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.

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….!!!”.

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

Dear Friends,
last month I asked whether, we as a community could save 100 animals this summer.

What has happened since…

I’ve met Mary Ann, a wonderful lady from NC.She saved several cats from a property, who’s owner threatened repeatedly

Using cats for target practice for procreating? An oxymoronic situation considering who's doing the shootin'

to just use the cats  for target practice.
Mary Ann and her patient husband set up traps, and over the course of a week were able to catch all of them.

trapped kitty - ready to be spayed

All have been altered, vaccinated and an older kitty is being treated for a couple of fighting wounds.
Stay tuned for Mary Ann’s story…..

a new lease on life instead of a never ending cycle of kittens

Then there is Daniela, who literally took us up on our challenge the very next day. She lives in Atlanta, went to a high kill shelter in Rome, GA and saved a beautiful English shepherd mix from death row.

Daniela named him Borgo, after a district in Rome.

Borgo on Death Row at the Rome, GA animal pound

Within days Borgo came down with the kennel cough. Daniela spent hours taking him to the vet, treating him, comforting him.

After several baths, a trip to the groomer, lots of love, vaccinations and finally getting neutered – Borgo is ready to move to his new home, which is already waiting for him in Indiana.
Unfortunately, Daniela is a poor student, with a minimum wage job on the side and has exhausted her resources.

She needs help with transport and/or shipping Borgo to Indiana. Please contact Daniela if you can help. dragomirovad@yahoo.com

What about the challenge?

We are a community of over 2000 members in the US. I think we can do better. Daniela, a student, with a minimum wage job, living in a small apartment has proven that there’s always a way to save a life.

Borgo and his personal angel, Daniela

Every life is worth saving. No matter how old or broken an animal is. We owe it to them to make things right.
If we don’t intervene, who will?
What can WE – as a community, as individuals do this coming month?

Step ONE: sign up as a volunteer with us.
if you can’t volunteer please consider supporting us via the Simba Fund.
100 cents of each dollar go to the care of our animals, and funding of special rescue operations. Let’s Adopt! does not have any overhead, because we are ALL volunteers.
This sets us apart from any other big organization.

• Send me your stories and pictures of the animals you saved.
• Sign up to volunteer for us. We are looking for volunteers in ALL 50 States and also in Canada RIGHT NOW.

Shoot me an email with your information:

• Name
• Location
• Volunteer Interest

Let’s make this summer one to remember…

Let's Adopt! Summer Of Luuuuv 2010

The summer we saved 100 animals - TOGETHER!

BE The Change
~Misha

Most of you will remember the case of Gulumser:

http://animoto.com/play/XCOO0fTvdZOA8u654I94eA

Joy’s case is in a way, much worst. Whilst Gulumser condition was created by an infestation of worms, Joy’s case is different.

Joy’s condition is the result of torture.

We are taking up this case. Joy will be in treatment until she is ready to go to a loving home.
Please support our work by contributing to the Simba Fund http://bethechange.chipin.com/

I posted this earlier on my profile.
I’m in
shock and disbelief about how we as humans can do this to innocent
sentient beings – just because they trust us or are dependent on us.HOW? WHY? What causes a young man or woman to do this to a kitten, just a few weeks old? Is it evil – is it us? What is boredom, numbness?…Joy will live – we have promised her this.
I want to see her eyes shine again – the way my foster kittens’ eyes shine every day I when they crawl all over me, purring, playing, being mischievous.

I want Joy to have all that and more. Whoever took it from her will have to deal with  their own karma. Our mission is to give Joy back what she lost…. trust and love. Please help us and support our cause by contributing to the Simba Fund.100% of each Dollar goes straight to the care of our animals.
We have no overhead, because we are virtual.
Most of the money you see accumulated in the chip in, has likely been already spent…

BE The Change!
Misha Dee

Lisa - one senior, educated, loyal dog

Lisa is a 9 year old Dobermann with a beautiful heart.

She was raised in a great home, surrounded by other dogs, full of love.

Then, at some point her owner had to give her away for personal reasons, and he gave her to a friend’s “farm”. He was convinced she would be happy there.

Whenever you hear the word “farm” in Turkey just run away!!!

The farm turned out to be a breeder.

In that horrible place she was locked in a small kennel sharing it with an aggressive dog who injured her terribly. She was forced to mate but she would miscarry every time.

Her entire body was covered in injuries, her face had callous spots as she had to sleep on concrete.

She lived in hell. The kind of hell that most Doberman owners give to their dogs.

