Category: Awareness

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Season Of Giving Drive

Hi everyone, it’s Ayelet, board member here at Paws Give Me Purpose Inc. With the holiday season approaching and the temperature dropping, I wanted to share something with all of you. 

About a week ago, I ran out of milk, so I took a quick walk around the corner to the CVS nearby to grab some. It started to rain as I walked and I wished I had taken an umbrella with me; it started out like any other day for me, until I approached CVS and outside was a homeless man. While this is very common in Philadelphia, this man wasn’t sitting there alone. He held an umbrella, not over his own head, but over the head of a Pit-bull sitting next to him. The cardboard sign he held up read, “Hi I’m Micah, my pet human and I have fallen on some hard times. Anything helps.” 

My heart instantly shattered, Micah looked so much like Bailey here at Paws Give Me Purpose, the same color, those big eyes, pointed ears, it was uncanny. I thought I went to CVS for milk, but I bolted in there grabbing things like a maniac. Gloves, blankets, snacks that were both human and dog friendly, a bag of dog food, plastic bowls, bottles of water, gatorade, socks, I grabbed it all. I went outside to hand the bags to Micah and his owner and we talked about Pits and how sweet they really are. I gave him some pets and well wishes and I went off on my way. It wasn’t until I got home to my apartment that I realized, I had forgotten the milk. 

I thought about Micah a lot this last week and wondered if I would ever see him and his owner again — well I did, and that day was today. I walked over to CVS to grab a few things and there they were sitting outside; Micah, a big baby sitting in his owner’s lap. I grabbed the things I needed and immediately grabbed some treats for Micah and some dried fruit for his owner. When I came out to give them their bag, I knelt down to Micah and he sniffed me for a moment, his tail began wagging happily and I received kisses as he wiggled out of his owner’s lap. My heart exploded he remembered me. It was that moment that I thought “I can’t believe this sweet baby is homeless, I can’t believe his owner who seems to love him so much is homeless”. 

I ran home to do some googling and found out some alarming facts. According to Pets of the Homeless, 3.5 million Americans are homeless and 5-10% of them have a dog or cat. In some areas of the country, the rate is as high as 24%. Micah is not the only homeless dog in Philadelphia, and no matter where you are reading this, please know that there is very likely a homeless human with a four legged friend nearby. 

So why am I sharing all of this with you? Because this holiday season I’m encouraging you all to give. Whether that’s leaving a saucer of milk out for that stray cat you see every day, getting a blanket for a homeless human being and/or asking a homeless pet owner what you can do for them and their pet. I know not everyone is in a position to give, but I promise that even an acknowledgement is very often appreciated — especially from our four legged friends. 

If you or anyone you know does not live in a city area and would like to donate to the homeless and homeless pets, you can send over boxes of items to Paws Give Me Purpose with a note that says “Season of Giving”. If you would like to send over a donation for us to purchase items for them, please make sure to notate that it is for “Season of Giving” and we will grab toys, food and blankets as well as make sure that your donation is given to a nearby shelter so that people and animals like Micah and his owner will receive them. 

Paws Give Me Purpose Inc.
2 Jade Lane
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

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Thanksgiving Safety

Thanksgiving has arrived and we know many of you are already familiar with food safety for your dogs, but for those of you who are new to owning a pup or you require a quick refresher, this post is for you!

Since our pups are family, we want to treat them with the same things that we enjoy, but it’s important for their safety that we be conscious of their specific needs when we spoil them. Unfortunately, many of the foods that we enjoy on Thanksgiving can be upsetting or even deadly for our pets, so it’s important to use caution on Thanksgiving. Raw vegetables and fruits like carrots or seedless apple slices as well as lean bits of meat are fine to share with our pets, but fatty or sugary foods are hard for your pup’s digestive systems to handle.

Sadly it is all too common a problem that dogs are given fatty foods like butter cookies or turkey skin and end up at the vet with acute pancreatitis as a result of Thanksgiving treats. It is important to make sure that your dog doesn’t get a hold of fatty table scraps even by accident during Thanksgiving dinner.

Another risk to your pup is sugar, which can be tough to digest; non-sugar sweeteners are even worse, they can be toxic to your dog. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that can be found in many human foods like chewing gum, peanut butter, and desserts. Xylitol can cause seizures, severe hypoglycemia and death in dogs who eat even a small amounts. Before sharing sweet treats, always check the label.

