Easter Blessings: a Big Donation and a New Friend

Well, it's no secret that we've been struggling financially. We've had excessive veterinary bills for our pets with little in donations coming in. We actually had to stop all intakes for about a month to figure out what to do next. Then on March 12, one of our volunteers got a phone call that she won $5,000 from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. for Coastal Pet Rescue. I was stunned; she was shaking as she was talking on the phone to me, and I was crying that our prayers had been answered. We were initially told it would be 60 days before we would see the check, but instead, the check arrived on Good Friday, and was it ever!

Well, that was until Hannah and Portia knocked me over... and sent me on a trip to urgent care where I found out I had a minor MCL tear (my buddy Kevin says MCL = Must Care a Lot about dogs). So here I am, Easter weekend, beautiful outside, and I'm on crutches. Ugh. But good news is that all the grass I planted two weeks ago is coming in, so I am slowly recovering all the landscaping from the dogs.

We made a new friend at WJCL last week as well. Anchor Jessica Kiss came out to Rancho Perro (Mutt Ranch) to visit with us on Saturday and see all our puppies. She's the first media person to take the time to find out what goes on behind the scenes at CPR. She wasn't scared when the dogs jumped on her, and even took time to interact with the pups in each kennel. She's a very genuine person, something you may not always believe to be possible with media personalities these days. So big hearted is she that on Monday, she called and asked me to be on the FOX News at 10 show and even offered me a ride there and back so I wouldn't stress my knee further. Talk about Southern hospitality, and even the gentlemen in the studio were so accommodating, pulling a chair down from the morning set to make it easier for me to get up, and offering me their arms to get up and down from the anchor desk. In a world that I'm so used to people showing me so little respect, it really touched my heart the little gestures to help make me comfortable.

Oprah's Big Give Message Board: Beware of Censorship

This afternoon, I logged on to the Oprah's Big Give message board to see what other viewers were saying. I've been reading lots of negative reviews through various blogs on the Internet, and thought I'd check it out. While the majority were posts by outraged viewers believing that the show was sending the wrong message about giving, I saw a couple postings asking for advice on getting help, primarily fundraising. So I made a post about the challenge we had issued to local businesses for help and the response we had gotten so far. Within 30 minutes, it had been deleted. Wow. My post was probably one of only 3 throughout that message board that was not negative towards the show but actually showing how the show was inspiring us and others to take action. Color me surprised. Never thought there would be censorship over positivity and trying to encourage others. Maybe it's true that controversy sells. Well, good luck to them; I know I won't be back.

What You Don't See on TV

This morning, Trinity and I ventured to join the WJCL crew for their morning show. IT was Trin's first time out like this, and needless to say, it has been an adventure.

Our morning show appearances mean I start my day just before 4 am to be sure everyone is fed and ready for the day as I won't return home until the afternoon. I deliberately withheld food from Trin so she would not get carsick as her two sisters have done for every vet visit. I also discovered that the little sweetheart has no interest whatsoever for a leash, so I had to scrounge to find a harness her size, which makes it much easier to carry her when she refuses to walk.

The ride to the station was pretty uneventful. She sat in the back very quiet, pretty much unsure of what in the world was going on. I stopped at the convenience store for a Starbucks pick me up, and we were at the station by about 5:30. Normally, we wait in the lobby or newsroom, but we were ushered into the studio right at our arrival. Trin held on to the floor for dear life as I walked to the guest set. I was starting to worry that it wasn't going to be a good show for us.

Trinity is very much a lover and doled out kisses to anyone who would accept them this morning. Our time came for the first live shot, and as I expected, Trinity was very curious with everything going on and would not sit still. It always makes for fun live TV. We ended and I sat down on the floor with Trin. About 20 minutes later, during a live moment, she began hacking... I knew what was coming but couldn't move fast enough. Luckily, I had not fed her this morning so there was just liquid on the newsroom floor. I didn't want to cause a scene as Jessica was giving the headlines, but then Trin started again. I scooped her up and tried not to trip over all the wires as we rushed to the bathroom. I made it just in time... but this time, it was from Trin's other end... and man, did it smell! In the middle of trying to clean up, a knock on the door said "You'e on now," so I rushed to throw down paper towels until I could get back. I scooped her up and got back to the set, where Trinity decided she was finally comfortable enough to chill out for her TV shot. Two minutes later we were done, and I was back to the bathroom to finish cleaning. Trinity just watched, having obviously forgotten that this was a mess she had created. We returned to the set where she napped until our next shot.

