I love animals of all kinds; I always have. When I was a young girl, I cried for days after watching the movie “Born free”. If you are too young to have seen the movie, it is based on a true story of a couple that raised “Elsa”,  an orphaned cub, into a lioness. When she was an adult, they released her back into the jungle of Kenya.  Of course, there was probably a lot of extra drama written into the screenplay, but as the couple drove off, after saying goodbye, Elsa chased after them while the soundtrack of “Born free” played on. It was a tear-jerker and I couldn’t stop crying about the lion that would miss her people.  Of course, I realized as I grew older, that it was best for the lion to be in the jungle with like species.  In hindsight, I should have been more sad for the people who would never know how she fared. They raised her from a baby, sacrificed time, energy, and love only to release her and never see her again.

This is how it is when someone dedicates their lives to animals. Something deep inside, urges them, pulls at them to help animals.  They sacrifice their time, give so much love, sacrifice their own money and comfort to give the animals a second chance. Often, if not most times, it is due to the selfishness and evil of humans that these animals are broken and/or abandoned.  Let’s face it; people can be downright ugly and evil. That’s why it is worth celebrating and helping those good people, who have big hearts, that tirelessly and relentlessly become the voice and help of these forgotten animals.

I know there are so many shelters, rescues, rehabilitation, and other non-profits that help the strays and abandoned, but I thought I would mention just a few that I know of. These are filled with people that have literally put blood, sweat, tears, and their own money at the sake of their own comfort.  Feel free to add some of your own at the bottom.

Common Ground Community Rescue Network is a 501(c)(3), NFP public charity organization focused on supporting community members (including animals) who are struggling and in need of hope. I found this organization through my sister, who works with one of the volunteers who gives her time, money, a vehicle and much more to aid the group, her name is Karen.  Stacey is the Founder and Board member and is relentless in her energy to help others. Mostly, I have worked with her on the animal rescue part, by giving donations. In addition to the Common Ground website, she does tireless work through her own Facebook page with animal rescues and those that need transportation. She always thanks people and tells them “their wings are showing”, but she is really the angel for these animals in need!

Taken directly from their website, Mobile Mutts is a 100% volunteer based rescue transport group of dedicated animal rights advocates who transport “death row” dogs from high kill shelters in the south to the safety of screened and approved foster based rescues throughout the Midwest. Mobile Mutts volunteers drive year round and weather permitting from Cordele, Georgia and head up through Nashville, Louisville, Indianapolis, Champaign and Chicago in Illinois, Madison and Eau Claire in Wisconsin and end in the Minneapolis, MN area.  I became aware of this group while at an animal fundraiser in Illinois. The volunteers drive 100’s of miles to rescue dogs. They are like a dog train, transferring dogs from one vehicle to another, and keeping the dogs, safely, overnight in their own homes until finally reaching a safe shelter where they will find their forever home.  These people use their own time, their own cars, their own gas, and their own homes to make this happen. I was all set to start volunteering and transporting prior to my move to Oregon.  This is a non-profit worth checking out.

Mastering Love Rescue is a group of just 1 or 2 people that rely on donations to help the animals they rescue. Taken directly from her Facebook page: Mastering Love is a Giving Sanctuary, Finding Homes for the Discarded, Unwanted and Vulnerable Animals, Deserving of a Soft Spot to Land.

I met this incredible lady at Tractor Supply. She has cats, dogs, goats, maybe more.  She uses all of her own money, and relies on donations, to feed and shelter the discarded animals. She had loads of cat litter on her cart when I met her. I can only imagine how expensive her bills are, yet, she takes care of the unwanted, trying to rehome them.

A bit of a larger organization, is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab Utah.  I had the pleasure of volunteering there twice. My friend, Marlene, and I spent a week there, working with the dogs, cats, and even horses. It is a magical place, with people that have hearts of gold. They work hard, and it is not for the faint of heart, or weak of spirit. This place takes the worst of the worst cases. They are the ones that took all of Michael Vick’s dogs after the awful raid. They rehabilitate the animals, and get them ready for their new homes. If an animal is not one that qualifies for adoption, due to the horrific conditions they were put through, they will live forever at Best Friends. They are truly a no-kill shelter.  

Marlene and I made many furry friends there: Kenny, the paralyzed pit-mix. He did go to a home and live out the rest of his life with love and other dogs that were also disabled.  Susie-Q, a beautiful black and white lab mix that was rescued from the streets in New Mexico, trying to protect her pups. She was deathly afraid of people and finally went to a forever home. It took her caretakers years to get her to a place where she would feel safe around people. I was able to sponsor her, monetarily,  for a year and was able to feed her by hand, at the sanctuary, so she would associate good with people.  Tiger, a beautiful Border Collie mix that lived his life at the Sanctuary. We were able to take Kenny and Tiger home for sleep-overs; it was amazing.  These are just a few of the  names of the incredible animals. We also met dogs that were rescued from hurricane Katrina; Houdini and Jimmy. They lived their lives at the sanctuary. There are too many dogs, and cats, and a few horses to mention; but it was heavenly to be there. 

If you ever get a chance, you can tour the property for free. There is a mountain called Angels Rest. It is a cemetery for the animals that live at the sanctuary, but people can buy space and bring their pets ashes there (at least you used to be able to do that, I haven’t checked if that is still an option). When you walk around, it is filled with wind chimes and trinkets that people have brought as memories of their beloved furry friend. I highly recommend touring or serving there. You won’t be disappointed.

Lastly, Champaign County Humane Society is where I did most of my volunteer work. When I lived in Illinois, I worked every Sunday, many week nights, and several Holidays walking the dogs.  I was there rain, shine, or snow. It became attached to so many of the animals, and workers!  I adopted my Sophie there. She came home with me 6 months after my Snickers died. I couldn’t stand to be without the pitter patter of dog feet in the house any longer. More about Snickers and Sophie in another post!

If you are ever able to donate time to the lost and forgotten animals, I promise it will increase the love in your heart immensely. It is such a great feeling to know that you are contributed to an animal finding their loving home after being ditched.  If you are thinking about getting a pet, think about adopting. There are so many great animals shelters that need a chance to be a pet. They need a chance to be loved and have a respectful, safe, nurturing home.  To tweak a quote from Dr. Seuss: To the world you may be one person, but to an animal, you may be the world.  I’ve always cherished how my dogs’ love was unconditional. No matter what type of day I had, what type of mood I was in, or how bad my hair looked, my dogs have always been excited to see me. That is a bond that can’t be broken. Consider opening your heart to an animal in need.