A Place to Bark and Meow -- Animal Rescue Blog by Bernie Berlin

Monday, June 15, 2009

help A Place to Bark with ebay! it's easy!

Exciting news! A Place to Bark is being highlighted on eBay’s "Sell Your Item" form this month, making it easier than ever to list for A Place to Bark on eBay!

HERE'S HOW:

Ebay Sellers: Sell your items on eBay and donate 10-100% of the final sale price to A Place to Bark and you'll receive a credit on eBays basic selling fees.

Ebay Shoppers: Or, if you’re in the mood to shop, buy items already on eBay! Throughout June, when you buy an eBay Giving Works item or make a donation in eBay checkout you will automatically entered to win one of five $1,000 eBay shopping sprees. Shopping, helping animals, and a chance to win! What could be better!?

SPREAD THE WORD:
Help spread the word! Please Twitter this blog post and mention it in Facebook too! This will all help A Place to Bark!

thank you so much for your support of the animals!

:: posted @ 8:56 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 2 comments :: permalink

Friday, May 29, 2009

Crazy Busy...

"Dogs are our link to paradise.

They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent.

To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."

- Milan Kundera

First: I am excited to announce, we have met our matching grant!!!

So we have been able to pay down some of our vet bills...

There is still much, much, more to pay, but at least we are on our way:)

We just have to keep the FAITH and continue on!!!

Second: If you have wondered.. Where in the world have I disappeared to???

Well... I've been busy beyond words!!! Dogs, lots of dogs!!!

Cats & kittens & real work that pays the bills.

Thank goodness I can work at nite, while the critters sleep. Non stop more so than usual, truly not sleeping much, working harder than I ever had before, but all for a great cause with our vision is coming to fruition!!!

In addition to our regular amount of incoming dogs from animal control, we are also caring for 11 litters too.

Our journey of three and a half months with them is almost at an end...

Bitter/sweet, but sooooo, soooo, worth all the hard work!!!

The 11 litters of puppies we have been fostering are from the puppymill confiscation done by the ASPCA back in February. They are all healthy & of perfect weight to be fixed and will be up for adoption at Anti Cruelty Society in Chicago.

I leave to transport next week...

So off I will go, on the road again!!!

A few really cute pics of them to grown up!!!

More pictures of the pups & their moms in earlier posts of my blog..

Below are some of our new intakes from animal control.

I am so Thankful for the Sheriff's Department being so cooperative with getting the animals to me.

They deliver many of them, so that I don't have to leave the house.

We really have a great relationship with them and can't say enough good things about them!

"Auggie" is a male Beagle, approximately 1-2 years of age. Super friendly and loving!!! Of course loud talker as most Beagles are:)

"Bitsy" is beside him. A real ham for the camera. She is a Terrier/mix. Approximately 4-6 months old. Found under a house with her sister.

"Brownie" is a Beagle/mix. Busy, Busy, puppy!!! Approximately 12 weeks old.

"Sunshine" is a female Boxer/Pit mix. The BEST dog you will ever have. Approximately 2-3 year of age. Social with everyone and just the Biggest Love you will ever find!!!

"Hobbs" is a male Beagle/mix, approximately 10-12 weeks old. Full of personality.

"Simba" is a trickster as you can tell:) He is a very small Husky/mix, about 35lbs. Approximately 2-3 year of age. Very Busy guy, loves to run!

He also has two other siblings that came in with him. All just beautiful dogs.

"Tallulah" is a female Foxhound. Approximately 3-5 years old.

The laziest most LOVING dog I have ever met!!! Perfect with other dogs.

For anyone who is waiting for an e-mail response, please be patient with me.

I've been struggling with catching up on my e-mails.

I have been without Internet for almost 2 months and have to rely on going to town.

I do have my iPhone, which has kept me linked to my social networks, such as FaceBook and Twitter. I hope to be caught up with everything by early July.

So please, I haven't forgotten you!!!

Just as always am taking care of large amount of animals and their care must & does come first.. Many, Many, new and exciting things to share with you on the horizon.

So stay tuned!!!

Soooo, do you think the dogs are getting too comfortable at our house:) (((giggles)))

Giveaways coming in the next blog post for commenting...