Turkey bones might seem like a good treat for dogs on Thanksgiving, but most Vets discourage this. Cooked bones are much more brittle than the smoked or raw bones made for dogs and can splinter into sharp pieces leading to internal injuries or blocked intestines. So if you want to give your pup a bone on Thanksgiving to keep them busy while you enjoy your meal, make sure it’s one made and sold just for them.

While it’s true our furry family members deserve some extra love on the day when we celebrate how thankful we are to have them in our lives, there are a lot of safe ways to do so; special bone or turkey chew is a great way to spoil your pup and keep them busy while you cook and celebrate. You can also pick up or cook them their own special turkey dinner that is dog-approved and purchase or make them their own doggie pumpkin pie, cookies or dog ice-cream for dessert!

Please stop by our recipe section here at Paws Give Me Purpose for many ways to spoil your pup on Thanksgiving and throughout the year!

From all of us here at Paws Give Me Purpose, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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Blossom’s Voice

Hi, it’s Blossom, one of the Paws Give Me Purpose Sanctuary residents. I have been living here in sanctuary for most of my life and am extremely grateful to have this chance. My story is pretty lengthy so I am just sharing the important things I want you to know.

For those of you who don’t know my story, I was a neglected and abused dog rescued from a Georgia shelter. I was labeled aggressive, untrainable, and sentenced to death.

I arrived at Paws Give Me Purpose hating all humans and animals of every kind. I was shut down and hid in the corner of my room for 2 weeks. I wouldn’t come out to even eat or drink until it was dark and no one was around. In fact, the people here were told to give up on me because I could not be helped. I do admit, I caused a lot of trouble, and am still a handful behavior wise, but Paws Give Me Purpose never gave up on me.

In addition to trust issues, I am a very fearful dog who responds badly to what I see as scary situations. Just being transported into rescue, I escaped and ran away into a swamp, and I still won’t get near or in any vehicle willingly.

Random sounds and quick movements set me off, I used to see a leash come out to take another dog for a walk and I would urinate right where I stood out of fear. Often, I would lash out and attack another dog if something spooked me, but again, Paws Give Me Purpose did not give up on me; they must really love me.

One of the most important things I have learned is that I am NOT an aggressive dog — I am just a sensitive dog. My horrible past has left me with mental scars that causes me to associate being surrounded by certain actions, or hearing certain sounds with bad memories.

Due to my inability to adjust to change like other dogs it was decided that it was in my best interest to live here in sanctuary. People who had never met me and knew nothing about me told the staff here that they should “humanely euthanize” me and move on, but Paws Give Me Purpose never gave up on me, and I will never give up on them.

There is an outside world of noise and strangers and thanks to Paws Give Me Purpose, I have a home, and the help I need. I live in sanctuary and have learned to trust. I have learned that humans can love, and I have learned to love dogs too, although I am extremely selective. I have bonded very closely with just one dog here, wherever she goes, I go.

For the first time in my life I feel safe and loved. I am alive today because of the wonderful supporters like you! Because of you, I receive expert medical care, receive behavioral help, and have a place to live where I am safe, people love me and treat me with kindness. I have truly regained faith in humans, and although I will never love every dog or person I meet, I have learned how to control my inappropriate behaviors.

I am told every day that I am loved, no matter what bad thing I do. I have been told by the people here that they can see the beauty of my soul and that life has been put back into my eyes when clearly I had given up. The sheer bliss on my face that they see every day is indescribable and has made the struggle with me worth it!

My story is just a glimpse into the kind of things they do here at Paws Give Me Purpose. I want you to know where your generous financial, food, bedding, toys, chews; all your donations are going. Please consider making a donation in order to help Paws Give Me Purpose continue to give myself and the rest of the Sanctuary pups the best life ever.

Help them continue their great work so they can help more pups just like me who are unwanted and need a special place to live out their days feeling safe and loved.

Love, Blossom 

Venmo: @PAWSGIVEMEPURPOSE-INC

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/pawsgivemepurposeinc

Sponsor: https://www.pawsgivemepurpose.com/our-sanctuary-residents-1/