Last Saturday, the owners of Vino 100/Tinderbox and one of the wonderful sponsors of “Angels Among Us Pet Rescue”, held a fundraiser to benefit AAUPR. As their “special guest”, our own little Erik, “Phantom of Rescue Opera” was able to come out and make a personal appearance – as a way to say a personal “thank you” to all who have supported him with donations, have prayed for his healing without ceasing, and have loved this precious soul from the moment he first came into our lives as a poor little boy, critically ill, injured beyond comprehension, just weeks ago.

He has improved by leaps and bounds, defying all the odds, impressing his caregivers and physicians, and proving to the world just what a miracle boy he truly is! He is doing just fine, medically. Dr. Cribb has removed all his stitches and at this point, it appears he doesn’t need any further surgeries or skin grafts. He is heartworm negative (yay!), has healed up very well, has no more infections, has been neutered and, except for still nursing some fractured ribs and having to take it easy, has been deemed “good to go!”

Erik has a furry brother AND a furry sister and they all love to play together for hours! His furry brother, who is his constant playmate and companion, is in the picture below. They are a very loving, happy little family.

And the very best news yet???? YEP…..Erik’s “foster mommy”, Nicole, and her family are ADOPTING LITTLE ERIK and will be keeping him forever, along with his brother and sister, who are very happy that Erik is staying with them!! Erik not only found an “angel” in Nicole’s arms, he also found his “forever” home in her heart and in and their family! What a wonderful, happy ending to Erik’s long, arduous, critical journey….from being considered “dead” and not worth saving by some…to being taken in by Angels, loved and cared for, regardless of his outcome or the cost….to finding a loving foster (he was her first, by the way) who became his forever Mommy!

THAT, folks, is what RESCUE is all about: changing an animal’s fate and/or direction…and AAUPR did just that for precious Erik! Thank you, Karin Wallace, for taking that 5:30 p.m. late call and not turning away when you saw those awful 1st photos of his injuries, thank you Angels’ administrators who said “yes” to a pitiful lump of a pup who probably wouldn’t make it through the night…thank you to all of you who have loved, donated, then donated again and again, and prayed so hard for this sweet angel……Erik is “home” now, and the picture of “love and happiness” with his new family!

In Erik’s honor, and in honor of those countless, nameless others sitting alone in shelters across this country tonight, anxious – alone – afraid, knowing their “time is up”, not knowing if anyone cares or will come for them to change their direction….won’t YOU reach out and BE the ONE who “Saves ONE until there are NONE”? YOU can be that ONE who makes a life-changing, life-saving DIFFERENCE in just one life!

We will check in from time to time on Erik, and will post updated photos of him in the future. But for now, we say: rest well in the arms of safety and love, sweet boy…for you are finally, truly “home”! We love you, Erik! You have inspired us ALL!

Hey, everyone!!!   Today, I received some very exciting, wonderful news and picture updates about sweet, precious little Erik – our one-eyed, 4-legged Miracle Boy!!!

Just wanted to share with you that his foster Mommy and family took Erik and her other pups up to the mountains in NC this past weekend (around Asheville).

Erik and his friends got to run around and play and get lots of fresh air! She reports that Erik was SO happy to be outdoors!  His “Mom” had to put a new sweater on him (complete with doggy bone sewn on), as his hair is still very short from his recent visit to the groomers (see a previous update for the pic), and although the sun was shining, it was a bit “nippy” in the NC mountains!

We’re also so excited that Erik is scheduled for Dr. Cribb to take his stitches out next Tuesday and if that is successful, he will no longer have to wear his “cone of shame”

This precious dog is becoming a VERY handsome Angel boy, don’t you think?? Erik sends hugs, licks and wags to all of you who have prayed for him, donated toward his care, and have sent loving thoughts his way!  He’s doing great, and we’ll continue to update and follow his miraculous story in the days and weeks to come.

This is Erik, an Angels Among Us Pet Rescue little boy, who was named that after the character in “Phantom Of The Opera” and this is Erik’s story – of what happened to him, and how he became an Angels’ rescue.

