January is the time of year when we get updates on events of the past year and news about the year ahead.
For instance, if you’ll recall “Stormy,” the little pooch that was rescued from the storm drain back in November, the situation had all the makings of a soap opera/reality show. Seems Stormy’s entire family was in dire straits. His mother and siblings were living under a school room. A goodhearted teacher was giving food to the little brood. Then one day, like all curious youngsters, Stormy wandered off and got into trouble by falling into the drain. There he was trapped for days. The media glommed on to the story as rescue efforts tried and tried to save the little fellow. Finally success.
But the media wasn’t going to drop the story. What about the other puppies? Eventually, two others were caught and joined Stormy at Dallas Animal Shelter. One was adopted by a neighbor and the last one just didn’t survive.
And what about the mom? Well, she and her randy boyfriend/hubby/sperm donor were good parents. They stayed nearby barking at the rescuers trying to save Stormy. The good news is that they, too, were picked up and taken to DAS. The not-so-good news is mom and dad. . . let’s call them Lady and The Scamp. . . are sorta hippy/gypsy types. In other words, they’re free spirits and are not used to being off the streets.
Deanna Oatman and Sampson, Sadie and Evelyn Guerra and Stormy and Donna Carruthers (File photo)
Since the family rescue, Stormy and his brother and sister have been adopted and celebrated the holidays with loads of toys, foods and people companions.
Lady (File photo)
The Scamp (File photo)
On the other hand, Lady and The Scamp haven’t adapted so well. Word has it that The Scamp even tried to jump the tall-as-a-tree DAS fence. Others might have thrown in the towel on the twosome and been rid of the problem. Afterall, who would have noticed if they quietly went away? But it’s a new era at DAS. They reached out to Best Friends Animal Society.
What is Best Friends? It is considered by many to be the ultimate animal rehab in the country that ranks as one of the highest in nonprofits for animals. Not only is this 501 (c) 3 the largest no-kill animal sanctuary (20,000 acres), it accepts animals, “who need to be able to live in our very high-energy environment with staff, visitors, volunteers and other animals.” They take in all type of animals (dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, birds, pigs, barnyard and small and furry critters) that have faced rough times. If they can been rehabbed, they are then adopted to the best of the best. If they just can’t get with the program, they live their life playing in pastures and living in wonderful facilities. Best Friends took in 22 of the Michael Vick dogs (“Vicktory Dogs”), many of which were rehabbed and adopted. Others were court-ordered to live out their lives at Best Friends.
Best Friends gets thousands of requests to take in animals, but can’t take them all. That’s why their accepting Lady and The Scamp is such a very big deal. Only problem is getting the duo to Best Friends. You see, the sanctuary is not around the corner. Why, it’s not even in Texas. Best Friends is in Angel Canyon, Utah.
According to DAS, “Because of the distance they will have to travel, and the fact that they’re not well trained, a road trip would be risky. Fortunately, one of our Facebook fans is a pilot and has agreed to use his plane to fly them there. We just have to raise the money for the fuel he will need. It’s not cheap – we need to raise at least $1,400. It sounds like a lot, but when you think about, $700 per dog to save a life, it isn’t a bad deal at all. . . . Stormy’s adoptive parents, Mike and Donna Carruthers, have offered to kick things off with a $100 donation, so now we just need another $ 1,300 by next Friday and Stormy’s mom and dad will be on their way to starting this new year with a new life and new hope.”
If you have some spare change for their change of life, the DAS reports you can “donate at www.dallasanimals.org (http://dallasanimals.org/pages/index.php/how-you-can-help) – they just need to choose the Dallas Animal Services Fund and put ‘Stormy’s parents’ in the Special Instructions, or mail a check made payable to DCAP (Dallas Animal Companion Project) to P.O. Box 793574, Dallas, Texas 75379 and put ‘DAS/Stormy’s parents’ in the memo.”
And next time you’re up Utah way, check out Best Friends. In addition to touring the sanctuary, you can even arrange for a sleepover, where you spent the night at a sanctuary cabin with “a deserving cat or dog for a night. It’s a win-win. You get to spend some time snuggling with a wonderful, very appreciate pet.”
The only problem with visiting/touring Best Friends is that you probably won’t want to leave.