Jul
19

Let’s Adopt! Summer Of Luuv – another TEN SAVED!

Early July, I received a cry for help from rescuers of the Contra Costa County death camps.
Listings after listings of perfectly healthy, beautiful animals slated to go down any time.
Something had to be done – NOW.
But how? We have no fosters in the area.
Martinez is almost 700 miles away, my car was too small, renting an SUV or van + gas was too expensive. So, what could we do? As you know, Let’s Adopt! is a volunteer run organization. We don’t have a fleet of vans or SUVs at our disposal.
We don’t run shelters or a day care. We work with foster homes. Unfortunately we don’t have enough yet, but we’re growing and I am optimistic that this story will inspire some of you to sign up to become not just another foster, but a viable lifeline!

I contacted my friend Amy with the Pixie Project, and just asked her whether I could borrow the rescue’s SUV for a long weekend.
It was a long shot and I held my breath, hoping, but really thinking she’d laugh me off telling, me “nice try, but I’m not giving you my car to drive it 1400 miles across state lines“.
Well, Amy did not only call me back right away, she contacted a fellow rescuer in town who immediately offered to take 5-7 dogs in addition to the ones Let’s Adopt! was about to rescue. It took some scheduling and wiggling the details, but in the end we sorted it all out.

leaving Portland for San Francisco

I started my trip from Portland to San Francisco on Saturday, July 10th at sunrise. A SUV packed with empty cages and kennels and a whole lot of hope and arrived in the Bay Area late afternoon, managed to reconnect with some old rescue friends from my time of living in SF. I learned the shelter wouldn’t be open until Tuesday, so I had time to connect and touch bases about the current status of animal rescue and welfare in the Bay Area.

…And it doesn’t look good at all. I spoke to one of the managers of the SF Animal Care & Control who described in despair how the city is shaving dollar after dollar off their budget, that could potentially safe lives. Yet the city uses funds to create silly projects like some “Good Samaritan fund” that rewards people who did the right or a good thing.
We’re now “bribing” people to do what’s right?
What a world.
This deserves its own blog. Stay tuned for an interview with a SF AC&C official.

Sunday: I receive the euthanasia list from the shelter.Pages after pages … Chihuahuas, Poodle Mix, Pit bulls, Pomeranian mix, King Charles Spaniel – another spaniel mix… the list was overwhelming to go through, but I had to. I needed to choose, who I could save. I had five to seven spots. That was it. Now many of you are already questioning the following: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?
How does one choose?
I don’t know. At some point you have to put emotions past you and look at it from a rational point of view. As rational as one can be in a situation such as this. You look for temperament, adopt ability. I knew I couldn’t bring any Pits or Pit X, because I didn’t have a foster for one, and the other rescues can’t take them due to liability issues. Both rescues run day-cares and the prejudice against this breed is alive and well…..Something we will have to discuss another time.

With Pit bulls excluded, I made a list of 12 dogs and rearranged it from there. When I got to the shelter on Tuesday, there were already a lot of people in line. Some to adopt, others to claim their animals and then there were those that were waiting to surrender their pets. I was greeted by Annie, who held yet another more recent kill list in her hands. We compared notes and just rushed inside to look at as many dogs as we possibly could, knowing “they” are starting the killings in just a few moments. We had 5 dogs in no time, added another 2 – that was it!!
Or was it?

Annie + Lori doing the paperwork

While we checked out the first dogs with the help of Lori of Good Newz Pittie Pups Rescue, Annie, presented me with 3 wire crates another person donated to the mission. I had dividers in them!!!By taking some of my larger kennels out and using those crates, I had more room. We pulled an older Aussie Shepherd, who we since named Jester.

: Jester, 8 yr. old Aussie Shepherd mix is one of the lucky ten.

More about this boy later. He is a special needs boy, who happened to bite me on the way back home,during one of the breaks. It’s not an aggression issue, he did that out of fear, stress, pain combined, when I tried to get him back into the car after a potty break.

Aaaanyway:

While I was outside arranging the crates and animals, I realized that I had more space. So I called Annie on her cell inside the shelter: “I’ve got room for two more, Annie….!!!”.

: loading the car

: packed tight

She zoomed into the euthanesia room, and snatched two dogs straight out from under the needles.

Safe! Pulled with minutes perhaps even seconds to spare!

safe! one has already been adopted!

safe! sweet, skinny little Pom mix

On the Road again....Portland here we come

After getting everyone settled in the car, sorted out the paperwork, we hugged and I went on my way back to Portland.
Because of time “lost” at the shelter and during some potty breaks with the dogs, I arrived back in Portland at 2:30 AM on Wednesday morning.
Theresa from DogStar waited for me, keeping herself entertained by doing some much needed bookkeeping. We unloaded the car, put everyone in a kennel, gave them some food/water and kisses, and went home. Mission accomplished – ten dogs save – alive!
Got home at about 3:30AM, Ouzo greeted me with kisses and hugs. I snuck upstairs, kissed Al “hello”. Ouzo squeezed in between us snuggling with me, licking my bite wounds…. I fell asleep thinking….What a trip!

Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY – ANYTIME!

All started with a small idea and the desire to help. It takes a community to do this. I still need fosters – everywhere. When I sent out a call for local fosters, Donde Buckowski stepped up immediately, and offered her home to one of the rescues.

Safe! Sophia (foreground) is available for adoption with LA!USA

Little “Sophia” is a Chihuahua mix with cow markings. Great with dogs, loves kitties, full of energy. Sophia has already a solid interest – after only few days.

safe! ESPERRRANZA, available for adoption via Let's Adopt!USA

I have little “Esperrranza”, a Chi( MinPin?) mix, who was going down for behavioral. “TIMID” her card said. I found her shivering in the back of her kennel, low to the ground, the noise level in her unit was unbearable – impossible to talk. Can you imagine a little dog in there for 2-3 weeks? I would be TIMID too. As soon as she knew she was safe – she gave kisses and one could just see the big sigh of relief in her entire body language. “Esperrranza” is available for adoption as well. There is some interest for her, but we’re still accepting applications for both of these dogs.

The standard Let’s Adopt! Adoption requirements apply:

Must have another animal dog

will be part of the family, not live in the garage, basement, or ever be left on a tie out or unsupervised in the yard.

We are supporters of a species appropriate diet and all Let’s Adopt! animals are being fed a raw diet. (see http://www.rawlearning.com for more info).

Adopter has to sign up with Facebook and create a photo album to share with the Let’s Adopt! community that shows the animal’s progress. (Or adopter can send pictures to me and I’ll set up the album for them)

We do not apply an adoption fee. Adopting one of our animals is a privilege not mercy. One can’t put a price tag on any of our animals.

Even if you can’t adopt, but would like to support our mission and rescue operations such as this, please contributing to the Let’s Adopt! Simba Fund

Many thanks to the following rescuers and agencies for their support and collaboration.

Annie Wong – Big Dawgs Rescue

Lori Wilson – Good Newz Pittie Pups Rescue

Melody Chen – FB cross poster and rescuer for the Contra Costa County Shelters.

Amy Sacks – Pixie Project

Theresa Shire – DogStar

and of course thanks to Billie+ David for housing and feeding me “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID!”, as well as “Matela” for sharing HER sofa with a human.

BE The Change -

it is not THAT difficult if you just put your mind to it.

~Misha

24 Comments to “Let’s Adopt! Summer Of Luuv – another TEN SAVED!”

July 19, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Viktor Larkhill says:

I love you Misha.

Viktor

Reply
July 19, 2010 at 5:18 PM
Fulya says:

Misha, one in a million and definitely no human species. Thank you!
One who saves one life saves the world entire… My most sincere love for you.

Reply
July 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM
EQU EQUALMIST says:

great work!!!! I love you angels you saved those poor babys,GOD BLESS YOU ALL WHO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE!!<3<3<3

Reply
July 20, 2010 at 5:08 AM
Bonnie says:

Shared –God bless you and the animals

Reply
July 20, 2010 at 8:55 AM
Rosemary says:

Today a friend called me to ask about the shelter managers letter from the U.S.A. She couldn’t believe how many dogs in the states were being put to sleep. The world is a cruel place İ have posted this blog to inform people that it’s time to wake up and step up to do something positive for the planet.

Reply
July 20, 2010 at 8:56 AM
Rosemary says:

P.S. God Bless you all for helping the helpless!!!

Reply
July 20, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Julia says:

Thank you for this great story! I’m so glad Melody was able to network these pups and so happy that such a generous rescuer was able to help so many! I thought little Warhol was a goner for sure, but I think he is such a cutie! Thank you for saving him, Jester, and all the others.

The Martinez shelter is overwhelming and most local rescues have maxed out our resources. Thank you thank you thank you for stepping up to the plate!

-Julia
Nor Cal Foster Coordinator
Russell Rescue, Inc.

Reply
- July 29, 2010 at 6:36 PM
  Misha says:
  
  Warhol has already been adopted
  Annie pulled him from the euthanasia room, can you imagine?
  All these dogs are doing wonderful and have no behavioral issues.
  That is all but Jester. See my latest blog entry.
  
  Reply
July 20, 2010 at 11:58 AM
Krystle McNelly says:

Misha,
You are an ANGEL! One in a million! Keep up the great work because the animals and everyone needs people like you.

Sending Love and Peace.

