This weekend was very exhausting, but in a good way. The kind of way where you get back from a really tough work out at the gym, and every muscle in your body is throbbing but you know it was worth it. Well, I don't go to gyms, so I wasn't exhausted in a successful workout kind of way. But it was still a very rewarding outcome.
Friday afternoon, I got an email from the Volunteer Coordinator from Maddie's Fund saying that she needed one extra volunteer to help out at "Dog Dynasty's Charity Dog Wash" on Saturday. I emailed her back saying I would be able to help out, and if I could bring Luna along (since she needed a bath anyways). She said of course!
So saturday, Luna and I went to go help out at the Charity Dog Wash, and try to get people to sign up to volunteer or become foster parents to animals in need. Unfortunately, we didn't have to many people interested. A lot said that they are too busy (if you remember I HATE this excuse), and that maybe when they retire. I'm sorry, do I look a retired woman? Well I hope not! I'm a 23 year old woman who puts in a couple hours here and a couple hours there to give back to my community, and to dogs in need! Volunteering does not involve you spending hours on end with animals. I really don't get how "being busy" is an excuse not to volunteer...but what ever.
Besides dealing with lazy people—okay maybe I'm being too harsh here—Luna and I had a grand ole time. She got a bath, she played with some dogs, people thought she was "Maddie" (the dog Maddie's Fund was founded upon), people thought she was up for adoption (hell no she's not!), she got to spend time with mommy, and on and on. Luna was so well behaved, the coordinator there said Luna could probably come to more events like this since she is so mellow. This makes me happy because one of the reasons I don't volunteer as much as I can is because I like to spend time with my baby girl. I feel bad leaving her to go spend time with other dogs...I'm cheating on her. And she knows it when I come home smelling like Mocha the Pit Bull, or Heath the Chi Mix.
As much as I "cheat" on Luna, I know what I am doing is for a good cause and that it is to get other dogs to be in the same loving environment as Luna. So hopefully she understands ;)
Sunday, Luna was not able to come with me when I went to volunteer at Stand Down. This event is amazing. When I first went to my volunteer orientation, I remember them explaining this event, and I knew right away that I wanted to get involved somehow. Stand Down is an event that is held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds every year since 1998 (a man told me today). The community comes together to provide homeless veterans a second chance (or a third, or a fourth). At Stand Down, veterans are able to get medical attention, legal help, showers, haircuts, dental help, drivers license registrations, AA meetings, etc. Anything you can think of. The reason they do this is so the veterans can leave with a better chance of getting on their feet and finding a job and being able to provide for themselves.
Well, since this event is at the Fairgrounds, there are no animals allowed. A lot of these vets have pet dogs, so most are not interested in showing up to this event if their dogs can't join too! (I mean who could blame them! Would you be able to abandon your dog for 4 days to seek personal help?) But that's where Maddie's Fund come in to help. We work with Dog Dynasty to board these vets dogs and give them baths, medical attention, food, dental care, spay and neuter, etc. These dogs are in good hands.
Stand Down is a 4 day event, Thursday through Sunday. The animals and the owners are apart for FOUR DAYS! Can you believe that? If you were away from your companion who you are with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, would you be able to survive 4 days with out them? It definitely wouldn't be easy. Sunday, the owners and their dogs were reunited. And I was able to experience this. And it was AMAZING! I haven't seen dogs so happy to see their owners, and vice versa. There were grins ear to ear, tails wagging and tongues out all over the place! You could see that even though these dogs may not have houses to stay in, they had homes with their companions who loved them. They were not loved any less by these men and women who served our country.
This was such a rewarding experience for me. I am still elated (6 hours after the fact) just remembering the happiness and greatness of this event. It makes me really remember why I decided to become a volunteer. THIS is why I became a volunteer.
Here are some photos I took from this event:
Friday afternoon, I got an email from the Volunteer Coordinator from Maddie's Fund saying that she needed one extra volunteer to help out at "Dog Dynasty's Charity Dog Wash" on Saturday. I emailed her back saying I would be able to help out, and if I could bring Luna along (since she needed a bath anyways). She said of course!
So saturday, Luna and I went to go help out at the Charity Dog Wash, and try to get people to sign up to volunteer or become foster parents to animals in need. Unfortunately, we didn't have to many people interested. A lot said that they are too busy (if you remember I HATE this excuse), and that maybe when they retire. I'm sorry, do I look a retired woman? Well I hope not! I'm a 23 year old woman who puts in a couple hours here and a couple hours there to give back to my community, and to dogs in need! Volunteering does not involve you spending hours on end with animals. I really don't get how "being busy" is an excuse not to volunteer...but what ever.
Besides dealing with lazy people—okay maybe I'm being too harsh here—Luna and I had a grand ole time. She got a bath, she played with some dogs, people thought she was "Maddie" (the dog Maddie's Fund was founded upon), people thought she was up for adoption (hell no she's not!), she got to spend time with mommy, and on and on. Luna was so well behaved, the coordinator there said Luna could probably come to more events like this since she is so mellow. This makes me happy because one of the reasons I don't volunteer as much as I can is because I like to spend time with my baby girl. I feel bad leaving her to go spend time with other dogs...I'm cheating on her. And she knows it when I come home smelling like Mocha the Pit Bull, or Heath the Chi Mix.
As much as I "cheat" on Luna, I know what I am doing is for a good cause and that it is to get other dogs to be in the same loving environment as Luna. So hopefully she understands ;)
Sunday, Luna was not able to come with me when I went to volunteer at Stand Down. This event is amazing. When I first went to my volunteer orientation, I remember them explaining this event, and I knew right away that I wanted to get involved somehow. Stand Down is an event that is held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds every year since 1998 (a man told me today). The community comes together to provide homeless veterans a second chance (or a third, or a fourth). At Stand Down, veterans are able to get medical attention, legal help, showers, haircuts, dental help, drivers license registrations, AA meetings, etc. Anything you can think of. The reason they do this is so the veterans can leave with a better chance of getting on their feet and finding a job and being able to provide for themselves.
Well, since this event is at the Fairgrounds, there are no animals allowed. A lot of these vets have pet dogs, so most are not interested in showing up to this event if their dogs can't join too! (I mean who could blame them! Would you be able to abandon your dog for 4 days to seek personal help?) But that's where Maddie's Fund come in to help. We work with Dog Dynasty to board these vets dogs and give them baths, medical attention, food, dental care, spay and neuter, etc. These dogs are in good hands.
Stand Down is a 4 day event, Thursday through Sunday. The animals and the owners are apart for FOUR DAYS! Can you believe that? If you were away from your companion who you are with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, would you be able to survive 4 days with out them? It definitely wouldn't be easy. Sunday, the owners and their dogs were reunited. And I was able to experience this. And it was AMAZING! I haven't seen dogs so happy to see their owners, and vice versa. There were grins ear to ear, tails wagging and tongues out all over the place! You could see that even though these dogs may not have houses to stay in, they had homes with their companions who loved them. They were not loved any less by these men and women who served our country.
This was such a rewarding experience for me. I am still elated (6 hours after the fact) just remembering the happiness and greatness of this event. It makes me really remember why I decided to become a volunteer. THIS is why I became a volunteer.
Here are some photos I took from this event:
