Shayna & Jack find little Charlie.

So I have some really great people out there that I love with everything in my soul just because of who they are as a person inside & out... They may not even know how much I love them! One in particular is my girlfriend Shayna. She has a heart of solid gold.

Meet Shayna & Jack! ...............( I know, They're beautiful)



When I first started getting involved in rescuing I felt alone, awkward, and it was as if no one but my husband could understand what I was doing which kind of made me embarrassed & unsure (at the time). People who barely know me even say things like, "you rescue dogs? you foster?... I didn't peg you for that kind of person.." Like what... I have to be shallow just because I love fashion, design, jewelery & anything that sparkles? Give me a damn break. People also think I am crazy because I feel so strongly about it... but if you dont have passion for something, how can you feel alive?


So all of a sudden I started cross posting dogs in need on Facebook and I got a call from Shayna one day that I wont ever forget because she was the very first person I "affected" by my "passion" to do as much as I could, in this little life I have. Shayna wanted to help! She was really hurting over the things I was putting out there, what some of these dogs were going through. So, she took on her first foster, in her Buffalo NY apartment, with her dog Jack, where she was a full time Nurse, finishing something important in education that goes along with all those smartie Nurses, and deciding whether or not she was moving to Philadelphia soon... but she took her on anyways. Her name was Rosie!


Well, of course Rosie had a great foster mom, and eventually got adopted, but midway during that whole process Shayna took on another life in need. This new lifes (new) name was Vada.

 Shayna found Vada in the streets of Buffalo at midnight, in 4 inch heels, on her way out with friends. To say that my phone started blowing up shortly after is an understatement. She was so concerned she dropped everything she was doing to help this dog, got Vada in her car, left her friends, and went home to figure out her next step, even though she literally had no idea what she was doing.

Vada was thin, looked like she had just had puppies, and was as sweet as can be... to Shayna. We found out later she was NOT good with other dogs, and we assume its because of dog fighting or some kind of neglect of that nature. Shayna was able to get Vada into Buffalo Paws & Claws no-kill rescue in East Aurora NY. You see, being a pit bull, we knew there would be no chance at a shelter.
Vada needed surgery. As you can see above, Shayna made sure it happened & went to visit her after. Vada was bad with dogs. As you can see, Shayna wouldn't accept that, and pictured above is the "aggressive pit bull" that once hated dogs sitting happily with another at obedience classes.

Shayna is a person that makes this world a better place.

Well, over time, Shayna confirmed her move to Philadelphia, PA was going to happen (heart breaking), but that little Nurse has big plans. Not knowing she was ready for another dog, I frantically texted her one day a picture of a puppy that looked just like Jack that was at Rochester Animal Services. Following that was a phone call saying: "I want him, help me".

You see, Rochester Animal Services, although forced with difficult decisions daily, does do great things. A pregnant dog wandered up to the shelter and laid by the doors this year on Thanksgiving Eve. Seeing the state that she was in, a shelter volunteer took her home to take care of her. On Thanksgiving Day, volunteers helped that stray girl have 9 puppies! It was a small miracle that she wandered to the Shelter door step asking for help! The mom got adopted first too (which makes my heart soar with happiness)! A few weeks later the miracle pups were ready for adoption, and I went to go get Jack #2 for Shayna. Luckily he was one of the last two left, along with a little girl that looked NOTHING like him. After two hours of debate over the phone Shayna decided she wanted the little girl even though we loved little Jack#2 (LOTS of people wanted to make him their own).

Meet Charlie! This was the day we  adopted Charlie and brought her home. Corey & I officially became her Aunt & Uncle, and Shayna became her mommy, flying from Buffalo to finally meet her! Roxie, Bengal (and Lucy at the time) got to meet her, and she took to Roxie like all the little dogs did- following her around, trying to snuggle her, and asking "Are you my mom?". It was so cute to see that 2 pound baby paw my 90 pound GSD who rolled over on her back for her. She was so tiny she could fit into the palm of your hand!

We still don't know what Charlie is, and we don't care. All we know is that it was meant to be that day. Now Shayna and her little family are happily settling down in their new apartment in Philadelphia, sending me the occasional picture to keep me up to date on their lives and I would not have it any other way. Charlie is still the cutest thing ever, she and Jack are besties, and she is shaping up to be one of the most adorable, hysterical, and unique dogs I have ever seen!

