------ Pets for U.S. Vets ------

"Surf", an 11 year old Shepherd mix who was adopted at 6 years old from the WAHS and then brought back 5 years later, met her new family at the DogParty.
When I met Surf with her volunteer walker Pat, at Mingo a few months earlier, her story gave me the fuel that I needed to keep working toward our goal. How heartbreaking to be put into a shelter situation at any age, let alone, 11 years old. Her eyes told the story of pain and abandonment and I knew that she wondered why she was there and what she did wrong.

A nice lady who attended the Furry Fall Festival ~ Pets for U.S. Vets, who already has a couple of senior dogs, said that Surf would fit right in with her family.

In addition to this wonderful news, we were able to raise over $12,000 with the help of the Claysville American Legion Riders, Post 639 with a check for $2,500 and an anonymous Korean War Veteran and the daughter of a Korean War Veteran, who matched our $6,000 raised.

All week, the weather kept calling for a wash out. We prayed that the rain would stop by 9AM, registration time, and it did exactly that. After all week of weathermen calling for a total rainy mess, that morning's weather report showed the storm actually circling away from 84 Fitness Center's pavilion where the DogParty was to be. When we got to the corner of 136 and 519 where the DogParty was held, the roads were dry! Not ONE drop of rain on our outdoor party! The sun came out shortly afterwards.

I wish I could explain to the shelter dogs and cats that there are people on the "outside" who are working day and night to help them get adopted. When I visited the Washington Area Humane Society yesterday, I felt that way as I looked at two old Beagle sisters that weren't wanted anymore by their family. I looked at "Surf", an 11 year old sweet, Shepherd mix who was adopted at 6 years old and brought back 5 years later. The puppies were oblivious. They hadn't lived long enough to wonder why they were abandoned or separated from their families and homes. They weren't old enough to feel rejection every time someone passed them by.
That is why, this weekend's DogParty is so important. Please plan to attend and dress warmly. We have a large pavilion if it does shower a bit. Please don't let the weather keep you from attending. I can't explain the weather to those animals, either.
We have LOTS of pretty Chinese Auction stuff! We'll be auctioning a scratch-off lottery board with lots of tickets on it. We'll have a 50/50 and a FREE 1 year 84 Fitness Center membership to raffle. We have the wonderful Patriotic Presentation and a Blessing of the Animals. We have interesting vendors and of course, That Guy With the Birds.
But, most of all, we are honoring our veterans for their service and we are giving the shelter dogs a day out at a DogParty. And if we're lucky, someone will fall in love and a little soul will be healed.

The Claysville American Legion Riders, Post 639, are sponsoring a bike, car and truck run to benefit 84 Fitness Center's Pets for U.S. Vets program at the Washington Area Humane Society.

Although I look as if I'm doing the Hokey Pokey, I'm really describing a dog's ears. Who knew? This show is about how to decide which type of pet will fit into your lifestyle.  I hope that you enjoy!

This episode features two organizations that help their communities through the involvment of pets. Listen as a Bethel Park policeman talks about the types of service dogs that are available to people with special needs. Lots of information is discussed on this show.