, I "should" be able to notice when something’s out of whack. A sick cat will show “symptoms,” although often they’re quite subtle. In hopes of helping you recognize signs of pain that eluded me, here are some tips regarding things to look out for. 1. A change in behavior If a super-active cat starts spending most of her day sleeping, this could be a sign that she’s hurting. Likewise, if a cat becomes grumpy, it’s not because she’s "just getting old." I learned this the hard way when, after Siouxsie had four painful teeth extracted, her whole disposition changed. Normally sedate cats can become really hyper and agitated as a result of pain, too. 2. Resistance to touch and wanting to be left alone If your cat begins growling, swatting or snapping when stroked, touched or moved, that’s a sign something is bothering him. 3. Sleeping in only one position When Siouxsie’s hips are bothering her, she only sleeps on her right side. Her left hip is more arthritic than the right one, and I suspect it’s more comfortable for her to sleep on the right side for this reason.
4. Hiding Because cats know that pain makes them vulnerable, a hurting cat will hide so that he can avoid being preyed upon by stronger animals. 5. Excessive licking of an area Cats who are hurting will try to bring relief by licking the area that’s bothering them. You see this in a lot in cats with urinary tract infections or idiopathic cystitis. Siouxsie’s sister had recurring episodes of cystitis (she was very sensitive to stress) and when her bladder was hurting, she licked her stomach bald. 6. Not grooming It’s not normal for older cats to get greasy and scruffy. Most older cats look less "put together" than they did in their younger years because arthritis or other conditions have made the stretching required for grooming too painful. Any cat who stops grooming needs to be seen by a veterinarian. 7. Abnormal body positions A cat in severe pain will sit hunched up with her feet tucked under her and her nose almost on the floor. But there are other abnormal positions that may not be so obvious. For example, in the first video I shared in my post about medical cannabis, Siouxsie was walking in short strides with a hunched gait. 8. A faraway look in the eyes This is particularly telling if it’s combined with abnormal body positions. I saw this look in Dahlia’s eyes a lot toward the end of her life. 9. Changes in litter box habits Cats with painful backs and hips may have trouble using the litter box as well as they used to. Holding the appropriate positions for peeing and pooping can be very difficult for a cat with sore hips or knees. Kissy peed up the side of the box and got urine on the floor and walls, for example, because her bad knee made it too painful for her to maintain the usual "pee squat." Jane A Kelley is a Punk-rock cat mom, science nerd, animal shelter volunteer and all-around geek with a passion for bad puns, intelligent conversation, and role-play adventure games.
The Friend Who Keeps You Young
Courtesy of John Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org Caring for a pet is great for your physical and emotional health. A Johns Hopkins expert shares the proven connections—plus ways to benefit even if you’re not ready for the full-time responsibility of an animal. Adopting a pet may seem like a selfless act, but there are plenty of selfish reasons to embrace pet ownership. Research has shown that owning a pet provides an amazing array of health benefits, says Jeremy Barron, M.D., medical director of the Beacham Center for Geriatric Medicine at Johns Hopkins. Not ready for a full-time furry friend in your home? Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog, cat-sit for a friend, or donate time at a local animal shelter—even short interactions provide enough pet exposure to reap some of these rewards.
Reduce stress. Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies). In fact, an astonishing 84 percent of post-traumatic stress disorder patients paired with a service dog reported a significant reduction in symptoms, and 40 percent were able to decrease their medications, reported a recent survey.
Lower blood pressure. The cortisol-lowering and oxytocin-boosting benefits of petting also help keep your blood pressure at bay. “Petting and holding an animal allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature,” explains Barron. “It’s relaxing and transcendental.”
Increase physical activity. How many people are willing to go outside at the crack of dawn and exercise in the rain or snow? Dog owners often have no choice—they have to walk their pet, thus providing them with an excuse-proof daily dose of exercise.
Boost heart health. The American Heart Association released a research report endorsing dog ownership as a way of warding off cardiovascular disease.
Ease loneliness and depression. A 2011 study found that pet owners had better self-esteem. Another study determined that pets provided greater social support than humans in mitigating depression. “Caring for a pet provides a sense of purpose to the owner,” says Barron. Plus, pets are a good social catalyst for meeting people who share your animal interests.
Help specific health concerns. Beyond simple companionship, dogs have long been wonderful helpers to those without sight or with mobility issues. Dogs are even being used to help detect conditions from seizures to cancer.
A friend just bought her new dream home. It has all the features she wanted, including a beautiful back yard swimming pool. She planned to have lots of fun times there with her family. But she remembered to factor in the pets when she considered pool safety. Here are some ideas about keeping that pool safe for the pets.
Do a swim check. Don’t just assume your dogs can swim – not all dogs are good swimmers. Take your pets out to the pool and let them go in the water, then watch carefully. Make sure they can swim comfortably, and at ease navigating around the water. Especially as dogs get older, they become weaker and might have trouble swimming. Once you have determined that they can swim safely, you’ve gone a long way to providing a safe pool environment.
Show them the way out. A set of steps at one end of the pool might not be easy to spot for a dog in the water. Consider putting large potted plants on either side of the steps, to clearly mark the exit. While the dogs are in the water, call them out, while standing next to the steps. Do this several times until the message becomes clear that this is how they will get out of the pool. When they are back in the water, stand next to the back door of the house, and call the dogs to you. If they swim right to the steps and come to you, that’s great – they can find the exit.
