T.L.C. Paw Prints Holiday Issue 2000


In Memoriam
Wish List

Because of You
Did you know, that if it were not for you, this picture could never have been taken? Yes, that statement is absolutely true! Every animal pictured throughout past and present and future issues of Paw Prints, are animals that you helped rescue, due to your financial support of T.L.C.. Had it not been for your concern, countless numbers of dogs and cats (like the adorable kittens pictured), would still be out on the street, cold and hungry. Who knows what their fate might have been, and the fate of so many other animals (we did not have room to feature) had you not stepped in to help.
It is through the concern and generosity of people like yourself, that we have been able to change the future for thousands of animals throughout the years, and we plan on helping many, many more with your help. You have made a major difference in their lives!
Every donation makes a difference, one dollar provides a days food for a hungry cat or dog, just imagine how many animals we can feed with a donation of five or ten dollars! Twenty five dollars can provide vaccinations for a dog or a cat, and fifty dollars and up provides medical treatment for an injured or a sick animal. Each and every dollar that you contribute does make a difference, we can't do it without you.
We want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to each and every one of you. You made the difference in the lives of so many animals, animals that would have had a very uncertain future, that are now in loving homes. Your faith in T.L.C. and continuous support means a great deal to all of us, and even more so to the animals. We hope that the pictures of the animals in Paw Prints conveys what words alone cannot, because saying thank you seems so inadequate for all that you have done.
In closing, we would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season, and may the coming New Year bring you as much love and happiness, as you have brought our animal friends.

There Was No Excuse For Doing Something So Horrible
As the two young girls were getting off the school bus to go home, they couldn't believe their eyes as the truck slowed down in front of them, and the man driving it opened the door, hurling out a 5 month old puppy into the street. Cars were coming from both directions, but the man didn't care as he sped up leaving the scared pup in the street, not even giving it a backward glance - he had done his dirty deed.
The girls knew they couldn't leave the puppy in such a dangerous situation. Without a moment's hesitation, the girls rushed out to snatch the bewildered puppy out of harms way. Had it not been for the two girls, I am afraid it would have been just a matter of moments before the pup would have been hit by a car.
We can't figure out what would have possessed anyone to be so cruel. (But cruelty like this happens all the time.) Did the puppy chew up a pair of shoes, or potty on the rug, or was the man just plain tired of her, thinking this was the easiest way to get rid of his "problem". Whatever the reason there was no excuse for doing something so horrible.
The little pup was adopted into a loving family, luckily for her there was a happy ending to her story. But cruelty like this happens every day, and many of these animals are not as fortunate.

It Became Survival of the Fittest

Afraid and alone, the three pups lay huddled together in the cold dark basement. The rest of the pups in the litter were sold when they were 8 weeks old, and the owner made several hundred dollars on them. But the last three pups were now four months old, past the "cute" puppy stage. Being bigger and gangly, it was next to impossible for the owner to sell them at the price he wanted. This made him very unhappy, because as he stated, "feeding them was cutting into his profits"!
The owner was not caring for the puppies properly and it showed. He fed the pups once a day, if that, and the amount of food he gave them was sparce. When the pups ate, it became a matter of "survival of the fittest". In typical pecking order the biggest and strongest ate first, leaving the smallest, a little female, the meager scraps that were left.
it was apparent all the pups suffered from malnutrition, their coats were dull and lackluster, their skin hung pathetically on their bony frames, they were wormy, and they were dirty from being kept in filthy conditions. This was not the worst of it...
Had it not been for a neighbor hearing the daily ruckus the pups made over food, we don't know what would have happened. The neighbor was appalled at the condition of the puppies, and pleaded with the owner to give them to her, so she could take care of them. He rejected her offer, stating "the puppies were worth alot of money, and he was not about to give them away." Desperate to save the pups she offered to pay $35 apiece, which he greedily accepted. The woman wasn't in any position to keep them, so she called the shelter to see if we would be willing to take them in, and give them the care that they needed.
The pups were in worse condition than we had anticipated, and definitely in need of medical help. Not having been socialized, the pups didn't welcome any advances that shelter volunteers and staff made to befriend them. Any attempts of kindness were met with low growls and teeth bared. As you can imagine, medicating the pups was extremely difficult, and in doing so one of the staff as bitten in the process. The pups sat in the corner of their cage, eyeing us with suspicion and fear - to them we were the enemy. it was sad to see puppies so young, so mistrustful... their spirits seemed broken. It would take alot of T.L.C. to bring these little guys around.
Our efforts paid off, as we saw the puppies start coming around, and become ready for adoption. We were overjoyed as the pups were adopted out one by one, especially when the smallest and most frightened of the three got a home. It seemed she just couldn't snuggle up close enough to her new owner. As she gently stroked the pup, we saw her little tail begin to wag as she looked into her new owner's eyes, and gave her a big puppy kiss!



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