A little over a year ago, I learned of a volunteer opportunity with Pets on Wheels of Connecticut. After doing some research and speaking with Director, Elaine Papanic, I decided this was an opportunity I did not want to pass up. It was a chance to help individuals and/or families with obstacles and help save shelter pets at the same time. 

Imagine yourself in circumstances that you can’t change: your health prevents you from working or getting out of the house, emotional issues make it difficult to maintain relationships, or you’re a returning veteran struggling to readjust after combat duty. Imagine that you can’t find a moment’s peace, that you can’t take even a short break from life, that you can’t find the strength to face it all again.

Imagine the difference a pet would make in your life. 

Pets on Wheels of Connecticut seeks to help those people who are most in need of animal companionship but who need help to adopt. Pets on Wheels of CT provides financial assistance for adoption fees, veterinarian care, and even transportation to the vet.  The best part is that they help people adopt from local rescue shelters, so not only are they providing life-changing assistance to people in need, but they’re helping homeless animals find forever homes where they’ll be loved and cherished.

Pets on Wheels of Connecticut is entirely volunteer-run.  If you would like to volunteer with, or donate to, this wonderful organization, visit petsonwheelsct.org to learn more.  This is an opportunity to make a difference right in your community—for both your neighbors and rescue animals.  And if you, or someone you know, would like to apply for assistance to adopt, visit their website or email info@petsonwheelsct.org for more information. 

Being a volunteer with Pets on Wheels of CT has been a most rewarding experience for me. One of the things I like most is the family atmosphere of the organization and how everyone’s contributions, no matter how small, are met with gratitude and appreciation. If you live in the area and are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of both humans and shelter pets, please contact Pets on Wheels of CT and find out how you can help. You will be glad you did! 

Last Saturday, October 18, 2014, I attended my first CT Pit bull Awareness Day. I did not know what to expect. What I experienced was more than I could have imagined.
It was described as follows:

An event to celebrate the bully breeds! Connecting Pit Bull Advocates, Responsible Owners, and Animal Lovers!

National Pit Bull Awareness Day was started by Jodi Preis of Bless the Bully's in Tennessee. Jodi has dedicated her life to rescue and education of all bully breeds. This special day was put together in an effort to raise awareness to the plight of the bully breeds and to make a united stand against breed specific legislation. Pit bull advocates from all over the country have joined forces in support of this noble cause to educate, raise awareness and promote a positive pit bull image.

Responsible pit bull owners are encouraged to bring their pet-friendly pit bull or bully breed to the CT Pit Bull Awareness Day to show the skeptics how wonderful the breeds are.


The event was all it was advertised to be and more, with food, vendors, rescues, speakers, contests, prizes and, of course, dogs! To fully appreciate the experience you really did have to be there so, rather than try to describe it in words, I will instead attempt to show the mood the day in pictures. Enjoy! 

Some of the dogs in attendance - many are available for adoption

A few weeks back I posted about my first foster dog Macy. When I was asked to foster her, all I knew was that she was saved from a kill shelter – pulled by Red Hook Rescue of Brooklyn, NY. I later learned that the rescue had pulled her for someone who fell in love with her sweet face and wanted to save her life. From what I understand, this person then discovered that he or she could not keep this dog (then named Gorda). I believe a family member was recruited to take her but, due to what was probably a lack of experience, it did not work out. Gorda was then sent to a boarding kennel. It was at that point that I was asked to foster her.

The shelter had done her no favors with the behavior evaluation she was given. The shelter notes say she was trembling and fearful and tried to escape. Well, who could blame her? A smart girl like Gorda probably knew she was not in a safe place and wondered why she was not still in her home (she was surrendered for reasons unknown). The assessor felt she should go to an experienced home with no children.

When I picked her up she was terribly frightened and understandably so, considering that, in a span of only three weeks she had been in three different homes, a kill shelter and a boarding kennel and was now coming to yet another unknown place. Fortunately, my friend Lauren came with me to New York City to pick her up and help me get her home.

Once home with me though, she settled in very quickly. She bonded with my dog Mickey and with me and I renamed her Macy, which means enduring, happy and upbeat – all the things I knew she was and could be. For two weeks she barely left my side and when I was not able to be with her, Mickey was there to comfort her. It was as if he knew she needed a friend and did his best to show her the ropes and make her feel welcome. When she had to be in her crate (which she hated) he let himself into the room and stayed with her. Honestly, I think Mickey was more instrumental in her transition than I was.

Every person I told or showed her picture to said unequivocally that I was going to get attached to her and want to keep her and all of them were right. I loved her – a lot! 

She made friends everywhere she went. When Matt's dog Cam visited, she was just one of the boys! 

