When I say “it takes a village” to do what we do, here’s an example of what I mean: Friday afternoon I receive a text message from Dylan - our newest foster home - (while I’m at work) with a pic of a black puppy saying he needs a rescue ASAP. I get the persons phone number who has him & call her. Me: “What’s the story?” She: “She’s had him 5 days, but can’t keep him. The people she got him from had him a month & didn’t want him anymore.” Me: “Where did they get him from” She: “A neighbors dog had puppies and gave them one.” Me: “How old is he?” She: “8 weeks”. Me: “He was taken away from his mother & litter at 3 weeks????” She: “I guess.” Me: “Has he been to the vet?” She: “No. I was supposed to take him today for a shot, but didn’t make it.” Me: “Can you bring him to me by 4:00?” She: “If I hurry . . . .” I look at the clock - it’s about 1:00. Here is where the village steps in. I am full of dogs & puppies as is my other foster homes. My entire weekend is booked with working and placing the Charles Street puppies. I don’t really have a lot of time (as I am at work and running an hour behind) to make a bunch of phone calls. I text my assistant - Tiffany (who is out to lunch while this is going on) “can you foster a puppy for the weekend?” She says “WTH - I’m only gone 30 minutes!” “LOL Sure”. I’m sure she is rolling her eyes. I then call next door to Animal Hospital of Largo - ready to do my very best begging - no begging needed - I start to ask them if they can examine the puppy as soon as he gets here & tell them the story - they cut me off “Just run him over when he gets there”. (I can hear the eye rolling thru the phone) I then text Dylan - it is arranged that when his current foster puppy leaves he will foster this puppy - who I tell him to name - he comes up with Alvin. I then text Jen, “can you puppy sit Alvin while Dylan is at work?” Jen texts something to the effect of “what puppy? who? when? . . . . yes”. (I KNOW she is rolling her eyes) Alvin arrives. He is adorable & scared. Tiffany then drops what she is doing & runs him to the vet next to my grooming shop for an exam. They deem him healthy and after an emotional goodbye the woman surrenders him to ADR. Tiffany then bathes him & runs him back to Animal Hospital of Largo (where they squeezed him in between clients in rooms) for microchipping, deworming & vaccinations - oh and he had tapeworms crawling out his butt. We finish our day running 2 hours behind & Tiffany leaves with Alvin for the weekend. Jen & I place the Charles Street puppies all weekend. I get good updates on Alvin all weekend from Tiff. I text Sarah on Sunday night with a blurry pic - we need pics. Sarah lives very close to my shop. I am working 6 days this week and have very little free time. She offers Monday. It’s arranged. Monday morning I call Animal Health Care Clinic at 8:00 am on the way to work and book his neuter for Sept 9th - it’s my next day off. I meet Tiffany at 8:45 on her way to work her full time job to get Alvin from her. Then Sarah calls me - not only does Sarah squeeze him into her current schedule for Monday, she comes to my shop - while I’m working - picks him up - takes him home with her for 3 hours - does an AMAZING photo shoot - lets him play with her dogs and brings him back wore out!!! I work late, get home at 7:00 pm - get him & all the other dogs fed - out & pottied just in time for Dylan to get out of work at 9:00 - he has to go get a crate from Jen and then come and get him. 9:45 pm Alvin is picked up by foster dad Dylan and is off to his foster home. This village saved Alvin. Dylan Harmon, Tiffany Cline, Animal Hospital of Largo, Sarah Wood, Jennifer Harmon & I made a few phone calls & played a small ring leader part. But when I say it truly takes a village, this is what I mean. And this is just 1 of the many we save . . . we are so lucky to be surrounded by such caring, loving, compassionate people. We COULD NOT do this alone. Thank you!
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 23:04:13 +0000
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