Thursday, August 27, 2009
Going the Extra Mile: Some of the Special dogs we help...
I'm currently in Chicago, getting ready to return to Tennessee.
"Determine that the things can & shall be done & then we shall find the way."
-Abraham Lincoln
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.
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.
"Bullet" was a stray, who had been shot. 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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Friday, August 07, 2009
Can't seem to catch my breath...BUSY beyond words!!!
::
posted @ 10:30 PM by Bernie Berlin::
1 comments :: permalink
“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 !!!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Please help A Place To Bark win a check for 10K
Much more news to follow in the upcoming weeks.... Stay Tuned!::
posted @ 7:07 PM by Bernie Berlin::
17 comments :: permalink
"There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
~ Albert Einstein ~
Please help "A Place To Bark" win $10,000 by Nominating us, as your favorite charity!
Please help "A Place To Bark" win $10,000 by Nominating us, as your favorite charity!The Christie Cookie Company is giving away $25,000 total to 12 charities.
It only takes a few moments, and will help us in our final phases of finishing
the shelter to continue helping animals in need.
What you will need to vote is our:
Charity Name: A Place to Bark
Charity City: Portland
Charity State: TN
Charity Contact Name: Bernie Berlin
Your Name & Your Email
Charity Name: A Place to Bark
Charity City: Portland
Charity State: TN
Charity Contact Name: Bernie Berlin
Your Name & Your Email
Spread the word and share with all your animal loving friends!!!
We need all the help we can get, these little guys can't support or care for themselves..
Much more news to follow in the upcoming weeks.... Stay Tuned!