Being that I was in Connecticut and the rescue was in New York, I knew I would not be able to bring her to adoption events and figured I would have her for quite some time. Imagine my surprise when, after only three weeks, a family in my very own town applied to adopt her. When I saw that it was a family with children and another dog, I knew that she would like it there and that they could probably give her things that I could not. Plus it was in my own town and I could visit her. It was a win-win.

But, as I frequently say, everything always seems to turn out as it should. The day we were supposed to meet, it poured and we had to postpone. In the meantime another application came in for Macy from a woman who lives about 15 miles away. I arranged to take Macy to meet both potential adopters on the same day. When we met the first family, the introductions to both their dog and their three-and-a-half year old daughter went perfectly (remember the shelter said no children – well that was obviously inaccurate). However, since their first contact they had decided that it might not be the ideal time to adopt another dog and wanted to wait a few months.

I was a little disappointed, but not terribly. The worst case scenario would be that she would stay with me, but a few hours later I took her to meet the second prospective adopter – a very nice woman with two small dogs. Now it was time to see if the dogs would get along. One – the older of the two – kept his distance. The younger one seemed to like her. The house was on a private street overlooking a beautiful lake. From the living room you could look out and watch the boats. It is gorgeous there and very peaceful. I was hoping this nice woman would want to adopt, not only Macy, but me as well! During the course of our visit, I learned that she had recently lost her husband and her children and grandchildren all live in Florida. She fell in love with Macy at first sight and it was clear to me that she needed Macy more than I did. Everything worked out perfectly, I did not have to choose between two wonderful adoptive homes and, if I was not going to have her, I knew she was going to a home where she would be loved and treasured. Of course I made sure to secure visitation rights!

Macy went home last Wednesday, October 8, 2014. I only had her for a month and a day but she touched my heart like few ever have.

If you have never fostered a pet, I would highly recommend it. It is an experience I will never forget and I am already thinking about fostering another. Fostering saves lives, but it is really only one step in the process. Even though the initial placement did not work out, without the person who advocated for her and sought rescue support, and without the rescue that pulled her and took responsibility for her, Macy would have died in the shelter.  This beautiful, sweet dog would have died needlessly, scared and alone. The saddest part is that it happens to thousands of dogs like her every day. We need to do better.

But, for now, let us dwell on the positive. For this one dog, there was a happy ending. 

I will just say “so long, Macy,” because it is not good-bye. I am one of the lucky ones – because I had you in my life and because I know I will see you again. 

Enjoy your new life, Macy. Mickey and I will miss you.

A year ago, I did not know that October is “National Pit Bull Awareness Month,” but ironically it was during October of 2013 that the suggestion was made to me to write a book – a collection of positive stories about pit bulls, to educate the mainstream public and raise awareness about these magnificent, misunderstood dogs.

In theory the idea was great but the reality was I did not have material, other than a few personal stories of my own. I began contacting people I knew who were involved with pit bull rescue and I received a couple of submissions but not nearly enough. I thought my goal of writing a book, which started out with such promise, would not be realized. Then an amazing thing happened. On November 17, 2013, a friend of mine, Theodora DeBarbieri, wrote this article for the Examiner. 

Almost immediately the stories started to materialize as if by magic, and within days I knew that there would be a book. The stories I received were all amazing. I could feel the love these individuals had for their dogs and I knew I had to tell their stories.

Two days after the Examiner article ran, I received an email from a young woman in Michigan that immediately caught my attention. It began:

I was about four years old when my parents brought home their first rescue pit bull straight out of a fighting ring. He was a mess. After some love and care from them he became my best friend who played Barbies and dress up with me. I guess you could say I was "ruined" right from the start.
.

This young woman’s name is Jacqueline Drake, a college student and rescue volunteer who landed a two week internship at Villalobos Rescue Center and was assigned to work with a group of special dogs that were stressed and overwhelmed by life in a kennel.

It was at Villalobos that Jacqueline met Puma, a pit bull that was rescued after a shootout and suffered from PTSD. Puma had been at the rescue center for nine years. She had lived in a kennel since she was six months old. It was believed that Puma’s issues made her unadoptable and that she would spend the remainder of her life at Villalobos. Then Jacqueline came along and there was an immediate and profound connection. In May of 2013, Jacqueline adopted Puma and after nine long years, Puma was finally home.

Jacqueline excitedly told me how she and Puma were going to be featured on one of last season’s episodes of Pit Bulls and Parolees, and proudly emailed me again to let me know when the show would air. As I watched the adoption unfold on television, I felt like I was a part of it – like I knew them, even though, of course we had never actually met. The story had touched me that much.

Puma will live on forever in the hearts of Jacqueline, her family and everyone who had the privilege of watching her amazing story. Rest in peace beautiful girl – you will never be forgotten.