As I mentioned the other day, I made the decision to start supporting MARC, the Marion Animal Resource Conncection as our in-house charity and the recipient for all proceeds from the Balloon Juice Store. Well, Evelyn is sending up the bat flare, and we have a very needy recipient of help:
If that picture doesn’t break your heart, her story will:
Garnet was rescued from a high kill pound. She obviously did not have a good life. She may be 3 or 4 years old by her teeth but sometimes acts like a puppy! She has worn off all her front teeth almost to the gums and her canines are broken. Maybe from trying to chip ice to get water or biting at wire or metal to get free. She is quite skinny and her coat is dry. It seems to be getting better and growing in some since she has been with her foster parents who like to foster the giant breeds. She is smaller than most Saint Bernards. She went today ( November 26th) for her first heart worm treatment. Total of 3 treatments are needed and the total cost is $535.00 in addition to expenses of being spayed, vaccinations, and intestinal worm treatment. She is a sweet and gentle girl who now deserves to become healthy and find a loving forever home. Your help is needed. Donations can be made via PayPal at MARC website: http://marc4change.org/~marc/
If more money is donated than needed, the additional funds will help with expenses for the other rescued dogs and cats.
You know, I’ve only had Lily for four years going on this summer, but I know a good dog when I see one. Let’s put a smile on Garnet’s face and help get her healthy so she can find her forever home. A dog like that needs to be lounging on a couch with a bunch of kids. And once again, I thank all of you for all the money and time you give helping these animals out. I’m struggling to write this post because I have Lily on one hip, Rosie on the other, and I am fighting for access to the tray table holding my laptop. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m in for $50 to get the pot rolling. Thanks in advance, as your generosity and decency really got Charlie’s Angels off the ground and running. Let’s help out some more animals and help build a quality shelter at another location.
If you donate via paypal, please leave a comment that says “For Garnet from the Balloon Juice community, and please use anything left over for other needy animals.”
Patricia Kayden
Stories like this make me bawl. Will definitely donate and pray that Garnet finds her forever home soon.
hilts
OT
Tom Ricks calls out Fox News for their bullshit coverage of the Benghazi story
h/t http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/41241_Fox_News_Cuts_Off_Interview_on_Benghazi_When_Reporter_Refuses_to_Play_Along
Raven
No instructions on how to specifically send it for Garnet so I just sent it.
Here’s my last beach sunrise to give some inspiration for the pup.
mai naem
I’ve always thought Garnet was a boys name. She’s cutie. I’m in for twenty.
phoebes-in-santa fe
Cole, I just donated $250.00 but there was no way to specify “Garnet”. Can you let us know if the money will go to help her? Thanks.
mai naem
Hey, John make sure they know it’s for Garnet.
John Cole
@phoebes-in-santa fe: I always just write a note with my paypal payment that says something like “For Garnet, any excess for other animals.”
I’ve also asked Evelyn to make sure everyone gets sent receipts for tax write-offs and to send pictures of the rehabilitated animals with their forever home owners so we can follow up.
daize
@Raven: Wow! Inspiring, indeed.
WereBear
What are you going to do; when I had to room to rescue dogs, I always picked the big ones; they have less of a shot. I’m in!
Bless you, John Cole. You are surrounded by animal angels!
JenJen
I’m sitting here in my warm living room throwing tennis balls with Rocco and Lord Stanley, two of the bestest ever most wonderful and snuggly fun dogs that nobody ever wanted.
I’m in. Because Rescue Dogs.
MattR
@phoebes-in-santa fe: Wow. Amazing. Wish I could match you but I am a little tight on cash after taking multiple vacations over the last month (poor me, I know but I am also trying to save up to start a college fund for my impending neice or nephew) so I could only do $25 at the moment. I normally shun paypal, but made an exception for Garnet.
@JenJen: The two main reasons I want to buy a house are so Ellie can have a backyard to run in and so I can play ball with her in the house without worrying about my downstairs neighbor.
Mary
Hi John,
I just made a donation for Garnet and followed up with an email to the group saying that my donation was for Garnet. Thanks for letting us know about that lovely doggy.
—Mary
nancydarling
I’m not sending in money as I have my own rescue dog that goes in this week for neutering and shots. Good look with the fund raising for that lovely dog. It sounds like you are well underway.
A friend found my little Chico on the highway about a month ago. We have had no success in finding his owner—he was collared but no ID. We are looking for a home for him, but so far no success.