Its funny how a dog can change your life. Every dog that I help has some kind of impact on me, and to know that one of the miracle puppies is in the hands of Shayna is an amazing feeling to have.

Shayna has gotten so busy with the recent move and all (literally it was last week haha) but whenever she can, she finds a way to help. Even if its just to spread the word. That's all I ask of anyone in this world in regards to what I'm passionate about... Give respect, and at least consider the possibility of adopting. If you want to help, find your own way, anything helps and is appreciated.


 Hopefully there is something that we all have a passion for.... Helping children, cancer research, participating in 5k's for a good cause... anything. This happens to be my something. If you are not making a positive difference in the world for something you believe in, even if it's a small one, then I feel sorry for you because you will NEVER know what it feels like to love the way I do, live the way I do, and be moved to the core of your soul the way I am. You will also never know what an inspiration people can be to you either... Like my girl Shayna.


To Jack & Shayna, Thank you for adopting the bat/monkey/gremlin we call "Charlie". Shes amazing and you guys deserve the best the word has to give for all eternity <3

I never had a name, and I never will.

I just wanted to take a moment to share the story of this little babe, who never had a name and never will.

A 5 pound Min Pin wandered to the door step of a girl that I never knew. A mutual friend re-posted, Free to a good home with a brief story about how he was lost, scared, really sweet and only wanted attention. Clearly emaciated (you can tell by the photo) he had no tags but a collar, and that she wanted to find his owners or give him a good home.

Being the person that always over steps by boundaries to help something that cannot help themselves, the first thing I said was don't call animal control. This is because if he ends up at Rochester Animal Services or Lollypop Farm, there is a HIGH CHANCE that a dog this thin will fail the temp test because he is scared and growls over a bone, food or something... anything.

Let me just take a moment to say that of my own 3 dogs (that I love & adore so much that I would do anything for them because of the joy they bring into my life and the love the shower me with)-I know for a fact that only ONE of them, if put in this situation with temperament testing would have a chance to pass. That would be Bengal. The others would be deemed too aggressive to adopt out. They have a huge fear of strangers without Corey and I there to let them know its okay, in which case they would bark and growl- one is 5 lbs, one is 90 lbs. They would be euthanized immediately if no rescue thought was given. Especially my German Shepherd because of her breed... she would not stand a chance.

The thing is, my dogs that would not pass are the most loving dogs you could imagine once they get to know you and trust you, and it does NOT take a long time, an hour perhaps?!
This poor girl who found this dog had NO IDEA that this was the case. Rochester Animal Services and Lollypop Farm especially, are very respected organizations in the community, as they should be- but are masked by their beautiful exteriors. I stand behind them in many situations as well as what they stand for helping as many as they can, but this is an example of how THE SYSTEM FAILED. Sometimes people get immune to pain and suffering when its your job on a daily basis, and without knowledge and education on this subject YOU WONT KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE

Since no one stepped forward, and I made her nervous about his demise (again, I always overstep my boundaries when I see a situation that makes me panic I know the signs too well), this poor girl actually really really cared and tried to get him back. Animal services would not let her have him, and had already taken him to Lollypop. Lollypop would not let her have him, even though SHE WAS WILLING TO FOSTER HIM, she was willing to pay for the fees to get him out of there, any shots they wanted to give him, and she even had a friend that wanted to give him a good home.

Their response with no names attached was this

"Unfortunately, the euthanasia has been done.

I’m assuming that you spoke to a woman named ___? I did talk to her this morning and told her that the level of aggression was pretty bad. The dog did not appear to be severely underweight to me—maybe a little on the thin side but none of his ribs or hips were visible.

I watched the tape of the food test, and it was one of the worst I have seen. The dog began growling when approached, and when the hand reached for the food, he bit and ripped the hand off the wooden stick that holds it, and then stood barking at the handler."

Make your own judgements, its a free world.

May this poor baby rest in peace. He left the world today, May 29, 2012 against the wishes of a person that decided to love him and care for him. Say a prayer as he crosses rainbow bridge today!

Lucy Part 2: Adapting to life as a "Dog", and finding my real family

So, to continue my story I could talk for days about my time in my foster home... it got harder before it got easier. Every single day was different and it depended on how I was feeling, how my foster family was feeling, and the obstacles that "popped up" to slightly set me backwards at times. After all I was couped up in a cage for 4 years this was terrifying.