Install a pool ramp. Sometimes dogs are older, and may need additional assistance getting out of the pool. Pet ramps are constructed to assure the pet an easy way out of the pool, and are easily visible if the pet is in the water.
Get a pool cover. You don’t want to have a pool, and have to keep the dogs inside where they can’t enjoy the back yard. More importantly, you want the dogs to be safe while they are in the yard. In addition, if a neighborhood dog ever found its way into your yard, they are not exposed to a potential hazard. The type of cover is important. A floating cover is not recommended for pet owners – a dog could mistake it for a solid surface, run onto it, get entangled and be in real trouble. A mesh cover allows the pool to breathe and doesn’t collect rain water on top of it, but a dog could become caught in the mesh and panic. A solid cover is the best choice – they attach to the sides of the pool, and are rated to hold up to 4,000 pounds, so they can easily stand even the weight of a big dog. Deploy it when you aren’t using the pool, and there’s another layer of safety for the pets.
Provide drinking water. Make sure there is a big bowl of water in the shade near the pool. Call your dogs out of the water and have them get a drink, which cuts down on the likelihood that the dogs will drink pool water. It also assures that they will stay well hydrated – it’s hot and humid on summer days, and while playing in the water, the dogs will build a big thirst. Once the dogs are conditioned to use that water bowl, they will be more likely to drink from it regularly. Lastly, sit back in the shade and smile, as you watch the kids and the dogs splashing around in your new pool, knowing you’ve provided a safe place for them to have fun. Reprinted by Permission from ww.mykidhaspaws.org
This is DORATO who was pulled by Angels Among Us from a shelter that has seen more of our worst cases, in terms of neglect, abuse and abandonment. They also seem to get more purebred strays than most people would think or believe.
DORATO at time of intake at animal
DORATO is one such case. He was found as a stray, after being on his own for quite some time. They caught him and brought him to the shelter, where Angels saw him, pulled him, and made him one of our rescued pups up for adoption. His photo and story was shared on our Facebook page where he was seen by over 600,000 fans and followers....one of them unknown to us at the time but not unknown to little DORATO.
As the days began to unfold on little Dorato’s new future with Angels, we began to find out more about “his story” when a wonderful older lady and her husband showed up at one of our Saturday adoption sites, looking for and asking about DORATO. Our wonderful adoptions site manager, Marcia Hockenbery, gently asked if she was looking to adopt him and she replied, “no - I just have to see him”. Marcia went on to explain to her that he was fine, and was in a foster home in quarantine but to keep an eye on the Angels Events page to see when he would be able to come to an adoptions event. They left that day, but were back again in the next few weeks, with the dear lady telling Marcia, again, that she “had to see him”. As Marcia gently began to explain to her that he was “safe”, this wonderful lady suddenly mentioned to Marcia that she had actually FED little Dorato before he was captured by animal control! Well, you can imagine Marcia’s surprise as she realized this dear woman truly had a real connection to this little Poodle mix stray. It turns out that this little pooch was living as a stray in the woods in Rex, GA. And for seven (7) months, this precious earthly angel named Molly McKenzie, would take him breakfast and dinner each day - sitting in a chair as he ate. She was hoping to gain his trust but initially, DORATO wouldn’t come near her. Finally, he began to come up to her but still wouldn’t allow Molly to actually pick him up.
One fateful morning, Molly came on her faithful mission to feed the little stray doggie, but he never showed up. Someone told her he had been picked up by animal control and taken to their shelter. Molly went there to see if it was true, and there he was! This time, he immediately recognized her and came right to her, allowing her to actually pick him up! This sweet lady gently whispered to the little stray pup that she would make sure nothing bad happened to him and that she would return the next day. Well, Molly kept her word to this voiceless little dog but when she returned the next day, her heart dropped and she panicked when her eyes saw an empty cage where this little boy had been the day before. She was informed that Angels Among Us Pet Rescue had pulled him and brought the stray little dog into their adoptions program, and that his name was now DORATO. Not only was he SAFE.....he now had a foster family and a NAME!
DORATO IN HIS FOSTER HOME, ALL CLEANED UP AND LOOKING GREAT! Molly wasn’t about to let go of her mission or her promise to the pup now called DORATO. She had her husband drive 50 miles EACH WAY to the adoptions location, in search of this little boy who had captured Molly McKenzie’s heart! She was determined to see and know that the little stray knew she had not abandoned him, and that she was happy that the Angels organization was helping her keep the promise she had whispered in his ear that day at the shelter.
You see, Molly’s mission to “see” him was actually her mission to be able to say a goodbye to the little boy who had taken a chance to trust her, and in the process, had captured a piece of her heart and soul. Molly needed closure and a visual confirmation that her promise to not “leave him or allow anything else bad happen to him” was now a reality. Her own heart needed to know and to “see” that DORATO was safe, loved, and would now have his own forever home and family. She wanted to just give him sweet kisses and to whisper one last time into his ear, “you’re safe....you’re loved...and soon you’ll be forever home.” Marcia called DORATO’s foster, Jennifer, who was more than happy and elated to make that meeting between the little pup and his first advocate, Molly, happen! And happen, it did! Jennifer tells us that it was truly a sight to behold - little DORATO remembered Molly and was super-excited to see his human friend and Molly was in tears at being reunited with her little stray boy, DORATO. There was a lot of tears, laughter, smiles and two hearts that for those few moments, again beat as ONE! Jennifer promised Molly that she would keep in touch with her and let her know about the rest of DORATO’S journey to his forever home and family! As the days rolled by, DORATO transitioned from a scared, matted, scruffy, forgotten little stray to a groomed, fed, loved, safe and happy little pup! It didn’t take long before that “promise” of a forever home and family came along! He was adopted by a wonderful set of new parents who had lost their schnauzer who had passed away a year before. They were looking for a “special dog” to fill that void, and little DORATO was looking for a void to fill! He immediately bonded with them and Jennifer says she and Molly couldn’t have found a better home and heart for this little pup! Molly is now a forever fan of our rescue, and eagerly spreads the word of what loving hearts can do when united in one purpose and cause to “Rescue ONE Until There Are NONE”.