I have a question for Juicers which I have never had to deal with. He is house-broken, but lifts his leg and marks things in the house. How do I break him? Will the neutering help? I think he is about two years old. He looks like Toto, but is smaller. He is really a fine little fellow, not yappy, very friendly, and quiet.
I’m afraid he may have a forever home with me, so I need to solve the marking problem. I really don’t need another dog doubling vet and kennel bills.
I rescued another dog last June. An almost grown Shar-Pei/doxie mix (that’s what the vet says). She has her fairy tale ending. I took her to my brother in TX last month and they are in love with her. I wish I could find a home like that for this little guy, but I am running out of relatives.
Chico is under the bed right now making nice with Max, the cat, and Max is not impressed and is making ominous noises.
burnspbesq
I put in $20, and Caesar, Jin, and Laettner put in $10 each.
General Stuck
Wish I could take them all.
Yutsano
PUPPEH!!
My first dog was was a big fluffy Newfoundland. Big dogs like St Bernards are big trusting lovers and will literally go to the ends of the earth for their humans. I’ll analyse the fuynds situation here over the next couple of days. I really just wanna take that gawjuss girl home!
suzanne
Unfortunately, I am in a bit of financial suck at the moment, as I need a new water heater and a bunch of other stuff done to my house (taking cold showers right now sucks). So I can’t donate right now, but I will pet my own rescue baby tonight and donate to the AAWL when I get some dolla billz, y’all.
Dogs are wonderful and I love mine more than I do most people.
burnspbesq
Speaking of Laettner …
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/burnspbesq/laettner26nov12.jpg
clayton
@MattR: Best reasons ever to buy a house. I bought mine specifically because it had two floor level windows on either side of the front door for my big boy and gentle girl to look out for the mail man and me coming home from work.
I’ve never regretted my decision.
I’m in if I can find my passwords. At any rate, I’ll find a way.
phoebes-in-santa fe
@MattR: Well, I’m not giving to Democratic candidates for a while, so I have some extra cash. Any amount anyone can give is great!
Cole, I didn’t see a place on the Pay Pal page to specify where I wanted the money to go, other than the name of the shelter.
clayton
If you just go to the “donate” link on the website, you can add a message after entering your info — if you don’t do pay pal.
This worked out great.
Thanks, Cole.
Genine
I wish I could donate! But I’ll send loving vibes to that sweet girl.
Kristine
In for $50.
mkd
Just posted a donation for Garnet. We have big girls, a big strong Bouvier, Millie, and a Icelandic shepherd mix rescue girl, Maggie. Maggie was advertised as a non shedding Wheaton terrier pup by the owner, we believe, to entice interested rescuers but when we showed up to adopt her we were happy to accept her even though it was clear she was no Wheaten, hello, look at the double coat and curled tail, and it was also clear that she sheds that double coat every moment as she breathes, we have to swiffer every day to keep ahead of her fur. Anyhoo, big girls are not for the weak, Good Luck to Garnet
Evelyn
All of you guys that are part of Balloon Juice are just the best animal lovers ever. Cannot thank all of you enough for your caring and your generosity to help Garnet. John has always been there when I have asked for help with our needy animals and spread the word to all of you who are just great. I will be sure to keep all posted on Garnet’s progress and her Happy Ending story when she is all well and finds her forever home. I am sitting here with my 5 personal rescued dogs and one rescued cat and cannot imagine my life without them and all the many others that have been a part of my life throughout the years. My gratitude and thanks to all. Other members of MARC in TN. will be sending thank you notes and tax deductible receipts to all donors.
cckids
Dropped in a bit of cash, wish I could send more! I’ve always wanted a big lovey doggie, but can’t talk the spouse into it. (yet) Giving our rescue kitties & Pom extra love tonight.
MattR
@Evelyn: You (and the others at MARC and Charlie’s Angels) are the one on the ground doing the hard work. We have the relatively easy task of helping out by hitting a few buttons on the computer (not to diminish the efforts of those who are donating what money they can despite tough personal financial situations)
Jebediah
OK, $25 just sent. Can’t wait for the follow up post about her happy new home – she looks like such a sweetie.
Anne Laurie
@nancydarling:
Neutering should help — some dogs, especially young ones, give up marking completely once they’re fixed. Others have… more persistent memories, I guess?