No one knew right away how I was going to turn out, but my foster parents knew that they didn't care what anyone said, because they were going to help me, and that was it. Everyone they knew said things to them, even family.
"Why would you bother trying if shes already damaged..."
"Shes hopeless don't you think... Look at her she just shakes"
"Why does she act like that, can she even remember what happened to her?"
"Poor poor Lucy, I feel so bad, I pity her, sad little broken doggie..."

Of course they had their doubts, but it was a good thing that others doubted them too, because it made them want to prove every body who says that animals who are abused are "damaged" and "cant be fixed" wrong. They had never seen a little dog as damaged as me before. In fact, even with the German Shepherd Rescue that they volunteer for on the weekends, they still had never seen a dog as damaged as myself and my sisters- where we could not even make eye contact without soiling ourselves. In fact, I cried. Big huge crocodile tears would run down my face whenever a human approached... pure fear. Another thing that Kailey & Corey had never seen, which set Kailey back a little because usually she can forget our past to help us move forward and this time it was really hard to forget.

Other than crocodile tears, the first two weeks consisted of me pacing frantically, with my tail tucked up to my chin when my crate was not around. (They realize now that they took it away too fast) and that they should have left it downstairs a lot longer, and only had me out an hour or two a day to start.. but that was not how they did it. They blocked off some areas downstairs and let me explore, which all in all I did okay with solely because of the other dogs. Rumor had it that Roxie, my German Shepherd Foster sister, is the dog version of the Dog Whisperer, with little dogs (if you can grasp that tongue twister!) Boy was that rumor true. If I was not pacing around frantically looking for my crate I was glued to her before any of the humans. If she was laying, I would come near her and try to curl up in her tummy with my ears back and my whole body trembling just looking for comfort. I needed her and loved her immediately, she made me feel safe (after all I was use to being crammed in a 5x5 crate laying on top of 6-7 other dogs at any given time).

Finally my foster parents started picking me up... I would stretch out my legs and stiffen up like a board paralyzed from fear. They learned quick that I winced very badly and cried when they touched my neck (Kailey thinks its because when they were ready to breed me, or pre-maturely remove me from a litter to sell my babies to a pet store they would yank my neck really hard and toss me... she has seen videos of it ). Eventually they cut up some old sheets and made a sling type of contraction,(Mommy's know it as a baby body wrap). This was so they could hold me close whenever they were home no matter what they did, and get me use to human touch.

Corey was the person I clung to at first. It was at that time that I started crying in my cage at night (I hadn't made a peep yet except whimpers). I wanted to be near him but I was scared, so he blocked off an area by the coffee table with pillows and blankets so I could lay close enough to see him, but not touch, and the pillow walls made me feel like I was in a deluxe crate so I relaxed a little. Then, he cleared off his night stand and put my crate next to him right by his head... this was CLOSE, but again, I wanted to be near him however I was just so scared of it. They understood that and tried to respect it, but at the same time encourage more human interaction so Kailey would lay with me, and pet me and kiss me (which was weird) and eventually I stopped wincing when she touched my neck.





About a month later, I was up to date on all my shots, was healing from my surgery to get "fixed", and because of malnutrition I even had some teeth pulled and was healing from that as well. However I was finally eating better since Corey bought me soft food to entice me. I was even going to the bathroom (sometimes in the house unfortunately). You see, I didn't eat for the first 3 days, or go #2 when I was outside because I did not really get food or water in the puppy mill. They fed us water through a gerbil feeder that goes on the outside of a cage... just enough to stay alive and breed over and over and over and over... But I was coming around. I really was, and I was transitioning my human need for attention to Kailey, so when she would leave the room I got restless and paced, but when she returned I would relax and sleep and take this big deep sigh of relief like I was finally feeling a little safer. I still had a lot of work to do on the leash, I was really really scared outside it's so BIG out there, I just wanted to walk and run but they did not want to rush that so forced me to stay outside in one area for the time being to adjust.

