|
YEP, YOU GUESSED IT, I'M
"RESCUE REGGIE" THE ROVER-ING REPORTER AND I'M OFFICIALLY OFF LEASH. YOU SAY, WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN ? WELL........... IT MEANS THAT YOU WILL LEARN WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR A RESCUE DOG STRAIGHT FROM THE WOOFER HIMSELF. YOU
SEE, I'M A BONE-I-FIDE EXPERT IN THE AREA AND WILL BE SHARING MY PERSPECTIVE ON ITS ODDITIES SO THAT YOU MIGHT BETTER UNDERSTAND
HOW "OUR HOUSE OF HOPE" WORKS, HOW AND WHY THEY MAKE THE CHOICES THAT THEY DO AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THEM SAVE
OTHERS LIKE MYSELF.
4/12/08 We must
always be aware of the silver lining...............................
Well, it started
out like most any other day. I was enjoying the comforts of my slumber, belly up with my curly locks upon Mom's pillow.
Then, we headed into the bathroom to brush my little toofers and wipe Mr. Sandman from my eyes. We followed up with a well
balanced breakfast to get our day started. Okay, that part was crap. Its the weekend and I went for a car ride to visit
Mom's friends at Dunkin Donuts. She loaded up on her favorite cappuccino and they have the best little
"pic me upper" treats for me. I love the boys of Dunkin! Anywhoooooooo, Mom had a transport of dogs coming in mid
day from a rural shelter in , Missouri. Previously in the week, they had shut down a backyard breeder and seized over
40 dogs with no where to keep them. Our rescue agreed to help them out. All of them were suppose to be in relatively
good shape medically except for Lizzie who we knew was blind. Mom is always saying that my Dad is blind as a bat and
he is a nice guy so no big deal right? Well............ our volunteers were in place and the transport arrives and off hops
Lizzie. I say hops because not only is she blind but, she is deaf and had apparently left her right leg in Missouri. She brought
her friend Betsy who is hearing impaired and is riddled with mammary tumors and another, Mia who has a heart murmur the
size of Texas. Gilly is missing hair for some unknown reason on both sides of her body and most of the others had their eyes
matted shut from infection. It was if they had taken these dogs and dipped them into a tub of urine and left them to dry.
Big surprises can indeed come in some very small packages. The cool thing is that they must of come to this rescue for a reason
and we are NOT going to let them down.
We went right to work. I am the skilled paw behind the pictures below showing
how teamwork can make a difference in the lives of so many. Our House of Hope has absolutely the best volunteers around. Instead
of turning and running, they all dug in, pulled together and are making things happen for these dogs that never would of had
a chance if we had turned and bailed on them. We bathed, we clipped, we medicated and bandaged. It took 3 baths just
to get them cleaned up enough for our groomers Claudia and Patti to even start to work their magic on them. A special thanks
to Dr. Laura Brown and her staff at Greentree Animal Hospital for getting them in right away and helping us sort everything
out and for coming up with a plan of attack. This rescue is on a mission to help each and every one of the dogs that came
to us on that day. They will ALL get everything that they need to make their lives the best ever. Thank you to all who are
helping to expose the silver linings in each of these wonderful lives.
Sometimes,
it can take a village........................... Thank you Bon, Lorene, Darcy, Mike, Joan, Chris and
Deb. Thank you also to our support team of Veterinarians at Greentree Animal Hospital, Deb, Sue and Maria at Pets General
and Double M Obedience, Our Joliet Transporters, Claudia and your staff at Shear Paradise Pet Salon in Mundelein and
Patti from Patti's Groom Room in Libertyville. I also want to thank my kids for picking up my slack at home while I had
to be away so much on this weekend. You guys are the best kids out there and you put the "OUR" in Our House of Hope.
Mom and Dad are very proud of you!
2/09/08
It hurts so bad that it is good, right?
It's funny how
Lisa keeps telling her foster families that when letting go doesn't hurt anymore, then they need to take a break. I guess
that it all makes sense but, why does finding a dog a new home seem to hurt so much? Lisa has said that when you are
passionate about the work you do in animal rescue and you give 100%, letting go can be bittersweet. Our foster homes are the
best of the best. They are committed to ongoing training in support of our animals medical, behavioral and emotional needs.
Each and every one of them are licensed by the State of Illinois Dept of Agriculture and the care that they provide our animals is
absolutely the Best in the Midwest!
