Friday, October 23, 2009 Life On the Runnnnn..... "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile" -Albert Einstein Life has been non stop, challenges for the past few months. From Jeff being in a horrible car wreck and now having spinal cord damage to the financial struggles of the rescue & the over abundance of animals being surrendered to the pound in record numbers. But as all things, this life is a journey and with each day and every new challenge that arises, we must face and find the joy within:) That too can be a challenge, but one that is necessary for spiritual growth... My joys are in saving LIFE!!! A pictures tells a thousand words... What do these pictures say to you? Some of the faces saved from needless euthanasia at our local pounds... Lately, I have found myself in a curious place, one that has shown me how much I have learned to value my friends.. Those who love me, even though I have dropped off the face of the Earth, when I haven't responded to e-mails or phone calls. I know it sounds terrible, but those that know me, know that if I have disappeared it's for good reason. Saving Lives!!! So many wonderful, beautiful lives depend on what we can do, to care for them and get them into our partnering shelter program to be adopted. Please bear with me, keep after me and know that I value you, your friendship and your patience with me. I'm on a mission to prove a point, that we can make a difference and to raise awareness thru our social networks. Life is precious and people need to know that this needless killing of shelter animals has to stop. My friends Claudine and Lynne have teamed up to help me with my fund raising efforts and will be helping me with many things so that I don't fall behind too much and disappoint people. I don't have much time these days for anything else but caring for the animals, we have close to 100 animals on site with a transport headed north on Tuesday, & every other week after that. But I needed to check in and say HELLO!!! We will also have t-shirts available for sale very soon!!! If anyone is interested in donating a design to help us fund raise please let us know!!! Nov. Ebay Art Auction Call for Artists is underway! For info, email: aplacetobark2009@gmail.com Lynne Gillis is coordinating this for me, so if you e-mail her you will receive a response quickly, since it's not me:) The whole month of November will be an on going art auction to fund raise to finish the shelter, so we can save more animals this winter. Detail posted soon!! Thanks for visiting, reading, supporting us & being a part of something GREAT!!! LIFE:) :: posted @ 10:17 PM by Bernie Berlin::  7 comments :: permalink Thursday, October 08, 2009 Party Animals Ebay Auction Hey everyone, the auctions is LIVE!!! Click Here to see the FUN & Fabulous Art The Party Animals original art auction will begin on Oct. 15th and go through Oct. 19th. So please spread the word & bid often, we are in dire straights and need funds to continue on & stay open. This will be a 5 day auction over at Ebay and all of the original artwork that was produced for the Party Animals zine will be auctioned off to benefit A Place To Bark. I will post an exact link to the auction on the 15th, but for now, here is a little flyer with all the info. Please tell all of your pet loving friends about the auction. The work is AMAZING and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the animals! Below is a list of the artists who participated…please visit their sites and check them out! Jill Beninato – www.sitstaysmile.com Bernie Berlin - www.aplacetobark.blogspot.com Suzi Blu – www.suziblu.typepad.com Rebecca Collins – www.artpaw.com Wendy Crumbley – www.2dogstudio.com Ingrid Dijkers – www.ingriddijkers.com Manon Doyle – www.hoochiepoochiestudios.com Sarah Fishburn – www.sarahfishburn.com Rice Freeman-Zachery – www.voodooandzen.com Heather LaHaise – www.heatherlahaise.com Melissa Langer – www.pugnotes.com Maija Lepore – www.maigirlz.typepad.com Anne Leuck Feldhaus – www.annesart.com Tamandra Michaels – www.heartdogstudios.com Kim Rae Nugent – www.kimraenugent.com Linda O’Neill – www.abbycreekstudios.com Nancy Schutt – www.gooddogart.com Jill Marie Shulse – www.jillmarieshulse.blogspot.com Kelly Snelling – www.soulhumming.typepad.com Carla Sonheim – www.carlasonheim.com Kathy Weller – www.wellerwishes.com Labels: Auctions :: posted @ 11:11 PM by Bernie Berlin::  0 comments :: permalink Wednesday, October 07, 2009 SHOUT OUT TO ALL ARTISTS – 2009 EBAY ART AUCTION SIGN UP INFO! “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.” ~ Dorothy to Toto, in Oz We are SO CLOSE to being able to finish our new shelter building at A Place to Bark that the dogs are ready to lay claim to their “bedrooms”! To help to get us the rest of the way there, A Place to Bark is teaming up with eBay Good Works (the charitable giving arm of Ebay) to host our annual EBAY ART AUCTION! During the entire month of