Sunday Smiles

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Haha! Happy Sunday everyone! :-)

A Sense of Humor...

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New Ending...

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This is so, so very true! Please open your home and your heart to an animal in need. Who knows, they just might rescue you.♥

The Face of FREEDOM...

Berkely - Rescued from a Puppy Mill on Jan. 4, 2014

This is the face of FREEDOM! National Mill Dog Rescue Team (one of my favorite dog rescues) arrived home to Colorado yesterday with 52 dogs they had rescued from puppy mills in Kansas. The puppy mill survivors were held in loving arms for the first time and placed in clean, comfortable kennels with good food, clean water, and a warm bed. To learn more and see all of the faces of freedom from this recent puppy mill rescue, visit them on Facebook.  Please join National Dog Mill rescue in welcoming these dogs to freedom!

More faces of Freedom....

Hannah -  Rescued from a Puppy Mill on Jan. 4, 2014

Bean - Rescued from a Puppy Mill on Jan. 4, 2014

Lydia - Rescued from a Puppy Mill on Jan. 4, 2014

Tigger - Rescued from a Puppy Mill on Jan. 4, 2014

Curious about this amazing rescue group? Learn more about them (below) and read Theresa (National Mill Dog Rescue's Founder and Executive Director) letter to Lily's Breeder. Lily is the inspiration for National Mill Dog Rescue.

What National Mill Dog Rescue does and WHY they do it.....
National Mill Dog Rescue was established in February 2007, in honor of a forgiving little Italian Greyhound named Lily. Theresa Strader, NMDR’s Founder and Executive Director, rescued Lily from a dog auction in Missouri. Prior to that day, Lily had spent the first seven years of her life as a commercial breeding dog, a puppy mill mom. Determined that her years of living in misery would not be in vain, Strader started NMDR, giving a voice to mill dogs across the country.

During her years as a breeding dog, Lily spent all of her days confined to a small, cold wire cage in a dark, foul-smelling barn. Never was she removed from her cage for exercise or socialization. In her dreary confines, Lily was forced to produce one litter after another with no respite. Like all commercial breeding dogs, she was a veritable breeding machine whose worth was measured in only one way - her ability to produce puppies.

By seven years of age, Lily was worn out. Commonplace in the industry, she had received little to no veterinary care throughout her life, the result of which, for her, was terribly disturbing. Due to years of no dental care, poor quality food, rabbit bottle watering and no appropriate chew toys, the roof of Lily’s mouth and lower jaw, had rotted away. Her chest was riddled with mammary tumors and she was absolutely terrified of people.

Strader brought Lily and twelve others home from the auction and declares that even for a highly seasoned rescuer, the following months were the education of a lifetime in rehabilitation. That she would take up the cause for the mill dogs was never in question and National Mill Dog Rescue was promptly underway. In five short years, NMDR has amassed over 1,300 volunteers and has rescued over 6,300 puppy mill survivors.

Run almost solely by volunteers, NMDR has pledged to put an end to the cruelty of the puppy mill industry. Through widespread informative efforts, NMDR hopes to educate the public to acquire their companion animals through reputable breeders or better yet, from shelters and rescue groups across the country.

After her rescue, Lily spent the remainder of her life as a beloved member of the Strader family where she received medical care, warmth and companionship. In time, Lily found courage and her disfigured little body educated countless people about the horrors of the puppy mill industry. Lily died, at home, peacefully, in the arms of her loving dad with her family gathered around, in May 2008, fifteen months after she was rescued.

Lily - NMDR's Inspiration

Want to read the letter that changed it all? Click here for the letter that Theresa (NMDR founder and Exec. Director) wrote to Lily's Breeder. Here's Lily's story.

National Mill Dog Rescue has saved over 8,437 dogs and counting. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Freedom isn't free - please consider a donation today to help out this amazing rescue. Donate now! :-)

 “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” - Edmund Burke

Merry Woofmas!

The Park Avenue Chihuahua Crew wishes you and your family a very Merry Christmas! :-)

Dear Santa...

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There are so many wonderful animals in shelters just waiting for loving homes. My puppy dogs are rescues and they are the most amazing and loving dogs anyone could ask for. If you are looking for a purebred then check shelters and specific rescues groups (i.e. Chihuahua Rescues, Golden Retriever Rescues, etc.) as they have so many purebreds available of all ages (young and old). Don't discount older dogs as they are so grateful for a loving home. Even though they are older, they still have many more wonderful years to share with you. Be a hero and save a life!

If you are thinking of getting a pet this holiday season.....please remember don't shop, ADOPT! ♥ 

Traces of Love...

The Best Things In Life....

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Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration

 

Today people all over the world celebrate Day of the Dead (Spanish: Dia de los Muertos). For those who aren't familiar, the holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends, family and loved ones who have died. The celebration is held every year on November 2nd. The common symbol of the holiday is the skull as represented in the masks, jewelry, food, candies and clothing that many adorn on this special day.