So now we have an hour for us to rest before our next interview. I can only hope that the real fun for the day is over. But as I keep learning, there is just no telling what a puppy will do with live TV.

7am Husky Chorus

It's one of those days... very late night, very early morning. I had spent all weekend doing landscape work to repair or rectify the previous landscaping by the dogs. Needless to say it was a lot of long hours and sore muscles salvaged only by three volunteers who gave up a few hours on Sunday to bathe 12 puppies.

This morning, I was to have the Harry Potter puppies at their spay appointments by 7:30 am. The alarm went off at 6, I hit snooze, then again, and then again. Next thing I know, it is 7:08 am. Not a good thing for me as I had to identify each puppy, load them in a carrier, then play Tetris to fit all 7 in the rescue mobile for a 30 minute ride.

By 7:28 we were all in the car and on our way with a beautiful sunrise to guide us. By nature, Huskies are talkers, but all I could do was smile and laugh as the chorus began. I turned the radio up to hear "You Raise Me Up" and on cue, the pups howled along. I had Minerva in the crate next to me, and I smiled as she stood perfectly, tilting her head all the way back to make sure the good Lord could hear her passion. All I could do was smile, remembering that just a few short weeks ago she was hooked up to an IV fighting an infection that threatened to end her life.

The chorus continued for the duration of the ride, almost always on key with whatever song played on the radio. For me, it was an affirmation for why I spend my life the way I do. What better thanks could I get than a 7 am puppy serenade.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

This morning, I hugged my best friend goodbye as he set out on a 12-hour drive to start a new life in Cincinnati. For the last year and a half, he has been my shelter in the storm, holding me after bad days, cooking dinner for me when I needed a break, and always making me smile when I least felt I could. The greatest thing about him was I never had to ask for anything; he just knew and did it. He wasn't bothered by the dogs, in fact, he enjoyed coming over for "puppy love" after he learned "the process."

As I watched him drive off this morning, my heart completely sank. I've had just over a month to adjust to him leaving as he left February 1st but was back every two weeks. I had become accustomed to keeping a few dollar bills in the ashtray of the puppy mobile for picking him up at the airport. I don't have to do that anymore, and it saddens me. Not only do I now have to cook for myself, but who is going to play me at Rummy nights I don't want to talk or just want to forget about my day? What about the random text messages during the day to make me laugh when I probably shouldn't? I even miss my favorite blanket I snuggled in while we watched UFC (he watched, I napped).

We've made promises to see each other once a month, which is a bigger deal for me since I despise cold weather and that's all it's been since he left. But perhaps this will help me grow as a person, too. I have more time for working on my house and landscaping, though I believe I invented projects in the last month just to keep me busy. What I wouldn't give to have the transporter from Star Trek right now.

Zero Tolerance in Schools: Violence vs Skittles

It's no secret that Savannah Chatham County Public Schools have a problem with violence. It's not new, nor specific to Savannah/Chatham County public schools, and it's the reason my parents put me through 12 years of Catholic schools. I was happy to see that a zero tolerance policy was going to be started, but whether or not it makes a big difference we'll have to wait and see.

But this afternoon, I was stunned as I read of a school in Connecticut that had suspended an eighth grade honors student because he bought a bag of Skittles from a classmate. Apparently, "the New Haven school system banned candy sales in 2003 as part of a districtwide (sic) school wellness policy." Wow. I for one am an avid chocoholic, so I know I would probably be the first to be suspended for sneaking a bag of M&Ms. I guess it must be nice that the schools have such less to worry about than kids getting a sweet fix every so often.

Coastal Pet Rescue Issues Big Give Challenge to Savannah

Last night, Coastal Pet Rescue issued a Big Give challenge to Savannah area businesses. As of this morning, eight businesses have offered help or services to Coastal Pet Rescue and its volunteers, with two businesses offering benefits to cash donors. What a great start to a new idea.

I'll be the first to admit I'm afraid of failure. As I worked on the new webpage and press release last night, I wondered if it would really take, and how we could pull off all that we need. (Still saying a prayer for the college tuition to come through...) But I was really uplifted at the four respondents I got last night before I even sent the request for help out around the net.

I'd like to think we've made a difference these last five years, but we just need help to make it another five. Our requests for funds haven't gone well of late, so here's hoping asking for services and time to be donated does a bit more. We don't have Oprah's resources, but maybe we'll get lucky get attention of Jeff Foxworthy or other Georgia celebrities who could really help us to make an impact.

