Out Cup Runneth Over - New Years Eve

[Richard Crowe]

I was expecting to pick up three female Maltese which were surrendered to us from a puppy-mill in Los Angeles on the afternoon of December 31st. While waiting for news from one of our volunteers who was assigned to pick up the three dogs from an L.A. vet where they had been checked and spayed, we got a phone call from a person in Oceanside, a nearby city who had seven dogs that were going to be confiscated by animal control due to the deplorable condition in which they were being kept.

My wife and I drove over to the house which was in a surprisingly nice area. However, when we came up to the house, it was a wreck outside with broken fences, and trash in the yard. They must have been neighbors from hell.

When we entered the house, the interior made the outside seem pristine. There was no furniture in the living room and large areas of tile had been torn up. There were puddles of urine all over and the odor of the home would have made a maggot gag! There wasn't a flat space in the house that was not piled with junk and trash.

We rescued these four dogs (3 six month old female puppies and a year and a half old female). We immediately brought the dogs to our vet for fecal and Giardia testing. Surprisingly they were negative and except for being absolutely filthy were deemed quite healthy. 



As soon as we got home from Oceanside and our vet, I left to pick up the three dogs from our L.A. volunteer. She was to meet me about half way, about fifty miles from each of our homes. The vet in L.A. delayed releasing the dogs and I didn't meet our volunteer until about 7:30 pm. It took about an hour (bad traffic) to return home.

So much for a quiet afternoon and evening watching college football games on television.

However, the dogs are safe and in a clean environment. By the way, we contacted another rescue who picked up the additional three dogs from that awful home.

This was just a quick shot after the dogs were bathed. They smelled to bad to do any photography before they were cleaned up.

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

Richard, I admire your dedication to your rescue dogs, and your photography skills, but I have to take issue with your comment about 80-year-olds trying to adopt a puppy.  My 101-year-old Mom and her 3 siblings are all going strong and would have far outlived any puppy they might have adopted at age 80.  One of my aunts, after becoming widowed at age 78, did, in fact, adopt a small rescue pup, Terry, with the stipulation that I would maintain a close relationship with the dog and commit to providing him a home if my aunt predeceased him.  He had a wonderful life filled with affection and all the attention and walks a dog could want, as well as lots of  fun with my aunt's children, grandchildren ans greatgrandchildren.  Terry died at the age of 14, leaving my aunt with so many happy memories of the years she shared.with the little boy she considered her "fourth son." If my almost-80-year-old aunt had not been allowed to adopt her rescue pup, both he and she would have been deprived of 14 wonderful years together, a profound loss for both. While not every elderly person is an appropriate owner for a puppy, or any dog, I wish that factors such as the health of the applicant and back-up plans could be considered rather than automatically rejecting the adoption application of an elderly person who can't be expected to "live forever.". 

[Richard Crowe]

Three out of the four have been adopted.  Carrie is the only one left.  

We have several applications to adopt her but, we need to be very selective about the furever home since Carrie is very shy and is not outgoing.  Our ideal home would have a little girl who would carry carrie around all the time.  Carrie is now in a very loving foster home and is starting to bloom.

We had a couple in their 80's who wanted to adopt Carrie and were very miffed when we would not allow the adoption.  I guess that they thought they would live forever. They only wanted a puppy!

[Miss Ellie]

It is truly amazing how dedicated you are to bring these poor, defenseless, beautiful dogs to a safe & loving environment until they find their furever homes.  Bless you for all you continue to do!

[Terri Sassone]

Richard it was so nice to meet you at the vet last week. Thank you for all that you do! These babies are precious.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Richard, thank you for rescuing these sweeties.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

They are so sweet....thanks for what you're doing for them.

[Ginny Nightingale]

wow!! These guys have a guardian angel in you--what a great thing you have done and will continue to do! 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Thank you for being there for these little ones.  Happy New Year!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

If not your cup, your home runneth over with these darlings.  Thanks for being a rescue home.