Erik was found by an apartment manager, who called Angels Among Us Pet Rescue then the county animal control, seeking someone to come “pick up” this poor little dog who had been badly injured. Through cooperation with Animal Control, AAUPR was able to get Erik to their emergency vets who discovered Erik not only was severely injured, it was most likely the result of being hit by a vehicle, being dragged along the asphalt that resulted in him literally losing the left half of his face. It was also revealed he had probably been in this condition for over a week, wandering around in this awful condition, with a now-infected face containing a gaping, oozing hole where you could literally see into his mouth! As the vets furthered examined Erik, this precious little fellow was found to also have a broken pelvis and several fractured ribs! Erik also had severe road burn on the inner portion of his left leg (which may have been run over during the accident). To say the least, he was in a very precarious, critical condition! His chances weren’t great, but he was, and is, a real fighter!

The most miraculous thing about Erik, though, was his tremendous, unbelievable will to live – to survive! Dr. Jeff Cribb, Erik’s vet and physician, said it was most likely his extreme will to survive which kept him from dying immediately after such horrendous injuries! During his first procedure which lasted 45+ minutes, sweet little Erik sat patiently and quietly while the doctors cleaned out the abscesses and infection around his wounds. During it all, his tail was continuously wagging! The spirit this sweet dog exhibited was inspiring all those who were taking care of him around the clock! He wanted to live, and we were going to do everything within our power to ensure he got the chance to do just that! He wasn’t giving up and neither were AAU and Dr. Cribb!

Erik’s care providers also informed AAU rescuers this precious boy would likely need many surgeries, skin grafts, facial reconstructions – and that was just the start. But Angels Rescue, Dr. Cribb and his staff, all the wonderful supporters and fans who heard about Erik’s story, immediately rallied around Erik and they too decided not to give up on this little fellow who had literally willed himself to live!

Erik was given large doses of antibiotics, and watched over until his health was
sufficiently better for Dr. Cribb to do his first operation, removing the left eye which was of no use to him after the accident, and operating on his facial condition where the wounds could drain sufficiently. After that, Erik’s health began to improve! Dr. Jeff Cribb told AAU that the pelvic break would most likely heal on its own – and wonders of wonders, just days later, little Erik (pictured in his ‘cone of shame’) was doing his best to stand up on his hind legs and dance for the vet hospital technicians! The spirit and spunk of this little fellow is deeply inspiring – he gave kisses to everyone around him and to his AAU visitors, wagged his tail continuously, and just was a true joy to behold – even with half a face! Erik didn’t care that half his face was missing, and neither did those around him – a real picture of what animal rescue is all about – LOVE, and a 2nd chance at life!

As the days rolled on, and more surgeries were performed, the doctors realized the last tooth on the left side of his face was causing more harm than good, so the surgeons removed it and also were finally able to close up the large hole in his face, now that all the swelling had gone down and all the fluids had been drained out.

Now Erik’s new “face” is beginning to take shape – and he is STILL an incredibly handsome boy, despite all he’s been through!! He even wears the dreaded “cone of shame” proudly! The doctors say once he’s healed up, all the skin grafts/ reconstruction surgeries have been completed and his beautiful white hair has had a chance to grow back, he will be an incredibly handsome young man! When you take into account his breed (we think Bichon Frise or Maltese mix), his coloring, and most of all, his spirit, Erik will be a gorgeous boy….not only on the outside, but especially on the inside because he has one of the BIGGEST, strongest, and most beautiful spirits and heart we’ve ever seen in a rescue! He’s tiny in size, but LARGE in the heart and determination department!

The local Atlanta CBS news affiliate sent a wonderful news reporter out to interview Angels Rescue personnel and Dr. Cribb about Erik, and published his story in word and video on their website and on the local news.  Donations poured in for Erik’s medical needs from all over the country, but as you can imagine the costs involved have been astronomical, so although Angels is very appreciative and thankful for their fans, volunteers and supporters who have rallied around Erik’s cause, he still needs so much to cover the costs of his care. Gifts for his care are still very much needed and
appreciated!