November, a portion of the proceeds (decided by the artist) of the sale of each piece of artwork from participating artists will be donated to A Place to Bark. Your donations, of course, are entirely tax deductible. The beauty of eBay Good Works is that it makes it so incredibly easy for every artist to participate – and to do so in a way where they are completely in control of how big a portion of the proceeds of the sale of their artwork is donated to A Place to Bark. Our goal is to raise $25,000, which is enough money to allow us to finish the shelter before winter sets in – and WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO THAT! If you are an artist and would like to help raise desperately needed funds for A Place to Bark by being a part of the Art Auction, please email us at: aplacetobark2009@gmail.com and we will send you all the details you will need to participate. Above is a short video of the initial building phase of the shelter. Now that the shell of the building is up, we need your help to finish it! Thanks in advance for your interest and participation! So far in 2009, we’ve rescued, rehabilitated and re-homed more than 500 dogs and cats who would otherwise be put down - and the numbers keep climbing! Now you can be a part of continuing the crusade to fulfill the dream of a truly no-kill world! Thank you for your support! Labels: Auctions :: posted @ 8:58 PM by Bernie Berlin::  1 comments :: permalink Thursday, August 27, 2009 Going the Extra Mile: Some of the Special dogs we help... "Determine that the things can & shall be done & then we shall find the way." -Abraham Lincoln I'm currently in Chicago, getting ready to return to Tennessee. Jeff & Terry are holding down the fort in my absence caring for the dogs, for which I am very appreciative of their help, love & dedication to the cause. I've just transported 43 of our rescues to our partnering adoption program with Anti Cruelty Society on Tuesday & many have already found homes yesterday, while I was there:) I become very reflective while on these trips, for the rescues leave me, to go into the world to find their people. A leap of Faith for me, a chance at life for them... It really is a bitter/sweet parting, for I get to know each & every dog that comes into my life. But the lessons my grandfather taught me long ago, still stay with me to this day... His kind, sweet voice, lingers in my memory. "If you LOVE something, you must not possess it... That Love, no matter how painful, is always wanting better for that, that you LOVE" -Clyde Jewert In this post, I want to showcase some of our special needs animals. We go the extra mile, to take in any animal that we can help, as long as space & resources are available. Treatment is given for all illness & injuries. Parvo treatments, eye surgeries & 16 orthopedic surgeries are just a few examples of what has been provided this year. We focus on the animals at our local animal control & work closely with the Sheriff's Department, as do many other rescues locally. But even with all our combined efforts, the euthanasia rate where I live & for most of the southern states animal controls is, 98% with only 3 working days for the pets to be claimed. Unbelievable as that sounds, it is a very harsh & true reality:( So that is why I do what I do, for free... I BELIEVE in LIFE!!! My time is donated, the costs to support what we do are staggering, but necessary to save lives. I am dedicated to creating awareness & making the statement that the needless killing of animals has to stop!!! I am on several social networks to spread the word of rescue & friend all, that are animal lovers who want to be a part of something great for the animals in need. Life is not disposable and while I have been asked in the past, how can you hope to make a difference when the problem is so great? My reply is: If we all give up, then for sure, all is lost. My favorite quote is: "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke We must NEVER give up, but work harder to come together for the greater good. By many of us banding together, creating an unbreakable united front dedicated to the animals, this is when we will see, Life changing! Miracles can & will be created, if we BELIEVE!!! Despair gets us no where.. Hope & Love will create the dream, a better world!!! Rescue work is not easy, it is hard work. The daily pick up from the pound, veterinary runs, cleanings, feedings, washings, medicating, round the clock care, not to mention my monthly transports which are mostly about 9 hours but have gone as long as 18 hours, depending where we are going. But this for now, is the only way, these lives will be spared. Spay/Neuter is the long term solution to this problem. But it will take time for it to take hold & the numbers to decrease. My friend Ruth has built a fabulous low cost spay/neuter clinic that will be opening September 9th in Franklin, KY. I will post a link as soon as the