We’re so happy to announce this wonderful book is now in print, and available for purchase, for a cost of $10/each. Peggy is donating 30% of the cost of the book to AAUPR! You can get a signed copy from Peggy at weekend adoptions or you can purchase directly through Amazon.com. Be sure to get your copy, and support adoption and animal rescue!
Peggy at the home of a wonderful family, presenting them a signed copy of her new book. They have 4 adopted children and 2 adopted dogs.
Thank You So Much!
Pictured above is Lance White of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, surrounded by some of the students from Cambridge High School’s Humane Society Club
Thank you so much for the awesome donation of $200 to AAUPR from the Cambridge High School Humane Society Club’s Valentine’s Day fundraiser. The club sold roses at their school to raise money toward the cause of animal rescue and humane education. What a wonderful example of our youth stepping up to support our organization!
Angels Come in all Sizes and Ages! These two amazing young ladies decided that in lieu of personal gifts for their 10th birthday, they would ask for donations to the dogs and cats of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue!!! They showered our rescue kitties and doggies with tons of gifts. On behalf of rescues, we say “Thank you”! We truly appreciate your generosity and beautiful, compassionate, rescue hearts!! You girls are amazing. Keep up the great work!!
Meet Megan! This precious little angel girl decided to collect dog and cat supplies in lieu of gifts for her 3rd birthday!! Now that is amazing!! She is already looking forward to doing it again next year!!
Kudos to her parents for beginning to instill such important values in their daughter at such a young and impressionable age! You’re NEVER too young to make a difference!
Angels Come in all Sizes and Ages! Angels Among Us Pet Rescue would like to thank the members of Girl Scout Troop #12485 who hosted a fundraising event this weekend in Milton, GA at “Doggies and Doughnuts”. As you can see, a great time was had by all! We wish these future "rescuers" the very best of luck as they apply for the Girl Scout Bronze Award.
Pictured here are some of the girls from Girl Scout Daisy Troop 14494 (1st graders) who visited Pet Supermarket in Johns Creek, GA, to purchase almost $400 in supplies from the Angels Among Us wishlist. They raised funds from cookie sales and chose to donate part of their proceeds to this wonderful organization. The girls also held a donation drive where friends, family and many neighbors dropped off additional supplies. Angels’ Co-Founder, Luann Farrell, was so happy to hear about both of these wonderful groups and their work, support and volunteerism in support of Angels Among Us! “Our goal is to involve the young people to educate them on the need to rescue. This is such an amazing tribute.” THANK YOU SO MUCH, to both TROOPS!
Angels Come in all Sizes and Ages! This adorable little 4 yr old boy asked for donations to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue instead of presents for his birthday. His proud dad looks on as he is photographed donating his money to our charity. This family has fostered for Angels Among Us and plans to do so again this summer. It always makes us so very happy to see the next generation of Angels starting their work so early in life! Thank you very much Damon, we appreciate your gift!
These three lovely young ladies came up will a brilliant idea!! They decided they wanted to sell treats to raise money for a charity. After doing some research, they decided on Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. Thank you, ladies, for your compassion for animals and your support of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. We wish you all best in your future altruistic endeavors!!
Angels Come in all Sizes and Ages! This is the adorable Penny, who is six years old, and her sister. Penny is another precious Young Angel who asked for donations to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue instead of presents for her birthday. We just adore the hearts of these young children who are already so supportive of animal rescue - they GET IT! You young ladies are wonderful examples of what rescue is all about!
This is Jordan Gilchrist - another young Angel who understands rescue! Recently, Jordan celebrated her 9th birthday and instead of gifts, she asked for donations and supplies for the dogs and cats of Angels! The donations she collected are in the shopping carts on either side of Jordan - 1 cart for dogs, and 1 cart for cats! Additionally, Jordan and her family adopted two pets from us - Diamond the kitty and Oscar the dog. Jordan is holding our AAU kitty, MooShu, in the picture. We are so thankful for Jordan and for Penny for representing our youngest generation of rescuers. THANK YOU Penny and Jordan for all you do for our rescued animals! You rock!
This is the wonderful BANG BANG - an official Foster Fail! He’s gone from being found tied to the front porch of a home in horrible condition to being his family’s pride and joy! His name is now OLAF, and he goes everywhere with his forever family! They are on the way to the lake, and this boy is NEVER looking back - only forward! All because caring hearts saved him and gave him a second chance at a life full of happy!
Find YOUR “best friend” by fostering, adopting from Angels Among Us today! Photo Credit: Shannon Goralski
Thank You So Much!
Peters Company Premier Real Estate Consultants under the Keller Williams brand created a successful Bowling fundraiser to benefit Angels Among Us Pet Rescue at Midtown Bowl on Saturday, February 21st. The event raised $1163 thanks to Lesley Peters!