:: posted @ 10:40 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 18 comments :: permalink

Monday, May 04, 2009

"Signs from Above"

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement

that something else is more important than fear"
—Ambrose Redmoon

Do you BELIEVE in Miracles? I do!!! I always have & always will..

Faith, Hope & Belief, is the only way we can create change, towards a better tomorrow.

My emotions lately have been tested to the extreme..

Nothing unusual for those of us who do rescue.

We all know it wears on your heart, mind & pocketbook.

This year especially has been a test of Faith and on this day, I was asking for answers and praying that we would not have to decrease our intake numbers due to our lack of donation funds.

But on this day, I asked for an answer from above and this is what I got...

It's really a bit crazy the way my life is, running all the time, between running this program and my professional life.

But this journey, is my life's passion, something I never planned...

Life sometimes takes you places you never thought and it has in my case:)

The rainbows arch went from the shelter to my Angel statue, then to the front of my house, before it disappeared.

There is actually a double rainbow if you look real hard.

So I will continue on and put doubt out of my mind... Work on plan B and BELIEVE:)

Everything will all work out, it has to!!!

I have been without internet for almost a month, so that is part of the reason I have been delayed to update the blog.

I've actually been more active on my FaceBook account, just because I can update it daily from my mobile phone.

These are many of the dogs that have been placed for adoption thru our shelter partnering program and some of the new faces.

It is almost impossible for me to keep up with their care, the photos, updates, transports, etc.

So if you are looking for a special dog, just send me an e-mail with what you are looking for and I can tell you what I have.

Enjoy the photos, these are the precious lives saved because of your donations:)

These are a few, of the many moms that were confiscated in a puppymill raid done by the ASPCA earlier this year.

All of the 11 mothers have been adopted out thru Anti Cruelty Society in Chicago and the babies will follow in early June.

We loved caring for them, but WOW what alot of work!!!

It took several months of round the clock veterinary care and lots of socialization and exposure to new things.

Despite the hardship they went thru, they have blossomed into the most loving, trusting dogs:)

Here is a video of one of our Fun Days with all of them!!!

I have to say with a heavy heart we will be closing up for about 3 months, starting June 2nd.

Unless by some miracle, we can raise the needed funds to continue on, taking in the 30-50 dogs each month. We are full to capacity with no more room to take in any more, even though the calls & pleas for help come in daily.

In the upcoming months we will focus on catching up on past due vet bills, raising money for the shelter, writing for grants and just getting a better plan together for the future of "A Place To BArk".

No matter what, it won't be for good, just for a short while to regroup & recharge our batteries so to speak, so that we can come back stronger than ever:)

Because the animals need us...

Together we make a difference!!!

P.S. Our matching grant for $10,000 will only be matched if we can raise $10,000 in donations. We are short about $2,500.00 as of this post. Any amount is appreciated, it all adds up!!!

***If you are a store owner and are interested in having me teach, please contact me at: aplacetobark@mac.com I will be looking to hit the road to raise money for the pooches!!!

Will be announcing teaching schedule for California, Massachusetts & Indiana in a week or two.

Edit: Eeeek!!!! Sorry some of the comments were rejected by accident:( Please forgive me!!!

I am without internet & trying to do this from my iphone, hit the wrong tiny button....

I'm hoping to have my internet back up by the end of May, have transports & animal care that come first. Note to self: Never accept a free modem upgrade it is NEVER free:(

:: posted @ 1:11 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 15 comments :: permalink

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

"TEN" To LIFE!!" A Place To Bark's Annual Fundraiser

"I tell you the truth: If you have Faith as small as a mustard seed..

Nothing will be impossible for you."

-Matthew 17:20-21

It's that time of year that we have to start the fund raising campaign!!!

I have written this post a dozen times...

I kept putting it off..

I guess, I just really hate asking for help & especially when it come to money.

Getting over my ego, is a very difficult task,

but I'm not asking for myself it's for them..

I do not draw a salary from the rescue. ALL of my time is donated.

If anything, I'm always putting money back in:)

Your donation dollars go to the care of the animals.

We do not euthanize for illness, unless there is no other option, if they are terminal, are in pain & we cannot fix them.

We treat all illness, parvo, kennel cough, heart worm, injuries, etc. they come in with...

Many surgeries currently waiting on funding & past due vet bills needing payment.

The economy has really hurt us this year, we've lost 2 grants & our food source.

