Two long years Bones waited to find his forever home and now he is finally there! I cannot even express all the happiness I feel right now. 
Sometimes when you meet adopters, you aren't really sure if the adoption is going to work. Its just impossible to see into the future and there are so many factors at play. But also sometimes you just get that gut feeling that it was meant to be.  That is the feeling I got when I met Bones' new family.
The days of Bones looking out of his cage through peeling painted bars and lying on blankets on a cement floor are DONE! He now sleeps on a comfy doggie bed, he has two devoted parents and three doggie siblings. His bestest friend is a pit puppy named Luna. He goes on trips into town, he picks out his own toys from Petco, he gets to run in open fields and go on long walks. He is living the life I dream of for all of the shelter dogs.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the people who never gave up on Bones, for the people who knew that he was devastated to be in the cage at the shelter and worked as hard as they could to take Bones out on trips to the park and beaches, to obedience classes etc while always thinking of new ways to get his story out there to more people so his forever home could be found. Many people were instrumental in making this happen- especially Bones' mentor who made the amazing video in the previous blog. Big thanks to everyone!
We love you Bones!


To See Videos of Bones in his new home go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/BonesThePitBull
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk7SR7vCamU

This is a beautiful video done by one of our volunteers. Bones has been at our shelter so long and needs a special person to adopt him. For adoption information please email Bobbicares2@aol.com or visit our website www.bobbiandthestrays.org

Today I said good-bye to one of the most beautiful dogs I ever met in my life. Her name was Ginger and she was very special to me. Though I only knew her for a short time, she was a bright light in the darkness that I have been finding myself in these days.

In the middle of the night not long after my mom died, looking at the euth list and reading an email from a dedicated volunteer, I felt connected to my mom. The email was about sweet Ginger and what she has been through. She was found as an emaciated stray in the freezing cold on New Years Eve. I wanted to save Ginger and my mom gave me the strength. She seemed to be saying in my ear, "Save that doggie, Lars!"

So I did. And there was a little bit of doubt surrounding Ginger because she was afraid... what would she be like when she became comfortable? Well, she became the sweetest, well-mannered, affectionate dog. She took treats gently from your hand, gave you kisses after each bite, walked nicely on a leash and played nicely with other doggies...

Unfortunately after only two weeks at the shetler, Ginger had to be taken to the vet. There was blood in her urine and we thought she had a bladder infection.  Sadly, we found out that Ginger had a heart condition that would be fatal unless she received an operation. We rushed her to a specialist on Long Island. But after many tests they discovered that Ginger could not have the surgery. Not only did she have a serious heart condition, she had a blood disease that was killing her red blood cells, making her anemic, weak and giving her a 0 chance of survival through the surgery.

I went to see Ginger this morning.  She couldn't really stand. She barely could lift her head. Her tail did wag when we walked in... she was happy to see us... but it was evident that she was suffering... This poor soul had been through so much in her short life... we stayed with her a long time... she managed to eat some chicken, give me a kiss... wag her tail one more time...  I couldn't help but think what a beautiful dog she was... beautiful golden coat, beautiful soulful eyes... beautiful heart though it was failing her...

I don't understand why everything happens in life the way it does. There are many different thoughts on it out there.. but I've come to accept that you can't control things... You just have to put your heart into everything you do, even if the outcome isn't what you were hoping for, it is what it is...as long as you did your best, you can find comfort in that.  I wanted Ginger to live. I wanted her to have a happy life in a loving home...  It is what I wanted but maybe it wasn't meant to be. We don't know what REALLY happens after life, so its hard to rationalize any thought we have about death... all I can say is that Ginger died knowing she was loved. An maybe that is what Ginger wanted in life and needed before she was to die: to feel the feeling of being loved... I was not the only one who loved Ginger. She won the hearts of all the shelter staff and volunteers at Bobbi and the Strays. She will never be forgotten.

We love you, Ginger.

Rest in Peace.


 

I love winter, even the short days, long nights. The darkness doesn't scare me. Usually that is when the light is most apparent.