website is up!! I get many questions daily about rescue work and how to start a program like mine. This is a long answer, but I promise to address the question in depth in future posts. But for now, the Best advice I can give if you are new to rescue, is to volunteer your time with established rescues & Humane Societies. Start slow, for it can consume your heart, soul & mind quickly and put you into financial ruin that has devastated many rescues... Compassion fatigue & the burn out are our greatest challenges. If we don't care for ourselves, it won't help the animals for the long term. (easier to tell you this, than do it myself:) I know this is a bit long, but I'm just in one of those moods today to write... So now onward to some of our many stories & the animals that are healed because of your generosity! "Bullet" was a stray, who had been shot. He was from another county in rural Tennessee, where there is no animal control. Which means then, the local Sheriff's department has to handle any injured or stray animal situations. In this case the dog had been shot by a shotgun. The Sheriff raised his gun, to put the suffering dog out of his misery, when the dog looked him in the eyes & started to wag his tail. The Sheriff started to tear, picked the dog up, took him to the vet and the dog was brought to us. He named the dog "Bullet". As you can see he quickly stole the hearts of everyone he met!!! This photos above were of the injury & during the surgery. The photo below, was taken the last day he was in our care, before he was placed for adoption. My happy memory of a sweet hound/mix that could run & play because of my animal loving friends, supporting our animal rescuing endeavors. This year we have brought 6 dogs to our vets that needed leg amputations. These injuries were from either being shot or being hit by cars. All were treated and are doing well!!! This dog came from a cruelty case. She was starved, beaten & so terribly pregnant, she almost died at the vet's office during labor. This dog had one of the most AMAZING spirits I have come across & it reflects in this HAPPY VIDEO we took of her. "Shayla" has been adopted & happily living in Chicago. Her mom keeps up with me on Facebook to let me know how she's doing:) The x-ray below shows how many little lives she was carrying... Amazing technology! Below one of the many puppies that are treated for Parvo yearly. We also take some cats into our rescue. While our main focus are dogs, we don't want to leave our feline friends out:) "Pong" was attacked by a dog, the vets tried to save his leg, but it had to amputated. He has since been adopted by the vet & his wife! I hope you realize how much I value your readership and that even though I disappear or seem unavailable, it's because I get so busy with the animals. Please know I appreciate you and for believing in what we do!!! Labels: Bullet, special needs, x-rays :: posted @ 12:11 PM by Bernie Berlin::  2 comments :: permalink Monday, August 10, 2009 Breaking Traditions quilt show accepting entries! Hey all you artists and quilters out there! I just got word from Lynn Krawczyk about a quilt show accepting entries to help A Place to Bark! Here's the text from the Breaking Traditions web site: Breaking Traditions has become a community effort, helping to support the fund raising projects of fellow fiber/mixed media artists. The 2009 exhibit will benefit Bernie Berlin's dog rescue, A Place to Bark. In honor of Bernie's efforts to find orphaned and abused dogs permanent loving homes, the theme for the 2009 exhibit is "Home." The exhibit features 12"x12" art quilts. Participants for the 2009 show will express those things, memories or emotions that define home to them. This is an open call exhibit, everyone is encourage to participate. Prizes are donated for those in the exhibit and an Exhibit Favorite is chosen. Guidelines and entry form can be found here. Prize information can be found here. Would you like to help? Find out ways you can here. There are two ways in which updates are posted regarding the exhibit. Any changes to the guidelines or rules of the exhibit will be posted in the yahoo group. General announcements and installation shots of the exhibit as it travels (currently showing the 2008 exhibit) can be found on the exhibit's blog. Visit The Breaking Traditions web site for more information! :: posted @ 11:59 PM by Bernie Berlin::  3 comments :: permalink Friday, August 07, 2009 Can't seem to catch my breath...BUSY beyond words!!! “Dreams are like the paints of a great artist.  Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas.  Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.” -Author Unknown I cannot express to you how busy I have been... This is our busiest year yet!!! We are going to increase our rescued animals numbers this year,  with the least amount of funding.   It truly has been the biggest struggle financially, but we are hanging on:) We will be actively fund raising from now, till the end of the year.    