by Joyce Brandon

Joyce is a part of Animal Compassion Team, an animal rescue in Fresno.

I thought it would be fun this month to look back over a year’s worth of articles and give you some updates on a few of my favorite stories. Time doesn’t stand still and neither does rescue. As soon as we finish with one need, the next is waiting; more often than not they overlap. We bury the sad and celebrate the happy: that is how we manage to keep going.

Last year in June I wrote “One Plus Three Equals Eight?” This was a story about how the animals in our care so easily multiply. Jazzy and her puppies were saved from a shelter in Kerman. She was a wonderful mom and the puppies were adorable! I am happy to report that all of the puppies found homes quickly and so did Jazzy. I still have contact with the adopters of one of the pups, they adore her and she is quite often the star of their Facebook page.

In July 2012, was the story of Sanger’s Tippy Toes and her litter of puppies. Again, the beautiful puppies found homes very quickly. One pup moved to Southern California, one to Northern California and one to Nevada–a huge step up from beneath a pile of railroad ties behind Denny’s! Tippy is still in a foster home in Sanger and is still looking for a home. She is doing well and continues to grow in social skills.

“Kibble from Heaven” back in November, was one of my favorite stories. Pork Chop, the little Jack Russell Terrier, was an interesting fellow. If you read the story you will see that with patience and perseverance I did catch the little guy. After being placed with a rescue he found a very nice family willing to take him in up north. Pork Chop joined a transport; but, Pork Chop being Pork Chop, bit the transporter and escaped in Sacramento. The rescuer on this end was frantic with worry and even drove up to look for him. Well, he decided to hang out at Home Depot where a very nice lady found him. Thankfully he was wearing a rescue tag and they were able to successfully escort him to his new home with no further drama. Adventure just seems to follow some dogs!

My Christmas story was “A Tiny Merry Christmas” last December. The best thing about writing these stories is that I can go back and reread them, relive them and remember them. My little Tiny was a treasure. Her “never give up” spirit was infectious. Tiny was adopted several months ago. She is adored and loved. Tiny came back to visit us in her very carry bag and she looked like quite the princess.

In January I wrote of my Parvo survivor Spotty and in March came Hope and her family. Hope is doing great! In fact, she was just spayed this past week and is available for adoption. The puppies were beautiful and all found homes right away. Hope does not resemble the dog we initially met in the shelter, so fiercely protective of her family. She is loving and deserving of a great home. I am confident she will live a full and wonderful life.

Last month’s article was “The Circle of Life” about my little mama dog now named Addie and her pups Adele, Annie and Alfie. They had a rough start, but are doing great! Addie has turned out to be a fantastic mom. She has a long way to go in the human trust department, but she is making progress. She is devoted to the pups. She was growling the other night and I couldn’t quite figure out why. I realized after watching for a while she is just doing her mama due diligence. The puppies at 3 ½ weeks, are starting to explore their environment. When the pups get too close to the edge of the crate they are called home as she warns them to back off. Her transformation into super mom has been rewarding to watch.

The stories keep coming. Lives are saved and lives are lost and from each experience I grow not only as a rescuer, but as a person. My desire through telling these stories is to bring the plight of the homeless animals to your attention in a way that touches and inspires you. The rescue community needs a lot of help. Ask yourself where you might plug in. Not everyone is equipped to work the shelters, take in moms with litters of puppies or cope with the emotions of rescue, but everyone has something to offer. How about writing a newsletter for a local rescue group? Fund raising organizers are always needed…do you like to throw parties? How about providing short term pet sitting for a foster parent that needs to leave town? There are so many ways to help, so many needy rescue groups, and so many deserving animals. Please feel free to email me at joyce@animalcompassionteam[dot]com and ask me how to get started.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to ACT.

Joyce Brandon is co-founder of Animal Compassion Team, has lived in Squaw Valley for 21 years and has always had lots of four legged friends sharing her mountain home along with her husband Jim, and five children. Joyce works part time for Mountain Valley Community Church and splits the rest of her time between family and animal rescue work. Joyce believes animal rescue is a mission field God has called her to and has given her a passion for.

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