As I explored more, I reacted more to things. Kailey taught me how to go up and down stairs and for DAYS that is all I did. Up and down, down and up, up and down up and down... back and forth, for hours on the stairs. When I would sniff something, if it moved I would jump out of my skin and hide, sometimes I accidentally knocked things over and WOW did that set me back, I would not leave my crate for hours. The noises were just too much for me. Slow and steady, They would bring me to families houses and get me interacting. I was not wincing, crying, having accidents or shaking, but I wasn't too interested either. Still, they told me that was great progress.
Finally, families were starting inquiring about me on www.nutsformuttsrescue.com where Kailey posted a short Bio about me. They drove to the center every weekend to meet families, and introduce me... but my foster parents were really apprehensive of everyone they met, telling several families all the details and behavioral habits both good and bad to get a feel for what they were willing to do to help my development. About 5 families later, Kailey got an inquire from a man named Holden Cohen, and his application to adopt seemed to good to be true...

Holden stated the necessary things, has a family, travels to and from Rochester to Florida, who his vet was, where he lived... then he said he had two rescue Chi's already in his home and that he was looking for a dog to belong more to Tanya (part of the family) but that would be his too, so that the Chis could all interact together... she figured she would let them meet me.

That weekend Tanya, Holden, and his mother came to the rescue center to meet me. My foster parents were reluctant, they had not met anyone yet that could handle me and not look at me as a burden eventually. They really wanted to get me adopted too because there is a train near their house and it was the biggest set back I experienced when going potty outside, it would disrupt me for days, so they knew I needed a place to finally lay my head and call "home" for good... after all- I did survive Hell I deserved it! Kailey let Tanya Hold me and I am not sure how I knew, but I did. She was my mom. I fell asleep in her arms, snuggled up, and was completely relaxed... my foster family was stunned.

After telling them all the good... and "bad".. things about me they just looked at my foster mom and said "that's great, we don't mind, when can we have her? shes gorgeous", so they set up a home visit for the next day, and pending their approval they were to leave me with my potential new family. That night I heard my foster family talking a lot about how this could really work out but they were scared to leave me after being with me for two months now. I wanted to prove to them that this was right so I did the unthinkable that evening, my last night with them... I pulled my tail out from under my legs, and played with a toy for the very first time in my whole entire life.

Long story short- everything went great. They were equipped with a new crate, clothing, sweaters, beds, pillows, and love. Holden even extended his generosity so far as to donate more than my adoption fee to help the rescue, it couldn't have worked out better. With a few tears, hugs and kisses- they left me with my new family.

Tanya keeps in touch with Kailey quite a bit, she even took me to see her when she was volunteering at the rescue once! I got a lot of love, and I am getting even more with my family. I've learned that I LOVE going outside, long walks are my favorite.I even have a "following" at the beach of ladies and doggies that like to say hi to me! I have never once had an accident in my new home, I really want to please them! Lastly My new brothers are amazing, just as spoiled as me, and every day I bring joy to my mom and my TAIL IS FINALLY WAGGING! 

Check out the followings photos my new mom took of me and sent to Kailey & Corey to show them some of the HUGE milestones in my life. Even if they may not seem huge to you, Its the little things that make my family happy, things I never got to experience as a "dog" before.

Here I am in a glam new dress my mom bought me, I like to show off my tutu's

Here I am falling asleep on my back in my moms arms... For those of you who dont know how HUGE this is, laying on our backs for a human is a sign of complete submission and trust. I LOVE MY MOM

Here I am walking like I do everyday... WITH MY TAIL UP... Yea, Ill show that confidence off

I love Car rides... and I dont want my mom to ever leave my side, here I am begging her to put me in!

The Moral of my story is that its up to YOU to help us. All it takes is one person willing to put something else before themselves. Besides, as my foster mom always says,

There is no joy, like the joy that comes from helping someone, or something, who you know can never repay you.

*************
Thank you to Holden & Tanya for changing this girls world. You two are saints, and you never allowed Lucy's past to affect her future and because of that she is a tail wagging, playing machine who loves to cuddle and love. The world is a better place because of Lucy, and you guys! 

Lucy Part 1: This is how I got my name

Hello...I'm Lucy.
I came from Hell. You know Hell as a "puppy mill", where all the "puppies in the window" come from... (no offense Bengal), but I know it as Hell, and this particular "Hell" was located in Missouri.

It took me a while to write about myself because 4 months ago, I wouldn't have known what to say. I had no name, no words, no knowledge of love and affection ... I thought humans were cruel and horrible that swore at me all day, tossed me around like a rag doll, and I was positive that my only purpose in this world was to breed until I physically died from the pain and anguish it caused my tiny little 6 pound body.

