About The Foster Zoo

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We have decided to blog our adventures again. So much has changed since we last blogged. Bella and Shiloh both went to their forever homes and they are in wonderful families. June Bug got adopted. We quit fostering dogs after those adoptions because Tanker's epilepsy got bad. We quit doing therapy dog work because Tanker's epilepsy got bad. Tanker passed away June 9th, 2013. We adopted a senior border collie named Shania Tankerbelle in his memory. We still have our two cats, Sweet Pea and Little Bit. Wes has started rescuing pitiful bettas from Wal-Mart and we currently have seven. We have a camper. We camp. We have focused on giving our animals the best lives possible. We are The Foster Zoo Crew and we like to have fun.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Charity Concert for Hope and Faith, Benefit for Charity's Law




On Saturday, we participated in an event that raised money for two pit bull puppies that had been sexually abused.  Yes, you heard that right.  They had been sexually abused.  Their names were Hope and Faith.  Their sister, Charity, had passed away from her injuries.  These puppies were from a small town in North Carolina.  The rescue, Eagles Den Animal Haven & Rescue, traveled up here for a benefit that was held for them.

Our friend, Sven, had come to see us from North Carolina.  We have been friends with Sven for almost nine years.  Wes and Sven were both stationed together at Fairchild AFB, Washington.  We called Sven our adopted child.  He always got our yummy dinner leftovers.  Sven left Fairchild after a few years and was stationed in England.  We left Fairchild and went to Andrews AFB.  After Mildenhall, Sven PCSed to Seymore Johnson ARB in North Carolina.  Now that we all live somewhat close again, we see each other several times a year.

One of Sven's first visits to Washington, DC to see us.  We posed in front of the Washington State marker at the World War II Memorial.

Everybody got baths on Saturday before the event.  The puppies didn't go with us to the concert, but they get baths weekly because puppies like to get dirty.  Topher and Tanker get bathed every time that they work, which is about once a week.

Weekly baths are the pits.  Dirty Therapy Dogs make a difference too.

I looked better dry.

Topher licks everybody dry after their baths.

On our way to the concert, Topher really bonded with Sven.  Sven says he is not a dog person, but every dog we have ever owned loved him.  Even Blondie loved him.




I was able to wear my new animal rescue jewelry my parents got me.  My "Best Dog Mom" bracelet looked nice next to my animal rescue/acceptance tattoo in memory of my brother.  My purple heart with wings pin fits nicely on my Delta Society badge. 






When we got there, I was afraid that Topher and Tanker would not like it.  It was LOUD!  It was a HEAVY METAL concert!  That's not really my favorite kind of music, but I would pay to see a band play Mary Had A Little Lamb if it benefited animals.  I don't know anything about heavy metal music, but I know enough about music to know that the bands were very talented.  The first band actually were all high school students.  The coolest part was that they all talked about animal abuse, dogs, and what we could do to make a difference.  I was touched by that.  Sometimes you see God in unexpected places.  I felt God in the middle of a heavy metal concert with a mosh pit, long haired guys, and alcohol.  People loved Topher and Tanker.  They gave out their cards and shared their stories of being rescued.  Tanker shared his story of having a disability.  Neither of the dogs minded the loud music.  In fact, when nobody was visiting them, they slept!  Party hard, Topher and Tanker!







Topher and Tanker were not the only rescued dogs there.  Indigo Wheeled Terrier Jones and his sister, Ruthie, were there as well.  Indigo had been abused to the point he was paralyzed.  He has to walk with a wheelchair and wear diapers.  Ruthie was hit by a car and has to wear diapers.










I was able to speak with the people who rescued Hope, Faith, and Charity.  Charity's Law is already in legislation in North Carolina.  They are working to make animal abuse/sexual abuse on animals a felony.  The man who sexually abused Hope, Faith, and Charity got away with it.  However, he is now in prison on drug related charges.  When they rescued Hope, Faith, and Charity, they required extensive surgery to repair their internal organs.  The vet found door hinges and screws shoved up inside of them.  When I asked how common sexual abuse is in dogs, I found out that it is a common practice among people who breed dogs for dog fighting.  It is how the handlers gain their dominance over their dogs.  They rape them.  How disgusting.  Apparently, the laws are so slack in North Carolina, and in many other states, that although all the dogs this man breeds live outdoors, look horrible, and are scarred up from fighting, there is nothing animal control can arrest him for because all his dogs have food, water, and shelter.  I guess unless he is caught in the act of fighting his dogs, they can't arrest him.  The woman who has been in charge of trying to get this law passed has had dead pit bulls dumped in her driveway overnight in retaliation.  What kind of world do we live in?  An absolutely sick one.




Wes and I won a $25 gift certificate donated by BringFido.com.  Topher went up to the stage to claim our prize and had his picture taken.  Wes and I will probably use the gift certificate in October for our 2nd 9th anniversary.  There are many dog friendly places here in Virginia, and we're thinking of renting a nice hotel room in the mountains while the leaves are changing colors.



A blog entry would not be complete without a picture of my biggest love.





You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.  -James D. Miles

1 comment:

  1. Everytime I read something about the Charity benefit and what those poor dogs went through, it makes my stomach turn and my heart hurt. Who could hurt such a helpless and loving animal. We need more people like you guys to speak up for these animals! Thanks!

    -Danielle

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