Last night the heat wasn't working in the apartment again. Lucky, Horatio and I went to bed under about ten blankets.  They cuddled together and I covered them like children. As I listened to their breathing I thought back on the past couple of weeks...

Things at the shelter have been slow the past two months in terms of adoptions. People were getting frustrated seeing the same dogs in tiny cages (we are still trying to raise money to build/buy a more comfortable shelter www.firstgiving.com/bobbiandthestrays) and sometimes instead of motivating each other we take it out on each other. I too, have been very frustrated. Instead of trying to prove each other wrong and point fingers we need to come together and support each other. Those who truly are looking to help, will step up and some very wonderful people have.  Thank you! The others will fade away. 

However, it really hurts me when friendships and relationships fall apart over misunderstandings or just lack of understanding.  Sometimes I feel like the more I try to make things better, the worse they get. I have to remember to not be so attached to the outcome without decreasing my immersion in the effort. Things happen for a reason. If someone misunderstands me and doesn't see my true intention, I have to let it go and just rest with the fact that I truly tried. Hold no bad feelings and not take it so personally. Everything is impermanent afterall.

I think we need to go back to the time when we first started working with the rescues. I remember I walked into the shelter and my heart just fell apart. These animals were sitting in cages and had no home, no family. I wanted to show them that someone did care about them, that they were not forgotten. I just wanted to help. Nothing else mattered but improving the lives of these animals. We need to get back to that.

Instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing, saying, not doing, thinking, talking to, not talking to etc just live in the moment.

 Be in the moment with Chrissy, the german shepherd that I have been working with weekly. Feel her happiness when she runs towards my car on Monday nights because she knows its time to go to training classes. Watch her as she sniffs the salty air on a day trip to the beach and feels the sand under her paws. How different from being at the shelter! And how wonderful it must feel!

Watch Tickles run up and down the shoreline at the beach and dip her paws in the water. She chases birds and stops to sniff the shells in the sand. Tickles has been at the shelter a year and a half and this trip to the beach means so much to her!

Live in the moment with Bones as he runs through the trails at Alley Pond Park with Amarock, the giant schnauzer. They weave in and out of the trees, run ahead and double back. When meeting the beagles on the trail, Bones drops into a play bow. We play a game of hide and seek and just seeing the joy and excitment on his face when he finds me hiding behind a tree is the best gift in the world. On the way back, Bones curls up in the backseat and naps with contentment. Angel, another pit for adoption, curls up in the front seat and rests peacefully. As I go thru the drive-thru to get coffee, the lady comments on how beautiful both dogs are.

Feel the bliss that Angel and Bridget, a stray found wandering in a park, feel when they stop and roll in the leaves after hiking at Alley Pond Park. The sunlight on their faces, people who care about them standing with them, breathing the fresh cold air!

Stop and spend ten mintues with Diamond, the nervous pit mix that was rescued off the euth list a couple of months ago. Diamond is just a pup and needs to play. She is so happy when you throw the ball to her! She is even more excited when I bring her a playmate, Simba, a puppy that was rescued off the side of the highway. They play in the runs together, pouncing and hopping around, not even letting the cold drizzle bother them. They are grateful for companionship!

Okay in the photo below they look like they want to leave the run, but they are really looking at Penny, who is coming out of the shelter for her walk =)

Feel the joy when I see Penny, the pit rescued from a fighting ring warm up to a new volunteer. She is usually scared of new people and cowers but as I see her trust grow, she starts to wag her tail, her eyes light up. As they walk out of the room to go for a walk, she hops all the way in happiness!

Everything changes. We cannot control life. We cannot get upset everytime something happens in a way that is different than we expected. We always want to do more, save more, make a greater impact and feel so frustrated when we feel we can't. But we can. We just need to realize everything we need is inside of us.

"Your strength is in how calmly, quietly and peacefully you face life."

 

Right now the heat isn't working in my building and I haven't been feeling well, but lucky for me, I have a warm cuddly pit bull keeping me warm!

Also lucky for me I went to a wonderful class about the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. It was a great experience. I introduced myself and told them how I work in an animal shelter and how stressed I sometimes get blah blah blah and at the end of class this lady came up and hugged me. Awwwww! She volunteers at an animal shelter in Long Island and was so compassionate. I left class with such a good feeling.

