THEY HAVE NO CHOICE

 

 The next to go was a younger blonde short mix of who knows. Chi, Pug and Doxi maybe? Super cute and crazy strong for being as small as he was. Low rider power!!

 

 We walked, bathed and loved them all. Even had one on the groomers help the Pom that was up for adoption, poor guy had hair covering his umm.. poop shoot. He felt and smelt a ton better after a good shave.

 

 Then to another young female wire hair mix. Same scenario filthy, head down tail tucked...super depressed. If you put her on leash she WOULD NOT move, just stayed frozen staring at the ground. We took her to grooming, scrubbed dried and brushed. It took her a few, but once she realized that the sun was shining and she looked great...look out world. She was WALKING up to people and getting lots of attention and treats. Sadly there was not much traffic left. It broke my heart knowing how much she had changed in a matter of a few hours, but yet would go right back to the shelter.

 

 Good news is she was ADOPTED as soon as she got back to the shelter!!! I myself have never seen the difference a good bath could make in a dogs state of mind. I am hoping to set up another "dog wash" soon but for the shelter dogs. If there is anyone interested in helping to make a huge impact on a homeless dogs state of mind let me know. We have all the supplies, just need helping hands.

 

 Even though there was not a single dollar raised for the beds that day, it was still a success. Four dogs lives were changed, they didn't have to go back.

 

 We are coming up on the winter months very quickly. I know things a hard for everyone but the animals have no choice in what has become of them. I will ask for them...HELP in any way you can.

 

 Kuranda has me set up as a vendor so if I use my log in the beds are $52.38 shipped if three or more are ordered at one time. We have had wonderful success but have so far to go.

 

 There are a few things in the works right know to help raise more funds. I will update the site when they are set in stone.

 

 Thank you all for every thing you are doing to help homeless animals. We WILL make a difference.

(mix puppy, too cute!)

  This was me until last November. I have been involved in rescue and foster for years, but I had never stepped foot into an animal shelter or "pound". The feral kittens I fostered came directly from rescues so I was spared the trip to the pound. I was scared of what I would see and thought for sure I would come home with a new pet if I did.

 My name is Jessica and I have made it my goal to provide elevated beds for the hundreds of dogs at the Maricopa County Animal Control East in Mesa AZ. There are a staggering number of homeless animals in the valley, especially during these difficult times. Although for most, the shelter is the last stop on the road of life. There are those few that are fortunate to find a loving forever home,but many don't.

 The shelter is safe for the animals, but a very scary and stressful place to be. Dogs spend their days in small dog runs with nothing to comfort them, just the hard concrete. For those who are emaciated, the concrete is painful to lie on. The summer months are miserable with little to no air-conditioning,  the winter, there is no relief from the cold concrete.

 I started my mission by gathering donated blankets and comforters, and then making them into small "doggie pads" to place on the concrete in the dog runs. An woman who I have had the honor to work with, made over 1500 of these pads herself!  It broke my heart just to be in the shelter, but if you could only see the look on the dogs face as they curled up on something soft and warm! After weeks and weeks of sewing, we found that the shelters washing machine and dryer had not worked for quite some time. I had a household pair donated but it went to the surgery center, where it was desperately needed.

 For months the dirty laundry piled up in large landscaping bags outside the shelter. Needless to say, they could fill a large moving van! Several volunteers spent countless hours at laundry mats washing the items using donated funds. After my seven-hour day at the laundry mat, I decided there had to be a better way to get the dogs off the ground.

  I found a rescue on line that had instructions on making elevated beds. The beds are constructed with PVC and heavy-duty sunshade screen. These beds are waterproof and can be disinfected at the same time the kennels are cleaned, therefore eliminating the need for a washing machine and dryer.

 It took seven months to gather the items needed to build the beds. Thanks to Sprinkler World a local irrigation company, I have the over three thousand dollars worth of fittings and PVC. Thanks also to Southwestern Supply co. for the five thousand self-tapping screws. Thanks to the young couple that donated the sun shade screen.

 These amazing gifts will allow me to make 125 beds! Unfortunately there are 354 dog runs at the East side location. Fox 10 covered the story of my mission to provide the beds on July 31^st. The story aired at about 5:30pm that Friday. Not the best time for many to see the story, but I did have a great response. Thanks Fox 10!!

 There are many who have offered to help build the beds, but no further material donations have been made. I hope that with channel 3’s coverage of the "build day" we will get the word out to help these poor dogs. I will be providing a web link to a company that manufactures elevated beds. They have a program that offers the beds at a discounted price if they are donated to a shelter or rescue.

 All across the US there are thousands of animals euthanized every day. Please help to make their last days more comfortable! The Kuranda web site has thousands of shelters and rescues listed all across the US. If you are not located here in Phoenix, please find a shelter or rescue in your area and give the gift comfort! The size needed for MCACC is  35 x 23 for 217 kennels and 12 of the 40 x 25,to fit the corner kennels.  It would be great to have some extras too!

  Kuranda beds provide a shelter dog with a soft, dry off the floor place to relax which every dog deserves. The calming effect reduces stress levels promoting adoption.

 Animal lovers across the country are making the world of difference for homeless dogs by donating beds to their local animal shelters.

 Thank you for taking the time to read this!! If you have any questions I can be reached at jessica.masiello@yahoo.com. I do not work for the shelter but I can provide contact information. I am not sure what I have gotten myself into, but the dogs need our help, so I will see this through! We cant save them all, but we can make their last days more comfortable!

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY by Janine Allen

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.

I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the overworked shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms.

I would promise to keep her safe.
I would promise to always be by her side.
I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.