T.L.C. History as Told by Shorty
Shhhht!
We all have to be very quiet, we don't want to give away the surprise birthday party for the shelter. While we are waiting I'll give you a short history lesson about T.L.C.
This is the big one guys, April 1st - 25 years! Boy, T.L.C. has come along way in that time. Most of you know very little of the major obstacles my people friends had to overcome in the beginning. I wasn't there from day one, and from hearng how things were back then, I'm kind of glad I wasn't. From what they told me, things were really rough. A past that included rats, tin can lids, heating oil, junk day furniture and very little money. I don't know how they did it.
I know you are wondering what rats and all the other stuff had to do with the present day shelter, so I'll tell you.
TLC's original home was a rented old frame building. Although it was nothing great, they were happy to have a place to house homeless animals. Eagerly they moved in the ''treasures" they had salvaged from many a garbage day expedition. TAADAAH! TLC officially opened April 1st 1974! But much to the chagrin of my people friends, it was not only home to lost abandoned and unwanted animals, it was also home to rats, big field rats, some nearly as big as me! ( I sure would have hated to compete with them for food!) This was the purpose of the tin can lids, they were used to cover up the holes the rats made. No sooner they got the rat problem under control, they found they had a bigger problem, the old oil furnace. I shiver just thinking about it, brrrr! They recounted the numerous times when the temperatures dipped below zero, how the furnace would quit running.. That meant gathering up the animals and taking them to members houses till the furnace could be fixed. (Boy am I glad I wasn't there then!) Between fighting the furnace problems for 4 years and the landlord joyfully announcing that the rent would be doubled it was time to find TLC a new home, a permanent home, and that they did. They found a bean field!
Well at the time that was all that was on the land, nothing but beans. With very little money, many good friends, and lots of hard labor TLC's permanent home was built. It really is an amazing story but there isn't the time to tell it all now, this is just 25 years in a
nutshell......maybe someone I know will sit down and write that book they've been talking about.....
Anyway quiet everyone I thlnk I hear them coming!
"Shorty, are you in there?" "Why are you sitting there in the dark?"
SURPRISE!!
"Oh Shorty you remembered!"
How could I forget?
" Oh Shorty you are such a sweetheart to have remembered. I could give you a great big kiss!"
Ok enough of the mushy stuff, let's blow out the candles and get to the cake! Uhoh wait! I almost forgot, before we blow out the candles we have to make a wish!
"Ok Shorty make a wish".
My wish is that we get $50,000,00 for the cat room renovation !
"SHORTY!"
It was only a wish, I wasn't coming right out and asking...hinting maybe.... asking never!
"Shorty!"
Well I think that's my cue to blow out the candles!
love, Shorty
Special Thanks
We wish to extend a special thanks to Gary Tippet, owner of K9 Guardians for his help, on such short notice. We were trying to keep the shelter open throughout Stage II ofthe shelter's expansion, but soon realized we couldn't have the dogs in the kennels when the glazed block was being installed, so Gary came to the rescue. Gary not only boarded the dogs for us for 3 days he, picked them up and brought them back too! I do not know what we would have done on such short notice, if Gary had not helped us out....again Gary thanks a million!
Christmas Open House
The Christmas Open House was terrific! But even the day before the event, we were not sure how it would go. Being right in the middle of a construction mess, and I do mean mess, we were about to call the whole thing off. How were we ever going to have people come through the shelter when there was at least a half inch of dust covering everything from ceiling to floor. There wasn't any keeping up with it, and it seemed as if Murphys Law prevailed.....up until the last few hours!
On the Monday prior to Open House we pleaded to have at least the dry wall up and the glazed block installed on the walls and the plumbing finished. So it was a week of total commotion - drywallers, the plumbers, and the fellas installing the interior block all at the same time! All this going on whilc trying to keep the shelter functional for animals in need. Still try to run business as usual! Lots of luck! As the workmen finished in one area, we were close behind with paint brush and roller in tow. From Monday to Friday we used up 15 gallons of paint and a lot of Ben Gay! Late Friday after cleaning up the mess of dry wall dust, mortar dust etc.. and washing the floors for the umpteenth time by hand the building was looking pretty good. We knew folks would have a good idea of how the kennel area would look even though we still did not have the flooring, lighting, and the acoustical tile done.... we had it looking pretty good! So up went the stockings, decorations, and tree - we were ready to go! The big day came and things were all set. A wide array of goodies were awaiting all the visitors and friends of the shelter, which we wish to thank Cathy Mellon, Ina Jacobs, Elaine Tryjefaczka, and P.J. Fitzgerald for making. Although it was hard to keep Shorty from the goodies, I think it was even harder to keep our own fingers out of them...but there was plenty to go around and nothing went to waste.
A raffle was held thanks to Helen Pytlewski and Lora Evans who donated 4 baskets chock full of plush animals to be raffled off ( no not live animals ).
We enjoyed visiting with friends of the shelter both old and new, and the animals loved all of the attention. We noticed all of the stockings were filled to t he brim with treats and toys, while larger donations of food were placed under the Christmas tree.
I think this is one of the best Christmas Open Houses we have ever had! Thank you one and all for making it extra special, and for being special Santas to our 4 legged friends.
Raffle Prizes Needed
I know this should not be last page news, as important as it is......after all it is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the shelter, and this year more than ever we are counting on the raffle to be a whopping success. Not only are we raising money to care for the animals, we are also trying to raise funds for Phase III, the final step in the three part shelter renovation, a major redo of the cat room.
we need prizes it's as simple as that.
The more enticing the prizes, the easier it is to sell chances
and the more chances will be sold.
With great prizes the chances nearly sell themselves! Who wouldn't want to win a big screen T.V, a trip or a night on the town?
Want to contribute a big ticket item but can't do it on your own? How about getting together with other animal lovers in your office, or maybe your business could donate a "glamor prize or luxury prize". Gift certificates make great prizes too!
Although we do not have a definite date for the raffle it will be in the very near future. We will need to have the prizes in our hands no later than March 15th. We would like the value of the prize donated to be at least $50.00. If you have questions please call the shelter between the hours of 11:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. at 708-301-1594.
Remember your donation is tax deductible, andthe animals are counting on you!