But the other reason house-trained dogs mark is that they’re insecure about their place in the household, which is of course not surprising for a guy who was either dumped on a highway or ran away because he wasn’t neutered & was looking for… trouble. The rescue groups we’ve gotten our various papillons from all recommend “belly bands” for male dogs — essentially a fabric tube long enough to wrap around his waist where his ‘sheath’ ends, with a disposable pad inside & a velcro fastener for quick on & off. Plenty of foster-parents just use disposable diapers, if you have a cheap source in a size that fits snuggly enough Chico can’t work his way out of it. Most dogs very quickly get used to waiting for the ‘band’ to come off before they go outside, and then again to have it put on when they come indoors — for most dogs, it’s no more inconvenient than clipping on a leash (just in reverse). And since the belly-band keeps them from leaving ‘pee mail’ graffitti, most dogs stop making the attempt, sooner or later, and you can leave off the diaper.
Violet
Oh, Garnet is gorgeous! I wish I could donate but money is just so tight right now. Once Christmas purchases are over, I will go through the finances to see what I can do.
@Evelyn: Thanks for all you do. I still remember the online voting campaign for Little Bitsy. Tons of fun.
Msskwesq
I will send a donation too. That being said, my daughter moved to lower manhattan, NYC in August – just in time for hurricane Sandy. It was scary and she had no power or water for over a week. She bitched like crazy. I finally told her to contact the Red Cross and go volunteer to see what real suffering was. She did that this past weekend. What she experienced was life altering. She volunteered on Staten Island handing out blankets, toiletries, batteries, diapers and socks. She saw totally washed out homes, some with little memorials for the owners killed in the storm. The people had nothing, living in the shell of their homes in the dark, cold, damp and severely damaged homes. Most looked shell shocked and traumatized, crying with desperate gratitude that the volunteers came to help. They feel forgotten and cut off from the world. It’s really really bad there. We in eastern Iowa had devastating floods in 2008 with thousands of homes lost, so I know a little about this situation. iowans are still fighting with FEMA and most insurance coverage didn’t cover flood damage or was grossly inadequate. The NYC storm is far far worse. So my daughter and I pledged to forgo Christmas shopping and are donating that money to the Red Cross for Staten Island recovery. It kills me to think how there are so many people right now sitting in cold damp broken down structures just lost. I hope others will help our American neighbors in Sandy’s wake.
nancydarling
@Anne Laurie: Thanks, Anne. Hopefully the neutering will work. Right now I keep him on a leash in the house so I can keep him with me. He sleeps in a kennel—actually a baby play pen which I used for the little girl dog I fostered earlier this summer.
Evelyn
Just reading newest posts and the one from Violet who remembers Little Bitsy brought tears to my eyes..Just to let you know, I see her every couple of weeks or so. She lives with co-worker and has the life of a pampered Princess and also has a new friend who is even smaller than her named Lilly who was also rescued by me. They also have 2 large (0ver 100 lbs) dogs and Little Bitsy and Lilly run the show..:) And Mark R’s comments about us doing the hard work is true but we could not do the work without donations from all you great guys..And just wanted to comment on MSSKWESQ’s daughter doing work in Manhatten to help Sandy’s victims there..that is just wonderful..And so many of their pets are also in need. Commend both of you for decision to donate Christmas gift money to help those folks in such dire need. It never ceases to amaze me that folks really do care and show it in such wonderful ways. Makes my heart sing.
Violet
@Evelyn: So glad to hear that about Little Bitsy! That online campaign was fun. I’m glad she is doing so well and has lots of doggie friends to play with. You are doing amazing work. I’m sure your new venture will be just as successful and help so many animals in need.
SW
I’m in for $25. Wish I could do more. Got a soft spot for Saints. My first dog as a child in the late fifties was a Saint. She practically raised me. I hear we sold a lot of floor wax.
Msskwesq
@Evelyn: thank you for your comment. While she was volunteering she texted photos of a few of the homes she visited including homes with memorials for the lost owners. It was just heart crushing. Staten Island is where most of the 9-11 first responders and other civil servants live. Also my daughter met a community of immigrant Russians and Poles who were really freaked out by the storm and its aftermath. Many didn’t speak English. Very scared. And she broke down when a very old frail lady came out asking for blankets and pet food. My daughter helped carry the things inside and she said it was a horrible mess of water damage. She went back and told the supervisor that things were bad for the lady and she was alone. Hopefully they will get her out of there. If I didn’t just have surgery on my back I’d go try and help clean up the damage before it turns to pure toxic mold. So instead of physically going to NYC I’m trying to organize Iowans to go there to help because so many came here in 2008.
janeform
@Anne Laurie: We’ve used belly bands for years and they’re terrific! We get them from Peke A Tzu rescue. http://www.pekeatzurescue.com/bellybands911.htm
ETA: Donating to Garnet. Thanks to all of you who do such good work.
