| |
A Pamela
Bratsos
Armstrong
Memorial
Home
About Pamela
About Sheltara
ADOPTION
APPLICATION
Adoption Check in!
Boston area animal shelters and adoption groups
Education Resources
for Teachers
Friends Links
Join Us
News From Our Friends!
Past Years
Pets Adopted
Pets to Adopt
Pets Needing
Sponsors
Website maintained by:
Bonnetta Shaw
For more information:
sheltara@comcast.net
Non-profit tax ID number:
76-0718112
Public charity status:
501 (c) (3)
|
|
|
| |
News from our friends!
Hi Wendy-
I adopted little feral Boomerang AKA "Booms, Boones, The Bun de Schwager, The Thunda Bunda From Down Unda" in 2003 from Sheltara Humane Society Halifax. It didn't take too long for him to socialize with the rest of our clan-Brutus and Nuts. He is a perfect addition to our family.
He is a super model and has never taken a bad picture.
He loves to sleep with us, play, climb, and watch "squirrel tv" through the window. From the moment I saw this original photo on your website, I knew I had to bring this little sweetie home.
Theresa
Hello -
This is Cheryl . I adopted Snowball last October. Just dropping a note to let you know he is still beautiful, and doing wonderfully in our home. We recently adopted an American Eskimo puppy as well. They are both white, a year apart in age and getting along wonderfully. My son, now 3, is in Heaven with his new "siblings"!!
I gave my name to a cashier in Stop and Shop who I have seen frequently. She was looking to adopt a cat/kitten. I hope she contacted you. I gave her all your info and my name. I really hope she has gotten through to you. She'd make a great "Mom" to one of the babies out there!
I was just trying to upload a cute pic I have of Snowball, Buddy & Joey. But my skills are somewhat inadequate with my new digital camera. As soon as I figure this all out, I'll email you a picture to have to show for the Sheltera Humane Society.
Hope all is well!
Hugs from,
Cheryl, Joey & Snowball
Pets are for LIFE....
A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page ad
in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his
community.
HOW COULD YOU? By Jim Willis, 2001
When I was a puppy, I entertained you
with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite
a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I
became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger
at me and ask "How could you?" -- but then you'd relent and roll me over
for a bellyrub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were
terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights
of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret
dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect.
We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice
cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you
said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at
the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and
more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently,
comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you
about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when
you fell in love.
She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" -- still I welcomed her into
our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy
because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared
your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled,
and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might
hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a
dog crate.
Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As
they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and
pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes,
investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything
about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent
-- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak
into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and
together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had
been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a
photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past
few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone
from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every
expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in
another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does
not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but
there was a time when I was your only family I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter.
It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out
the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They
shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities
facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your
son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please
don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you
had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and
responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely
refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet
and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you
probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to
find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules
allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At
first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it
was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad
dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who
might save me.When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for
attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner
and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the
day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A
blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears,
and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was
to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had
run out of days.
As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she
bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your
every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear
ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort
you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my
vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body,
I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could
you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry."
She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I
went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or
abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so
very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy,
I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could
you?" was not directed at her.
It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will
think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life
continue to show you so much loyalty.
A Note from the Author:
If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes
as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is
the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each
year in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help
educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet
office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet
to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our
love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your
animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal
welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is
precious.
Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter
campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.
Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but
it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet.
Remember...They love UNCONDITIONALLY.
I just wanted to thank you for the medicine and the records for Gus.
He is doing very well, adjusting nicely! If you ever want to come by and visit him, let me know.
Thanks again!
Lori
Here are a couple of pictures taken at the beginning of February. Thanks again for everything.
Sincerely,
Linda
Sorry it took us so long to send you an update.
Smokey is doing great - it was tough to get to her sit still, but we were able to get a few
pictures which I attached to the email. As expected, she was very shy for
the first couple of days, but then she quickly started to feel very
comfortable with us and in the apartment. She hasnt been here long, but
shes already acting as though shes in charge, probably because she is so
spoiled. We love having her here - thank you again for helping us get
her.
Matt and Elizabeth
We wanted to send you a few pictures of Troub and her new pal Sea Melody.
They are getting along wonderfully, and Troub is so happy to have another horse to play with!
I see them a lot during the day running around with each other,
chasing each other from one hay pile to another. Troub will run to one,
then Melody will decide she has to eat out of that pile, so Troub will go off to another pile.
They act like my boys!! :-) One always has to have what the other one is playing with!
Al scatters the hay in the field, so it's a great way for them to get lots of exercise trying to
find all the sweet piles.
All our love,
Julie
This is Tippy.
He was abandoned on the side of a highway, but he's found a wonderful home now.
RE: Bugsy
Could you please see that Wendy gets to see these pictures of Bugsy?
He is a very sweet kitty.
He is eating like a horse.
He's still a little gun-shy from the abuse at his last home,
but he is getting better about it every day. He doesn't shy away from us much at all,
although you can tell he still remembers his treatment there.
He and Bella chase each other up and down the stairs and share the bed for their naps.
Thanks
Kim H
|
|
|
