T.L.C. Paw Prints Winter Issue 2001
In Memoriam
Wish List
Raffle Prizes Needed!
Getting straight to the point, we need this years raffle to be the best ever, and after you read this issue of Paw Prints you'll understand why. We are looking for items valued at $50.00 or more, for example: jewelry, gift certificates, DVD player, a trip, a night on the town, Play Station II, dinner for two, let your imagination run wild! The nicer the prizes are, the more chances we can sell. And the more chances sold, the more animals we'll be able to help! If you, your group, or your company wish to donate a prize, please contact us with the information before March 1st at (708)301-1594. Prizes will need to be brought to the shelter by March 15th.
As the numbers on the thermometer dropped...the number of animals desperately in need of our help increased with each passing day!
The temperatures had stayed below freezing for days on end, without any relief. The arctic winds were bringing the windchills down to a deadly 20 to 40 degrees below zero! Compounding an already bad situation, blizzard conditions hit our Midwest area for several days, making this one of the worst winters we have had in years. Weather like this was not fit for man nor beast... frostbite, starvation, pneumonia, and death were silently waiting, to claim its victims.
We knew time was of the essence, for these animals. By mid January we had already taken in 217 animals, all victims of the storm, in addition to our normal work load. A few of these animals had gotten lost during the winter storms, and could not find their way back home. With the snow so deep, it made it possible for a few dogs to get out of their yards by merely stepping over the fence, to go exploring much to the dismay of their owners. With blizzard conditions, many of the dogs became disoriented and lost their way back home.
Fortunately, we were able to get these animals back to their owners, and were overjoyed to witness the happy reunions.
Those were very happy endings, but in other instances it was obvious that the animal had been abandoned. We could not fathom how anyone could be that heartless, especially in weather this extreme. We knew it was impossible for two 6 week old puppies to wander onto Lake Shore Drive, in the middle of a snow storm, with lake effect snow so bad that Lake Shore Drive had to be shut down that night! And how could a five week old kitten so tiny it could fit in the palm of your hand, go exploring on its own during a blizzard, only to be found meowing pitifully under someone's deck? And pray tell why an eight week old puppy decided to sit in a snowbank by a busy highway with traffic whizzing by and with a snowplow headed straight at her before she was rescued?
We know these animals did not end up in these situations under their own volition! Unfortunately they were the victims, while those that committed these cruel acts did not give it a second thought!
Even though these stories are heartbreaking, thanks to all of you we were able to change near tragedies into happy endings.
This winter has been very hard in other ways too... Taking a huge bite out of the shelter's budget!
Monies set aside for additional expenses that the shelter normally encounters during the winter have already been eaten up. We had not anticipated the gas bills being as bad as they were, nor did we think that one of the shelter's furnaces would break down on Christmas day. If that weren't enough, a couple of days later the septic began to act up, which we had to have fixed. Bills, bills, bills, they seemed to be mounting up faster than the falling snow! All of these bills added to all the bills incurred during treating, as we call them the "frostbite animals" the shelter's funds have been drastically reduced. The shelter has been very fortunate to have an abundance of food for the animals, but we are in need of funds to feed the kitty! As you can see, your donations are helping a great many animals, but we need your financial aid so we can care for even more!
Area Students Help the Shelter
We are pleased to see the interest area school children have in helping animals at the shelter. Walsh School made a collection of cat food, dog food, cleaning supplies, treats and toys and a monetary contribution of $158.62. (These are all students from kindergarten through second grade.) Students from Homer Junior High donated $81.00 and also collected a lot of food to feed the dogs and cats. Also the 8th grade class from Homer Junior High Homeroom 202 donated $40.00. A big THANKS to these caring kids!
Homeless Homer Program Has Ended
It was nice while it lasted, but now we have to say goodby to the Homeless Homer Program. Through the years T.L.C. has earned over $5000.00 through this program. All the clipping and saving of Homeless Homer Proofs and Morris Proofs you did really paid off.... but as of January 31st the program is over, no more proofs will be accepted by Heinz. We really hated to see this program end, it helped alot of animals.
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