Oprah's Big Give, Community Service & Student Loans

I was flipping through some sites today and ran across another plug for Oprah's Big Give. What an incredible concept. What really hit me was the team working to help a young man at UCLA with his student loans to fulfill his dream of working with children with physical deformities free of charge. It is amazing to me the number of people who are going to school not to just better themselves, but better their communities.

In September 2005, I enrolled in Duquesne University's Bachelor of Science Humane Leadership program. I applied left and right for scholarships, but the truth is, they are so competitive, and the few I received barely covered one term. I graduated in December 2008 and had to get another loan for the balance remaining, so in six months, I get to start repaying $41,000 in student loans. You can believe I've been saying my prayers about this. I'm one of those people that live paycheck to paycheck, and I used to think I was the only one, but I'm realizing that I'm not. With the gas prices now, I can even barely afford to make it to work and home each week.

So basically what it comes down to is how can you justify doing something good with your life if you are going to be forced to struggle not only with emotional tolls but financial ones? Even presidential candidate Obama wants more youth to turn their lives to servicing their community as opposed to corporate America. The candidate even proposes tuition assistance for those willing to put in 100 community service hours a year. Finally, someone who gets what I'm trying to do with my life.

I grew up as the child of corporate America parents: my dad owned his own architect firm in Atlanta, my mom was in management with BellSouth. My siblings all went corporate, my brother even following Mom's footsteps with BellSouth Mobility (Cingular, AT&T, whoever they are this month). But I never saw my parents happy with their work; my dad was always gone away from home, and Mom always brought her work home with her and had little time to do much else. Weekends on Tybee or out on the boat were ours, and I treasured them. But I learned early on that wasn't what I wanted for my life. So here I am, the "black sheep" of the family, struggling little sister who would rather bag dog poop at 6 am seven days a week than deal with corporate BS 40 hours a week. Now, if I could just get Oprah's people to spread the love a little this direction...

PS - edited to note that a report says the 5th episode of Oprah's Big Give was filmed in Atlanta, with contestants crisscrossing Georgia. Darn, always a day late.

Compassion Fatigue

One of the first things you learn in rescue is that the work can be emotionally taxing. This weekend was no different. On Saturday afternoon, I headed out to the kennels to clean, feed and medicate everyone. I noticed one of the seven Husky pups did not run to greet me as they all normally do. A quick check of capillary refill time told me he needed fluids. I quickly finished feeding everyone and ran inside to change clothes and get on the road. I was supposed to be at a sock hop to benefit the feral cat program in just two hours, but figured there was no way that would happen. We arrived, got checked in, and was told he needed to stay for at least a few hours. I drove back home and made arrangements to have my date meet me at the house as I rushed to get ready. We were only an hour late, and of course, people were understanding of my tardiness. During the middle of the dance, the ER vet called to let me know it was a viral infection and he needed to stay overnight. We left the dance and rushed home to check the other puppies, where I found one pup that seemed a bit less active than earlier. I separated her and kept an eye on her, but felt better since she was walking around and drinking water on her own. But the next morning, I found us on the road to the ER vet again. I got back to the house and went back into my routine, graced to have a volunteer join me for the afternoon bathing duties. Within a couple hours, I had a call from another foster home that one of her puppies was not doing well, so I authorized for him to go in and get put on fluids. An hour later, I was sending another puppy from my litter down there as well.

A beautiful Sunday afternoon had been filled with the stench of bleach from disinfecting crates and kennels and a heavy weight as the concern grew for our puppies. But my stress increased as I worried on how we would pay the ER bill, guessing it would be around $1,000 when we only had about $1200 in available funds. Sure enough, our bill was right at around $900 this morning, but we were lucky... the vet did not charge us the hospitalization or office visit fees, which really would have put us in trouble.

So my early morning (which started today at 4 am) was not one anyone would want... being up early to go to the ER vet, pick up our sick puppies and transfer them to our regular vet for more fluids and care, and just wonder all day long how they were doing and how we are going to pay the mounting vet bills. By 2 pm, I was wiped out and crashed for about an hour, but I'm not sure I rested. The vet called me at 6 with an update, which is about 50/50 for the pups... one is in really bad shape, one is doing great, and two are the same as they were this morning. All I can do right now is pray that things work out and some angels come to our aid, but nights like this, it's not always easy to have faith.