No contest & the matching grant offered is only 10k instead of 35k.

Last year at this time we had over 40,000 in donations,

this year we are at 4,000.

I believe we will get thru these hard times,

it will just take Faith, Hope & Patience.

We will make the best out of what we have and continue on!!!

I just hope we don't have to cut back our intake, we've been struggling terribly these last few months. But if we can't pay the bills, we may have to:(

I may stop for a bit, to catch up on bills, but I promise you I will never quit!!!

My love & commitment is to the animals & we have come too far to ever give up.

Pets need us, they cannot survive without the care of their humans.

So let's not let them down...

The Theme is "Ten to LIFE"

If you can donate ten dollars or more & ask ten of your friend,

we should be able to turn the tables and make this year the BEST ever!!!

ALL donations are tax deductible:)

Suzi Blu made this video for us, so that you can see what we have built this far..

To minimally finish the inside of the shelter, we need approximately 25,000.00

Then there are operation costs. Transports, food, veterinary bills, etc.

We saved 502 dogs last year and 46 cats.

So we are hoping to raise $100,000.00 this year.

Claudine is working on the thermometer so you can see our progress.

I know, I know...

It sounds like a huge amount, but it's a reality of what we are doing,

there are huge expenses, even though we try to keep cost down.

I have to believe that if each one of us, donates ten dollars,

forwards the plea on, to all their animal loving friends

& they donate, we'll be able to do this,

achieve our yearly budget and hope to save more animals in need.

The biggest part is finished. The building!!!

Now that it is up, we need to finish it.

Then it will be easier for me to write for the bigger grants.

We officially have a shelter.. That was a HUGE accomplishment!
Now we have to complete it and make it HOME!!!

I have nationally known artists from across the U.S.,

who have offered and are willing to come down to paint & decorate the inside.

We will not only have a functional animal shelter with a beautiful home environment atmosphere, but one that is colorfully bold, beautiful and artistic.

Where animals can rehab, have sanctuary & receive the care they need.

Dreams can happen, we just have to come together and believe...

You have watched us grow over the years and the work we have done,

can be verified thru our local Sheriff's Department,

Humane Societies & organizations we work with.

Many of you have adopted from us too!!!

So many of the stories are archived on this blog, thru tv, magazine & newspaper articles.

Please help us in any way you can & spread the word!!

I will continue to share their stories and we'll keep expanding the program the best we can.

Ways to donate:

Online: Network for Good badge to the right of the blog

or our Paypal account: aplacetobark@aol.com.

Checks can be sent to: A Place To Bark, P.O. Box 649, Portland, TN 37148

More ways coming in the next post, that don't cost a penny, only a few moments of your time.

No worries, one way or another, we will continue on, we have to!!!

The animals can't do it for themselves. They need caring animal loving people to help them.

We raised enough to keep us going for a year, last year & I know we can do it again!!!

WE HAVE RECEIVED A MATCHING GRANT FROM:

THE ZOLINE FOUNDATION FOR $10,000.00.

DONATIONS WILL BE MATCHED UNTIL June 1st.

Any donation is incredibly important, no matter the amount!!!

Together we can finish this shelter and help more animals in need:)

We have many things planned for this year..

An Art Auction, Zine, some online classes & possibly a craft cruise to benefit "A Place To Bark"

Many new things planned for the website & will be registering with Charity Navigator.

We Thank YOU!!! For reading and being a part of something GREAT for the animals!!!

Stay tuned, we'll be getting really creative!!!

"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up"

-Winston Churchill

:: posted @ 10:11 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 29 comments :: permalink

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Busy Beyond Words..

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls.

The most massive characters are seared with scars." -Edwin Chapin

Nothing new... Just same old, same old.. Dogs, dogs & more dogs...

Trying to play catch up.

Sorry I've not updated in awhile..

Life has been, non stop on the go!!!

Trying to squeeze work in between caring for all these critter.

Since the last post I went down under to Australia to teach.

It was AMAZING!!!

Have lots of pictures to share, just have to find time to post...

The Australian artists are also an animal loving bunch.

They made me feel so at home, even provided me with a few dogs on loan, to keep me company:)

I will be planning to get on the road a bit more this year, gotta bring home the bacon, so to speak, since donations are way down & we have lots of mouths to feed & care for around here as you will see.

