Nala finds a “Fur”ever home
YES! It’s been 7 long months of potty training, crate training, leash walking, and patiently waiting for the perfect family to come through for this little girl, but now that the time is here I can’t believe how bittersweet it all feels. This IS what I was hoping for, right? They seem like something out of a fairy tale for a dog’s ‘happily ever after’…three kids to play with ages 17, 13, and 10, over an acre of land that backs to the woods for her to run free, a personal doggie trainer to help with her adjustment, what more could I ask for!?!?! Alas, much like the adoptive family that Nala is about to bless with her presence, she has also captured my heart, and now I feel those heart strings being tugged by the thought of not seeing her pretty puppy face every day, or curling up with her at night.
The picture at the immediate left is our Nala girl in her “Wicked Cute” Halloween T-shirt. She sure has come a long way from the skin & bones, heart worm infested dog that was on death row in Greenville, SC!!! I am proud to say that she has come so far in the past 7 months and also feel so grateful that I was blessed to be her Foster Mom for the short time that we had together. Through all of the struggles and difficulties that we came across along the way we were able to build a strong foundation for Nala that I hope will serve her well for the rest of her life and carry her well into her golden years with her new, adoptive family. Although Nala will be sorely missed by us, we know that she is going to a family that is a dream come true for her, the sort of family that dogs must dream of, and she will ALWAYS hold a very special place in our hearts.
For those of you that are thinking about getting involved in animal rescue in ANY way, I urge you to do so! There is a GREAT need for people to be voices for the voiceless, abused, neglected and abandoned masses of animals in this world. Sadly, Nala’s story is not unique, nor is it the last time you will hear about a pet in need that was dumped by her owner’s at a high kill shelter. Animal’s NEED us, we are their guardians, their protectors and champions. The reality is that without us, they do not stand a chance against the evils of the world that threaten their survival, so please, do not be an armchair activist, get involved! Here are some EASY ways that YOU can help:
1.) DONATE old blankets, towels, pillows or sheets to animal shelters and animal rescues. Oftentimes dogs are left with nothing but a concrete floor to sleep on in a cold, drafty shelter on death row. (Pretty depressing, right?)
2.) JOIN facebook and twitter as well as sites that advocate for animal rescue in your area and help them network for animals in need. This is a FREE and easy way to help and it DOES make a difference!
3.) VISIT your local shelters. I cannot tell you how many sweet animals long for a human touch, just a pat or even a kind voice to speak to them may be enough to help lift their spirits in their time of need. Better yet, while you’re there take some pictures and get them out on your social media sites, Twitter, email to your friends and help get those poor babies OUT of there! (For more ideas or inspiration about this, see my article about “The Charles Angels” a grandmother and granddaughter team from CA that does just this for animals that are on death row.)
4.) ADVOCATE for the animals! Remember, we ARE their voices! Animals were not gifted with speech, it is our charge as humans to help these defenseless creatures by using our freedom of speech. Oftentimes people are just unaware of the problem, we need to educate them about spaying/neutering their pets, the dangers and realities of kill shelters, and how they too can help the cause.
5.) SHOP for items that give back. There are numerous sites that gift a percentage of your purchase to shelters, animal rescue organizations and treatment centers so shop SMART! Remember that every penny counts, so if you have the means, pick up an extra dog bed, collar, box of kitty litter or cat food and drop it off at your local shelter or put it in a collection bin if available.
Together we can make a difference and help to eradicate animal abuse/neglect. Thank you for reading my article, please share with your friends, relatives and co-workers. Peace be with you.