She is now living with our friends, spending time sun tanning and playing with her new friends. She now has a shining fur and she is happy, living in harmony with a pack. She has all the freedom she needs, sleeps on her soft bed whenever she wants and she loves to have a sunbath in the afternoons. When she is called her she comes running even from hundreds of meters away. She is one senior, educated, loyal dog.

Lisa likes to snuggle in her big pillow

She gets along well with all dogs and kids… Always wants to be beside you, likes to sleep on her cushion when she is indoors and if it is on your side she can stay there for hours. When you are not around she will most probably curl up near the heater

She just doesn’t like cats

LISA is searching for a loving family.

Let’s Adopt! usual conditions for adoption apply. Also, as usual, we will make NO EXCEPTIONS.

1. Family MUST have an existing animal.
2. Animal MUST live inside the home, not on the garden.
3. Animal MUST be fed raw.

Contact: viktor@myletsadopt.com

In case you missed it…

On the evening of the 8 of April Let’s Adopt! received a most generous offer. Altruism in its purest form.

The offer came from our friend Leonard Coy, a businessman based in Byron Bay (Australia) that is also deeply involved in the running the Soi Dog Foundation, our Thai partner.

I’ll toss out a challenge here…

I will match your contribution (dollar for dollar, euro to euro whatever) up to a total of $100. What does that mean? If you contribute $10, your contribution DOUBLES to $20. Let me know if you make a contribution as a result of this post( leonard@soidog.org and I will donate in kind)

This is a great opportunity for Let’s Adopt! to raise some needed funds towards the rescue of our animals. It is the kind of offer that happens very rarely and when it does it is practically exclusively linked to corporate charities.

It is also a great opportunity for reflection… people from around the world are rallying on behalf of Turkish dogs and Let’s Adopt!, an organization that started in Turkey. Why would a businessman from Australia want to help our Turkish dogs? The answer is clear to most of us, because ANIMALS DON’T HAVE NATIONALITIES. The entire world understand this very simple fact, unfortunately many  so-called-animal lovers in this country believe a Turkish dog must die in Turkish soil. This attitude is born out of paranoia, lack of education and an extremely narrow perception of the world. No intelligent person could think this way. Many Turkish animal lovers do, and it is very sad.

It is bittersweet to see that this international support is somewhat not corresponded by Turkish support. Still, we accept the situation as it is and we rely on our members to make a difference. How we wish Turkish businessmen/businesswomen and normal citizens followed this example and came up with their own initiatives to help our animals.

So, feel free to contribute to our Chipin today, and drop an email to Leonard@soidog.org.   Let’s not make his generous offer be in vain.

The  Simba Fund is located on our blog and here : 

Let’s Adopt Simba Fund

Take up Leonard’s challenge today! Show the world you care!

UPDATE April 10th, 2010
————————————-

Dear Friends,
thanks to each of you for responding to Leonard Coyne’s challenge, and your kind contribution to the Let’s Adopt! Simba Fund.

When sending Leonard your receipt, perhaps add a quick note to Leonard thanking him for his incredible generosity…
I am overcome with joy knowing how many of you answered the call, and came through for our animals.
As you might know, Let’s Adopt! is a global 100% volunteer funded organization and every single cent goes into our rescue and rehabilitation efforts. We are always in great need of help, be it volunteers, fosters, adopters, transport, admin or yes, monetary support, so we can pay for care and transport of animals.

Thank You!

Thank You for BEing The Change!

Misha Dee
Let’s Adopt! USA
misha@myletsadopt.com

I stopped by a pet supply store the other day to fit “Ouzo” for a harness.

As we were browsing the store, tackling all the junk food barrels, which are strategically placed on snout level….all over sudden, in an otherwise fairly quiet store, a  big ruckus errupted…

..“ohhhhh” and “aaaah” *pupppppy!!!!…

Not just a puppy – it was a purebred chocolate Labrador Retriever pup, fresh from the breeder.

I just stood there for a moment, in disbelief – numb – thinking of all the cute puppies that were being murdered today in death camps around the country.
And here was this guy standing in front of me…beaming like a young father holding his first born.

We made eye contact – he smiled – waiting for me to chime into the “ohhhh & aaaahhhh” choir.

Instead I asked him: “Did you get him from a breeder?”

He blushed, looked at me like a young boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar…. “yeeeaah”

I just rolled my eyes, turned around and walked away with my GORGEOUS, PERFECT THREE-LEGGED UNIQUE Chilean Lava Hound.…..

It would have been pointless trying to educate him about the importance of spaying and neutering, why we should adopt and not buy from breeders..

he KNEW…and did it anyway.

