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Holiday Issue 2004
Tributes
The Magic of Christmas
This time of the year makes me think about a letter a little girl eight years old named Virginia O'Hanlon had written to the New York Sun in 1897 asking the editor of the paper "Is there a Santa Claus?" With which her Papa stated, "if you see it in the Sun it has to be true."
You may wonder what does that have to do with the animals at TLC, since we think in terms of Santa and children. Good point! In every story I have ever read or heard about, the jolly man in the red suit, abounded with kindness and generosity to man and animals alike. But I think deep with in his heart Santa best loved children and animals, because they are the ones that cannot help themselves. Francis P. Church, the wise kindhearted editor wrote a beautiful reply to Virginia's letter, and printed it in the Sun. I am taking poetic license with what Mr. Church had written, because you see ...... YOU are Santa Claus to the homeless and abused animals that find shelter at TLC!
The editor's reply to Virginia's inquiry was, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, generosity, and devotion exist, and you know that they abound, and give to your life the highest beauty and joy." (The same can be said of each of you who give these animals a second chance for a wonderful, beautiful life, thanks to the heartfelt generosity you bestow upon the shelter, so we can provide care for them.) "Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus, to make tolerable this existence." (How horrible the world would be if these abused animals did not have special Santas like you to make sure that they would no longer have to suffer in conditions that threatened their lives, their very existence). "Not believe in Santa Claus!" (If we did not believe in all of our special Santa Clauses, then there would not be any TLC, or any hope for over 3,000 animals that seek refuge here yearly.) "Nobody sees Santa Claus. But that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus." (We may not have seen many of our wonderful Santas and maybe never will, but we know they exist through the kindness and generosity they bestow.) "Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world."
"No Santa Claus! Thank God, he lives!"
(And we say the same thing every day, when we think of each and every one of you, and in our hearts thank you for all you have done on behalf of the animals at TLC.)
And as for Squirty Joe who sits patiently in front of the fireplace, listening for the sound of sleighbells, He knows there is a Santa, because that is how he got his wonderful loving home. There are thousands of animals that are equally grateful to you for helping them get that second chance, a chance they would have never had if it were not for your benevolence. We would like to thank each and every one of you for being that special Santa for so many animals like Squirty Joe.
On behalf of all of us at TLC, we wish you and yours the very best for the holiday season, and hope the New Year brings as much joy as you have brought the animals at TLC!
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Moderndog would make the perfect stocking stuffer for that animal lover on your holiday gift list, and you'll also be helping the animals at TLC! With a one year subscription Moderndog will donate $5.00 to TLC and with a 2 year subscription Moderndog will donate $7.00 to TLC! Thanks!
TLC volunteers will be at your service December 22nd from 4:00 P.M. until 11:00 P.M. Borders is graciously supplying the wrapping paper, tape and ribbon, and the shelter reaps the rewards and so do you! One stop shopping wrapped up and topped with a pretty bow! If you would like to help for an hour or two, please call us at 708-301-1594, we would greatly appreciate the extra help.
These two six month old pups came to us from the Ozarks, their story is not a pretty one, but we were told, this is typical of what happens to so many animals in that part of the country... the story of Grace and Hope.
"Easy money" was what the man saw when he was offered two "pure bred" German Shepards, a male and a pregnant female. The party selling the dogs said he did not have the pedigree papers with him, but at that moment it didn't matter to the greedy buyer, since all he saw in front of his eyes, were dollar signs, with thoughts of all the money he was going to make on the litter. This was a deal he couldn't refuse, so he bought the dogs, with the promise that he would be getting the papers later, but the papers never came. In his greed, he never realized at the time, that the dogs were not purebred, and there never would be any pedigree papers. When he realized that he had been duped, he became enraged, shooting the male, while allowing the female to live and have her pups, hoping that he would be able to pass them off as pure bred. As time went by after the pups were born, it was plain to see they were not purebred. The man was furious, knowing that he was not going to make one red cent on this litter, so he shot the mother and then began shooting the pups. Two of the female pups witnessing the massacre of their mother and their siblings took off running, and hid under the neighbors shed. The neighbor fed them for a few weeks and tried to calm the traumatized pups down. They had come a long way but there was still plenty of work to be done with them to get them to trust humans again, making finding them a home more difficult. The other harsh truth was in the ozarks this type of dog is overly abundant, and chances for the pups being adopted locally would be very very slim, especially since they were now 6 months old. Hearing of their sad tale we decided we could help and find loving homes for them. Brandy Gergesz did her part to help transport the pups from Missouri to TLC. When we first saw the pups, they looked so pathetic, heads hung down, tails between their legs and shaking like a leaf, but when you looked into their soft brown eyes, you knew they wanted to be loved. And find love they did, now the pups are in loving homes, where they never again have to be afraid. Thanks again to all our contributors that helped give these pups a new chance at life.
The TLC VIP's (human and canine members) bring a great deal of joy to residents of area nursing homes all year long. But the visits during the holiday season, are even more of an event. Many of the VIP canines come dressed up in costume for various holidays throughout the year. This is a big hit with the residents and staff alike, bringing smiles to so many faces, as you can see in the picture of Ann Marie Phaoeauf (left) with her Black Lab Jack along with Claire Conrath (right) with her Saint Bernard Bernie.
It takes a special person to be a part of the VIP's, a person who is very committed, self motivated and enjoys being with people. You do not have to have a dog or cat of your own, you can use one of the shelter animals that are VIP's. If you are interested in becoming part of the VIP group please call us at 708-301-1594, we would love to have you. We are especially looking for someone in the Joliet area as we have been approached by a couple of nursing homes that would like to have regular VIP visits.