Puffy has been an Ottawa neighborhood cat for about a year now. Neighbors have been feeding him and keeping an eye out for him. However, he was an unneutered male, so, though handsome to the eye, a “baby-maker” nonetheless. And a bit of a rabble-rouser who got into fights with other cats in the neighborhood.

Recently, a concerned neighbor stepped up and befriended Puffy.

“…he let me pat him and cut some matts out of his fur. He had a huge tick on him, a big healing abcess and lots of smaller scabs and scratches.”

After talking to his neighborhood “watch group,” it was decided that Puffy needed to be caught and neutered. Then he could possibly be released back into his neighborhood.

So this week, Puffy got a full checkup, de-worming, vaccinations, FeLV/FIV tests, and a neuter. All went well except for the FIV test. He has tested positive for the FIV virus.

If you are unfamiliar with FIV, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus (or “slow virus”) which is characterized by a long incubation period. An infected cat’s health may deteriorate progressively or be characterized by recurrent illness interspersed with periods of relative health. Sometimes not appearing for years after infection, signs of immunodeficiency can appear anywhere throughout the body — poor coat, gingivitis, stomatitis, various cancers and blood diseases; much like any other cat might experience. [source]

What does FIV do to a cat? Infected cats may appear normal for years. However, infection eventually leads to a state of immune deficiency that hinders the cat’s ability to protect itself against other infections. The same bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that may be found in the everyday environment — where they usually do not affect healthy animals — can cause severe illness in those with weakened immune systems. These secondary infections are responsible for many of the diseases associated with FIV. [source]

In other words, FIV won’t kill him, but rather a secondary infection could. Therefore, to lessen the possibility of acquiring a secondary infection and for keeping his immune system as strong as possible, it is best for Puffy to live indoors now.

So we are looking for a home that can take Puffy in. He currently lives in Ottawa. Taking him to the Ottawa Humane Society would likely be a death sentence (read some of the reasons an animal is destroyed in a shelter) and rescue groups called are full at this time.

Per Judy who took him to the vet:

“The vet says he is young and seems to be in good health other than being a bit thin. He seems gentle and friendly. When he was at my house for a little while he was comforted when I rubbed his cheeks and ears.”

“I have a foster home for him only until Sunday, and then maybe another foster for a few days after that.”

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Puffy, please email me and I will connect you with Judy.

If you want to learn more about FIV — what it means, how it is transmitted, what you might expect — the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University has created this great page to explain. It needn’t be a death sentence. Puffy can live a long and happy life. Even in a home with other cats.

And please… SHARE Puffy’s story by clicking on one of the icons below so we can find him a new home.

Ciao,
Holly

Divorce can be hell. And often times, the animals get stuck in the middle as expendable objects. That is the case with the three dogs in this story.

Seven years ago, B wandered up to a house in a rural area northwest of Houston in Texas and was allowed to stay. A year later, B gave birth to two puppies, KK and Mo. They, too, were allowed to stay. This has been their home for all their lives.

But now the couple is divorcing.

Word as we received it last night is that if the dogs are not removed from the property today, they will be killed. Because we have just become involved, we asked for more time. However, there is apparently a court order stating that the dogs must be gone by 2pm.

Just a bit ago, we found refuge for them for three days. So for now, we know they will not be killed this day.

We continue to seek foster home(s) and/or a new home(s).

Here’s what we know about them.

B is a Lab/something mix, about 50 pounds. She is about seven years old.

Mo and KK are B’s pups. They are Irish Setter/Lab something mixes, though you can see they really resemble their dad with their Irish Setter looks. They are about 60 pounds.

They are fine around children and are loving and affectionate as you can see in this photo with the couple’s child.

We are working against a deadline to get word out about them. We will update this post as we get more photos and info.

Please SHARE their story and let’s find these babies homes. They must not DIE because of matters that concern their owners. These are the innocents in this situation.

If you are interested in fostering or adopting these babies — all or one, please email me at holly.ellis.la @ gmail.com.

