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

Sunday, August 24, 2008

We're getting it done!!!

"Victory is won not in miles, but in inches.

Win a little now, hold your ground, and later win a little more."

-Louis L'Amour

Whoo- HOO!!!! We have concrete, electric & the plumbing lines are in..

I cannot begin to tell you how crazy my week has been...
Family obligations, the shelter being built, call after call about dogs, took in puppy mill dogs, driving cats all over to get them adopted, vet visits, getting ready to transport on Tuesday to Chicago, and trying to catch up on all my paperwork.

It just never seems to end.... But life is like that sometimes, eh?!!

Makes you know you are alive in every way:)

Just a quick post to show you whats going on...

Concrete going in the building.

They did a wonderful job on the concrete, the ledge you see is so there is no back splash when we pressure wash the kennels. Can't believe how excited I was about the drains:)

Electrical lines being dug & put in.

So much happening, so much to tell, just not enough time to sit and post...

I am working on a bunch of posts and will have them go up automatically each week, so that I won't go so long without posting.

My sweet friends Brenda and Julia who have offered to help me out with things, to try to catch me up. LOVE my friends:)

I will have exciting news the end of September to share with you...

So stay tuned!!!

Also, a BIG, HUGE, THANKS to the folks at Stampington & Company.

I worked as an artist on call for them, for several years and took a break to build A Place To Bark. Sometime in the near future I hope to be doing articles and art for them again.

They created this beautiful ad for us and it could not have come at a better time.

We so need the exposure for our future growth. It is featured in all their publications this month. If you are not familiar with their magazines, please check them out HERE.

Art, photography, blogging, sewing, altered art, stamping, they have it all!!

I feel like I am forgetting something, but am starting to nod off..
Gotta get some sleep!!! Nitey Nite:)

:: posted @ 11:50 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 14 comments :: permalink

Monday, August 18, 2008

And Here we have it.. Our new building!!

"Very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts"
-Sy Wise

I have to run out the door, to check on the builders, the store, animal control and the vet...

But I wanted to share a few of the pictures with you, because I know you are excited as we are!!!

This shelter is built on the love and kindness of our fellow artists and animal lovers.

Look what we have accomplished together!!!

I will post more later and edit this post, but just so excited I wanted to post a note to you all now!!!

:: posted @ 1:23 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 19 comments :: permalink

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

New faces for U at the zoo:)

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich."
-Louis Sabin

Have we got the cuties here!!! Ooooh, don't you just want to kiss all their faces:)

These are 3 of the 8 pups that are in the litter we picked up from the pound 2 weeks ago.

The day is done and they sure got alot finished. The skeleton of the building is up!!!

We should be able to pour the concrete by the weekend if all goes well:)

Lately my phone has been ringing off the hook, people calling me to take in dogs.

I have been getting anywhere from 2 to 20 calls daily:( Eeek!!

While I wish I could take them all, there is only so much I can do...

I have a 3 month waiting list for owners who want to surrender their dogs.

It really gets to me, but I can only do so much and we are busting at the seams trying to find space. Not to mention the money is getting really tight with gas prices, tons of vet bills and we have already taken in more animals than last year and the year is not over.

I try to stay as positive as I can, but every now and then some fear creeps in...

Enough babbling, let's focus on the good, the lives saved & beautiful faces featured below!!!

This is 'Aggie" she just finished her last heart worm treatment and will be ready for adoption in a few weeks.
She is incredibly sweet about 3 years old, great with other dogs, loves food of course and is just a wonderful companion.

These are her pups, Flo, Bro, Joe & Moe:)

"Oogie" is soooo cool!!! He is some type of Shar Pei mix. 12 weeks old he drools and snores:)

We received a donation of toys from our online artist Angels last week, that he is enjoying very much!! Thank YOU so much, they are having a great time with the stuff!!!!

'These five pups were under a dog bed at animal control, one was in the drain in the back of the kennels. Only about 4 weeks old, we have been treating them for Parvo.