To some it might seem like a depressing holiday but it is quite the contrary. It is a day filled with fun and happiness as people go to cemeteries to be with the souls of the departed and/or build private altars at home containing the favorite foods and beverages, as well as photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.

For those who follow my blog know that my precious fur babies, D'Angelo and Patti Marie passed away this year. We lost Patti Marie on March 18, 2013 and then lost D'Angelo only 5 short months later on August 22, 2013. It has been two and a half months since I've blogged. I just haven't been able to. I didn't even have the strength to do a blog post on D'Angelo's birthday - Oct. 14th. I cry all the time, although the last few weeks have been a little bit better for me. Every time I see a Chihuahua out somewhere, I cry, or if I see a picture of a Chihuahua that looks like my babies, I tear up. It always happens at the oddest times and usually out in public. I can barely show my face in Petsmart, Lowe's or Target because I start crying when I go in there. It's embarrassing to say the least.

I have been so heartbroken. Just when I started getting over losing Patti, I lost D'Angelo. I was so very close to my puppy dogs. They were my world and we were always together. So many people talk about all the adventures they would have if they had tons of money and could do anything in the world. My most favorite thing to do was to snuggle with my fur babies. I didn't want all of the riches in the world. I just wanted to be with my babies and I was. I snuggled with them, sniffed them often (I loved how they smelled) and showered them with thousands of kisses a day. I would dance with them, sing to them, carry them around while they fell asleep in my arms and completely adored them. One thing that I can say is that I cherished every day that I had with them (from the very beginning). I knew that each day was a gift - a precious gift given to me by God and that I wasn't promised tomorrow with them. I thanked God every night before I went to bed that I was able to be with them one more day. There is this quote that has really helped me through the sad times..."Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened" - Dr. Seuss. It is so true. I sometimes think how different my life would have been if they weren't ever in it. The pure, unconditional love that I received from them healed my soul from all of the trauma that I endured as a child and a young adult. Even as I type right now, I am overwhelmed with tears of joy and gratitude that I was so very blessed to share my life with them. Patti Marie and D'Angelo taught me about love and happiness. They taught me that the little things in life are the most important things and that life is meant to be celebrated.

They most definitely were my little pieces of heaven on earth. Most people will go through their whole life and not ever come close to experiencing the love and joy that I was able to with my puppy dogs. They were more than pets to me. They were my children, my heart, my loves and were (and always will be) a part of my soul. I am so grateful that I was chosen to be their Mommy and was able to share my life with the two most gentle and beautiful souls I have ever come in contact with. Today, I celebrate the life and love of Patti Marie and D'Angelo -- how very blessed I am!

 

In Memory of Sweet Baby D'Angelo....

In memory of D’Angelo (a.k.a. - Baby D) - It deeply saddens me to say that our Sweet Baby D’Angelo passed away Thursday, August 22, 2013 due to internal bleeding. He was able to pass at home on his favorite spot (same spot that Patti passed) on the bed with his favorite blankie surrounded by his mommy, daddy and his sisters. A world of thanks to our vet and a vet tech who came to the house at 9:30 pm Thursday night and put him to sleep while we snuggled, rubbed and kissed on him the whole time – until the last beat of his heart. It was so peaceful, beautiful and sad at the same time. D’Angelo was our little man and the love of our lives. Sadie and Macy were able to say their good-byes to him. They were very upset and cried out loud for their beloved brother. We are giving them tons of love, attention, extra walks and treats to help them cope with the loss.

 

The ones that knew D’Angelo knew that he had so many serious health issues – epilepsy, diabetes, cushing’s disease, allergies, liver problems, eye problems, heart problems, etc. I didn’t talk about his health problems to people or blog about it because that wasn’t what I wanted to focus on. I wanted to focus on the positive aspects of life. Looking at D’Angelo, you would have never known that he dealt with all that he did. He was always happy and very loving to everyone. Our Sweet Baby D was the bravest little boy in the whole world. Alex and I devoted our lives to taking care of our sweet boy. We have no regrets at all. We loved him so deeply. He let us know when he was ready to go and now he is in heaven with his beloved sister (and the love of his life) Patti Marie who passed away only 5 months ago.

 

D’Angelo was truly the sweetest, gentlest, handsome, loving and most precious puppy dog in the world – a beautiful soul indeed. He was truly a lover boy! The name D’Angelo means “From the Angels” and that is truly what he was – he was a gift from the Angels and from God. I used to always whisper in his ear that he was my "heaven on earth" and he was -- he was my little piece of heaven on earth. We rescued him from the Greenville Humane Society in 2005. He stole our hearts immediately. We are so very blessed to have had him in our lives and look forward to the day that we all can be reunited once more. Mommy and Daddy love you and miss you so very much sweet Baby D!

♥  D’Angelo Savinelli - October 14, 2004 to August 22, 2013 ♥

Thank you for all the love and happiness that you brought into our lives. We will miss you more than you could ever imagine sweet, precious Baby D’Angelo.

Love Always,

Mommy, Daddy, Macy and Sadie
(The Park Avenue Chihuahua Crew)