Sunday, August 3, 2008
Photo Gallery of My Volunteer Work with Rescued Pets
I created a gallery on Online Dog Coach of the few photos I (or someone I know) took while I volunteered in Cedar Rapids. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
UAN Shares Volunteer and Pet Stories
The United Animal Nations blog is sharing many wonderful stories about the volunteers, pets, and people in Cedar Rapids. They have posted one my stories, as well as an update on all of the cats I helped at the shelter on my last day.
When I read Homeward bound posted on July 6, I began to cry with joy over the success of the adoptions. I was especially struck by the story of the pregnant tortoise shell. I remember how round she was when I handled her Friday morning. I felt compelled to make sure she had a deep box with plenty of towels because I knew she was due soon - little did I know it would be the very next day!
When I read Homeward bound posted on July 6, I began to cry with joy over the success of the adoptions. I was especially struck by the story of the pregnant tortoise shell. I remember how round she was when I handled her Friday morning. I felt compelled to make sure she had a deep box with plenty of towels because I knew she was due soon - little did I know it would be the very next day!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Home
I spent the remainder of the holiday weekend with family in Missouri before returning home. I have now unpacked, done laundry, and begun re-acclimating myself to my regular life.
Little things remind me of everything I experienced while in Cedar Rapids. At the pet store there were two cats for adoption, and petting them through the kennel bars reminded me of all of the cats who can't go home until their families can clean up their home or find alternate places to stay.
A snippet of a conversation, a familiar looking face, or a news story on TV reminds me of the friends I made and things I experienced. By the way, NBC didn't air much of a story. Maybe they are saving it for later??? I plan to share the story and remember the charity and resilience of the pets and people of Cedar Rapids!
Little things remind me of everything I experienced while in Cedar Rapids. At the pet store there were two cats for adoption, and petting them through the kennel bars reminded me of all of the cats who can't go home until their families can clean up their home or find alternate places to stay.
A snippet of a conversation, a familiar looking face, or a news story on TV reminds me of the friends I made and things I experienced. By the way, NBC didn't air much of a story. Maybe they are saving it for later??? I plan to share the story and remember the charity and resilience of the pets and people of Cedar Rapids!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Story on NBC Tonight?
NBC interviewed a family and we were told it will show Saturday night. For many of the people affected, their family and pets are the only things they have left. Hundreds of homes have been deemed unsafe to enter, and will be bulldozed.
I am thankful for the droves of community members who come in every day to help care for the pets. Some come in because they are lucky and want to do something to help. Some come in because they lost something and are thankful for the shelter. All come in because they care about the animals.
I am happy the city shelter, college, HSUS, and UAN/EARS came together to provide shelter for these animals. UAN is looking for donations to their LifeLine Crisis Relief Grants, which help people cover veterinary and care costs for their pets during times of disaster.
I am thankful for the droves of community members who come in every day to help care for the pets. Some come in because they are lucky and want to do something to help. Some come in because they lost something and are thankful for the shelter. All come in because they care about the animals.
I am happy the city shelter, college, HSUS, and UAN/EARS came together to provide shelter for these animals. UAN is looking for donations to their LifeLine Crisis Relief Grants, which help people cover veterinary and care costs for their pets during times of disaster.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Last Day
I didn't make it over to the shelter, but they still want me to go over and help out. My original plan was to leave this afternoon, but I'll stay an extra half day to do this tomorrow. So my last day is tomorrow...
Good news today is that many cats and dogs are getting to go home. We finally got the pet cats down to under 200 today - a first since the shelter was set up 3 weeks ago.
Good news today is that many cats and dogs are getting to go home. We finally got the pet cats down to under 200 today - a first since the shelter was set up 3 weeks ago.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
The Shelter
I met the cutest dog from the Cedar Rapids shelter today when I was out directing traffic! She's one of those who loves to jump up on you. I greeted her and did a 30 second "sit" and "shake" lesson. She was all over "shake" since all she wanted was for her front feet to be up on me!
About 15 minutes later, here she comes again dragging a different handler. When she arrived, the handler said, "she wanted to come up and greet you." It was almost like she was saying, "come on, come meet my new friend!" She started to jump up and I asked her to sit. She did it immediately and offered her paw. How smart!
The Cedar Rapids shelter was destroyed in the flood. Luckily, the college has space to house the shelter animals as well. The Kirkwood Foundation has set up a fund for rebuilding the shelter. Donations can be sent to Kirkwood Foundation, c/o Friends of the Cedar Rapids Shelter, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52406.
I'll be going over to the shelter's building tomorrow (shelter animals and displaced pets are in different buildings) and will try to get a picture of her!
About 15 minutes later, here she comes again dragging a different handler. When she arrived, the handler said, "she wanted to come up and greet you." It was almost like she was saying, "come on, come meet my new friend!" She started to jump up and I asked her to sit. She did it immediately and offered her paw. How smart!
The Cedar Rapids shelter was destroyed in the flood. Luckily, the college has space to house the shelter animals as well. The Kirkwood Foundation has set up a fund for rebuilding the shelter. Donations can be sent to Kirkwood Foundation, c/o Friends of the Cedar Rapids Shelter, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52406.
I'll be going over to the shelter's building tomorrow (shelter animals and displaced pets are in different buildings) and will try to get a picture of her!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
You don't know tired...
I work side by side with the local volunteers. They are so thankful for everything the shelter does for the community, and they only see part of it.
The organizational volunteers work from 7:30 a.m to 7:00 p.m. every day regardless of the day of the week. They take 15 minute lunch breaks, handle fearful and enthusiastic animals, search carefully for any sign of illness, feed hundreds of animals, cry over the sadness of a pet whose owner is still not found, and cry with joy over the reunion of a dog or cat with his family. And they take vacation or unpaid leave from work and ask their families to make sacrifices to do all of this.
The more tired you become, the more easily tears flow - over both heartbreaking and joyous occasions.
Play with your dog tonight. Cuddle with your cat. Kiss your partner and your children. Give your distant family members a call and tell them you love them. Show them that you care because every living thing is beautiful.
"All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all." (Cecil F. Alexander) And each one is important.
The organizational volunteers work from 7:30 a.m to 7:00 p.m. every day regardless of the day of the week. They take 15 minute lunch breaks, handle fearful and enthusiastic animals, search carefully for any sign of illness, feed hundreds of animals, cry over the sadness of a pet whose owner is still not found, and cry with joy over the reunion of a dog or cat with his family. And they take vacation or unpaid leave from work and ask their families to make sacrifices to do all of this.
The more tired you become, the more easily tears flow - over both heartbreaking and joyous occasions.
Play with your dog tonight. Cuddle with your cat. Kiss your partner and your children. Give your distant family members a call and tell them you love them. Show them that you care because every living thing is beautiful.
"All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all." (Cecil F. Alexander) And each one is important.
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