Thank You So Much!
Luann Farrell from Angels Among Us Pet Rescue had a great time stopping by Fido’s Market to pick up 76 Martingale collars to be used for our rescued pets! Martingale collars are a safe and awesome way to help our fosters keep our Angels rescued pets safe at adoption events! Thank you so much to Fido’s Market in Alpharetta, GA for their “Pennies for Paws” fundraising efforts and showing what your donations can do for rescue!
Thank You So Much!
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue is very grateful for the support and donations received from their “Splash For A Cause� event! You folks rock, and we are so grateful for all the financial help, as well as helping increase the awarness of our rescue, and our animals who are up for adoption!
Thank You So Much!
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue would like to give a HUGE SHOUT-OUT to Ingles grocery store and Star 94 Radio for their radio promotion supporting AAUPR! Because of this promotion, we received three (3) pallets of dog food and one (1) pallet of cat food in support of our rescued animals currently living in foster homes and/or boarding. What a huge blessing! We are so thankful to all of our Corporate Sponsors!
Thank You So Much!
HUGE SHOUT OUT TO PETSMART IN CANTON, GA!
The kind and generous folks at PetSmart in Canton, GA donated all this food to the dogs and cats of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue! WooHoo!! Thank you, PetSmart, for your support - we love all of our Corporate Sponsors for standing with us in our mission to “Rescue ONE Until There Are NONE”.
Thank You So Much!
Pictured above: Nick John, Karin Wallace and Jennifer Naujokas from Angels Among Us Pet Rescue accepting this wonderful donation on behalf of our organization
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue is very grateful for the support and donations received from Synnex Corporation for their donation of 30 dog houses AND a financial donation of $2,000! We love our corporate sponsors - we couldn’t do what we do each day without your support! You guys ROCK!
Thank You So Much!
Pictured: Kevin Styles of LocumTenens, and Kimberly Kay, Angels Among Us Pet Rescue - Cats Team Leader.
Angels Among Us Pet Rescue - CATS wants to say a HUGE THANK YOU to LocumTenens.com, a part of Jackson Healthcare, for their extremely generous donation! Employee Kevin Styles and his wife are long time volunteers of the organization and we appreciate their time and donation! Adorable rescue kitten Clark Kent was on hand to accept the check - he is just one of the many kittens who will be helped this kitten season thanks to the great people at LocumTenens.com. During spring and summer "Kitten Season", the number of unwanted cats/kittens skyrockets. Shelters are full and we strive to save as many as we can. The sudden influx causes funds to be tight so this donation could not have come at a better time! So many more lives can and will be saved this year because of you, and we truly appreciate this amazing gift.
Thank You So Much!
A Big Thank You To Whole Foods Market at Merchants Walk for donating two baskets’ full of delicious food and treats! Pictured above, L to R: : Erica, Raj, Sondra, Jenny, Mark, Adam – all Whole Foods Market employees! Joining them are Oracle and Rydberg, AAU dogs who are up for adoption! Thank you so much!
THANK YOU to Whole FoodsMerchants Walk customers for purchasing on July 1st! 5% of all sales that day were donated to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue for $ 3,325 in donations!
Thank You So Much!
Pictured above is Brian on Left, (District Manager) Mary on Right, (Unit Manager), along with Luann Farrell, Co-Founder of Angels Among Us Pet Rescue in Center, at Kroger’s store # 495 in Alpharetta, GA.
Thank you to Kroger and to all of you who are Kroger customers who contribute to Angels Among Us Pet Rescue through the Kroger Community Rewards program! Our organization and our rescued dogs and cats say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who participates! If you aren’t doing so, please check out the “How You Can Help” section of the magazine to find out how! Sign up today with Kroger’s Community Rewards and save a life!
It Takes A Village To Help Animals In Need Lisa Plummer Savas http://carelikeido.com/2015/05/01/it-takes-a-village-to-help-animals-in-need/
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
When Rachel Meier took a job in Rome, Georgia, it wasn’t long before she suspected that something wasn’t quite right in the neighborhood behind her workplace. “I’d walk out to my car everyday and would hear lots of dogs barking, at least ten different dogs,” Rachel told me. “I didn’t think it was normal, so I got in my car and started driving around and I was like, oh-my-God!” As a four-year cat rescuer with Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, Rachel has seen her fair share of animal abuse and neglect, but she wasn’t prepared for what she witnessed just footsteps from her job – dozens of skinny, chained dogs with no food, water or shelter in filthy, trash-littered backyards, and tons of thin, scruffy cats wandering loose between the houses and along the streets. With winter just around the corner and temperatures about to drop, Rachel knew she had to do something to help these desperate animals, and fast. For those of you who have never heard of Rome (not to be confused with the capitol city of Italy), it’s a small, rural city 65 miles northwest of Atlanta with a large working class population. Twenty percent of its citizens live below the poverty line. And if people aren’t able to provide for themselves, then you can pretty much guarantee they’re not properly caring for their pets. Such was the case in the disadvantaged community Rachel had inadvertently stumbled upon. Without missing a beat, the young rescuer immediately reached out to one of her volunteer friends, purchased some straw bales and bags of pet food, and began canvasing the neighborhood, knocking on doors and offering supplies to anyone who needed them. Thanks to the two kindhearted women, several dogs and cats had softer places to sleep and full bellies that night. But Rachel knew just one random act of kindness wasn’t going to suffice – there was too much need in this community to walk away now. With visions of all those neglected dogs and cats haunting her thoughts, she went home and started to rally her troops. And thus, the Rome outreach and rescue effort was born.
