So sorry to be out of pocket for so long. Maybe the funny pic above will make up for it?!

 I had a trip to the west coast to see some family. Had about two events a day for over a week, as it was a family reunion of sorts. We seem to have a yearly gathering and we lump all of events during that week. It took fourteen hours to get home, but that's another story.  While out in Vegas, I saw Miss Sophie, who got adopted from the shelter where I volunteer. She has a great home and is well-loved. Pics to follow.

Olive is doing great. She's been running and playing ball in a fellow volunteer's yard, weekly, and running off some of the weight she's gained from being kenneled so long. Dixie is doing great and probably enjoying her family very much.

My own little guys are good. I feel terrible because I missed doing a five-year anniversary post for Renaldo.

The cat colony is great. I supply the dry food for it and one day soon I will post a chip in if anyone wants to help with that.

The shelter has moved a lot of old timers since we developed a Facebook page. There is quite a following now.

I will begin posting more regularly very soon. With a full life if I'm out of town for a while, I have to catch up and I'm finally there. One night after work was spent shopping for rescue animals. Another night was assigning soldiers for adoption (I'm a long term volunteer for Soldiers' Angels and organize a team of about 45 active volunteers who support soldiers on deployment).

Enjoy these pictures of Miss Sophie. She couldn't believe she saw me out there.

I brought her new Mommy a dozen roses, and Sophie a toy and bones, and her brother (dog) bones, and her sister cat some mice with catnip. She has a really great family.

And she'll always be my girl. This was the first pittie I ever walked and because she was SUCH a love I kept walking them. Then I realized the ridiculous hype around this breed and that they are much-maligned.

Sophie dislodged the other dog to gain control of the couch! Her Mommy calls her the Queen of the House.

YAY!

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Miss Sophie Needs a Home

Things are always tough when a shelter is crowded. This dog, Miss Sophie, is a favorite of mine. She is actually the first pitbull I ever walked, so in her own way was a breed ambassadoor.

If you are interested in Miss Sophie, give Leslie - the Adoption Coordinator at Yonkers Animal Shelter - a call. You won't be sorry with this girl. I wish I could adopt her myself. She gives kisses, is sweet as can be, and would be a totally loyal and happy pet. My thought is that if I hit lotto, I would buy a house for Sophie. In the meantime, come to Yonkers, NewYork and meet her!

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Building Hope, The Campaign for the New Yonkers Animal Shelter

I attended a meeting last night about the upcoming Golf Tournament being held at Split Rock Golf Course (http://pelhamsplitrock.americangolf.com/) on Thursday, August 20th to benefit the New Yonkers Animal Shelter. The new shelter - when it's built - will replace the almost 50 year-old shelter at 120 Fullerton Avenue in Yonkers, New York (currently where Mr. Willie, Miss Sophie, and Hannah Banana - et all - all live).

When: Thursday, August 20th
Where: Split Rock Golf Course
Registration: Noon
Tee-time: 12:30pm
Cost: $600 per team, $150 per individual

There will be a silent auction (they are still accepting gifts), a 50-50 contest, and other prizes.

After the tournament a dinner is being held at The Riverview in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York (a beautiful historic town along the Hudson River), which is being hosted by Riverview owner and generous benefactor of the shelter, Mike Silvestri, along with the New Yonkers Animal Shelter Committee (who I had the pleasure of meeting last night). The committee is headed up by Dr. Kay Pistone Carucci, who invited me to join the committee, which I have done. Though this event is only two weeks off, I assured Kay that I would help with the next event they plan.

Dinner tickets are $75 per person.

Even if you don't play golf, you are welcome to attend the dinner. Bring a friend! The Riverview is gorgeous. Mike supplied the committee with dinner and dessert as we met on location, planning the last minute details.

Checks can be made out to New Yonkers Animal Shelter, c/o Dept. of Parks & Recreation, 285 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701. They can be reached at 914-377-6450.

More info to come.

Check out The Riverview:

http://www.riverviewcaterers.com/riverviewsplash.html

Check out the Split Rock Golf Course:

http://pelhamsplitrock.americangolf.com/

Check out the New Yonkers Animal Shelter official site:

http://www.newyonkersanimalshelter.org/

Repurpose Of This Blog

Slight change. Given the many shelter and pet-related issues out there, I am going to use this blog as a general purpose advocacy site instead of only advocating for one shelter. Since starting this blog-project, I keep coming across compelling stories that need telling and I know that interesting (I hope) narrative coupled with facts and information will keep people visiting. This week we had visitors from London, several from areas in Canada, Wisconsin, Maine, Missouri, Los Angeles, New York (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Westchester), Michigan, North Carolina, Conneticut, Ohio, and a bunch that I could not identify. It makes sense that I attempt to reach a larger audience, and my hope is that we together can build a wider base of support for shelter animals. Everyone can make some contribution, either in time, money, ideas they are willing to see through to fruition, and lobbying your local legislators when they need it.

I'll still be walking the sweeties at Yonkers Animal Shelter (http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY63.html ), so you can expect to see other stories about those dogs and cats. However, now there will now also be stories on rescue organizations, issues that need lobbying and for which I will post information, notable items in the news, and fundraisers that need supporting. There are a lot of things that need doing and I think it is best to focus my energy in more than one place.

Still, I have a special place in my heart for Yonkers Animal Shelter and in the next couple of days I'll post information about upcoming events. Most notable is their upcoming Golf Tournament and Dinner on August 20, which is raising money for their new shelter - a desperately needed facility if there ever was one. YAS was literally built in the 50's. Here is a link. http://www.newyonkersanimalshelter.org. They are poor in facility but rich in volunteers and staff that go above and beyond. On that subject, don't forget Darlene's Cause for Paws Poker fundraiser this Sunday, August 9th (http://shelter-tails.blogspot.com/2009/07/cause-for-paws-poker-fun-and-bbq.html).

Tomorrow I am off from work and will spend half the day running errands and half walking dogs. Same with Saturday. I can't think of a better way to spend days off! I always look forward to seeing them. And I got my shipment of special bison treats (and other things on clearance from Drs. Foster and Smith). Mr. Willie should be glad. And Miss Sophie, and Cloe, and Hannah Banana, and George The Nice Calm Dog, Debbie and Dixie, and Pudgie - who likes his toys, and Spuds The Giant RCA Dog.

Some picture links

Here you can get to all the dogs at the shelter who are up for adoption.

http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/NY63.html

Below are some of the dogs I've mentioned, that I've had an opportunity to get to know.

Debbie (note the mole on her left cheek):

Pudgie:

Miss Sophie (my little honey!) - such beautiful eyes and a great smile. I only wish her very feminine pink polka dot collar was showing!

Mr. Willie (note the regally held head):

Hannah:

And finally... Spuds! (aka The Giant RCA Dog) ... he's such a nice boy.

xoxo