When Corey & Kailey first agreed to foster me, it was because my "Hell" had just been busted up and shut down. Over 100 Chihuahuas were stuffed in cages, living in filth, sick, scared, confused, and at risk of being put down for no other reason than a bunch of cruel people put us in this situation. All because they wanted to turn a profit the easiest way they could even if it meant abuse, over-crowding and disease. They had no idea what they were getting into....

They got the call that the" last of the Chis" able to be taken into Nuts for Mutts Rescue (7) would arrive on a Sunday evening, and that they were to come to the center and pick out the one they wanted to foster. This is the first she ever saw of me, at the time I was called Cara:

Kailey already had her eye on me from the photos ... you see she got an email of 13 of my friends that needed help, and I had these big sad eyes that grabbed at her, she also felt sad that I was so little and my collar hung off of me.



"Ceebow, Female"

Now the unfair part which made my foster
mom cry silently before she ever got me is that these were all of my friends that came in that email who were able to be saved, but STILL needed rescuing:

"Chinkalee Female"

"Clippi, Female"

"Carrie Female"

"Joyce, Female"

"Fawness Female"

Minni, Female

Lilly Female

"Lou female"

Pretty Frustrating isn't it?
I know, all my friends look terrified. They were, WE were and I can only hope and pray that they went to amazing foster homes, and found families like I eventually did... ( I will get to that don't worry) .. but in the mean time, 7 of us made the long trip to Rochester, NY. As you can see, we were all girls because "HELL" needs as many girls as possible to over produce for a profit. That cold winter night at the rescue, Kailey & Corey had to choose, and they chose to help me.

 Now, when my foster parents got there, the other ladies had already arrived (a lot of times my foster dad is the only man around because he has a soft spot and wants to be involved instead of acting like a Tuff guy .. which makes him even more macho if you ask me). They were use to this sort of thing, and it was Kailey & Corey's first "tuff" case... so they were scared.  All of us were in crates piled on top of each other because this is what we were use to so they did not want to disrupt that. We were all shaking, cowering & trembling.

Kailey fought tears. She tries to be "tuff" too- and she is - with people. She doesn't care what she says, or who she says it to and if you don't like it then that's your choice, but with animals its different because you can see into our soul, and all we want is love and comfort. Just like a newborn baby, we need you, our life depends on you and that kind of innocence breaks her heart. Corey saw what was happening so he stepped in to check us all out and of course, not afraid of anything he wanted my friend "Lou" pictured above. Lou was pitiful, and not by her own fault. Most of us wouldn't make eye contact with the humans, but if Lou accidentally did she got so terrified she would pee a little. All Corey wanted to do was hold her until she felt better but Kailey was too afraid that they would damage her because they had never taken on a rescue like us before and did not know what they were doing. So, I started poking my nose out of the crate and she mentioned to Corey that I had already caught my eye, I looked curious in person, resembled a little baby Fawn, and would be their best choice. They do work full time after all, so in comparison to the others I was the one that needed the least amount of attention....

That night was so hard on all of us. The minute I left my sisters, (both by blood and by cage companionship) I feel into pure fear. I had no idea what was going on, Kailey started crying in the car because she was sick about the capability humans have to be cruel, and Corey kept hugging her telling her that they were doing a good thing and that they COULD do this and WOULD do this.

It was Corey that sat in the bathroom with me for 3 hours that night. He waited patiently, and with his calm personality in the room I finally moved a little (not much) but I sniffed him, stuck my head out, and that little bit of movement was immense progress. Afer all, I had never been in silence, I had never been out of a crate, I had never been around people who meant well, and I certainly had never had freedom and kindness. I was too scared to just have the run of the house and play, and I had to meet Roxie & Bengal behind bars because I was scared of them.

Eventually Corey pulled me out of the crate to let me try and go potty outside (which was another whole moment of terror for me). When he brought me back, he gave me the choice, and I BOLTED back into my crate (It was the only place I felt safe). He said to Kailey that my name was NOT Cara, that I was now Lucy. She Love's and admires Corey when he takes ownership of the fosters because it shows her that his heart is as big as the sky, so she gladly agreed.

Everyone slept REALLY hard that night. It was an emotional couple of hours, and I was exhausted and confused, so very confused. The next month and a half was even more emotional and exhausting, which deserves its own post, and I will then tell you the story of how I found the most perfect family I could ever imagine! Afterall, when people ask Kailey & Corey about me all they can say is that it was the hardest, yet most rewarding thing that they had ever done so far in their whole life.