The fifth Rome outreach mission group. Back row, L to R: Meaghan Sopata, Lindsey Kirn, Rachel Meier, Monica Wesolowski, Emily Chason and Jordan Gilchrist. Front row, L to R: Danielle Kramer, Nick John, Jennifer Naujokas, Lucero Hornedo and Allan Brown.
By the time Rachel was ready to make her second and third visits to the neighborhood, fellow AAU volunteers Danielle Kramer, Monica Wesolowski and Jennifer Naujokas were on board. And once they witnessed the desperate state of the animals for themselves they, too, became deeply committed to the relief mission. But in order to pay for all the pet supplies the impoverished community desperately needed, including food, doghouses, straw bales, flea, tick and heartworm preventative, toys and other accessories, the group had to find funding. And that’s where the magic of social media came in. “We started posting on Facebook among our circle of Angels volunteers, emailing and calling folks and contacting local (pet supply) stores,” Danielle explained. “We asked Petsmart and Petco for expired food and began working with two Tractor Supply Co stores in Canton, which were amazing. They gave us a huge box of toys, cedar shavings, flea and tick treatments and de-wormers, just tons of stuff. We got a lot of donations from the Angels volunteers and started stockpiling supplies.” Once word spread of the Rome effort, other Angels volunteers jumped on board to pitch in, and before long the group grew from the four core members to a dozen volunteers. “This is the fifth trip where all of us have been together,” Danielle said. “So far I think we’ve rescued about 40 dogs from the area and helped about 100 animals. We’re trying to get more and more organized and we’ve learned a lot through trial and error, but no matter what, if we’ve helped one (animal), we’ve done well.” Another lonely, chained and attention-starved pit bull in the more “sketchy” part of the neighborhood. His owner never bothered to come out of his house to see what we were doing. The poor dog cried as we left. As a long-time admirer of AAU and all the amazing work they do to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs and cats in the Atlanta area, I jumped at the chance to join the group and experience the outreach effort for myself. It was inspiring to be in the company of such generous, compassionate individuals who love animals as much as I do, people more than willing to get up early on a weekend and devote an entire day to helping pets in need. So last Sunday morning I found myself gathered with the group at our meeting place in the Rome Home Depot parking lot, some of us sipping coffee, all of us prepared to get dirty. It’s obvious these people have developed a close affinity, as there were plenty of smiles, laughter and hugs to be had as everyone greeted each other. After briefly discussing our itinerary, which included visiting and dropping off supplies at approximately 15-20 homes in three neighborhoods, we loaded up on straw bales and caravanned toward our first destination, our five trucks and SUVs packed to the gills with food and supplies. From the moment we arrived at the first neighborhood, it became glaringly obvious to me why this outreach mission needs to exist. In most disadvantaged communities here in the south, I imagine that most animals live pretty much the same way as they do in the low-income neighborhoods of Rome. While there were a few exceptions, the majority of the dogs we visited lived on chains, often in dirty or overgrown backyards where they received very little human interaction. Forget about going on car rides to the dog park, sleeping on comfy couches or being part of a family – most of these dogs had nothing except for a dilapidated, makeshift doghouse, if they were lucky. Fencing is expensive, and since many of the
people don’t allow their dogs indoors – especially the large dogs – these animals are simply left outside to brave the elements and “guard” their owners’ property. While most of the dogs were initially defensive when we approached (being tethered makes dogs more aggressive and protective of their space), once they realized we were there to give them treats, food and attention, the majority of them melted into friendly puddles of wiggling, wagging, squealing love, simply starving for attention and drinking up every ounce of it. Allan and a sweet blue pittie who was so excited to see us he almost knocked us over! “This effort is so important to me because I’ve seen a change in these animals,” Rachel told me. “I see in their eyes how appreciative they are and how much even the small things we do for them mean. I’ve seen ‘ferocious’ dogs turn into playful puppies and sad, frightened puppies turn into happy, bouncing, playful things. I believe every animal has a soul and every creature deserves love and happiness, so I want to bring it to these poor souls in any way that I can. They deserve better than what they were dealt and if I can’t physically remove them from the situation and place them in a better one, then I at least want to better their lives in some way.” As we slowly drove down the streets, stopping at homes and meeting with pet owners the core group had established relationships with, people came out of their small, rundown homes to greet us, some of them with wide-eyed children in tow. Most of the pet owners asked for dog or cat food and appeared genuinely appreciative for the help, some smiling with gap-toothed grins, their weathered faces glowing like kids on Christmas morning. Meanwhile, Rachel moved about with laser-like focus, calling out to us for different supplies, making sure every pet household got what they needed and making note of what she’d need to bring next time. Danielle and Jennifer appeared to be more of the diplomats of the group, engaging with the people and gently advising them about proper pet care when it seemed appropriate to do so, all without sounding judgmental or superior. I was so impressed with their patience and restraint. “A lot of these people are very receptive (to the information we give them) but you do have to be very careful in how you educate them because we are guests in their neighborhood and it’s easy to offend anybody,” Danielle told me. “No matter what your personal emotions are about something, you have to speak to them with respect. If they don’t want us in this neighborhood I guarantee you there will be folks who won’t allow us here.” Lucero and Lindsey checking out a puppy with an open spay suture – at least her owner had her spayed. Too bad she already had her outside on a chain, though. As the morning turned to mid-day, it seemed to me like every family we visited either had a tethered, sick, injured, pregnant or nursing animal. Even though low-cost spay and neuter is indeed available in many communities here in Georgia, few of these people seemed to know about these services or simply hadn’t taken advantage of them. As a result, some homes we visited were simply overwhelmed with too many animals, including one house with two female dogs that had both given birth a couple of weeks apart, resulting in 13 canines under one roof. Another family had been living with 15 small dogs in a tiny, 800-square-foot house and were relieved at the concept of surrendering a few of them to us.