The economic situation is a double edged sword.

More & more dogs being surrendered & dumped at the pounds with less & less donations being given. So many rescues are closing:(

We too are truly struggling and will be asking for help & posting our yearly fund raiser/ art auction in the next post. "Ten to Life" will be our theme.

So please stay tuned for details:)

Here are a few of the many, many, new faces here..

"Franzis" is a male chocolate lab/mix. Approximately 1-2 years of age. He's a fun loving guy, super, duper high energy!!

"Jester" a male Black Lab/mix. Approximately 1-2 years of age, same story.. Busy, busy, busy!!!

"Kirby" & "Derby" litter mates at the pound.

Both had mange, were very, very thin & shy.

They are approximately 10-12 months of age, both male & have an artistic ability to dig heart shaped holes together:) It was HUGE!! Better than a box of chocolates:)

"Wally" is a very naughty boy, who is incredibly smart!!

Would be a great agility dog.

Approximately 12-14 weeks old. Border Collie/Aussie Mix.

"Newton" is a Beagle/mix. Approximately 1-2 years of age. LOVES the ladies..

We are taking care of that:) But is very much a high energy snuggle bug!!

"Lovey" is a female Chow/something fuzzy mix.

Approximately 2-3 years of age. VERY, VERY Friendly.

"Flobee" is a female Goldie/poo or doodle something.

Wirey scruffiness, too sweet and cute!!! Approximately 1-2 years of age. Loves to run!!!

"Lobo" is a male White German Shepherd.

Approximately 2 years of age. He is a great dog!!

Loves to be right by you and thinks he can sit in your lap. Not a cat lover!!!

"Bullet" is a male Hound/mix. Approximately 2-3 years of age, between 40-50lbs. This guy truly did get a second chance at life... Shot twice, by some unknown person. The sheriff's department in one of our rural counties in Tennessee, was called to put this guy out of his suffering. When the sheriff arrived, the dog was in incredible pain, but as the sheriff raise his gun the dog looked him in the eyes and started to wag his tail. He couldn't do it. Instead he took the dog to the vet & paid for his treatment. One bullet was removed, the second had to remain. He will most probably have a limp once he recovers. But this boy is nothing but love and kisses!!! The dog was named by the sheriff who saved him. So Bullet it is:)

Many litters of puppies to share, just can't get them to sit still long enough to photograph:)

Updates on the puppy mill puppies soon too!!!

Leaving to transport dogs to Chicago on Tuesday... (((on the road again)))
More to come..

P.S. If you haven't voted for Joe, please do...

If you help Joe, he will help us!!!

(((O.k. he'll help us anyway, but it would be wonderful for animals in shelters & rescues everywhere if he would win his dream assignment)))

We have several collaborative projects planned in the very near future, more on that soon.

Voting ends April 4th, so time is drawing near, if you want to help animals in need, it costs nothing but your time to register & vote!!!

This is how you can help Joe win his "Dream Assignment".

CLICK HERE

Click the Pic It box to the left of the screen.

This is the most important step, other than registering:

If you don't click the: Pic It box, it will not register & be counted.

He is currently ranked in 5th place and we need to stay in the top 10 to qualify for consideration.

Leave a comment if you like, I'm sure Joe would LOVE to hear from you...

All Done!!! YOU DONE GOOD:)

Pass this along to other animals lovers, spreading the word & asking them to vote..

Animals can't speak for themselves & need us to care for & defend them!!!

:: posted @ 8:11 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 8 comments :: permalink

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Paws, Cause, Fabulous Photography & Give Away

"Falling in Love is Easy.. But staying in Love, is something Very Special"

-Author Unknown

(Photo by: Joe Frazz)

The quote above really spoke to me.. Especially when I look at all these adorable pups.

I worry about their future, because I have seen their past..

For many puppy mill pups that end up in pet stores, it is so easy to purchase a pet on impulse. Seeing their cute faces in the windows & cages.

Not realizing where the pups originally came from or the conditions they were born into.

The money spent at the pet shop or the Internet bought puppy, is what millers consider a cash crop. It puts more money than you can imagine, into the pockets of some who did not have the dogs best interest at heart.

I am reminded of this every time we take in dogs from puppy mill confiscation.