That evening, I went online to check out Petfinder, and there are over 1000 chocolate labs waiting for a home RIGHT NOW…..

Granted, not all of them are purebred labs, but the point is that there are rescues for every single breed out there, and that each and everyone of us has a responsibility to stop this insanity of breeding pets for profit. It begins with the hamster for your kids, the cute little baby bunnies you give your children on Easter and to the shelter by Whitsun.

BE The Change…

~Misha & Ouzo

We love to tell a good story, a successful story, a story that fills up with hope.

But today we won’t.

Today I’m going to tell you one of my most painful stories in animal rescue. I’m doing this so that you get a glimpse of how it is to do what we do, every day and so that you understand why our adoption rules are what they are and why we cannot make exceptions.

Missy was rescued by one of the SHKD volonteers two years ago. She was a a wonderful sweet gentle and kind female dog. She arrived to the shelter with signs of sexual violence. She had been raped.
The rapist chose its victim well.  She was too kind and gentle to fight back.
For months SHKD worked on her, made her recover from her ordeal, brought her confidence up to speed.
Let’s Adopt! had just been created.. we had just a few members, lots of ideas.
I put up Missy’s pictures on my profile and sent an email to the 400 people or so that made up the group in those days.
A few hours later I received an email from a member. His name was Hakan Bozkurt. Nice guy. told me how he had a dog but had died of old age and how he missed him so much.. wanted to adopt another animal for his child. Any breed would do.
I liked him.
We met at the shelter, he came with his kid and a friend.. they were lovely people, animal lovers, kind and sweet. They liked Missy and Missy liked them.
We got his details, explained all about the dog, he had experience, we trusted him.
So Missy jumped on the car, wagging her short tail, one of the happiest days in her life.
We called that night.. Missy was sleeping with the kid. He sent us some pictures… wonderful!
One week later we called to check how things were going… the guy answer the phone. He was drunk.
He told us that Missy had been missing for three days. She was lost.
Apparently her six year old kid was walking her on the street without a leash, a truck passed, she got scared and run away.
He had done NOTHING to look for her. Nothing. Life continued as normal.
We spent three days looking for Missy all over the area. We checked every shelter, every street, we put posters everywhere…
Nothing.
I would love to think Missy is still alive and in a nice home with a wonderful family, but thinking so would be delusional.
Chances are Missy is dead. And if she is not dead she is trying to survive eating garbage in some construction dump, or dumped at the forest by one of the municipalities in this vast sprawling city.
So Missy was dead… nothing I could do about it.
But what I could do was to learn the lesson and to create a system that minimizes adoption risk. To create a set of rules that secured successful adoptions whilst at the same time helping us enlarge the community. And that is precisely what I did.

This is how we came up with our three basic adoption rules:

1. Family MUST have an existing animal.
2. Animal MUST live inside the home, not on the garden.
3. Animal MUST be fed raw.

Each and every adoption in Let’s Adopt! must be approved by me, and every time we screen a family I have Missy on my mind.

Missy was a failure and a painful lesson… but we learned from it, and created a system that saved thousands.

We must be ready to accept failures if we want to move forward…. and this applies to all of us, in all we do.

Never forget that.

-Viktor Larkhill

We would like to thank everyone for your generosity and support in saving Genny’s life.

We could have truly not done it with out you.

Hooray For Genny & You!

Every single Dollar, Euro and Lira made a difference – there was no contribution too small and certainly not too large.

Genny has beaten the odds and is now in a new foster home, awaiting to meet her soul mate. Her final home, where she can have a sofa to call her own or at least share ♥
….where she can relax, knowing that she’ll be safe and treated like the princess she is.

Here are some current photos of Genny and her foster siblings…

They are guaranteed to bring some happy tears to those who have been following her story over the past month or so. They left me with a big smile all day…… Enjoy!

...just five more minutes...

*Doggie Bliss*

Thank YOU!

Please continue to support our work.

We currently have several special needs animals in vet care.

Apologies for the graphic image – but you need to see what we deal with here.

Meet LATTE…

Latte is fighting for his life

Latte was found nearly dead..

He has been lucky. We happened to have the most effective remedy available for this disease.

We are confident we will be able to save him.

Stay tuned and connected.

BE The Change! ♥

~Misha Dee

We are in urgent need of flight volunteers to the US, Canada (Montreal, Toronto), Germany and Holland.
Please get in touch with

Viktor: v.larkhill@googlemail.com

or contact me via

misha@myletsadopt.com

Thank You!

BE The Change

~Misha

Here’s an article by Viktor about how it works and why we are relocating animals to other countries.