If you’d like to DONATE to Erik’s care, you may do so by going to www.angelsrescue.org, click on the word “DONATE”, and make a contribution in his name. Please do consider giving generously, as every dollar donated to this worthy cause goes to the care and medical needs of these furry Angels! Angels Among Us is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

UPDATE: Erik was able to be conditionally released from the Vet Hospital this past Saturday into the loving care of his foster parents and is quite happy!!! He still has a long way to go, but he is being doted on and his pain is being monitored carefully. He has a permanent smile on his face and his tail wags a bunch! He asked us to say thank you to all of you who have sent prayers and well wishes. This is one special boy!!!

We’ll be posting more updates through the upcoming days as to how little Erik is doing, and we hope you’ll follow his courageous journey with us! Erik is the perfect example of why all of us who love animal rescue do what we do – “rescue one until there are none”.

On the morning of September 28, 2010 I woke up to what seemed like just another day. Picked up my Blackberry, and started my scroll through Facebook. So many stories, so many animals in need. The first picture I saw was this unidentifiable object in a laundry basket. I wiped my eyes, sat up to get a better look, and simply could not comprehend that this was actually a dog! Who did this? How did this happen? What on earth is wrong with her? Was she burned or something. That was such an awful picture. AAU named her June, and said that she had a horrible skin condition called Demodex Mange. And of course, the call to arms was “we need a foster”.

Well I thought for a second about doing it, then I thought about the other dogs that I have and what impact it would have on them. I don’t want them to get this. Surely somebody will foster her. Day 2 – still needing a foster. Day 3 – there was a short little video of her at the shelter talking about her and she was wrapped in a towel. Her little tail was sticking out of the bottom. No hair on it at all, but it was just a waggin’.

I had thought about that sweet face for 3 days straight. Did extensive research on her condition, learning that it was not contagious, it was treatable and could be reversed. She looked so yucky, but she had something in her eyes that touched me to my core. She had the eyes of my first angel, a beagle named Frazier, and he was for me the most precious gift to ever walk the earth!

So, without giving it another thought, I realized that June needed my help, and there was no way I was going to let this sweet, precious dog go one more day without me. Once I got the ok, I went to Four Paws Animal Clinic to pick her up. I was not prepared for what I saw. It was worse than the pictures, and the smell!!!!!

That cute Dr. Rob came out, and he gave me the rundown on what to do about the baths, meds, etc.
I was given the towel and laundry basket that she was picked up in to take her home. We got into the car, I put her in the basket and there she lay, just like the picture. How on earth could anyone let something like this happen? It’s a never ending question I guess. But, I leaned over this stinky, pink, hairless dog, gave her a kiss on the bridge of her nose since it was the ONLY spot with hair, and told her that today was the end of her suffering. I told her about Frazier, and that I lost him in 2008, but vowed to honor his memory by doing whatever I could to help dogs just like her. I told June she would never be hungry, lonely, sad, scared or unloved ever again. That was the longest 2 hour drive home I had ever made. What did I just get myself, my dogs and my husband, who still had no idea, into? We rode in silence. No radio. No cell phone. Can I help this dog, and what are my other dogs going to do? Will they go crazy and bother her like they do every other dog? I was a bit scared I must say.

Finally home. We get out, and I carried her in. I needed to because my dogs are jumpers, and I couldn’t let them touch her and possibly hurt or scratch her already damaged skin. I was ready for the crazies. I walked in the door prepared, but it was total silence. No jumping, no barking, just wide-eyed dogs, all nine of them looking and I could read their minds… “WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT?” I’m telling you, dogs know!

And so we began the weeks of baths, meds and a total holistic regime that would make Mother Nature so very proud. I’ll be damned if a mite is going to run this house or any dog in it. June hated those baths. They hurt. She yelped every time. And it hurt me to do it. I cried every time. She thinks I am hurting her more, I just know it. But each bath got just a little less vocal, and the other dogs had begun to allow her to be around them.
Thanksgiving was a great day for June; turkey dog cake! Christmas, oh she loves it. Toys, treats, warm fires and friends.