I hope that if you are considering adopting one of these darlings, that you realize they are to be loved and cherished for their lifetime.. Not just the short time they are pups.

My mind thinks about this every time I rescue a dog, who is so loving & good.

That they were loved, snuggled and kissed as pups, but are now is a grown adult and given up or discarded. These are a few thoughts that travel thru my mind daily..

Enough of my thoughts, I know they make you sad, but every now & then I do have to share a bit of my reality with you, for the sake of the animals & to help spread awareness.

Now for the Good Stuff!!!

Wowza!!! Total cuteness:)
These darlings are pulling thru, getting stronger everyday & will make it into adoptive home in the near future!!!
I hope you enjoy their happy photos..

"Dumpling the Puggle & puppies"

Close up of "Dumpling's" pups

Little "Lambkins" pups, 2 of 3

My Blessed little "Soul"

"Willameena" weiner & her cocktail Weenies..

"Eenie, Meenie, Miney & Moe"

"Ernestine's" pups

My last post I'm sure was hard for many to read...
I wish I did not have to post about such things or ask people to embrace their inner strength to view my blog, but it is a reality of life.
Not a perfect world by any means, but it is the world we live in, our world.
So we have to make the best out of what we have, continue on & hope for a better future..
Tomorrow is another day and the baby steps we take, to change the world little by little.
Will help create a better tomorrow, for the animals in need!!!

Speaking of a Better Tomorrow..

A dear friend of mine, who has been dedicated to rescued dogs,

NEEDS OUR HELP to win "A Dream Assignment" contest.

"The Day The Dogs Stood Still"

A Photographic Journey of Life and Hope

(Photos by: Joe Frazz Photography)

It is a contest where our votes could help him, help animals in need everywhere.

It costs nothing but a few minutes of your time to sign in & vote.

I know it's a pain to do, but hey it could make a world of difference for an animal in need!!!

And that is of the up most Importance, in my book:)

We've done wonders together in the past, so I'm asking you now to help a friend make a dream come true...

Joe Frazz is an Amazing Man, with a HUGE heart!!!

Not to mention one of our newest additions to our creative team here at "A Place To BArk".

He will have a regular spot on our blog weekly with his photos and we'll have caption contests.

Joe has donated time & photos to animals in need since "2005".

Photographing animals at 3 local shelters where he lives, is a regular part of his life.

Willing to give up a month, to follow his dream and raise awareness for animals in shelters across the country, by creating a Visual Anthology to share with the world.

You can judge for yourself, his love for the animals... A pictures speaks a thousand words!

This is how we can be a part of this project & help Joe win his "Dream Assignment".

CLICK HERE (Edit: Revised Easier Link)

Click the Pic It box to the left of the screen.

This is the most important step, other than registering:

If you don't click the: Pic It box, it will not register & be counted.

He is currently ranked 17 and we need to stay in the top 10.

Leave a comment if you like, I'm sure Joe would LOVE to hear from you...

All Done!!! YOU DONE GOOD:) Pass this along to other animals lovers asking them to vote.. The Dogs THANK YOU!!!

For anyone leaving a comment here, you will automatically be entered to possibly win one of Joe's fabulous photo books. "Good Dog!" A book of friends.

44 pages of beautiful color photos & quotes. Signed by the Author.

Leave a comment & you could win a copy. Any comment will do!!

For example: Go JOE!!! LOVE Dogs, We Welcome you to A Place To Bark, etc...

This book is a must see, for anyone who loves dogs!!

We will be using a random number generator to pick the winner.

Winner will be picked Saturday March 7th at 11:00 p.m.

It's when I'll have a moment away from doggie duty:)

A limited amount of these books are available for purchase.

Proceeds to benefit "A Place To Bark".

$17.95 include shipping, will be available 3/20/09

Send payment via Paypal: aplacetobark@aol.com

Please include: Purchase Good Dog Book and all mailing information, when ordering.

Also, join Joe on FaceBook: Joseph Frazz, just message him & say Bernie sent you.

More news coming soon...

EDIT: The winner of Joe Frazz's "Good Dog" Book is: Debra Quartermain.

Please send me your contact information to aplacetobark@mac.com and I will have it in the mail to you soon!!!

Thanks for the comments, love hearing from everyone:)

:: posted @ 1:11 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 50 comments :: permalink