So much to share & I promise will post more in detail very soon, about fund raising,  art auctions & products that will benefit the rescue!!! For now, I will share some photos of  the dogs that have been adopted!!! I hope these photos, of some of the faces that have passed thru our doors,  will bring a smile to your face.   Those of you that donate your money & time, it's because of you, they live!!! Together we make a difference for the animals in need... A HUGE THANK YOU, goes to the Anti Cruelty Society in Chicago!!!  They have given me a chance to grow & develop my, shelter to shelter program  & helps me find the hundred of homes each year, for these loving dogs!!! The staff at ACS keeps in constant contact with me & gives the adopters our contact  information, so they may contact me with any questions or concerns.   If for some reason one of my rescues isn't adjusting well, they contact me & arrangements  are made for the animal to come back for private placement. By working together, it has created a win/win situation for all involved! The Absolute BEST, is the updates on the adopted pets and their new lives:) So many, many, success stories to come in the future months... ((((Just need some time to do all the computer work:))) These are just some, of the many dedicated staff workers at ACS !!! Don't forget we also take in several cats yearly... Please contact us for an updated listing. IF you are looking for a cat that we don't have, we can surely find it for you!!! MORE soon!!!! :: posted @ 10:30 PM by Bernie Berlin::  1 comments :: permalink

about me Name:Bernie Berlin From:Tennessee, United States I'm a mixed media artist specializing in Faberge Style Eggs, Author of "Artist Trading Card Workshop" and am currently working on 2 new books. I run a full-time dog rescue, taking in the dogs that have been abandoned, abused or police confiscated. I foster, retrain, transport & adopt. Cats are also welcome at my rescue. I am drawn to the unwanted, unloved and misunderstood. Hoping to educate and effect change for the animals that do not have a voice of their own. Visit my web site at www.aplacetobark.com View my complete profile SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!   what i'm doing right now follow A Place to Bark on Twitter how you can help All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt. Thank you for your support!! more ways to help START USING GOOD SEARCH: A Place to Bark earns a penny every time you search the Internet using Good Search! So next time you want to search for something, click the link above! Thank you! ITEMS WE ARE IN NEED OF: Towels, blankets, toys, collars, leashes, crates, food, treats, very small baby bottles, milk replacement, bleach, 1 microscope, 1 baby scale, 1 stethoscope, muzzles, pet beds. SHIP ITEMS TO: Bernie Berlin "A Place To Bark" PO BOX 649 Portland, TN 37148 615-681-2631 Every little bit helps, it is ALL appreciated!! All donations are tax deductible. A Place to Bark is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible. All monies and items go directly to the care of the animals. Donations can also be made directly to help with medical cost for " A Place To Bark": The Critter Clinic Clinic 522 W. Main Street Gallatin, TN 37066 615-452-1477 Saukville Veterinary Clinic 303 W. Dekora Saukville, WI 53080 262-284-7000 Any U.S. Bank Location Just tell the teller that you would like to make a donation to "A Place To Bark Inc." Checks or Credit Card donations accepted Thank You! video about my rescue registered non-profit A Place to Bark is a 501(c)(3) registered non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible. products T SHIRTS AND MORE! Support rescued animals -- shop at A Place to Bark's NEW CafePress Store! ARTIST SUPPLIES Bernie has created amazing clip art sheets to use in your art and craft projects from her stash of vintage images. •collage sheet set 1 •collage sheet set 2 All proceeds go toward the care of the animals. BOOKS Bernie's NEW Book! Now available from Amazon.com! Buy any book from Amazon by clicking here and a percentage will benefit my rescued animals!! medical supplies needed DOG MEDICAL SUPPLIES NEEDED: • Duramune Max 5-CvK Distemper/Parvo Vaccine $94.99 • Monoject Needles 71-645 3cc RL - 22x3/4- Box/100 $12.99 • Progard KC Bordatella Vaccine $52.99 • Panacur C-dewormer $4.89 • Frontline CAT MEDICAL SUPPLIES NEEDED: • Eclipse 4 (Box of 25 Doses) $39.99 • Syringe with Needle 71-802 25x5/8 LL, Box/100$14.99 previous posts Life On the Runnnnn..... Party Animals Ebay Auction SHOUT OUT TO ALL ARTISTS – 2009 EBAY ART AUCTION S... Going the Extra Mile: Some of the Special dogs we ... Breaking Traditions quilt show accepting entries! Can't seem to catch my breath...BUSY beyond words!... Please help A Place To Bark win a check for 10K Moments at "A Place To Bark" Party Animals Zine Helps A Place to Bark So much to