Nov 15, 2009 10:20 PM
Posted by: Carol Erickson
Okay, this is unbelievable, but true. Read to the end!! I’ve seen the pictures and corresponded with the owner of the dog…great people.
Here it is in a nutshell… newlyweds in an apt. in Bensalem leave their dog in the apartment, with instructions to the complex that if anyone comes to fix anything, THE RENTERS HAVE TO BE CALLED FIRST BECAUSE OF THE DOG. Well, they weren’t home, they weren’t called, but their boxer Lucy was home. The maintenance man props open an outside apartment hallway door, unlocks the apartment door and Lucy the boxer takes off in fright, right through the open doors.
FOR TEN DAYS the owners look for Lucy. Flyers put up in the apartment are taken down by the apartment management, who tells them: ‘guess we don’t have to call you first now’. But friends and other people join the search; Lucy is seen around the Neshaminy Mall, but no one can get there before she takes off again…thinner and thinner and more desperate. Finally, after miserable weather and no food and nights out alone, her owners, last weekend, SPOT HER!! They call her name…she comes toward them…and then as she gets closer…the wife screams at their baby’s horrendous condition. That scares Lucy..who takes off…toward the turnpike…WHERE SHE IS HIT BY A CAR.
But she is ALIVE…and rushed to the vet, where she is treated. Lucy lives…a 45 pound dog down to 21 pounds in 10 days. She is recovering at home (or rather the in-laws home) and the owners aren’t going to let this happen to anyone else. They have contacted a lawyer to try to get Lucy’s Law going…a law that would require apartment management to call first before entering an apartment with a dog in it.
This story has more twists than a roller coaster, but it ended great…and is a reminder of how dedicated some pet parents are. I wish all animals had a special person to be their guardian angel, as these people were for Lucy. And this apartment management needs a giant wake up call for sensitivity and training before and after this event. Oct 28, 2009 2:03 PM  Henry Wet. Cold. Thin. Afraid. Alone. But not alone.
There are so many dogs like Henry, the dog that Cares4Pets volunteers rescued
from City Line Avenue
on Saturday in that chilly downpour.
Henry needs a lot of groceries and a
warm soft bed. Overcrowded, financially strapped shelters really can't
meet his needs because they are meeting so many other dogs' needs. So
Cares4Pets is hoping to find a good foster or adoptive family for this sweet
sweet boy. He is an American Staffordshire Terrier (check out his picture...and
his backbone..you can count every bone).
This rescue is one of the many great
groups trying desperately to stop the abuse and neglect so many animals face.
Henry will be at the Adopt-A Boxer Rescue event this weekend in Rosetree Park,
Media,
PA. (they didn't include the date
or time...you can get that at cares4pets@hotmail.com) You can
also donate (tax deductible) for this boy and others just like him at
www.cares4pets.org or
Cares4Pets, PO Box 31942,
Philadelphia, PA
19104. Like all
animal groups, they need towels and blankets, etc. There are lots of ways
to help, even if you can't take the dog into your home.
Carol Erickson
Oct 18, 2009 2:15 PM
Posted By: Carol Erickson
Having a passion in life is a real gift. I hear that from people who don’t have a passion in life. They tell me how lucky I am to have one, and I agree- mostly. But passion is not all pleasure. A passion is something that you care about above and beyond yourself; it transcends the moment and is a constant interest for years and years. Spending time doing the thing you are passionate about or learning more about it is not a choice, it is something you just do naturally, that you are almost driven to do.
Animals and their welfare are my passion. I don’t question why it is…it just is. But with that passionate concern for animals comes the price of the gift – the pain of knowing about the stupid, cruel, thoughtless things that stupid, cruel, thoughtless people do to animals. The sad animal stories that we hear on the news can actually hurt. It is a powerless feeling to not be able to change many of these situations because the laws prevent it, you can’t get there, or it is too late. If you’re reading this, you probably know exactly what I mean. So we try to make life better for our own animals and try to make life better for animals that are on the receiving end of the worst of human behavior. Often it’s not easy, and often it’s not fun caring so much. But when a passion finds you, you pay attention and pay the price of the gift. Oct 10, 2009 11:14 PM By Carol Erickson
Go into any shelter (and I hope you do, to adopt, volunteer, foster, donate money and supplies) and you will see row upon row of boxy, eager faces. These are the pitbulls that, through no fault of their own, have found themselves literally on death’s door as they take their chances on getting either a home or a death sentence. The myths and truths of these dogs are complex and misunderstood. The bottom line is, this intelligent breed with the big heart, needs a reputation makeover. To the rescue, to do just that, PAWS, Phila. Animal Welfare Society. They have started the Save-A-Bull Initiative. The goal is to educate people about these very adoptable dogs, offer training advice, and tell the happy stories of homeless to homed pitties. Head to www.bulladelphia.org for more info on individual adoptable dogs, pitbull friendly events, businesses, services. As the great folks at PAWS say….they won’t make it without you. Also, make plans to go to the PAWS Mutt Strut on Oct. 31 at FDR Park. Look at Pets (and pet events) on this CBS3 website for the times and other events.