They are doing well but aren't out of the woods yet.

This darling Pug is "Izzabella". She is a 2 year old female. She is on behavior modification medication for the short term. When she came to me, she was spinning uncontrollably and attacking her tail to the point that part of her tail is missing.

We are retraining her and she is responding well!!!

Last one for the nite..

This is "Daisy" a Shepherd mix. Meek and mild, co-dependent, will be your shadow and faithful friend. She is approximately 1-2 years of age. About 20 pounds underweight after nursing 9 puppies.

So many more here, just wanted to share their gorgeous faces with you...

Off to bed, today has been a good day:)

Labels: Aggie, Oogie, shelter

:: posted @ 1:30 AM by Bernie Berlin:: 15 comments :: permalink

Sunday, August 10, 2008

And so it begins...

"Your work is to discover your work and then to give yourself to it with all your heart.."

-Buddha

We have broken ground and the building is going up as I type this!!!
I'm still pinching myself:)

This is just the beginning, but here is where it starts...
Seems like just yesterday, we moved to Tennessee and this winter it will be 3 years.

The building will be 30 x 60 with 4000 square feet of outdoor kenneling.
We will have a few acres fenced off with different yards for the dogs to run and play after their 3 week quarantine.

The shelter will be dedicated to the artists and animal lovers who have helped me create this program. The animals and I are grateful everyday..

I know I sound like a broken record, but I feel you cannot let people know enough how much they are appreciated:) And I do appreciate you..

From the bottom of my heart I THANK YOU for being a part of this journey with me!!!

Life has been extremely, insanely, busy lately, with family issues, caring for the little ones and getting my professional work done. So if you are waiting for an e-mail or box from me, the mail is packed waiting for me to drive it to town and I have the e-mail on my to do list..

Jeff is doing as well as can be expected and we are headed back to the doctors tomorrow.

The shelter being built has given him some new life, he is trying his hardest to stay on his feet.

Balance and walking is very difficult for him, but he has put so much work into the plans for this place it only seems right that he be right there, even if it means sitting in a chair, with a cold drink, while they are building.

This blog is usually where I write about art & the animals, but I am sure Jeff would be tickled if you left a comment for him. He has done so much for the little ones here, the scared and the unsocialized I find it only fitting to dedicate this post to him.

Artwork has started coming in from my friends to decorate the shelter, even though it will be months before we can hang it, I believe we will not only have a functional shelter, but a very colorful, vibrant and fun place for the animals.

Later this week, I will be writing to qualify us for many of the animal programs & grants available... Tons to do, so I better get to it!!!

Again, a million kisses and hugs from one very excited crazy dog lady:)

Much LOVE,

Bernie

:: posted @ 11:42 PM by Bernie Berlin:: 20 comments :: permalink

Monday, August 04, 2008

Quick post..

"Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream preceeds the goal."
-Pamela Vaull Starr

Just a quick post..

I'm still around, but at capacity for dogs. So not much time to post these days...

We also break ground on the shelter/building this week!!!

YEAH!!!:)

This note is to:

Kristina, the pups you found are doing great here are some pictures to show you they are doing well and are happy.

Kristina, found these 4 very large puppies where she lives and called me.

They were dumped and stray, covered in ticks and fleas.

She did a great job caring for them till I got back in town.

They appear to be Great Pyrenees mixes. Big Fuzzies!!

The one looks like a Pyrenees/Boxer or Shepherd mix.

All super sweet and at about 12-14 weeks are weighing about 40 pounds:)

There's a whole lot to love with these pups!!!

On another note, Jeff's health has been declining rapidly and he has been having stroke like symptoms this past week. Will know more tomorrow...

He has really had a very hard time of things with his health, so please keep him in your prayers.

Will post more tomorrow...

:: posted @ 12:01 AM by Bernie Berlin:: 15 comments :: permalink