tell!!! archives 03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006 | 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006 | 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006 | 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006 | 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006 | 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006 | 09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006 | 10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006 | 11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006 | 12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007 | 01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007 | 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007 | 03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007 | 04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007 | 05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007 | 06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007 | 07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007 | 08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007 | 09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007 | 10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007 | 11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007 | 12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008 | 01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008 | 02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008 | 03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008 | 04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008 | 05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008 | 06/01/2008 - 07/01/2008 | 07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008 | 08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008 | 09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008 | 10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008 | 11/01/2008 - 12/01/2008 | 12/01/2008 - 01/01/2009 | 01/01/2009 - 02/01/2009 | 02/01/2009 - 03/01/2009 | 03/01/2009 - 04/01/2009 | 04/01/2009 - 05/01/2009 | 05/01/2009 - 06/01/2009 | 06/01/2009 - 07/01/2009 | 07/01/2009 - 08/01/2009 | 08/01/2009 - 09/01/2009 | 10/01/2009 - 11/01/2009 | important links Education: •Bright Lion •In Honor of Homeless Animals •Fate of A Dog •Just One Litter Never buy an animal from a pet store: Prisoners of Greed For the loss of a pet: Rainbow Bridge Cat education site: Cat's International Humane Societies & Rescues That I Network with: Anti Cruelty Society Chicago ASPCA American Humane Humane Society Of The United States Sumner County Sheriff's Department Waukesha Humane Society Helen Woodward Animal Center Nashville Humane Society Humane Society of Sumner County Dogs Deserve Better "No Chained Dogs" Pets For The Elderly Wisconsin Humane Society Elmbrook Humane Society Washington County Humane Society Northeast Animal Shelter Nashville Cat Rescue Miss Alli's Rescue Heavenly Hearts Chesapeakes Safe Harbor Weimaraner Rescue of The South Wisconsin Dog Rescue & Adoption Network Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control The Fix Foundation Cocker Spaniel Rescue of New England Inc. Wisconsin Cocker Rescue Illinois Cocker Rescue & Toy Breeds Russell Rescue Rover Rescue St. Johns County A.C. Pet Shelter S.P.C.A. Tampa Bay Eskie Rescuers United Pug Hugs Inc. Camp Chaos Peterson Express Transport Service HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website other blogs check out some of my favorite blogs: select a blog to visit! claudine hellmuth Tim Holtz Charlotte Lyons Kim Nugent "Raevn's Nest Lynn Whipple Sally Jean The Dog Whisperer Angela Cartwright D.J. Pettitt Michael deMeng Michelle Ward Traci Bautista carla sonheim karen michel lesley riley nina bagley lobbylu lost aussie sarah fishburn tiffiniX Misty Mawn Katie Kendrick Tee's Spree's Miz Carla Jen Osborn Tattered Edge Ambiguously Indigenous Maija Annax Nua Rua Sue Pieper Deryn Mentock Deb Trotter Mermaid Momma Heather Funky Finds Linda Koch Brain Bubbles Turquoise Cro Stacie Rife Lunacy Izzabella's Tattered Letters Mary Boyer Barbe Saint John Sally Turlington Altered Lou Navy Lane Studio Art Bella Corey Moortgat Kelly Kilmer Joleen Contemplating The Moon Patricia Anders Tongue in Cheek Pam Garrison Tonia Davenport Ginger Pixel Chelise Claudia Roulier Pet Stories of Love Aimee Reid-Rice Fiber Artist Kathy Wasilewski celine navarro Carmi Cimicata Judy Wise Jill Beninato Sue Berry Editor's Blog Joyce Vance Corinne Stubson Reiny Rizzy L.K. Ludwig Bluhm Studio Mz Bella Teresa Turquoisse Cro Jill Beninato Tara Ross MB Shaw Kivett Studio Kim Boehm Funky Finds Noisy Dog Studio EM's Knitty Corner Rebecca Wallis Dotee Is There A Shadow Svenja Wolf Katherine Dunn Jennifer Perkins Vickie Howell Tracie Lyn Huskamp Judy Patti Mosca Artfully Yours (links open in a new window)     all photos and text © Bernie Berlin content of this site may not be reproduced in any manner without advance written permission