UPDATE September 6th,2010:

SOPHIA HAS BEEN ADOPTED!

Thanks to everyone who helped save her….

——————————————————————-

Many of you might remember my rescue trip to the San Francisco Bay Area in July.

leaving Portland for San Francisco

I was able to bring back ten dogs of which we kept two with Let’s Adopt! in Portland to re-home locally.

The lucky two were Sophia, a 2-year old Chi-Rat X, who found the greatest foster home in the city, Our very own Donde.

The other is Esperrranza “Espie”, a 1-year old Chi-Pin X, who is rooming with my little tribe.

Both have been vetted, spayed, and well socialized. They’ll have a play date with potential adopters over the weekend.

Let’s recap real quick why we had to rescue these dogs…

They were on death-row – on the kill list of the shelter for the very day I got my hands on them.

Espie wasn’t even available for adoption to the public. Her crime? She was “Timid”…TIMID! After 2-3 weeks in the madhouse, all that noise day in, day out, in a cold kennel, on concrete, did I mention the noise? I WOULD BE TIMID.

The instant she was out of the building and in the parking lot with us, she gave kisses…something she’s now famous for. In fact, she chases Ouzo down on the sofa and basically gives him a complete dental at least twice a day. Very sweet girl. After weeks at the pound she needed a refresher on the house training, which she is doing well with.

Sophia is a little speed devil. She’s proud to walk on leash and can’t wait to get to the dog park to play with the other dogs and meet all the people…oh and treats of course.

I don’t even remember why she was on death row, but it strikes me as hideous that perfectly healthy animals are being killed in our municipal shelters.

With OUR tax dollars.

Can’t we do better than that?

I think we can.

Please read this week’s blog on how to become a *gulp* community organizer. To bring true change in your own community. It is time that YOU and I step up to the plate. Are you ready?

Meanwhile…sign up as a foster for us, rescue a dog or cat from your local kill pound this week, and foster it for a few days or weeks….we’ll assist you in re-homing it through our network…surprise me…

BE THE CHANGE

-Misha

Dearest Friends + Supporters of Let’s Adopt!

I would like to thank you for your tireless support and votes in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.
We have come to the realization, that we now have a zero chance to come close of making it into the top 2 of the $250k – grant category.
For that reason, we have decided to move on to focus on the urgent cases waiting for us to be handled.
We have numerous special needs dogs and cats in great need of new homes and/or vet care.
We’re also looking for volunteers in many areas.

So, I’d like to invite you to become permanent tribe members of our wonderful family, by joining your closest Let’s Adopt! network.
I have listed a few of them below:

LA! Global:
http://www.facebook.com/LetsAdoptGlobal

LA! USA:
http://www.facebook.com/LetsAdoptUSA

LA! Canada:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101251555667

LA! Germany/Austria:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99371202835

LA! Turkey:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=223594502500

visit http://myletsadopt.com/
to find a network near you!
I hope to see you on the other side…

Please continue to support our work.
We are not only looking for contributions,but are also in desperate need of VOLUNTEERS!

Flight Escorts
-
are you traveling a lot? Especially to/from Europe? – You can be a
lifesaver! At no extra cost to you. Just donate a little extra time at
the check-in/out and customs

Foster Volunteers
-
we need you in all countries!!
We’re desperate in Turkey.
TRULY desperate for foster homes. There are too many animals we can’t take in
because no one will step up and make a little space in their homes to
them….
We also need your help in Germany, France, USA, Canada, Bulgaria…everywhere

Activists
- you know who you are.
Annoyed by PETA, and a little scared of ALF?
We might just be the right place for you to land…

Contributors - our silent supporters who make so much of our work possible…
The Simba Fund:
http://bethechange.chipin.com/

Please download and add our foster flyer as your profile picture on FB for the next few weeks to raise awareness of the importance of fostering.

BE The Change

-Misha
contact me:
misha@myletsadopt.com

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