Special Thanks:

We would like to thank our generous, philanthropic friend Rachel Cantwell, the young lady who started her own charity called Paws & Tails to help rescue animals.

She was randomly at the Bellevue Petco to buy more toys to bring to a shelter after we visited with her and her mom, she decided to donate her toys to us! Our pups were very grateful for her generosity as it kept them entertained for the rest of the day!

Here is a link to her blog: www.rachelcantwell.wordpress.com

Nancy is a very integral part of Motley Zoo- not only does she do a lot of work behind the scenes, but she does it with love- and tons of southern charm! We are lucky enough to say that Nancy simply stumbled upon us- when she told me she could sew, and baked homemade dog biscuits for fundraising, I wasted no time in responding, to establish a relationship. She came out to our garage sale and met us all in person- and what we found out is she is HILARIOUS- and a very sweet woman, to boot. Since then, Nancy has kept us cracking up at event after event; baked a gazillion dog biscuits, that people love and beg for; she’s sewn many a belly band for naughty marking boy dogs; and always has been there for a kind word and a supportive ear. You can always count on her for the most positive outlook- even when it is crusted in sarcasm! Nancy is a loving foster who has helped out with some of the more challenging dogs- always working hard on their weaknesses, while still indulging them to the point of just right. Nancy believes a spoiled dog is a good dog- but one spoiled rotten, is wrong! She most often can be found singing songs and telling stories of her furry little charges, whilst carrying them around in a brightly colored purse. She is one to drum up conversations with complete strangers, as well as store managers and dog owners alike. She is always spreading the word about Motley Zoo and our work…and we’d like to thank her here generously, by telling everyone what a stellar individual she is… You will be lucky to meet Nancy at one of our many events (go, just to do so). She will be the one in spirited, dog- themed attire- and a straw hat with a dog on the top! We love you Nancy- we can’t say it enough!

-jme

This is a short piece written for a cross promotional Blog effort with the Delta society, written by our own Brooke Mallory; giving insight into how she decided to step up for something important in her life and to help out those in need. Delta will post on their website blog 02/24/10.

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It was 2006 A.D. (After Divorce).  I was lost.  My identity, my hopes, my dreams, my future – destroyed. The depression was all encompassing.  I withdrew from my family and friends. Almost daily, I’d come home from work and crawl into bed to escape the pain and avoid reality.

My saving grace? My dogs!  Ottis, my sensitive boy, snuggled me close to keep me warm and comforted.  And Sage, my energetic girl, never let me stay in bed too long. She nudged me in the mornings when it was time to go out. She danced around to remind me it was time to eat. Sage brought me her toys, placing each one in my lap to entice me to play.

Then one morning I was online and saw a plea for animal foster homes.  A foster parent temporarily provides home care for an abandoned, abused, neglected or forgotten animal, while a rescue group searches for a forever home. Always an animal lover, I had contemplated fostering in the past, but the timing had never seemed right. This time, I could not shake the thought of those poor scared animals, abandoned and hurting, living in cages in the shelters or worse. I imagined them missing their people and feeling a bit like I did at the moment. 

I had concerns and reservations about fostering. I worked a full-time job. Did I have enough time to give? Despite my fears, I made a monumental decision. I was going to be a foster parent!

My first foster was a bouncy, snuggly little soul aptly named Happy. He wiggled his way into my heart with his comical antics and boundless love. My own dogs were ecstatic to have a new playmate and without even realizing it, I was finding my way out of the fog of depression. My days had renewed purpose and structure as I set to task, helping Happy adjust to my home. I re-engaged with my family and friends and sharing Happy’s rescue story. I was again beginning the process of living, all with the help of these three little souls.

Two weeks later the rescue group called to say they had found Happy an adoptive family. My newly-rediscovered world crashed around me again. How could I possibly let this boy go? I loved him so dearly. I cried all that night and morning before the adoption meeting, and vowed never to put myself through this pain again.   Thankfully, Happy’s new mother was wonderful, as was her senior dog.  It was love at first sight for all and I was comforted to know he would be well cared for always. Even so, my heart ached for that boy. My newly mended heart felt like it had been ripped open again.

Still mourning the loss of Happy, about a week later I received a call from his new owner. Happy’s owner was in tears because her senior dog had passed away that morning.  She was driving home from the vet’s office, dreading walking into her home without her old boy, when she gratefully remembered that she was not going back to an empty home. Happy was there!  Waiting once again, to heal her heart like he had healed mine.

It was then I realized that Happy was never meant to be my dog. I served as an important stop along his life’s journey, but now he was home. As short as his stay with me was, it was a powerful experience for me and the remarkable beginning of my life, A.D.

Since that “Happy time,” I have fostered over a hundred dogs and a handful of cats and have loved every second. My own dogs are endlessly excited to meet their newest playmates. I still work a full-time job and find it is easy to fit another furry face into my routine.  It means another bowl to fill, another nose to kiss, and another leash to hold.  But that minimal effort on my part has meant life or death for many of these animals. And to my soul, it has meant life. 

In February of 2009, after years of volunteering with several animal rescue groups, I co-founded Motley Zoo Animal Rescue

www.motleyzoo.org and look forward to many more years fostering and saving the lives of animals like the ones who so graciously saved my own.