Evelyn
Oh goodness MSSKWESQ, how heartbreaking to hear how dreadful it is there for so many thousands of people. Cannot begin to imagine how awful it really is for them. If I didn’t have my hands full with helping our animals, I would go there too. Best I could do to help was make a donation to Humane Society who are helping the animals and donated blood with Red Cross. I am grateful to have a warm and dry home for my husband, myself and our 6 rescued pets. Makes you put your life into a different light. Off to bed now. Thanks to you and to all the BJ folks for helping others in so many ways.
VIOLET: I will get my friend to send me pic of Little Bitsy and her crew and send to John and maybe he can post for all to see. Thanks so much.
slag
You’re evil, John Cole. I’m not exactly a dog person and have a ton of other giving commitments right now, but even I couldn’t resist Garnet. Your pet blegs are like do-goody crack. Here’s hoping the first step is admitting I have a problem.
Scuffletuffle
@mkd: Pics, please…I’m dying to see both.
seaboogie
Just a few hours ago I bid farewell to Seamus, my sweet and loving companion of 14 years. Because we live in a country county populated by wonderful, compassionate and caring folks like my vet and his wife, they were able to come to my cottage to ease him on his way as I didn’t want to move him (he was a big Golden and too large for me to lift, even in his waning skinnitude). His passing was peaceful, gentle and graceful – much like the boy himself.
When I am in a position to do so, I will certainly contribute to the pet rescue blegs, so worthy are they.
I love this blog. Come for the politics, and stay for the pets, food, gardening tips and witty and intelligent commentary.
Raven
@seaboogie: So sorry to hear about your loss.
La Caterina (Mrs. Johannes)
@seaboogie: So sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Seamus. I have also loved a Golden- they have such giant hearts, those dogs.
Cole, Johannes and I are in for Garnet.
Evelyn
Seaboogie, I too am so very sorry to hear about your loss of Seamus..Goldens are such gentle and loving breed. I have a 13 yr. old yellow lab named Andy and his health is declining but as long as his appetite is good and he is not suffering, I will continue to pamper him and do all I can to keep him with us. I am sure that Seamus knew he was loved and cherished for 14 years.
Kristine
@seaboogie: I can’t add to what others have said. I am so sorry.
Sarah
so so sorry for your loss…as dog lovers we all feel your pain…and remember Seamus today .
Jacquie
I’m in for $25. What a sweet girl, and I’m a soft touch for the big dogs. Can’t wait to hear how she’s doing!
@seaboogie: I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. It’s nice that you could send him on his final journey in the comfort of familiar surroundings.
Evelyn
Good morning to all,
Just heard that as of about 9:00 a.m EST today, that BJ folks have donated over $2,000 to help Garnet with her heart worm treatment. This exceeds expenses for her so rest will be used to treat other dogs with heart worms and other medical expenses such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, infections (one being treated for nasty infection in one of his legs right now. hopefully this will save his leg) and more. Everyone with MARC sends thanks and their gratitude. Thank you notes and tax receipts will be mailed ASAP.
My personal thanks to all too.
Yutsano
@Evelyn: YAY!! Maybe AL will do an update post later. :)
payingattention
I’m poor but in for $5.00.
wormtown
duh. dontated (small amount) to this site with note for Garnet; then realized I was supposed to donate to shelter; so made second (small) donation.
thanks John, and thanks to the shelter.
spudgun
@Evelyn: Oop, just made a donation specifically for Garnet – never mind, it will go to other deserving animals at MARC, which is fine with me! :-)
Keith
@Evelyn: Evelyn, I may be able to help with a permanent home for Garnet. I left a message on the MARC line. Also, too – John can give you my email from this comment. I hope I can help.
metalgirl
Just donated $50 for the cause, which is great :) Doesn’t matter to me if it’s for Garnet or other furry animals :)
Evelyn
Hi Guys,
We are now over $2,500 in donations..HOORAY..
Keith: We will contact you about possible permanent home for Garnet ASAP/
Thanks to everyone for caring so much for the animals.
Evelyn
Just talked to folks with MARC and they report that a total of $3, 017 was donated to help Garnet with her heart worm treatment and with money left over to help others. What great news..Have sent update to John to post to all and with new pictures of Garnet and update on adoption for her with BJ follower..Amazing…Thanks so very much from bottom of my heart.