Hi Everyone. Matt here. Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. The old Chinese curse “may you live in interesting times” seems to have been cast upon me.
I’m already getting warmed up to have the Christmas blues this year. I used to spend each Christmas with my Mom (that’s me and her on the left), who as many of you know passed away a few months ago. This week also marks the one year anniversary of the loss of my favorite dog of all time, Emma. We now have six dogs at my house, including Roscoe the Plotthound and Tyson the little guy, and while I love each of them very much there was a bond between me and Emma that I am finding is irreplaceable, much like the bond between Kerry and Jasper. She was like a friend that was always with me, and I find myself missing her each day, much like my Mom.
Merry Christmas, huh?
(That’s a beardless me and Emma on the right) A few weeks ago we got a call from one of the shelters we partner with about a Dalmatian whose time was up. As luck would have it at the time we have three dalmatians here at Pets Alive, which happens to be a record. But that didn’t mean we were going to let this one die. We sent Juan over to take a look at her and Kerry and I began working the phones, trying to find a spot for her.
I was able to secure her a place from where she would be adopted quickly. I would bring her home that night and arrange for her to settle in the next day. As long as Juan approved our little Dalmatian would be another life saved. Juan came back with her and it was love at first sight. She was beautiful, sweet, affectionate. A little angel. Just what I needed to soothe the holes in my heart.
All the way from Pets Alive to my house she slept on the front seat with me, her head in my lap while I was petting her. She lifted her head to kiss me several times, and then just nodded off to sleep. There’s really nothing like a bundle of warmth against you when you’re feeling kind of down.
My mind started to wander (which probably isn’t good since I was on I-84). I thought about Emma and how I saved her from a backyard breeder. She was the runt of the litter and he confided in me that he was going to kill her if I didn’t take her. She was my first rescue dog. And I saved her life.
I thought about my Mom. How much she loved animals. How as kids me and my brother were always nursing birds and rabbits and squirrels back to health with her help. How she instilled in me an admiration, respect and responsibility for animals. How important they were to her.
Then I looked down at our little Dalmatian. She was sleeping soundly. Snoring. Alive. Because of me. And because of you. Because of my Mom. And because of my love for Emma and desire to save more animals.
She was my reminder. My Christmas Angel. The Dalmatian, Trixie, is safe now and at her forever home. She’s not the only Angel in my life and I am grateful and thankful for all of them. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Now on to business….
We have some ideas for projects and priorities for 2009. Here they are:
Spay/Neuter and Medical Clinic at Pets Alive – The idea here is that we will build a brand new medical clinic building at Pets Alive. The clinic would offer low-cost spay/neuter and medical care to both the public and other rescues. The cost is about $250,000, with Matt’s DeAngelis Family Foundation pledging $100,000 toward the cost.
Roscoe’s Route – The idea behind Roscoe’s route is to create a “chain” of shelters from the south to New York where we would provide specially-designed prefab concrete blocks that would be refuge for 4 dogs. Each shelter that got a block would pledge to, at a moment’s notice, house 4 dogs for us at least overnight, and transport them safely to the next block along the Route. We estimate the cost of each Block at around $5000, and would like to start with 5 to 10, making the total cost $50,000 – $100,000. We could then safely transport dogs from the South to Pets Alive, while providing our shelter partners with a little extra room. The idea is named after Roscoe, the Plotthound who needed double knee surgery and is now with Matt’s pack.
Expanding Humane Education – We really enjoyed visiting schools this past year, and would like to offer more. We’d like to hire an education coordinator, develop materials and get out there teaching kids respect and empathy toward animals. We estimate the cost for this to be about $60,000.
Changing Hearts Program – We’d like to get out into the field, pick a state down south and create a program to attack the problem of animal overpopulation at the legislative level, encouraging spay/neuter and coming up with methods for compliance, much as the Eastern Seaboard states have. We would involve shelters by encouraging them to work with us on getting their adoptable animals adopted (perhaps via Roscoe’s Route) and start promoting spay/neuter and more humane treatment of animals. We’d then like to expand this model. We estimate the initial cost of this program to be about $30,000.
Dog Capacity Expansion – The idea is to expand Pets Alive’s capacity for expansion by adding Roscoe Blocks in the dog area. This will allow us to keep dogs out of the kennel in the winter and add capacity. The cost is about $1500 per run, and we’d like to have 20 more, making the total cost $30,000.
We would love your opinion. Choose the item you think is the most important by going to poll.petsalive.com. We welcome your votes and your comments.
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Middletown, NY, 10940
(845) 386-9738
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Well, Matt, you were a beautiful child, now grown into a beautiful person (with the same cute butt–wait, did I really write that?). Your Mom, too–she has that glow only Moms with babies can radiate: look at my boy, isn’t he just so perfect! Emma looks wonderful, too: strong and steady. Trixie looks like she knows, finally, she is safe.
Grieving is a necessary process, a confrontation of the terrible pain of loss, loss of the person, or other loved ones, now missing, no longer in their place in your life; the phone number no longer dialed, the present not bought, the chewed toys left behind, the empty collar, the unused leash. But don’t forget: every day you suffer, your Mom, and Emma, rest a little less easy. They only ever wanted you to be happy, and free from pain–they’d have lived forever for you, if they could have. And you know, that in itself is a comforting thought, as their love will always be with you, entwined forever with your love, for them. Bonds aren’t broken by death–it just seems that way, I think, to the living, left behind, and kept from the secrets of how it all–flows.
About your priorities: wow! The spay/neuter clinic–it seems so essential to have one, as there are so many more lives out there than anyone can save. But then, for those dogs alive and in danger, the Roscoe blocks–they seem essential as well. And since it all begins with PEOPLE, and their attitudes–an education coordinator has to be high on the list. So, I guess what I’m suggesting is that everyone give as much as they possibly can, to make all of these wonderful dreams come true. Each life is so precious, and so many precious lives are tossed aside, by humans, without consideration of the sweet, lovely soul that rests within.
That is the dilemma. Anything you, me, anyone, can do to help make things right, in any order, has got to be a step in the direction in which we all need to go–for the sake of the many in despair, always listening for the kind voice, always hoping for the walk to freedom, into a better life–of licking faces, racing across the grass, and sharing that great big overflowing cup of joy that every one seems to carry in their heart. Gifts waiting to be given, too often cast aside.
Whoa! Didn’t mean to write a novel!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of the Pets Alive family of executives, staff, volunteers and supporters!!!!!
Matt,
What a beautiful story! It is amazing how one special animal can change our lives forever. Pets Alive is an amazing organization. You are all amazing people and I thank you for being there for these animals. I wish I were closer so I could help more. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!
Sheri
Matt…I know the holidays will be a hard time for you…but what a blessing to have found such a special Christmas Angel…my thoughts and prayers will be with you….
Peace,
Angela
She is your Christmas Angel! Just as all of you are their Angles; always remember without you all they would not be saved!
You do not need me to tell you but she is one awesome dog!
I believe yoy both have the sweetest deal and thoughts are with you!