I am a rescuer… and a dreamer of greater things. Simple things. But things bigger than just me.

Things like cats and dogs with happy homes and loving companions, food to eat, a roof over their heads, warmth, security. Love. Long lives.

I subscribe to this reality.

I am quick to offer help when an animal is in need. I believe if I take care of the immediate needs – health, food and shelter — the rest will fall into place.

But I am only successful if I have a network that supports me. The larger the network and the more far-reaching the network, the more I can do… the more ALL rescuers can do.

Not everyone can rescue just as not everyone can perform brain surgery or walk and chew gum at the same time, but there are other areas of help that are just as important and just as needed. These include, but are not limited to: fostering, medical assistance, transport, social media support.

Yes, even just using your network of friends and family via Facebook and Twitter to SHARE/ReTweet our messages can help us find foster homes, adoptive families, financial contributors and more members.

Let’s Adopt! is an all-volunteer international animal welfare group that is spreading around the globe to help animals in need. We use the strengths of one area to aid the weaknesses in another so we can offer the same level of commitment and care everywhere we are. And we want you to help us. Join us!

Tell us what your interests are and what talents you bring to the group. Let’s roll up our sleeves and save some lives. Add your info to our community map so we can see where our members are when a situation arises.

The weekend is almost upon us. Maybe there will be more time to peruse the web and catch up with friends. This weekend please share this message with your networks and ask them to join Let’s Adopt! Canada.

I really do need you! And so do Buster and Patches.

Ciao, Holly.

If you are old enough to remember the 70s, you might also remember this iconic poster entitled “Building a Rainbow.”

At first glance, it’s pretty cool. There are a lot of little stick people building a rainbow.

But the beauty to the image is in the details. Look closer at it (click the image).

Aside from the references to Edith and Archie Bunker from All In The Family along the bottom, it illustrates the work involved in creating great things today. Success takes the concerted effort of a lot of people doing different tasks to reach a common end goal.

At Let’s Adopt! Canada, we want to continue building our “rainbow.” We want to increase our community, our tribe, our resources. And we want you to be a part of it.

We are expanding our worldwide network of volunteers and activists to aid us as we rescue homeless companion animals… people with big hearts and a loving concern for animals. Our mission is to find homes for our homeless cats and dogs. It’s do-able.

The power of social media to bring their stories into so many homes has helped us place cats and dogs across the globe. To continue the momentum, we are asking more people to join us and share our stories through their networks. As the membership builds, the stories spread further and the work becomes easier.

A bigger network will help us contact volunteers quickly when we need local fosters, volunteers, transport/rescue or for local action alerts. Same as building a rainbow — the more hands you have helping, the less each has to do and the more we can accomplish.

Imagine how many lives we will save together. Imagine being part of that joy.

So if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook. And if you have, please share us with your friends.

There are homes for our homeless.

Let’s Adopt! Canada
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=101251555667

Give Our Angels Wings:
http://bethechange.chipin.com/simbas-fund

Put Yourself On The Map:
http://bit.ly/LetsAdopt-Network-Map

Ciao, Holly

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For the past few days, I have been watching a rescue effort via Facebook of a pit/mix in a Tennessee shelter. Her name is Sasha. She and her four puppies were brought to the shelter in March. Her puppies were adopted, but she remained sheltered.

One faithful trooper kept posting her info on Facebook. He started posting her in March when she arrived at the shelter. Recently a new campaign was started for Sasha and this time, it crossed the right paths at the right time and a fire was ignited. The rescue effort took many twists and turns and often felt like a roller coaster ride. My own fingernails grew weary from hanging by them as I watched.

One note yesterday said, “I will call [rescuer] again after 12:30…” The reply that came back said, “Won’t the dog be PTS at noon?” It was time stamped 11:55 am.

Several quick notes later came word that she has been put on “hold” from being killed and would be pulled out of the shelter on Saturday, heading to a rescue. A bit ago came a message that someone was on their way to pull Sasha today! Forgive me, but I continue to hold my breath and cross my fingers until I see photos of her “on the outside.”

While my heart relishes the victory of this save, my mind goes to the dog that took Sasha’s place yesterday on the death list. We did not see a photo of him or her. Or did we, but we did not respond? That dog was just as undeserving of death as Sasha.

Perusing the posts on my Facebook wall, I saw the news that Robeson County has changed their laws regarding the killing of animals in their shelter. They will not longer empty a needle full of barbituates into the chest cavity of an animal hoping to strike their heart and end their lives. The heart is difficult to find and if missed, the drugs cause great pain to the animal before they finally die. Instead, Robeson County will use a more humane method… intravenous euthanasia.

I am struck by the sad reality that we even discuss “humane killing.” What is humane about killing voiceless, innocent creatures?

Another post protested the use of gas chambers to kill cats and dogs. I should have not watched the video because certain images will be forever seared in my mind. They bring me to tears even now as I write this. The dogs already lifted into the metal gassing box are wagging their tails completely trusting the people who have placed them there. And their trust was violated; they were betrayed.

We have to stop the killing!

While we make statements about how spay/neuter will reduce the many cats and dogs brought to shelters, that idea is for the future, the next generation of animals. Spay/neuter does not address the pets in urgent need at this very moment. And sadly, “at this very moment” applies whether you read this post as soon as I publish it or if you read it tomorrow… or even next week. There is a huge need to adopt right now.

The Three Brothers are available for adoption. Contact v.larkhill@googlemail.com.

If you have a cat or dog, consider adopting a companion for them. Dogs are pack animals and operate very well within a group. Cats love company, too. In my household, the cats all pair up and are always found napping with their “best friend.”

If you already have two, consider a third… or maybe even a fourth one, too.

Please adopt a rescue or shelter pet.

If you aren’t ready to adopt, consider fostering a cat or dog. Call your local rescue groups and shelters. There is always a need for foster homes.

Save a life today! And help us empty all the shelters and all the rescues.

Ciao, Holly

Update: Sasha is safely out of the shelter.

That’s about all she was to anyone… except someone gave her the name Petra. Her photo was taken to put on the internet with the others.

She appeared on my Facebook page last Friday evening. She and the others in the post were from a shelter in the Dallas area. Their time was nearing an end; they were the “urgents.” As are so many by the time they hit Facebook.

Always my first thought is that I want to take them all. But how would that be possible? I already have several.

So what can I do to help them?

I hit the SHARE button at the bottom of the post and added their info to my network of friends. It’s the least I can do… and maybe someone will adopt one.

Within a few minutes, someone messages me. She has seen Petra’s photo and wants to adopt her. How can she do it? Is it even possible? She lives in San Antonio — five hours from Dallas.

My first response is YES! Because I KNOW this can be done.

On her fifth try, Karrie reaches someone at the shelter who verifies that Petra is still there. She takes Karrie’s info and puts a hold on Petra. Over the next few hours, a rescue group steps up and arranges to pull the little dog on Sunday. A foster comes forward who will foster her overnight Sunday night. And at noon on Monday, transport starts for Petra’s trip from Dallas to San Antonio.

At 3 pm Monday, Petra — renamed Vimba which means “Hope” in Shona — arrives at her new home.

The power of sharing via social media saved this pup’s life… a happenstance connection on Facebook.

But there are more in need in all areas.

Do these pets a favor and share messages about animals in need. You never know when your message might save a life! And it costs you nothing… just a few minutes of your time.

Here are just a few of the faces saved in the past few weeks through sharing.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
reprinted from Let’s Adopt! US as it appeared a few weeks ago. It’s a true story.

We can save them… we just have to try.

Please join us! Let’s Adopt! Canada.

Ciao, Holly