Collateral Damage

My friend Janice rescued two dogs Monday left behind at a foreclosed house. The dogs were outside with no food, water, or shelter, and the smaller one was chained. The skin on her ears and nose are sunburned and raw. Both dogs are emaciated and were very scared. Janice enlisted the help of a neighbor and they coerced the dogs into her car with food. The dogs are now safe at Janice’s house and we are determined to find good homes for them. Though still shy and frightened, the dogs have made big steps in three days. The dogs were so dehydrated that they threw up all the water she gave them the first day. These dogs are female, about two years old, and have not been spayed.

Foreclosures rarely just involve a family losing their home. They leave behind their shattered lives, often so angry that they destroy the home by ripping out counters, cabinets, hot water heaters, pipes, even filling toilets with cement. Some vile people leave their pets behind. There is no excuse for any of this, but if our government doesn’t stop sending billions and billions of our money overseas, our country and our people will wither and die. If you ever wonder why there are more and more homeless people, here’s a place to look for answers. Janice is ready to wall off her property and put gun turrets in, and I’m ready to join her.

If you know of a home being foreclosed on in your neighborhood, please try to find out if they left pets behind. We know it’s hard to find homes for them, believe us, we know. But even leaving pets in front of a shelter in the middle of the night is better than this fate.

If you live in Arizona, these dogs are up for adoption. I would take the beautiful red dog myself if I didn’t already have six dogs and a bunch of cats. We don’t know or care what breeds these dogs are. It doesn’t matter. They need love, care, a yard of their own, and to be part of a pack, even if that pack is just one person to share a life with.

Kona, beautiful dog up for adoption in southern Arizona

Kona, beautiful dog up for adoption in southern AZ. Look at how underweight she is. You can see her ribs and hip bones sticking out.

Kona, beautiful red dog up for adoption in southern AZ.

Kona, beautiful dog up for adoption in southern AZ. Just look at that face. And look at the sunburn inside her ears and on her nose.

Shotsie, some kind of hound mix, shy but loving. She is also very underweight.

Shotsie, beautiful hound mix up for adoption in southern AZ.

Shotsie, beautiful hound mix up for adoption in southern AZ.

Shotsie, beautiful and loving hound mix up for adoption in southern AZ.

My Pack and Philosophy

Animal rescue volunteers end up with the best dogs and cats—but sometimes the worst, too—the unadoptable misfits nobody wants. You do what you have to and sometimes tough decisions have to be made. Nothing is easy—except when you know you’ve found a precious gem and can’t let it go. All of our animals came from tough beginnings, even tiny Maxi was found on the highway. Now they are living the good life while providing nonstop entertainment—as well as the best security system known to man. All of our animals are spayed and neutered. We are completely against breeding companion animals, except for specific working dogs such as bloodhounds. We are unconditionally against breeding cats. Period.

We do not believe in throwing food away so all of our dogs get table scraps mixed in with their kibble. We feed our dogs twice a day and it’s a ritual they all learn quickly. They must stay behind a line out of the kitchen and wait for their bowls to be put down. The fast eaters are not allowed to harass the slow eaters.

Many animal lovers and vets tell you not to feed your dogs table scraps. These dogs were eating maggot-ridden garbage and insects before we got them, so when someone says giving them human-grade bits of meat and vegetables is wrong I go ballistic. Besides, the meat you scrape off your plate into the trash can came from a creature who died for you. Never forget that.

My precious family who keep me alive. Back row, left to right: Jewel, Jasmine, Blitz. Front row: Sparkle and Jessa. Note: September 2011, RIP dear, dear Jessa. We love you and will miss you forever.

Sparkle and Smudge

Jasmine, Jewel, and Jessa

Jasmine is my number one girl. She’s a “sato” or Puerto Rican street dog, rescued and brought to a feed store back in CT. They asked for a $100 donation—best $100 I ever spent. I can hardly bear to think of her getting old. She’s got some slightly feral personality traits, remnants of her heritage, which make me love her even more. None of the other animals diss Jasmine—they learn fast.

Jasmine, my protector, best friend, and the most beautiful girl in the world./// Note added July 2012: RIP my love. Jasmine Argosy, 2001-July 24, 2012. I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life. Wait for me Jasmine, I’ll be with you again someday.

Maxi in her tiny hoodie

Sparkle and Blitz

Gri-Gri

Matilda, stray cat come to stay. Matilda will not let a human touch her and who can blame her? I had to set a trap to catch her for her spay.

Kiley, another outdoor cat who wandered by and stayed. The outdoor cats have a comfy set-up in a shed with plenty of boxes and beds. If they’re wise, they don’t leave the property and live long lives. If they venture into the desert, they don’t come back, taken by either rattlesnakes or coyotes. I take inventory every day and worry if I don’t see one. Sometimes I lose one.

Sparkle and Maxi at gas station

Gri-Gri and Mops

Can I get you guys anything?

Jewel playing in the snow

Rabbit and Mops

Rabbit and Mops, always together. Rabbit has no tail and Mops has only one eye, together they’re partners in crime…helping each other seek out new frontiers on countertops, tables, bookshelves…

Maxi in disbelief that two foster kittens are in her bed

Rainy days don’t bother Maxi, in fact she prefers them.

Maxi and USBP truck

Sparkle and Smudge

LucyFur, found at Safeway parking lot 11/09. She grew up to be a big cat, playful and sweet. She does not like to be held, but will stand on her head for any kind of treat.

Ajulet Big Boy

Rabbit, Mops, and Virgil. Virgil has a white marking on his lower belly that looks like he’s wearing a bikini, so we often call him “Panties.” He’s kind of embarrassed by this and doesn’t like to show us his belly.

Maxi’s bandanna somehow ended up on her head, making her appear to be a tiny wizard…okay we put it there.

October 2011. Jada, new addition to the pack.