Let’s Adopt! is Looking For Flight Volunteers for Angels Without Wings

Since its conception almost 2 years ago Let’s Adopt! has always been a pioneer in animal welfare related issues. We have introduced, singlehandedly, the concept of foster homes in Turkey. We have, for the first time in homing animals, put down rules other than the stupid documentations they ask for in shelters, gas bill, electricity bill, residence papers… We have, more than any bureaucratic nonsense of filling forms and providing that you live where you say you live, made sure that our dogs and cats actually LIVED INSIDE HOMES, not gardens and factory properties. We have insisted that the family should have another companion animal to adopt one from us. This is to make sure that they are aware of the responsibilities and requirements of an animal. Also, a great way to see how they care about their existing animals. We never agree to adoption of pure breeds simply on the basis of their blood. We make sure that the family adopts a stray first to be able to own a Golden Retriever or a Rottweiler.

And most of the time we have succeeded. The failures always happened when, out of the goodness of our hearts and naivete that we still
carry inside us for the goodness of people, we made exceptions.

No more exceptions, ever! Our rules are chiseled in stone and won’t be broken.

But, then there is something that really breaks our backs: The crisis and the way it effects thousand of families in this country and around the world. This is one of the reasons why there are so many abandoned animals, not only here but all around the world. Yet, people in Europe and North America still have the necessary funds to take care of their animals where the animals are seen as a part of the family and not accessories that look good near the fire place.

Why do I ramble on? Because that is what I do to ask for your help again, as you need to know why we do the things we do and need the
things we need?

We have declared that due to the non-existence of adoptions in the current climate we have a massive backlog of animals who need homes.

Not only that, we are experiencing an influx of animals which we had homed and now are being returned to us after months of being home dogs. Imagine the total destruction of the animals, imagine the damage the family makes their kids go through, imagine the state we are in…

Give Our Dogs Wiiiiings

Friends, though not every day of the week, we receive emails from our members in Europe and North America where people tell us that they are moved by the stories and struggles of our animals, asking us whether it would be possible to adopt them outside the country. After careful consideration, Skype conferences and many emails, we come to a decision.

It is all okay until when we need to fly our babies out, after their legal requirements are fully met;  chips, bloodwork when necessary,
vaccinations, fulfillment of a certain age etc.

This is when we need you. Many of you are professionals, many of you take trips outside the  country for business and for leisure, many of you study in foreign countries or visit friends and family who live abroad. Be our flight volunteers!!! Fly with one of our animals,
provided that there is the perfect family waiting for them on the other end and take part in the joy of knowing you have placed a life
in need in the safest of hands.

Get in touch with me a couple of weeks before you are due to fly and hopefully we will have  a dog or a cat for you as your flight
companion.

Go on, give us wings…

Viktor Larkhill
v.larkhill@googlemail.com

Dear Friends,
UPDATE: Hope & Pipas Have Been ADOPTED To GERMANY!!

These pups were dumped outside the most notorious kill ‘shelter’ in Istanbul, while Let’s Adopt! staged a protest about the horrific conditions and unjustified killings at the death camp.The injuries they sustained indicated that both of them were thrown out of a car.

Pipas had a broken jaw and the skin on her lower jaw had been ripped apart.

Pipas

Hope was found with a broken leg and hip

Hope

It took us two months of operation, treatment and intensive care to get them out of danger.

Today the two puppies are saved, but they are looking for homes.

Animal lovers picked them up and handed them over to Viktor, asking Let’s Adopt! for help. Once again – we cared for these pups, paid for their vetting and gave them a safe place to heal.

Here we are months later, and these cuties still don’t have a home.

Not one offer.
At this point we are accepting applications from other countries.

Preferably EU countries w/out lengthy quarantine laws, the US & Canada.
Let’s Adopt! application standards apply.
Please contact viktor@myletsadopt.com for more information.

Let’s Adopt! is an animal rescue organization, the largest in Turkey.We educate leading by example.
This is your change to do something unique, and to change the life of an animal (and yours), forever.
Hope and Pipas are looking for foster or final homes. We cannot keep them at the vet forever.
Hope and Pipas, you helped us save their lives. Help them now providing or finding a forever home for them.

Take action today. Adopt or foster one of this two babies.

Please keep in mind that we are also looking for flight volunteers from Turkey to Germany, France the US or Canada. There is no cost or paperwork involved for you. Everything is handled by Let’s Adopt! Representatives.

Please share/RT this note with your network, friends,

We need homes for our animals currently in our care, so we can rescue others.

Be The Change….

~misha