T.L.C. Paw Prints Holiday Issue 1998


In Memoriam
Wish List

One Small Gift
On many occasions we have seen a notation along with an incoming donation "sorry it's not much, wish it could be more." One smaIl gift - Little did you realize what your gift meant, that dollar may have fed a hungry dog or a couple hungry cats. Just ask Wags (pictured left), he was skin and bone when he was found - we did not think he would make it, but your one small gift helped get him back on his feet!
One small gift- that five dollars you gave heated the shelter for a day. If she could talk I am sure that Muffin ( pictured below) would say how thankful she is to be in the nice warm shelter, rather than out on the street, with frost bitten paws, and nothing to eat, that's what one small gift means-
One small gift means we can take another animal in from the cold. One small gift may make all the difference in the world to these animals, animals that would otherwise be cold and hungry in the streets. Animals that have suffered untold abuse, animals that had no one that cared, until you came along.....with your one small gift!
We have enclosed one small gift with this newsletter mailing, a way to say thank you and we appreciate all you have done. We know that it is small and stands insignificant amongst the splendor of the other gifts this holiday season, but with our one small gift, every time you look at it we want it to remind you that you have helped save another animal, like Bruno (pictured right), who no longer has to suffer severe beatings from a cruel owner. He has a new life, a happy life, and a family that loves him, thanks to you. Each day on that calendar marks a new beginning for each animal that is adopted. I don't think you could ever give a greater gift than that, and all this is due to your one small gift- Thank you
We hope that each day of the New Year will be special for you, and that you and your loved ones will have the happiest holiday season ever.

Someone Else Will Take Her In
I first saw her in the springtime,
not quite fully grown,
such a pretty little thing, hope she finds her way back home.
With a "here Kitty Kitty" I gently rubbed her head and
stroked her little chin,
then in an instant she ran off again.
I had hoped she was going home,
but if not, as cute as she was,
I knew someone would take her in.
Summer was in full array when I
spotted her again,
No kitten any more she was fully grown.
Her silver hair just glistened,
and her green eyes brightly shone.
She must belong to someone,
I just wish they would keep her in.
She continued to visit me daily
and when I would stop to rest,
she would jump up in my lap and
bury her head on my chest.
Then I noticed her getting heavier
with each passing day,
Just as I had thought she had
kittens on the way.
I grumbled to myself they should have kept her in.
Then for several weeks her daily visits stopped.
I thought good, someone has taken her in...
It was in the latter part of summer
when she came by again
but this time not alone.
four pretty little kittens popped
their heads out one by one
while mama found a comfy spot to
languish in the sun.
They were truly irresistible those
little balls of fur,
three were orange like their dad
and one resembled her.
As soon as I saw them I knew
someone will take them in....
Autumn came, and my feline friend
now came back alone,
I heard folks around the
neighborhood had given the kittens a home.
By now the days had grown shorter
and the cool nights had settled in.
Although I worried about her,
I was unable to take her in.
I didn't go out much as the north
winds began to blow.
But I still saw you out there,
curled up in a pile of leaves trying
to keep warm,
Hoping the last rays of sun would
not leave so soon for the nights were so very cold.
I watched you try to manage in the
ice and snow
You started looking very thin, and
I knew you had no place to go.
Feeling somewhat guilty I set food
outside for her
As if she were saying thanks, I
would hear that gentle purr.
I was angry this had happened,
Why should I feel this badly, she's
not even mine
Someone must have owned her,
long before this time.
As the temperature dropped below zero,
I saw her huddled in that same old
pile ofleaves
I thought I will give her something to lay on
so she does not freeze.
But she would not need it now.
for she had died,
and God had taken her in.

I wrote this poem to help others see the desperate situation so many stray and abandoned animals face. If we did something to reach out to them, we could do something to prevent tragedies such as this from happening. If you see an animal in need do something now while there is still time...do something now while there is still life!


Construction is in Full Swing! Thank You For Helping Us Reach for the Stars..
and for making a difference in their lives
The following people have joined us in the the stage II phase of the Shelter's renovation plans:

Contributions of $250.00 or more
Adam's Pub, David White and Roma, Darlene Novak, Janice and Bill Kiss

Thank you
Patricia Farrell Darin, Donald and Geraldine Fudala, Elaine Hall, Gloria Sellers, Vernon and Sharlene Jantz, John and Beverly Saineghi, Frank and Carole Wrystoek, Sharon Block, Marjorie Paine and Kelly, Marie Pecord, Judy Danalewich, Mary Bossingham, Lucille Ingalls, Patricia Boylan, Gregory and Debra Bradach, Irene Pappalardo, Steven and Mary Royce, Cools Waters, Marilyn Beske, Valerie Allegrucci Moore, Lipner & Lipner, P.C., William E. Theis, Construction, Carlos and Victoria Barbara, Irene Wenzl, Jacqueline S. Stankus, Henry and Muriel Wiersma, James P. Mikota, Diane and Patrick Fritz, American Homes and Investments, Inc.

These contributions were received after the Ist of October. Donations made prior to that were listed in the Autumn issue of Paw Prints


Shhhhhhh! Don't Say anything, he doesn't know about it yet!
When their dog died of cancer Jim and Cheryl Carter did not know if they were ready for another dog yet. Going through so much to save him, and then having him succumb anyway was a terrible loss to them, a loss I am sure we can all relate to. But the couple realized they had to take someone else's feelings into consideration, Booney their other Beagle. Booney was not coping well with the loss of his buddy, so Cheryl and Jim thought they'd better get him a companion, and it had to be another beagle.
The Carters' had looked at several dogs, and even toyed with the idea of getting a beagle puppy. They told us to keep them in mind whenever we got another beagle in. We called them on a few, but none of them seemed just right, mainly because they were still grieving. We gave them another call when Jeb came in, he seemed to have everything they were looking for. The only problem was, he had only three legs.
The Carters' had told us that they would be there by one to see Jeb, but one oclock came and went, and they were not there. Having gone through this before, someone said, what do you expect, how many people are going to run right out to look at a three legged dog to adopt. But about twenty minutes later lo and behold who showed up. Cheryl and Jim had just been running late.
They asked if they could take Jeb for a walk. Expecting to see a rather sedate dog due to only having use of three legs, they were quite surprised at how he could run and play and do just as much as any other dog could. The only tricky thing was when Jeb spotted a tree, and did the natural doggie thing, but even then he had perfected a little balancing act!
In unison Jim and Cheryl said they wanted to adopt him. We asked them if they were sure, we didn't want them to feel that they had to adopt him out of pity, and felt sorry for him because he only had three legs. Like any "proud parent" would say, Cheryl quipped in a half whisper, "Shhh...don't say anything about him only having three legs. He doesn't know yet!" "He does everything any other dog can do and then some!"

Think Flowers
Thinking about sending a nice plant or centerpiece to someone across town or someone across country for a birthday, anniversary or for the holidays? If you place your order through Floral Alliance, not onIy will your gift delight the recipient, it will also be helping the animals at T.L. C.! Just call 1-800-423-5803 to place your order, and remember to give the shelter 's code number NP-1136, so the shelter receives credit.

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