Wednesday April 4, 2007

Gem of the Day: "Teamwork doesn't tolerate the inconvenience of distance."
~Author Unknown~

(By requests, we're going to be including the "How to Donate to Small Paws " links at the VERY beginning of our newsletters,
so you don't have to go hunting through them! Thanks, all, Robin)

To donate to Small Paws Rescue you may use your major credit card securely, at this site.
This is our own credit card server. It is secure!

If you have made a past donation using your credit card, you may e-mail Stephanie Hunter, at SPRFluff@aol.com and let her know the amount of your donation to help these Bichons.

You may also call your credit card donation in to Janet Byrn at 508-801-3106. She is on Eastern Standard Time!

In January of 2007 we paid $23, 119. 55 in vet bills

In February, 2007, We Paid Vet Bills Totalling $36, 450.23

See our 112 listings of 121 adoptable Bichons! (Some of these listings are of bonded pairs!)

See our 112 listings of 121 adoptable Bichons by Zip Code!


Fill out an online adoption application!

How to Become a Much Needed Small Paws® Rescue Foster Parent!

Information About Our Programs

Small Paws® Rescue Outreach: Puerto Vallarta Mexico

Dear Small Pawsers,

Welcome to the newest members of our online mailing list, especially if you have seen us featured in one of our recently updated media articles , read about us in the best selling book "Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul", or if you saw Small Paws on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams!

Small Pawsers everywhere welcome you with open arms! We sincerely hope that you enjoy "Small Pawsing and reading Small Paws!"

If you are new to Small Pawsing, this may look as if it is coming only to you but really it is going out to fellow Small Pawsers all across our country and in 22 foreign countries as well!

Adoption information is posted below. Turn up your speakers!
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There is something I need to talk to you all about. I don't know why it bothers me to come and talk to you about this, as it is as much a part of rescue as paying the vet bills is.

Ok. As you know, I have an unexplainable emotional attachment to my 1998 Volvo wagon, whom I have named "Glory", as in Glory to God. She is almost 10 years old.

She knows her way to each and every commercial kennel in Mo., and has been through so much with me, on the roads to and from the puppy mills.

I remember the time I was greeted with a shot gun in hand, at a puppy mill. Years ago. I got out of the car and put out my hand to shake his, all the while staying behind Glory's driver's side door in case he were to shoot. He wasn't going to shoot. He carries that shotgun all over that farm. Maybe he is afraid of tigers. I think he is more afraid of extreme rescue groups who have threatened him, but I digress.

Glory is getting on up there now. Her time spent in the car hospital is happening more and more and is becoming more costly. I have had car trouble several times here lately, here in Tulsa, and I do not know what I would do if I were to break down in 100 degree plus weather, or in an ice storm, with 26 puppy mill Bichons in the car.

Don Rorschach from Irving Tx., recently broke down on I 35, transporting three of our rescues to another Small Pawser. He told me it let him know what that would have felt like if it had been me, with a car load of Bichons. He ordered another vehicle as his had seen much better days. Don has pledged funds to our vehicle fund, saying,

"Subj: Re: Minivan
Date: 4/3/2007 1:48:44 PM Central Daylight Time
From: don.ro@verizon.net
To: Pup3@aol.com

Robin,

I'm hoping the Small Paws board will get high behind and start a little separate fund for a Volvo replacement for you. You just can not be up in Missouri liberating Bichons and Shih-Tzu's in the middle of the summer or winter in an unreliable vehicle. Even Volvo's have their limits!"

Well, our Board of Trustees has decided it is time to replace Glory and get a vehicle for Small Paws.

Some of our donors have already sent funds in, earmarked for "Operation: Bichon Wheels." The Bichon Frise Club of Dallas is also helping us. We thank them so so much!

We have enough to pay for almost all of the vehicle. I'm hoping that if any of you are able, that you may want to help us to be able to pay for the rest of it, and to buy it outright. We still need about $5000.00 to pay for it in full.

