A Dog Who Doesn't Bite You

Rating Details

Service being reviewed:

Friends of the Shelter
Reviews: 5 | Posted: 1 year ago | Avg Rating: 4.8

Supporting Shelter: St. Tammany Humane Society

Supporting Rescue: Friends of the Shelter

Pros: Excellent Service

Cons: NONE

The “Friends of the Shelter” are typical of one of life’s most valuable elements - friends. Make that GOOD friends - DEPENDABLE friends - REAL friends. When the hurricanes recently ravaged our State, we could not “evacuate”. We have three dogs. A friend of long standing offered shelter at a her place. We stayed with friends of hers whom we’d never met.

We all took turns walking all of our dogs which numbered a baker’s dozen. We shared our fondest stories about pets we have and pets we’ve had. We all shared the bitter-sweet and impossible task of taking turns in telling one another about “the best pet we’ve ever had”. None of us could get any closer to the task than to “narrow it down” to less than 7.

We stayed dry and fed. So did our pets. We were blessed with the camaraderie of GOOD people, GOOD conversation and fellowship and now have GOOD memories to offset the not-so-good ones given us by the destruction of the hurricanes.

I don’t know how to attribute it correctly, but a very wise person once said that you can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat animals. ( or words to that effect ) God forbid, but if we ever again have to pass through an experience such as “riding out a hurricane” I’d consider it a privilege to be with those same people AND their pets.

The pets entertained us and reassured us with their calm acceptance of the strange faces and strange environment. They were so “matter-of-fact” about it all that we drew strength and comfort more easily facing the same circumstances as humans. If you are reading this review here at ZooToo, then it is more likely than not that you KNOW how animals are imbued from On High with the ability and propensity to “sense” danger - especially climatic emergencies. You know how much our animals contribute to our own well-being and happiness.

Surely, they deserve equitable reciprocity.

The “Friends of the Shelter” are a rescue group of caring people who unfailingly volunteer hours and hours of effort to the ethical treatment of animals in our local shelter. When the expenditure of moneys is required they are dependent upon donations and often their own pocket. If you are able to help a good cause and enjoy the confidence that your money is used wisely and for the intended purpose, a contribution to “Friends of the Shelter” will surely be an excellent investment - one which will help people you don’t know enjoy the camaraderie of animals who will love them unconditionally.

Remember the words of Mark Twain: “You can take in a starving dog and make him prosperous and he will not bite you. This is the principle difference between a dog and a man.”

-- additional:

[updated on 2008-11-10 22:13:19 GMT]:
All This For A Dog Named "W".


As Mr. Mark B. Cohen once said, "Nothing can so alienate a voter from the political system as backing a winning candidate!!" ( or words to that effect ) Undoubtedly,/quote/23711.html you have by now surmised that nothing seems to tear at the fabric of friendship more than political disputes or "differences".

And, as you probably know, our beloved Basset, "Ignatius Watson", recently had spinal surgery performed by the WONDERFUL Dr. John Mauterer and his team at the Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center in Mandeville, La.. But we never told the "rest of the story" as Mr. Paul Harvey would say.

Immediately after being blessed by the unselfish wisdom and expertise of our primary care physician for "Ignatius Watson", I had another problem. I had to drive into "new territory" and would be returning after dark.

A WONDERFUL lady who will remain anonymous here showed up by Divine Intervention and offered to travel with me to the "distant" hospital for the purpose of getting "Ignatius" the critical attention he needed.

She explained how she hadn’t voted "early" and was concerned about the time to drive down to Dr. Maurterer’s and get back before the polls closed. Dr. Drew was getting a kick out of our discussions about how to schedule the trip and still get the vote cast. He howled when I said to her, "This may not be difficult at all. Who are you voting for, anyway?"

She said, "If you knew who I was voting for, you’d probably REALLY WANT me to ride with you !"

Dr. Drew said he’d NEVER seen two people on opposite sides of a political issue work more amiably and without consternation in their effort to solve a related problem.

Off we went !!

She is very active in a meritorious Animal Service Organization called "Friends of the Shelter". She and her fellow volunteers donate literally hundreds of hours each year to help the animals of the local Shelter.

With the dilemma before her, she was in the proverbial trick-bag. If it were so easily solved as finding someone else to ride with me, I’m sure she’d have helped me find someone. BUT THIS WAS MORE . . . The purpose of the trip was to aide a helpless Basset Hound get the critical care he needed, AND he was a relative of a Good Friend !! She made her decision immediately based upon the facts at hand and set her priorities as she is bound by her integrity given the circumstances prevailing at the time and jumped in the car knowing that it may likely cost her vote in the Presidential Election.

She’s VERY active politically. You have to be when most shelters are supported by one government or another. The BOTTOM LINE, to our friend is to help any animal anywhere get the attention and special care they all desperately deserve.

It’s not so difficult to claim "I support this" or "I support that", but when it comes down to HAVING to make a decision that is either ONE WAY or the OTHER, you’ll find out what your true colors are. This Lady showed us hers, and by reflection, she made a strong positive statement for all of her co-members in "Friends of the Shelter" - she chose to help an ol’ Basset Hound that’s not even a relative of hers instead of casting her vote . . . or, at that moment, RISKING the loss of a chance to vote.

"Friends of the Shelter" is populated by people who, when the chips are down, will always do what they can to help those who can’t help themselves - those poor charges of the Shelter who have either lost their way or have been left to the care of others - the Dogs and Cats, etc. who find themselves in your Local Shelter.

"Friends of the Shelter" operate on a basic philosophy. You've heard it said that one should not require of another something which he/she is not willing to do himself/herself? Well, these volunteers lean more heavily on the old addage "Refrain from asking of another something you haven't already done yourself!!"

A finer group of people will be very difficult to find !!

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