As time passed, June started to grow her hair back, and who knew she had such a beautiful coat under all that infection. It was a long hard road, but I had made up my mind that this sweet angel would not go one more day without love, affection and help. I took her in, but Angels covered all of her medical needs, with the incredible doctors at Four Paws Animal Hospital. So many of these animals in shelters are left to die as if they just don’t matter. But every dog matters, every day. June has recovered from her ordeal and has become a permanent member of my home.

In May, I attended PAWfest and took June with me. I opened the trunk of the car that I have not driven in a long time, and it still had the basket that I picked her up in. In a rush, I threw her pillow in it and grabbed the basket and left. At the event, I pulled out this basket and June just stood there looking at it as if she knew. It likely still smelled a bit like she did when she was in it. She paused for a moment, then with her sweet dainty little paws, stepped in and laid down. She knew where she came from and that was ok, because she is in a much better place now.

This picture was taken by a professional photographer that was walking around. It just made me realize that it doesn’t matter where you come from, or what you come in. It only matters that the Angels with AAU take so much of their time to make sure that where you are going is safe and somewhere where you will be loved.

I’m honored to even be in the same realm of rescue as they are, and I’m thankful they are here for these animals. I love this quote, and I think of AAU every day that I read it.

Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. ~Albert Schweitzer

I tried to spare myself the sight of June that day, but I am oh so glad that a sweet little beagle up in doggy heaven made me look. I saw her Frazier, I’ve got her now and she’s OK.

Bella is a gorgeous Basset Hound/ Bulldog mix approx. 50 lbs. She is spayed and up to date on all of her shots. She is a little tank and will take a beating from any dog who wants to play rough without showing any signs of aggression.

Bella is submissive to dogs and people. She is fantastic with small children and puppies but will chase cats. Bella is 90% housebroken and 100% crate trained. She is quiet and loveable! We owe Bella lots of pig ears for being our dog tester for the past month. She has rehabilitated a 100 lb American Bulldog and taught him how to play nicely. She is the BEST and deserves a loving forever home!!

For more information on this dog and/or to request an adoption application, contact Val at valerie@angelsrescue.org or Marla at 404- 735-5105

Meet Gavin! He is a beautiful black flat-coat retriever mix saved from a rural GA animal control. He was so lucky to make it out the same door he came in. He was so neglected and sick when we saved him… underweight with heartworms and severely matted fur. But now look at him! Gorgeous coat! Big teddy bear! Loves kids! Wants to be someone’s shadow and most importantly, he wants his very own family, someone who won’t just throw him in a yard with some food. He loves to play in the yard, but sleeps in bed with his foster human brother. He is house-trained too!

Gavin says, “My heartworm treatment has finished up and I am ready to find my forever home. I am like a love sponge because I never had any attention. If you pet me and rub my belly, I promise to be your friend for life. My foster family has 4 kids who I love and lots of doggies. I like other dogs but would prefer the attention to be all on me!”

Please adopt this perfect family dog! To inquire about adopting Gavin, please contact Karin@angelsrescue.org.

Whitey was picked up as a stray in Greenville, SC.  She is microchipped and spayed.  Attempts were made to contact the owner, but the number registered is not in service.  She’s been in the shelter for two weeks now and no one has claimed her or tried to save her from being euthanized by gassing.   She got the attention of so many people who begged for more time and she was granted one more day of hope.  As a result, this girl is free this morning.

She is heartworm positive and will need medical treatment.  Many of her supporters have asked that a ChipIn be set up for her.  Contributions in any amount would be greatly appreciated.

Whitey is lab/shepherd mix.  She’s 8 years old, 45lbs, has a very sweet disposition, very affectionate and will do anything for a treat.  She knows how to sit and shake hands, doesn’t mind other dogs or cats and needs a foster home today.   If you can foster or would like to adopt Whitey, please complete an application on our website ASAP at www.angelsrescue.org and send to applications@angelsrescue.org.