When the woman became teary-eyed at the reality of parting with “her babies,” we assured her they would all go to great homes. Due to the fact that AAU now has upwards of 800 animals in its system, the rescue asks that volunteers make every effort to secure a foster home before accepting an owner surrender so the animal has a safe and secure place to land. While the group tends to rely mostly on AAU for taking any surrendered pets from the community, it also works with a couple of other rescues, including Road Trip Home Animal Rescue, which transports dogs out of Georgia and into regions with higher demand for rescue pets, and Furkids, another amazing local organization that focuses on rescuing cats and small dogs. Once the woman agreed to surrender five of her 15 dogs, Jennifer and Danielle began a flurry of text messages with their foster network, trying to find placement for the scruffy terrier mixes. Mission accomplished, we loaded the pups in crates and packed them in the back of Jennifer’s SUV, quietly jubilant that these lucky dogs were now headed for much better prospects. The rest of the day became a blur of more desperate dogs on chains, more litters of puppies or dogs with puppies on the way, cats running around everywhere, none of them fixed, one of them badly injured. One skinny, chewed-up looking tomcat ran up to me as I took a break by Danielle’s truck, crying beseechingly as if he knew I was there to help him. I quickly opened a can of cat food and sat by the skinny feline as he enjoyed his meal, yellow eyes glazed over in contentment. He reminded me of a tiger-striped cat I had had as a child and a wave of melancholy washed over me. The thin and battle-scarred tom cat enjoying his meal. I must admit it was challenging to not feel animosity toward the people for the neglect we continued to witness, house after house, street after street. But once you started talking to them and looking into their eyes, you realized that most of them were actually kind people who cared about their pets, they just didn’t know any better or simply couldn’t afford to take better care of them. “A lot of the way these people treat their animals comes out of ignorance – nobody every taught them how to properly care for an animal,” Danielle explained as we drove to the next street. “Some of them think they’re doing right by them, like, ‘yes, my dog is chained outside, but I feed him.’ They simply don’t understand.” It makes sense that if you don’t have enough money to take care of yourself and your family, you’re probably not going to spend what little you do have on veterinary care or premium food for your dog. So if your dog gets sick, pregnant or goes without a meal, that’s just how it is, and the animal has to live (or die) with its lot in life. Yes, maybe I am different in that I have always put my animals first, and if I couldn’t afford to properly care for a pet I wouldn’t have one in the first place, but not everyone thinks that way. And therein lies the emotional and mental torture of rescue – enduring the ignorance of human beings and the intentional or unintentional cruelty they inflict upon their pets. Looking around, watching all these wonderful volunteers bedding down new doghouses with straw, petting dirty, neglected dogs and spooning cans of cat food into bowls for hoards of hungry kitties, I had to wonder, when does this end? As long as these people are living in poverty, so will their animals. So is it realistic for Rachel and her group to just keep coming out here month after month, year after year, and if so, is that really going to solve anything in the long run? Wasn’t this mission like putting a Band-aid over a much deeper, larger wound?
This desperate little Chihuahua couldn’t stop barking with excitement when we arrived. A dog like this belongs on someone’s lap, not on a tether. “I would like to see tethering laws as well as laws for spaying and neutering to end the vicious cycle of overpopulation, euthanasia, and homelessness, but until that happens I will continue to help,” Rachel said. “I have an amazing group of people who help me, from monetary, food, toy and medication donations to physically going out here and ‘getting dirty.’ I can’t do it without this group and so as long as I have their support and can physically and mentally do this, I will.” Since irresponsible pet ownership and indiscriminate breeding are the main culprits of our pet overpopulation problem, it is indeed spay and neuter (and in my opinion, mandatory spay and neuter) that will ultimately solve this crisis. And that’s why one of the main objectives of the Rome group is to help the community stop the viscous cycle of litter after litter of puppies and kittens being born into poverty and neglect. “We have approximately 20 or so dogs that the owners would like to have spayed and neutered – that is huge!” Jennifer exclaimed. “This is the first time we’ve heard such glorious words of wanting to stop the cycle in this community. We are going to work very hard to find a spay and neuter vehicle to come out here in a few weeks.” As the day wound to a close, I have to admit I was feeling somewhat zombie-like. How many more sad, lonely pit bulls would I see chained in dirty backyards, leaping excitedly at the prospect of any shred of loving attention from a human being? I wanted to take every one of them home with me, especially a blonde and white little girl whose soulful eyes pleaded with me as if to say, “please get me out of here.” It was torture to walk away from her. I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since. This is the sweet blonde and white pit bull who touched me deeply. She’d obviously been bred numerous times. “Not everybody can do this,” Danielle told me frankly as we drove away. “You have to be emotionally able to handle what you’re going to see and you have to be mentally and emotionally prepared for it. I would welcome anybody who would want to come out and do this but when people ask me about it I’m very honest with them. I tell them, ‘this is what you’re going to see, this is what it’s going to be like and it’s not the safest environment.’ It’s a great feeling to be helping and bringing supplies, and even though you can’t take that dog you’re making its life as comfortable as you can. But the hardest part is when you’ve got to walk away and you see those eyes watching you and they’re looking at you like, ‘come back!’ That’s the part that can haunt you.” As someone who has always had an affinity for animals and has dedicated her life to spreading awareness about the cruelties non-human species face, I am very grateful to have had such an experience with an incredible group of fellow animal lovers. I walked away with a better perspective and understanding for what frontline rescuers are up against in this region, especially in disadvantaged communities where animal husbandry appears to be two or three decades behind the times. Ignorance begets ignorance, and while many of these people may mean well, they are simply victims of poverty and poor education, plain and simple. Surely these humans deserve our compassion, too.