I am so lucky to work with such amazing people at my shelter.  While we may not always agree on everything, I love each one of them dearly and am blessed to be able to work with selfless, loving individuals that put their all into taking care of others in need.

I am also so lucky to be living in NYC. When I was walking home from the subway after class, the sky was a beautiful blue/black.  There were wispy clouds and a tree shiloutted against the sky. As I came to the next block I could see the Empire State Building all lit up. I still get a thrill everytime I see it!

I am also so lucky that I got to spend time with my dogs today and watch them play with Seamus, my neighbors dog. I am lucky that when I came home from class shivering from the cold, Lucky and Horatio were there to greet me in happiness and give me a warm welcome.

I have so much to be grateful for and I love this time... right before I go to sleep, I like to reflect on all the wonderful things that fill my life (Many more than I can write here tonight!) and then I sleep peacefully.

Good night everyone. Live peacefully, sleep peacefully.

 

My backyard became the unofficial Ft Greene Dog Run one day when Seamus, the Neopolitan Mastiff next door dug his way under the fence to play with Horato and Lucky.  Of course, I thought it was hilarious but Seamus' owners were quite horrified. Despite their best efforts to secure the fence with metal pegs, wire, bricks etc, Seamus finds his way into my yard every single day.

Usually when I bring Lucky and Horatio in, Seamus crawls back under the fence into his own yard and acts like he has been there the whole time.

Yesterday I looked out my window to see Seamus lounging in my hammock, no lie! I have no idea how he got up there without falling. I can't barely get in it without falling!

Today they were outside playing when it started to rain. I always feel bad bringing Lucky and Horatio inside and shutting the door, gently pushing out Seamus' nose, but today it was terrible. There was no way I could leave him out in the rain, so I ushered him in too.

Seamus has been in my house before. I leave the door open often when I home so Lucky and Horatio can go in and out. Last week Seamus crawled over while my boyfriend and I were watching a movie. He came right inside and put his head on my boyfriend's shoulder. We both jumped a mile! He looked like he was saying, "Oh, I love this movie!"

Today I left the door open too, so in case Seamus's owners came home he could just go out and scoot under the fence back into his yard. (There is an igloo in his yard for when it rains). Anyway after the three dogs tracked muddy paw prints everywhere and nearly drove me insane barking at EVERYTHING, I took a deep breath. I had come home from work at the shelter hours ago and needed to take a shower. I was hesitant to leave Seamus unsupervised because his owner said he could be destructive so I brought him into the bathroom with me and shut the door. Then Lucky and Horatio got upset and scratched at the door, whining and barking. So then they too came into the bathroom and I shut the door. Hmmmm, this isn't awkward.

So here I am in this tiny Brooklyn apt bathroom with three large confused dogs.  I was scared that Horatio may jump into the shower with me- he has done it before and then Seamus would too. How would that work? Not too well, I thought but lucky for me Horatio stayed put. Seamus did stick his head in... that was a little creepy...  I was like, "Can I help you?"

Everyday its a different adventure with them. Today I was listening to some music while I was cleaning and waiting for the super to come look at the leak in the ceiling... suddenly I saw the three dogs for the rap stars they were Seamus, the Notorious D.O.G, Horato H. Diddy and Lil Lucky.

Lucky was singing, "Pitbull hatin from the sideline, get your own park, why you walkin mine? Horatio, hold me down, baby. Only female in my crew, and I bite shit, like my boys do, even the bigger dogs too..."

Okay, I obviously have too much time on my hands.

When Lucky and Horatio and I went downstairs, Seamus was afraid to come down the narrow steps and stood at the top crying. Then Horatio started singing, "Biiiiig Dogs, they don't cry-ie-ie, they don't cry." Then Seamus sang, "Ima Sillly Dog" with Lucky saying, "Shame on you, its just some stairs." (Seamus)"Silly Dog..." (Lucky)"Shame on you, afraid up there" (Horatio)"Big Dogs Don't Cry-ie-ie"

Okay, I need help or at least to get out of this apt. Where is the super anyway???