Reply
July 20, 2010 at 1:49 PM
Kathryn says:

Amazing rescue! but one needn’t travel such great distances, there are sooo many needing saving right here in CT!

Reply
- July 29, 2010 at 6:39 PM
  Misha says:
  
  Kathryn,
  I am very lucky to live in a county in Oregon where the kill rate is fairly low and there are many shelters and rescues working together! Which is the key to successfully stop animals from being killed.
  I had the time to go to Martinez, there was a great need,
  I networked with two other groups for the car and delegating the animals to various places.
  Combined with the help of Melody, Annie and many unknown who donated crates and gas money, it was a huge success.
  We can all learn from this
  
  Reply
July 20, 2010 at 2:25 PM
Dora says:

Misha, how wonderful of you! May I ask you how in the world do you manage the potty breaks when traveling such a long distance? There’s so many in the van! It would take a good amt of time, no? Kudos to you.
Also, is it mandatory that all potential adopters feed raw or is just suggested? I don’t see how that can be monitored. I myself have nothing to do with meat or fish.

Reply
- July 20, 2010 at 2:34 PM
  viktor says:
  
  Dora.. is mandatory.
  We cannot monitor it, we are not the Steak Police, but we are the kind of people that honor our promises, so we have our adoptants do too.
  You can be vegetarian or vegan… kudos to you, but dogs are carnivores by nature.. Let’s do the best for them and feed them as nature intended.
  xx
  
  Reply
- July 29, 2010 at 6:34 PM
  Misha says:
  
  Dora, the breaks were not too bad. The small ones could be walked in pairs or triples – it was my old big guy, Jester who was the ast and the most challenging getting back into the car.
  
  As for RAW policy. What Viktor said. We don’t have a Steak police, but we’d like to think that our potential adopters honor our request for a species appropriate diet. We do not want to see animals end up with horrid diseases or in the pound again because of illness.
  A steak a day keeps the kidneys in shape
  
  Reply
July 20, 2010 at 7:27 PM
Animals Alone says:

LOVE IT!!! I have seen numerous rescues of the same nature and so glad to see you doing it for Let’s Adopt Misha – yes you are the change!
Just love it!!!
Blessings

Reply
July 21, 2010 at 9:17 AM
Jodie York says:

Viktor took the words right out of my mind, I love you Misha, love, love, LOVE!

BLESSINGS UPON YOU DEAR LADY

Reply
- July 29, 2010 at 6:39 PM
  Misha says:
  
  *blush*
  
  Reply
July 21, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Sujen says:

Hi Misha,
Is the shleter you are referring to located in Contra Costa County Animal Shelter in Martinez, CA.
What a coincidence/ I lived there and frequently visited that shelter for several different reasons during my residency of 8 years.
I am so glad to see that some of the dogs have been saved from death row.
Thank you very much.

Reply
July 21, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Sujen says:

And my husband still ives in the BAy Area, if I ever return to the region and rent my own place, sign me up as a foster home preferably for cats, cause most apt complexes do not accept dogs. But I bet I can get away with hosting a few quiet foster dogs..

I will let you know if and when I move back to Contra Costa County..

Reply
- July 29, 2010 at 6:40 PM
  Misha says:
  
  Please do, Sujen. They need all the help they can get in the area
  
  Reply
July 21, 2010 at 2:36 PM
Jayne Matthews (UK) says:

God Bless you Misha, I love ya hon!!! You are the miracle all animal lovers hope for.

Reply
July 24, 2010 at 1:03 PM
Marg says:

That was one of the best rescue stories I have ever read. You are so wonderful to do that. Hope you can find homes for all those very lucky dogs. Wish I lived closer, I would do some fostering although I am loaded up at the moment. Anyway, just wanted to tell you that is just wonderful what you did to save those doggies.

Reply
July 29, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Misha says:

Thanks for your encouraging comments everyone.
We can ALL do this. It doesn’t have to be a SUV load full of dogs or cats. just ONE. Just rescue one today and foster it, find some low cost spay/neuter place, vaccines are often already given at the pound, if not find low cost resources in your area, such as vax clinics at pet stores (usually on weekends at places such as PetCo or Petsmart, etc)
YOU each of YOU can do this – this is potentially 17 dogs saved just from this one thread.
Imagine what you can do after talking your friends into fostering as well.
Don’t forget to advertise your rescues on our network page. We’ll help you re-home them.
http://facebook.com/letsadoptusa

BE The Change
Misha

Reply
September 13, 2011 at 1:41 AM
Y. Tochimoto says:

We adopted a dog 10 years ago and are looking to adopt a second one. Found it ironic that it was difficult to identify the high kill shelters in the SF Bay Area. It was nice to find your posting so we can look into the Contra Costa Animal Shelter.
Thank you!

Reply

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