Fur Real Friends

I received this email from Lisa and an happy to share it with the DGMS family.  (Apologies to Lisa - as it had been vacationing in my SPAM folder for about a week)

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Linda could you possibly post a reminder to people to please keep in touch with loved ones and neighbors, especially if they are a bit reclusive. This past Friday, we assisted in rescuing 12 dogs and 5 cats from a horrible situation. The owner died and it was weeks before anyone noticed. Most of the man's pets starved, others had to resort to eating the corpse. http://www.ksl.com/?sid=20144978&nid=157 I have already told all of my family, if you can't reach me or my husband for more than two days, you had better get someone to check on us.

About a year ago you helped me with getting letters sent to my father for his Honor Flight. Those letters were truly treasured and they were one of the items left to me when Dad died in December. Dad started getting really ill in June and moved in with me and my husband and the 20+ rescue dogs. Dad loved the dogs! During our six months of being involved with hospice, I was made aware of a huge need in the community. Many homebound seniors, disabled and hospice patients are pet owners. Unfortunately many patients get too sick to care for their pets and many expect their family to take responsibility for the pet. All too often that does not happen.

After Dad passed away I created a new 501c3 non-profit in his honor. It is called Hospets.

Hospets provides volunteer pet care services for referred seniors, disabled and hospice patients who need help caring for their pets', lifting much worry and stress from the patient so they can simply enjoy their pets' unconditional love.


How does Hospets help?

Transporting pets to grooming and veterinary appointments

Assistance with pet food and basic veterinary services if owners are facing financial difficulties

Transporting pets to assisted living facilities for visits (if allowed)

Emergency respite care for the pet should the owner need to be hospitalized

Pre-planning placement - Assisting owner with finding a new, loving home for their pet

Cleaning litter box, walking, general grooming

24/7 Emergency/on call pet caregiver until family can take possession of a pet

We are teamed up with Senior Services, Meals on Wheels and local Hospices. We are serving the Central Ohio area and hope to eventually expand. I was wondering if you could give us a little plug. I am hopeful that people who may not live in my area will at least love the idea and consider starting a program in their own area or volunteer with programs that may already be out there. Our website is www.hospets.org and facebook is http://www.facebook.com/Hospets


Thanks,
Lisa
aka Lisa in OH

Comments

[Robin in NM]

What a WONDERFUL service! I hope that your organization (or something similar) becomes a nation-wide service.

[Nikki in NYC]

What an absolutely fantastic idea! Good luck with it! I am sure it will make a huge difference.

[Crystal]

I love this idea. I work with rescues as well and it is so hard on the dog when the owner dies. They are just lost for a while.

[Chicky]

I remember when my Grandma got sick with pancreatic cancer, she held on until she was sure one of us would take her beloved Laddy. Laddy is living with my cousin now and thriving - although he went through some severe separation anxiety when Grandma died. Grandma loved his so much, that I feel a part of her lives with Laddy. What a wonderful service you are providing. So happy you are on Facebook...I will make sure to get the work out to my friends.

[Chicky]

Lisa, would you like to join our Facebook DGMS friends page? If so, friend me! Kathy Rhinehart

[Lisa in OH]

Thanks all. We have been tremendously busy. We obtained our 501c3 non profit status. Last month alone we assisted 155 pets by providing pet food, flea preventative, tumor removal surgery and more. We are getting calls frequently from other counties across Ohio wanting us to expand to their areas, so eventually this could become a huge program. Right now we are trying to get more community involvement so that we can help more people. I think Dad would be proud :)

[Another Lori in TX]

What an admirable thing you have done, Lisa! You saw a need and found a way to fill it in a way that helps others as well as being a remembrance of your Dad. I'm sure he would be VERY proud!

[Tracy in Cincy]

Lisa, this is such an amazing idea. I live in Cincinnati and would be more than happy to help get it going down here. I have 5 dogs of my own, and sometimes wonder who would take them if something happened to me. I know my girls would do what they could, but also know it would be hard enough for them to make it without me, without having to worry about the dogs.
You can get in touch with me at tshuttlesworth@cinci.rr.com if you have anyone already in Cincinnati that is working on this, or if you want to let me know who/how to get it going down here.

[Chicky]

Lisa, I know your dad is smiling down from heaven on you. You should be so proud of yourself :O)

[Shawn]

I am so in awe of you and your amazing idea! LOVE LOVE LOVE it. How are you getting funding and do you have volunteers for the various things?

[Lisa in OH]

So far we have gotten all of our pet food and litter donated. Flea preventative was donated by 1800PetMeds> Vet bills have been covered with donations from individuals. We have quite a few grant requests out at the moment, hopefully some of those will come through. We should have additional grant money coming directly from the County coffers this fall. As far as volunteers, right now we are using volunteers in our fundraising efforts. Before any volunteers can interact with any of the seniors they would have to be background checked with means additional $$

[Shawn]

Sounds like a very involved endeavor but so worthwhile. I have absolutely no doubt your dad is seeing all you are doing and is bursting with pride. You are doing this on top of your normal job too? Color me impressed!