|
Home
Donate
Gift Sponsorships
Volunteer
Employment
Tours
Wish List
Events
Gift Shop
Internships
Pasado's Story
Pasado Newsletter
| |
 |
The First
Annual
Pasado's
Home for the HOWLidays
Team Memphis...
Hits the Road! |
|
 |
It was Deb and Dave's
first Home for the HOWLidays. The Memphis, Tennessee animal lovers and
rescuers, had never spent their Christmas Day out in the cold before.
And they're sure glad they did.
Together with other local animal lovers, Deb and Dave led the Pasado's
Safe Haven's Team Memphis, bringing dog houses, beds, toys, and food to
pets of the needy in Tennessee. And what a great first-time effort they
had. They touched the lives of so many dogs and cats, and made
fast-friends of their guardians. "People were do grateful," comments
Deb, who first rescued with Pasado's Safe Haven in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, "you could tell how happy they were for their
animals." |
|
 |
Despite the event being a
"feel good" day, there are always expectations of sadness, too. But,
like the rest of us who have been a part of Home for HOWLidays past, the
good far outweighs the bad. "The day was enchanting. Once you leave
predisposed ideas of how all pets should be loved the way we love our
animals - and of course, seeing dogs on changes, then it becomes
wondrous. You begin seeing the need for putting the animals first. What
is it that makes them happy, today? That's when you see how important
this event is," says Deb.
(This woman was truly
grateful for what Team Memphis brought her dog, and new litter of
puppies. In the New Year, Deb and Dave will help to get her dog
sterilized. The best gift of all.) |
 |
The true eye-opener for
Team Memphis was how great the need is for people like them, to help
those animals who have so little. "The biggest surprise was how
overwhelming the need is - just how many animals are out there that
could use toys, attention, help," comments Deb. "And to see how happy
you can make them, with so little." She recalls one German Shepard mix
who got a toy, "like it was the first toy he'd every had." |
 |
Dogs like this one "light
up". Giving them stimulating toys and bones they can chew on and play
with gives all of us a sense of such intense joy. And of course, finding
those animals who may need veterinary attention or sterilization is an
"ulterior motive" - once we can connect with the animal's guardians,
it's easier to offer services they may otherwise decline for their pet. |
|
 |
It does take a village!
Deb and Dave did an amazing job of connecting with people in Tennessee,
getting the word out and cultivating others to help. Even though
Pasado's Safe Haven sponsors the event, we play a only a small part.
Rita Morgan, Pasado's dynamo, connected people like Ona Cooper,
left, a Tennessee animal rescuer, with Deb and Dave. |
|
 |
Ona then pulled in
Miller Nicholsen, left, a co-worker (who just happened to finagle
big ole' truck from his job to deliver the dog houses and other
goodies!).
Then came Jacque
Willis, with Rainbow Bridge Pet Rescue in Memphis. And together, they
made a miracle happen on Christmas Day.
|
 |
So, now that Team Memphis has warmed up and all dog houses and food are
gone, would they do it again next year? " You bet," Deb says firmly.
"Definitely. It was sp gratifying and truly what the spirit of Christmas
is about."
We couldn't agree more.
(Great job you guys!~
Can't wait to see what you do next year!!)
|
|