But ultimately, stamping out animal neglect in our country, whether in rural southern communities or elsewhere, will ultimately come down to enacting stronger anti-cruelty legislation. No community should allow the indefinite tethering of a dog, under any circumstances. But until practices like this are outlawed and people are punished, their behaviors won’t change and the changes won’t be lasting. “The biggest thing for Rome right now would be anti-tethering laws because all of these dogs are on chains, so that would eliminate that,” said Danielle. “Either you bring your animal inside or you don’t have one or you’re going to keep getting cited and fined, which a lot of these folks can’t afford. That’s where it will start – they’ll have to be held accountable for how they treat their animals. So it’s baby steps toward a bigger picture, that’s what this mission is.” But until local lawmakers become inspired to enact tougher laws to protect the interests of animals, people like Rachel and her passionate group of kindhearted volunteers will continue to pick up the pieces, either removing animals from the community or helping the remaining ones live more comfortable lives. It may seem like one drop of water in a huge ocean of need, but even small steps can make a difference, even if it’s one pet and one pet owner at a time. According to the family of this Australian shepherd/cattle dog mix, once the puppy is big enough he’ll be living outside (on a chain, no less) because he’s “too active.” Although I highly recommend participating in a community outreach mission with a local rescue group, it’s definitely not for everyone. Improving the lives of animals doesn’t necessarily mean you have to “get dirty” or even donate money. Here are some other ways you can make a difference:
Become a foster parent: Rescues are teaming with animals who need safe, loving and secure foster homes where they can be cared for, socialized and nurtured until they find their perfect forever homes. Fostering animals is so rewarding and while it can be sad to say goodbye, you can rest assured knowing you’ve played a crucial role in helping that animal along its path toward the amazing life it deserves.
Get up and do something: Anybody can sit back, judge and point fingers. If you don’t like the way animals are treated and you want to see a change, become the change. Write letters to your local legislators, start an online petition, volunteer at your local shelter, donate supplies to a rescue organization or spread the word about animal welfare on social media.
Be kind and help out: If you notice someone neglecting their dog, instead of judging or quietly despising them, ask the person if they need a bag of dog food, a $5 bail of straw or a doghouse. Remember, it’s about helping that animal, not whether you like that person or not. And who knows, maybe that individual could use your help, too? No random act of kindness is too small, so just do it.
“Animals don’t have a voice, we are their only voice,” Rachel said. “You can’t just think, ‘someone else will help,’ you have to help and in any way you can. Speak out if you see abuse. Start an outreach program if your community needs it – it’s easier than you think. There are people everywhere who are willing to help, and the difference you will make for the animals will be more than you could ever imagine.” If you’d like to help this amazing group continue their mission helping the disadvantaged animals of Rome, please go to the group’s GoFundMe page – every little bit helps!
Unconditional, Forever Love A Tribute to Merree from Jennifer Naujokas I cannot see you Mommy, when you cuddle me so near. And yet I know you love me, it's in the words I hear.
I cannot see you Daddy, when you hold me by your side But still I know you love me when you tell me so with pride. I cannot see to run and play out in the sun so bright For here inside my tiny head it's always dark as night. I cannot see the treats you give when I am extra good But I can wag my tail in Thanks just like a good dog should.
"She cannot see. The dogs no good" is what some folks might say. "She can't be trained, she'll never learn. She must be put away." But not you, Mom and Daddy - you know that it's alright Because I love you just as much as any dog with sight.
You took me in, you gave me love and we will never part Because I'm blind with just my eyes, I see you in my heart.
Welcome home Merree Naujokas!
Mourning a Dog By Debby McMullen
Grief is a funny thing. Everyone handles it differently. But when someone suffers the loss of a cherished dog and shares that news on social media, something magical happens. Caring dog lovers come out of everywhere to offer their condolences. A bond of love is shared. Everyone who loves a dog fiercely understands this intense loss. They cannot help but comment on it. People from all walks of life and in every part of the globe come together in emotional support. Friends near and far offer assistance, even if all that they can actually offer is emotional support.
It happened suddenly late one night but not unexpectedly as her health had been failing. She wasn’t in pain so I did not choose euthanasia.
It turned out that I didn’t need to. I was a mess though when it happened and badly needed a connection. The internet did not let me down. The outpouring of support was tremendous.
Recently, it was my turn.
It takes another dog lover to truly understand the enormity of this kind of loss. I lost my mother in December and that was huge, but that loss still pales to this loss. I didn’t spend every moment of my home life with my mother. I spend so much of my daily life with my beloved dogs. I love my mother. I will only ever have one mother and the truth that is often stated that regardless of the relationship that you have with your mother, that loss is always shocking is an understatement.