Till Next Time...

 

 

 

Mimi was rescued off the euth list from the Manhattan Animal Care and Control Shelter. A four year old black pit mi with callouses on her elbows, butt and and legs doesn't have much chance of getting out alive, no matter how sweet her temperament. And Mimi did score very well on her test. No aggression at all.

The first time she showed up on the euth list, I was drawn to her. Her eyes looked so sad in the photo. I wanted to save her so badly but didn't have a space for her. The next day I couldn't stop thinking about her. I should have pulled her, I thought. I maybe could have found a foster... though I knew it was a shot in the dark.

That night I got the euth list and there she was! She somehow escaped euthanasia last night. I immediately called and pulled her off the list. The next day we had some adoptions go through and there was room for Mimi at the shelter. She was meant to be saved!

Her paperwork from the ACC says that Mimi's last owner died. They list her address as somewhere in East Harlem. We had our vet examine her after she arrived at our shelter. The vet said that Mimi's loss of fur was a result of abuse, of being confined to a tiny space for prolonged periods of times and that the fur would most likely not grow back. She was also overbred =(

It was sad to here that this wiggly, kissy, happy, happy, so happy she dances when she sees you, pit bull could have been abused. We may never know for sure what happened to poor Mimi, but what we do know is that she is safe now and her life from here on in, is only going to get better.

We started to take Mimi to training classes right away. She was so smart, she skipped the beginners and went straight to the CGC class.  She maintains great eye contact and wants to please her handler.  We also take Mimi on trips to the beach with her friend, Bones (a handsome blonde pit also up for adoption) and on hikes through Alley Pond Park where she can socialize with other dogs.

Having Mimi around is a delight. She is never causes a problem and listens very well. She is great in the car and never pulls on the leash. She loves everyones she meets, adults and children. She is a gem. Its sad to think that this poor girl almost lost her life in a shelter when it seems that she is just now starting to live the life she deserves.

Here are some video clips of Mimi's adventures and check out her photo album below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Lr0EuRD9rU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1xcbXnDn5M

 

 

Mimi looking sad at Animal Control...

Here she is a little more peppy at her first Bobbi and the Strays adoption event

Mimi and Bones on the boardwalk in Far Rockaway

Here is Angel and Mimi waiting for treats at Alley Pond Park

Mimi with Kristie, the volunteer who takes her to training classes and outings

Mimi with her Alley Pond Park pack

Mimi and Bones on the beach

Another Bones and Mimi boardwalk photo

Brian, a volunteer walks with Mimi and Bones on the beach

Happiness!

Mimi lounges on the grass by the shelter

Mimi gives me a kiss!

 

To adopt Mimi please email Bobbicares2@aol.com or for more info please visit Bobbiandthestrays.org

 

To donate to the Bobbi and the Strays shelter so we can continue saving animals like Mimi please visit our website or you can donate directly on my fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/poundpuppygoddess. Thanks!

 

You know that kind of emotional pain where you feel like you have been kicked in the stomach?  Where it feels like someone took all your air away in one swift moment and you are left feeling completely lost, empty and hopeless? You can't believe it because you never saw it coming... And it just seems like the rain won't ever stop...

But the rain will bring the flowers when you become the sun

It takes some time to realize that everything we need is inside of us... Sometimes you just have to let your mind be still and let karma do its job... and it did.

 And we start to see more and more flowers...

These photos are from Oct 1 trip to Far Rockaway Beach. These two dogs, Bones and Mimi came so close to death. Mimi was rescued from the Euth list at the Manhattan ACC and Bones was reccommended to be put down by a trainer to his guardian but our trainers stepped in to save him. Here they are showing me how to live...

 

There is no reason to be mean. If someone hurt you, its because they are unhappy or unenlightened and therefore you should treat them with love and compassion.  You don't know what struggles they are going through. Build your karma and the world's karma. Spread positive energy.  Do something everyday that will make someone's heart dance. Embrace the world around you in gratitude instead of living in resentment, anger and hurt.