We do not want to run any of you short or make things uncomfortable for any of you! We know how much you all give to save these Bichons, already.

Having a reliable vehicle is part of being able to save these Bichons and that's why I'm coming to talk to you all about it.

Our Board has been after me to do this for over a year now, and I have just dragged my feet. I guess I felt like I was betraying Glory, as I really do love this car. I know it sounds silly. Dale calls her just a heap of metal. I tell him not to do that in front of her.

Because of all of the vehicles we have had to rent, locally, the past year, (we have to rent another one this week to go and bring back several dogs from Missouri) and because I just don't trust that she won't break down on the road, I too, have come to the conclusion that it is time.

Dale and I hold the title to Glory. We bought her when it became evident that I was going to be making a lot of trips back and forth to MO.

Small Paws has made right at one half of the payments for her. She has been free and clear for a couple of years.

The reason we decided to have Small Paws make her payments was that paying milage to me, with all of the miles I was putting on the car, was more expensive than her payments were.

Dale and I will to donate 100% of the proceeds from Glory, (GULP) back to SPR towards the new vehicle. (I feel like I am cheating on her even writing such words and no I am not kidding.)

Maybe I can take adoption apps for her. Do a garage check to see how they treated their last car?

This is from Brant Cramer, one of our Board Members. He does know cars.

From: bjonzfrise@earthlink.net
To: Pup3@aol.com

To our members

You all have read about “OLD GLORY”, Robin’s rather mature Volvo Wagon. Well Old Glory is well beyond retirement age, and needs to be put out to pasture. OLD GLORY has safely taken Robin tens of thousands of miles throughout the southwest rescuing Bichons. I am not sure of the record, but I seem to remember 19 Bichons in one rescue load. This Volvo has been extremely practical and dependable while providing Robin top-rated vehicle safety. Trust me on this. You definitely get what you pay for in the automotive industry. I am a Detroit area native and have worked for two major automotive manufacturers in customer relations, warranty analysis, engineering test labs, and engineering planning. After considering several cars for Robin, the Volvo comes out at the very best long-term investment for Small Paws® Rescue in terms of quality, safety, and expected length of serviceablity. Volvo has enjoyed a world wide reputation for safety and longevity. 200,000 miles can easily be anticipated with proper maintenance. Small Paws® Rescue has grown at a very rapid rate, and the demands are now considerable. The Board has agreed the time is long overdue to purchase a vehicle to be owned by SPR.

Brant Cramer
Board of Trustees
Small Paws Rescue Inc.
bjonzfrise@earthlink.>

Dale and I looked at GMC's, Toyota's, and Ford's. I was really surprised to see that these SUV's cost almost as much as the Volvo does.

We are talking with a dealer here in Tulsa who knows what we do and why we need this vehicle. They have agreed to discount the car down to $100.00 over invoice which ends up taking about $5000.00 off of the MSRP.

Now if any of you work for Volvo or for a dealer that sells Volvos, now is the time to speak up and help us here! HA!

If you would like to help our Operation Bichon Wheels fund, let me know. You can use your credit card or you can send a check. Just let us know what you would like to do if you can help us to have a more reliable way to transport these little fluffs.

Also, if you are interested in buying Glory, she would be great for around town. She has no cuts or nicks in her leather. Her carpets look new. She has no dents and we have all of her service history.

Retail for her is $6000.00 and trade in is right at $4000.00.

You need to have another Volvo in residence and promise to take her out for ice cream once in a while. (Just kidding. Force of habit.)

Ok, that's all for now. I have never loved a car like I do this one. This is probably going to make me cry you guys. She has sure been a good one. All My Love, Robin

For Those Broken of Heart from the Loss of a Beloved Pet

Gospel CD: It's A God Thing!
Singing for Small Paws®
The Heart Murmur Repair Bichons Reunion Page
Small Paws® Rescue: Bichons Available for Adoption
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