January 1, 2009
ARNO’s work on the street is aided by more than our stalwart volunteers’ efforts. There are many residents, some very young, that we teach and put to
Photo by Lise McComiskey.
work as our ‘eyes’ to watch movement of ‘nobody’s dogs’ when we cannot be there. These kids, and adults, learn what it takes to maintain a pet and at minimum how to be kind to an animal. They learn that ARNO can help them, too, whether with spay/neuter for their pets, or supplying pet food to an elderly person who barely exists on his social security check, or the young rock-throwing kids who are turned into kids who care.
This Christmas one of our volunteers who works on the street prepared little gift bags filled with candy, simple toys, and just items to garner a smile from a child or adult that helped pave our way into neighborhoods that are barely safe for residents, and hardly safe for outsiders. One of the smaller children, Tyler, who does not talk but somehow is understood by his grandmother, was not around when his gift bag was delivered to his house. The gift card said ‘from Santa to Tyler.’
When Tyler’s grandmother spotted the ARNO volunteer later in the day on her ‘supper’ feeding route she called to her and also called out the non-verbal Tyler. “Tyler didn’t understand why you would have a gift for him from Santa. I told Tyler that you were probably one of Santa’s elves. Tyler insisted that is not what you are, and I thought you should see who you remind Tyler of… Go ‘head, Tyler, take the lady in to see who you think she is.” Tyler then grabbed the volunteer’s hand, led her up to Apt. #4, and directly inside the door was a Christmas tree all decorated like any you see in anyone’s home. Tyler then slowly raised his arm and pointed a finger aimed at the top of the tree. Tyler was sure. The ARNO volunteer was no less than an angel. Needless to say this was one of the best Christmas gifts we could ever get.
Please allow us to continue to be ‘angels’ to the people and the homeless animals on the street. They need us to recover more than needing buildings rebuilt… they need us for their hearts to heal. Please consider donating to help us continue our work within the community for the homeless animals. We are making a difference and your donations allow us to continue. Please don’t forget us. A donation check dated in 2008 can be tax deductible for 2008. Consider becoming a ‘sanctuary’ member and donate monthly even a small amount so we know we can count on your support throughout the year. It’s easy to do with a credit card on PayPal, and secure so you don’t have to worry about your privacy or personal information being in the wrong hands.
ARNO and The Great Puppy Poach of 2008
What do you do when you find three litters of puppies, all living under abandoned houses and buildings about to be demolished, all being reared by
free-roaming feral mothers and winter (even snow!) is fast approaching?
Yes, before you say it, there are hard choices to make even for a no-kill operation. But finding 20 puppies in a poverty ridden, heavy crime area of the city that still has not seen a glimpse of ‘recovery’ really gives us only one choice. If you’re ARNO you must go get the puppies. It doesn’t take one person; it takes an entire team and a plan. You have to wait until they are old enough to eat on their own, stage them in, and have them in isolation to protect your existing canine shelter population and their health as well.
Of What Are Puppies Made?
If little boys are made of “frogs and snails and puppy dog tails” then puppy dogs are made of our untied shoe laces, little snarly growls, loud yelps when they are out of food, tug-of-war with everything and anything, and lots of newspaper…volumes and volumes of newspaper. Those cute little puppy dog tails are always moving even when the rest of their bodies are snoring… Yes, puppy dogs do snore!
Visit our shelter and we will introduce you to eight little brothers that have given up the idea of a bachelor’s life on the streets of New Orleans and instead opted for puppy school at our shelter. It’s a good trade, while these eight little boys teach ARNO all about puppy talk and sometimes, puppy yell, all of us at ARNO are busy teaching them the ways of family life and also how to master the double-arm snuggle, not to be confused with the near-the-neck snuggle. It’s hard work and constant work, but everyone at ARNO is pulling double-duty so that these eight boys, and twelve more puppies (who recently joined our puppy school), will all be ready to ‘graduate’ after their second set of shots and snip surgery, then they’ll all be ready to snuggle, cuddle and wiggle with you and your family for, well fur-ever… that’s right, you heard us, 20 puppies in all!
Photo by Karen Whittington.
Watch the videos of one of ARNO’s Puppy Poaching Team’s missions, as we rescued five puppies from under an abandoned church, still with a calendar turned to August 2005. (After over three years this church and reception room stood untouched… a week after we rescued these puppies the building was demolished in one day.) If when watching the video you feel something weird, it isn’t a heart murmur you’re feeling, it could be the pitter-patter of little puppy dog toes as they make their way through your heart, just like they have done to ours. [please excuse some careless expletives used unconsciously in the videos]
Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc6weZwLMIo
Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3OHSm3BAcA
View our Team ARNO as they rescue the first litter (the ‘Classics’: Baby Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Strauss) of puppies in New Orleans’ Central City, an impoverished area that still needs so much help, you will understand why ARNO’s wish-list doesn’t include new cars, or sparkling jewelry or vacation trips. This organization’s wish-list contains what our dedicated volunteers are truly hoping for this holiday season — supplies and equipment needed to help other puppies who wait for our rescue team to arrive.
Our wonderful volunteers hope that holidays will include a giant piggy bank filled to the top so that ARNO can feed those puppies and feed the mother dogs
until special traps can be purchased to help bring them in off the streets as well, and before another litter or winter arrives. (equipment needed, pdf)
These devoted volunteers really yearn for families… lots of warm, loving families who will give all the puppies a brand new start, inside a happy home and far, far away from those still broken down empty buildings that they were born in post-Katrina New Orleans. Most of all ARNO’s all-volunteer team wishes and hopes that these little innocent puppies forget their pre-determined destiny to become yet twenty more “Nobody’s Dogs” out on the street. Instead we hope they yap and yowl their little hearts into the lives that our rescue work has given to them… the life of being somebody’s best friend!
Photo by Lise McComiskey.