If we have done our jobs right, all of us in rescue, have at one time or another
struggled with the thought of letting that one special dog go on to their forever family. It has nothing to do with the capabilities
of the new family to care for our animal in the way that we did. It has nothing to do with our dogs ability to transition
into their new world and it rarely has anything to do with any of the people involved except those of us that have given all
of ourselves to this animal for any given period of time. At Our House of Hope, it is our goal that our dogs experience from
day one what a real family is all about and that they understand that their days of hurt and hunger are now over. Here, they
want for nothing. They sleep in our beds, with us and our children. They get only the best of medical care, training and emotional
support. They in fact, become part of our families in every sense of the way. In the end, we must decide to either let them go
to make room to save another or to keep them with us as a reminder of the incredible work that we are doing and the challenges
ahead. Sometimes, it just hurts so bad that it is all good. Either way, our dogs are in a better place and it is a win
win for all.
Reggie
1/20/08
What would your family do?
Yesterday was an odd sort of day here at the rescue. It was mixed with many emotions
and uncertainty. It all started with a phone call from a friend from another rescue that does amazing work with senior pets.
She needed our help. It seems as though there was a family who had lost their home. They didn't go to a local shelter
because the shelters don't allow dogs. They had a 10 year old Akita mix with severe arthritis and refused to leave her.
They sought refuge for a period of time in an empty storage facility in Arlington Heights. They had gotten caught living there
recently and was taken to a shelter due to the cold. Animal control was called to pick up the dog. Oddly enough, the
family had returned later in the day to leave what little food they had and some fresh water for their dog so she would
be okay until she was picked up.
Her name is "Natalie". She is a very warm and loving girl who we have agreed
to foster here at our house until a permanent foster home can be found. She has been fully vetted now, shaved down, bathed
and has been started on much needed medications to manage the arthritis in her back end. Knowing that Natalie is now warm,
safe and well taken care of is the easy part on this day. Knowing that a family sacrificed their own food and safety for their
canine companion, leaves this rescue wanting to do more. This one really hit close to home for Lisa and her family. They
too, would of done exctly the same thing as many of you would. Due to the new privacy laws, we are prevented from reaching
out to this family and have had resort to leaving word with the local Police Dept. to let them know that Natalie
is now safe. The sadness and sense of loss that this family must feel? The confusion that Natalie must be dealing with on
this, a new day with strangers and in a new home, new food and nothing familiar. How can we help our community? Can we do
more to keep our families together? How do we validate those who love their companions as much as they are loved? Please
e-mail us if anyone has suggestions on how to make our community a better and safer place for "all". Reggie
12/25/07 Whatever your family
may be celebrating today, all of the best from Our House of Hope K-9 Rescue.
I was out on the town
with Lisa the other day and everything was all a buzz with the Holiday Season fast approaching. It made ole "Reggie Paws"
start to think. What is the real meaning of the season to a rescue dog? After pausing in thought for a mere
nano second, I realized that the meaning is "HOPE". Eleanor Roosevelt once said: "HOPE with a new day comes
new strength and new thoughts". Really, that is it in a nutshell. Myself and 19 of my friends have been given HOPE and
with each new day, we grow stronger both physically and emotionally and we can now begin to think of a future with new forever
families in a place where we will only know love. BELIEVING is the reason that we all have the gift of life this season. Thank
you to Our House of Hope and all of your volunteers for believing in us and giving us this a new day and thanks
to our new families for considering "THE ADOPTION OPTION"
Max-Callie-Greta-Leo-Holly-Ollie-Charlie-Marci-Gracie-Lexi/Holley-Monty/Jimmy-Charlie/Buddy-Myron-Saki-Annie-Sophie-Pepper-Blizzard-Eliza-Reese and
Reggie
12/11/07
I was scratching my chin on Lisa's laptop today when I came across this e-mail. I only read it because Lisa is constantly
telling the kids that reading is important and that you can never read too much. Well........... that is the argument that
I'm going to present when and if she ever catches me snooping. Okay, so here is what it said:
Lisa,
I can't thank you enough for the pictures of sweet Myron. They are dramatic to say
the least. I now realize that this little fellow has stolen my heart. I can never tell you how wonderful it was to hold him,
talk to him and snuggle him but, I know that you know. Myron is living proof of your passion, dedication and competence. You
are truly an exceptional woman. You are blessed with the wisdom to recognize the good things that do not always come in conventional
packages. Where others may look and see an attribute lacking, I believe you look and see the potential in those that remain.
You allow their differences and afford them the opportunity to live the lives that they deserve. How great a good is this?
You should be so proud of the work that you do; of the choices, decisions and judgements. The heart and soul of your being
shows in the things that you do.
------------- Joan M. [Green Oaks,Il.]
Now, I just
moved in so I don't know if all of this fluff and stuff is true or not. What I can tell you, is that Lisa has always been
fair to me, never blamed me for anything and she lets me snore and sleep belly up with my paws to the wind, on
the pillows, right between her and dad. Hey, if you are a dog, it just doesn't get any better than that.
Reggie
|