Also on Oct. 29, at Buzzy’s Bow Wow Meow (701 Montgomery Ave.) Narberth, PA, 610-617-3300, a great seminar called "Punish the Deed Not the Breed", the truth about pit bulls. They too are hoping that education will save pitbull lives. Sep 12, 2009 9:10 PM Posted by: Carol Erickson
I was in the elevator yesterday with an out of breath, wet co-worker. I asked him what was going on (he has a very demanding job), and he said he had just gone home on his lunch hour as usual to walk his 14 year old dog. He said “She can’t hold it very long anymore”, and he doesn’t want to stress her out. So he does the subway juggle, hoping to time the rides just right to get home, walk his dog, give her a hug, and race on back to the station. He does this every day. Every lunch hour “goes to the dogs”. Now THIS is the guy who deserves the roar of the crowd, who deserves to have his name on a jersey, who deserves 1.6 million, who deserves, but won’t need, 2nd chances. What he gets instead is a chance to scoop up after his dog, get hit with a wagging tail, and the opportunity to be looked at with the purest love ever ...from the eyes of his dog.
To all of you who skip lunches or dinners out, or vacations, or change your plans because your dog needs you, you are the real heroes. You are doing the right thing, even when no one telling you to, and it takes a very special person to do that. Aug 25, 2009 7:06 PM Posted by: Carol Erickson
We've all heard about the second chance that the Eagles were so happy to offer Michael Vick.
Now the Pennsylvania SPCA is happy to announce that they have 2nd chances that need to be
passed around, too. These 2nd chances go to the most maligned, abused, neglected, and tortured animals in this city, the pit bulls.
These dogs have been rescued from abuse and neglect by the Humane Law Enforcement officers, or found as strays by Animal Control. Some of their pictures are on the Web site below, along with a longer article.
While we wait, and wait for the Eagles to decide what kind of commitment they are going to offer to end dogfighting and animal cruelty, the PSPCA got this program up very quickly in response to Vick's arrival.
If you can help with money for these dogs, a home, anything to show these creatures that not every human views them as garbage, please do so. We can all lead by example. Show who you are by your actions, because good or bad, they define you.
It would be really nice to see some Eagles and Vick dollars in this campaign. If they are serious about their commitment, this is a great place to start. http://www.pspca.org/donate/2nd_chance_dogs Aug 13, 2009 10:37 PM Posted by: Carol Erickson
The word just came down that Michael Vick has signed with the Eagles, or the Eagles have signed Michael Vick, or however you want to look at it. My Facebook page Carol Erickson’s Pet Page is getting a lot of angry comments about the hiring of a player who has outraged so many in this country by his admitted attacks on dogs. What does his hiring say? That people automatically get or deserve a second chance no matter what? Bernie Madoff would love to hear that. Or that if you are talented enough, you get that chance, deserved or not. Of course Vick has apologized and served a sentence. He didn’t have a choice. Everybody, especially those who can afford skilled lawyers and public relations firms and want their old lifestyle back, know the public wants to hear “I’m sorry”.
But sometimes, in my opinion, sorry doesn’t cut it. Animal cruelty is an under-reported, under punished crime. To take its star culprit and return him to potential gridiron glory and pay, is to do a disservice to every animal who has been tortured and terrified, to every kid who thought about putting down a stick held over a cowering dog and then thought of Vick, in his Eagles green, and hit the dog anyway.
Michael Vick, I hope that most days of the week you are offering to clean up after pit bulls in some animal shelter – dogs bred to do what yours tried, and often failed to do – to show how tough they are when scared to death. If you are really tough, put on the uniform of a shelter worker, and under close supervision, clean up your act, one baggie full at a time. You have the stage again…make it count for something this time. Aug 7, 2009 11:17 AM Posted by: Carol Erickson
Sometimes, it takes a village to care for the most forgotten, abused and pathetic of our animal friends. Join the village and help here if you can. Case in point the young dog named Sally. Her pictures are right here.
Here's the story. On July 30, Carol Kirshenbaum, president of the Quack's Corner Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, was in the Millville Animal Clinic when animal control officer Anthony Cills of the Millville Police Department came in with an injured dog. This dog had been hit by a car on Buckshutem Road in Millville...the driver kept going. But Cindy Hepner, a photographer with the Cumberland News, saw the accident and stopped to help. The dog "Sally" received minor injuries from that accident, but she was in terrible shape from previous problems. She was and is paralyzed in both back legs, and was literally starving when found. Apparently she had been dragging herself around for a long time looking for food. This sweet girl is now looking for a permanent home.
Presently, Pets with Disabilities is looking for that home for her, and they will help with getting a wheelchair. If you can donate to her wheelchair fund, wonderful! If you can provide the loving permanent home she needs, great!!
Quack's Corner is fostering her and contributions to Quack's Corner (tax-deductible) would go to Quack's Corner, PO Box 12, Shiloh, NJ 08353 or contribute through PayPal or contact them at quackscorner@comcast.net. Linda Forbes 856-327-8030 linfor1@comcast.net
Thanks also to the Cumberland Co. SPCA for transferring care for this special dog to Quack's Corner. Aug 4, 2009 8:23 PM Posted by: Carol Erickson
I finally gave in … the modern world and technology cannot be kept at bay, despite my best efforts. I have joined FACEBOOK and I would LOVE for you animal lovers to join me there!!
Simply put in the following 4 words: Carol Erickson’s Pet Page in the Facebook search and the page should come in. Everyone is welcome and automatically accepted onto the page.
I am slowly learning the intricate ins and outs of Facebook … but I have managed (with my daughter’s exasperated help … she can’t believe how slow I am at this!!) to post some pictures of my animals.
There are lots of people on the site already. I envision this as a place for us animal lovers to gather, learn from one another, share info and help, ask for help, give help and support, and be in a community of people who feel the same way we do about animals.
So please join and tell your friends as well. You can also email me privately at Erickson@cbs3.com , as always. | |
