HERE

Surprisingly we flew right through the Atl airport and the day before july 4th at that. The flight was uneventfu (Thank you, Lord) and was smooth until the last twenty minutes or so. We got into Vegas and again got out very quickly. We jumped in a taxi, got our rental car, and headed toward Best Friends. Intersestingly, we left NV, drove into Arizonia, then to utah, back to arizonia, and then back to Utah. No, we were not lost. We had an option of driving through zion canyon or back through Fredonia, AZ so we chose the later. We drove through Zion last time we were here so there was not use in paying to drive through. Our cottage overlooks the horse pasture. It is soooo cool. We got in about 10 pm there time, or midnight Anderson time. Of course, we are up at the crack of dawn but we both slept on the plane so I guess we are ready to go. I look forward to meeting the kids of dogtown, catworld, and bunny town. This place is massive yet in the middle of nowhere. 33,000 acres in Angel Canyon that is truly breathtaking. Pics to follow.

Leaving for the west

I don't care what anyone says, dogs are smart. This morning I tried not to change my routine because my lab, Olive Lang, always seems to sense when I am going away. This morning was no different. She has followed me around, cried, tried to break down my bedroom door, and won't eat. Poor thing. I hate to leave them but I have good caregivers coming to be with them and I know that I will be able to share alot of love with the animals at Best Friends. Please pray for safety in travel over the next 9 days.

Headed to Best Friends

It's the night before our big trip to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Kanab is pretty much in the middle of nowhere near the AZ line. We will fly into Vegas and drive about three hours to Kanab. After visiting the sanctuary last October when we attended the No More Homeless Animals Conference I knew that I had to return. My good friend, Colleen, and I will spend eight days out there volunteering most of that time. Check the website out. www.bestfriends.org The stories and pics are amazing and heartwarming. Even if you are not an animal lover you will be blessed that there are people who can do what they do on a daily basis. I will spend most of my time with the dogs, at Dogtown (Nat Geo on Friday nigts at 8). I will also try my hand at helping pigs, horses, bunnies, and cats. This should prove interesting to say the least. Tomorrow will be a busy day so I guess I should go to bed. Pray for us as we travel and for my kids back at home! I will miss them!

Losing a friend

I lost one of my best four legged friends monday. I am torn up and riddled with guilt over a stupid mistake on my part. My sister's fourteen year old blind and deaf cocker, Jasmine Marie, was killed by one of my dog's Monday afternoon. I cannot express my sorrow and pain and I know that my sister is dying inside but I also know she is an incredibly strong person. It is tough losing a friend and Jasmine was that. She was the sweetest dog ever and didn't deserve such an ending. I don't ask why but instead I know that this is a part of God's perfect will and He will make me a stronger person because of it. I am sorry, Grainger and Jasmine. If I could turn back time, I would.

Going home

I love going home. It is like a mini vacation for me. Ok, a vacation. Since I don't travel much with four dogs it really is a vacation. I love being home. I love going upstairs to my room, crashing on my bed chilling out. I love sitting on the back patio listening to the birds chirp and watching the dogs chase new scents. I love being home. I wonder if my parents feel the same way about coming home in the summer time from the beach. Or I wonder if they ever miss going to the home they grew up in? How nice it is to be able to come home.

Why??

It is with GREAT disgust that I have to vent and rant about this type of INHUMANE abuse. This is one of God's creatures and unfortunately some of God's creatures believe this behavior is okay. This is a boxer that the group I work with pulled today from a high kill shelter. Some of you might say why not put this poor girl out of her misery? Why? She has a name. Her name is Naomi. She deserves a better life than what she has been given. Who knows her struggles but one is obvious. This is senseless and so sad! I cannot imagine the human being that is so inhumane and heartless that would allow this to go on. In my opinion they should be prosecuted and left to starve themselves until just before death. Cruel? Perhaps, but some of their own medicine might wake them up and prevent them from continuing this.

We have got to educate people on the cruely that occurs everyday. A lady at the mall the other day said "my dollar will not go far" and I just was so saddened to hear that. Every dollar that comes into the facility is used for cases such as these. I don't have alot of money and I am in debt but I give my time to this great cause. I encourage folks reading this to do the same. Find your passion and put your time into it.

A miracle!

Urgent was in the subject line so I knew I had to read this one. I get so many a day. Emails that is but this one was a matter of life and death, literally. A plea had been sent out to spare the lives of one very pregnant walker hound and a cocker mix named Ginny. They were in a high kill Charleston county shelter and were scheduled to be put down. The rescue group that I volunteer with said we had room if we could just get them from Charleston to Anderson. I knew I had to do something. I could not sit idle at my desk seeing these precious babies about to be injected with the death stick. Just because some inhumane, ignorant person decided they didn't want these two dogs, Upstate Rescue did. I emailed the sender and said that I could meet anyone in Columbia anytime if someone could get them to Columbia. Long story short that afternoon I was headed to Columbia to rescue these two precious babies. I was so nervous as I didn't know how soon the babies would begin being born so I knew I had to drive fast. We got the two in my car, got mom comfy, and I began the trek back to the facility arriving at 10:15 pm Monday night. what a day! I am happy to say that mom, named Hope, delivered 7 babies, 5 of which made it, Friday night and I WAS THERE TO SEE IT. I wanted to cry. I want to cry now as I write this but I am in Subway and that would look strange! What a miracle. This poor dog abandoned and scheduled to die now has a second chance and so do her babies.

A friend of mine said I had found my weakness. Caring for animals. No, it is not a weakness. It is my passion. It is why I was put on this earth. I have such a heart for animals that no one wants. I want to educate those ignorant people who think it is okay to breed dogs to death for the mere pleasure of it. We have SO many dogs put down on a daily basis in Anderson County alone. It is senseless that my state of SC cannot get stricter breeding laws. WAKE UP SC!!

Breeding dogs for an income is not the way to make money! Go get a job that doesn't mean our shelters are forced to put animals down. Ok, I am venting now but this is truly my passion and folks need to be educated on the senseless killing that is occuring!

I am so thankful that God has blessed me with this passion. I cannot think of another passion I would rather have them helping animals. It is also a chance to meet people and have a chance to talk to them deeper. What a great thing! I even got to talk about capstone church!

While I only give a few hours each week to the shelter the hours I do spend go so far in making my heart swell. what an awesome feeling to know that I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced and I love it.