I had the misfortune and the pleasure to be the recipient of such beautiful gestures of support when I lost my beloved 13+ year old Rottie/Shepherd mix, Siri in early April.
This loss, even as expected as it was, is so much more flooring. Everything about your daily life as you know it changes when you lose a dog.
The importance of emotional support cannot be overstated. I have always been moved to comment on someone’s status when the subject was such a loss.
I recently read a lovely article about this subject that put so much into perspective. The interactions that you share with your dogs on a daily basis are prolific. Your dogs never turn their back on you. They love and welcome your presence no matter what has happened in your day apart from them. You are the world to your dogs. They are just a part of your world. This is a relationship like no others. It cannot be replicated. I have often thought that so much about losing a dog is that the communication on their part is wordless. We can say that we understand their thoughts and gestures but we never really have confirmation with language that WE consider solidly clear. So we hope that we are doing our best to do the right things by what we think they want. But so much of that is subjective on our parts. That creates some uncertainty and a feeling of incompleteness that is left hanging when they leave us. There is not enough closure for our own human needs. I think that we need to try and get past that. It causes so much more emotional trauma in the loving owners left behind.
Of course, it goes without saying that much of mourning is the loss of the daily interactions that are so much a part of who we are. That is the part that slowly gets better with time, though it never truly goes away. The perceived incompleteness of the communication stays with us much longer; always that little voice in our heads saying “what if”. I wish that I could say that I know better than to allow that voice to survive. After all, shouldn’t someone with solid dog behavior knowledge know what kind of communication existed between me and my dogs? Yes, in the rational part of my brain. But we all have that little voice and that little voice can be loud when we allow it. In closing, all I can offer is what I am telling myself. As loving dog parents, we do what we feel is right for our dogs and we do the best that we can with the knowledge that we have. We love fiercely and completely and we need to view that as enough and not feel regrets for what we might have done differently to have our dogs in our lives longer. Dog’s lives are precious but they are far too brief and grief is the price that we pay to have so much happiness in our lives.
Article Reprinted by Permission from www.Positively.com
‘Lifeless’ Son Introduced To A Therapy Dog – Watch What Happens!
Watch here: https://youtu.be/qe87cNLQCqA Caleb Howard was just six years old when a head-on car collision left him with broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. His heartbroken parents weren’t sure how quickly he’d be able to recover — or if he’d make it at all — as much of Caleb’s progress was nearly impossible to recognize. One day, it was suggested that a dog named Colonel step in and act as Caleb’s therapy animal. His parents were desperate for a solution, so they obliged. The video below follows Caleb and Colonel’s journey together. You’ll see an immediate boost in Caleb’s awareness, and how this relationship marked a turning point for Caleb’s family in their belief in his ability to recover. Caleb learned to gain control over his hands again by playing fetch with and petting Colonel. He gained mobility by taking the dog for short walks and being more active than he had been in a very long time. Colonel the therapy dog also helped Caleb find excitement and joy again. Who would have thought this very special dog would hold the key to Caleb’s recovery? Before his parents and the doctors knew it, Caleb made strides in leaps and bounds, helping to prove the power of therapy animals. Watch on YouTube.com to see the power of animal therapy!
UPDATE: Hello everyone, I am Caleb's father Ben S Howard. Thanks for sharing
Caleb's story. He lost his mother and brother and sister in the same accident. I am pleased to share that after 8 years and over a dozen horrific surgeries Caleb is doing great and is attending regular school now and achieving very good grades. He has been a great example of courage to his family and many others. We will never forget Colonel and his wonderful handler, Susan.
Field Day-Cinco came to Angels in bad shape, but his world turned much brighter when an Angel named Peggy said, “come live with me!� He did just that and for almost a year, he was loved on, and allowed to love back each day of the rest of his life. What a great example of senior love, hospice love, and unconditional love!
Yesterday morning I lost my girl. Little Bit lived 5 months more than 2 different vets said she would. It kills me to know her first 15 years of life were full of neglect. I did my best to give her true love and happiness. She was so sick and quite sassy but we had a special kind of bond. I am so sick to my stomach that I was on vacation when she passed. A huge thanks to her temp foster Katie Collins and to Denise Marshall for coming to our rescue. I never ever wanted anyone else to have to deal with her death so personally. Peggy Rydberg - maybe she and Field Day are talking about their short (but great) time with Angels Among Us. I love you Little Bit, my sassy old girl. Forever and Always, Haley - your Foster Mommy
Alexandrie Aminda Amir Art BarneyBoo Basha Britta Carly Celta Chia Chippi Cicero Cindy Boo Darla Ray Firecracker Gretchen Harlow Hedwick Independence Jobe Kristin
Lawson Libi Little Girl Lucita Mintsy Mittsy Mokie Monika Nickie Penina Rootie Rummy Saveur Seth Siku Sipsey Sisi Sparkler Trent Zhen
Fiora Sofia Dolce Mira Kalinda Elijah Ferris Mewler Darjeeling Kringle
Find even more critter treats recipes in our cookbook, available through Angels! Email shop@angelsrescue.org today!
ABANDONED If you came closer I would kiss you Intensely My body trembles I am scared I cower, I cry They will kill me My heart is broken You walk close Your hand trailing my bars I can almost feel your warmth I slide closer Maybe...this time… But you don’t turn I lay down in filth You did not see my tender soul My eyes close, drifting away To the Rainbow Bridge - Kelli Harvey
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