Friday night on a Fourth of July weekend and I’m at home. At home with the Scoobs. I was invited to a handful of picnics and bbq’s, a couple of blues river cruises, a few days in Sonoma and a beautiful weekend in the Columbia River Gorge. But I stayed home. People are often perplexed that this is how I spend my time. At home. Nothing fancy. A bloody mary on my left. And a Scooby on my right.

This goofball of a dog just ran around the yard three times. He was a firecracker! When he finished he gave me three loud barks and then he threw himself on his back and sashayed himself about 20 feet across the lawn. Giving himself the best back scratch ever. No easy task, mind you. But it’s those moments that tell me he’s feeling good. That he’s The Scoobs!

Sometimes the hardest part of helping the animals has nothing to do with the animals. It’s the people. The people who ask for help but respond with anger and arrogance and anxiety and never ending criticism. Why? Because they can. Because they need to. Sometimes its the only way they know.

Giving it a name won’t help. This is more than just mental illness. More than just anger management. More than just being rude. It really goes much deeper. It has to. Because why would someone act this way? Is it really what they mean to do? I don’t think so.

For some it could be reaction to a lifetime of abuse. Abuse they suffered. Or abuse they delivered. For others, maybe we’re their only conversation for the day. So they may seek the spotlight of intentional conflict. The joy of fighting back against anyone that tells them no.

Or someone may be scared out of their wits and uncharacteristically lash out at those close by, the very ones trying to help. Then again, maybe it’s something altogether different?

For example, maybe we’re the first ones to ever be there for them and their pets. And maybe they don’t know how to respond. Struggling to find their balance of pride and gratitude. But I’m not sure. And I’m not sure it matters.

Because this post is not about classifying anyone. And its not meant to diagnose why someone may act as they do. Because we know there could be any number of reasons. And I’m not judging any of them.

This post is really much simpler than that. All I’m saying is, no matter the reason, it always hurts.

The man whose dog received vet care but after the exam he complained that he didn’t like the results. He knew the vet was wrong and demanded a second opinion. So for his dog’s benefit we sent him to a second vet. He complained about that one too. He also didn’t like that the second vet kept him waiting 15 minutes past his appointment time. He said he felt disrespected there, that they did not value his time.

Mind you, this is the same man who kept us waiting 30 minutes when we picked him up for the first vet appointment.

The woman who said she needed to have her dog spayed right away because she was going camping. We appreciated her forethought and pulled every string to set that appointment. And then she was a no show. When we called to follow up she laughed and said “well, life happens.”

But she still wanted her dog spayed. So we set up another appointment. But this time when she got to the vet she decided to add on a long list of non-essential services that were not part of the spay surgery. And when we said we could not cover those items she became outraged, telling us that our job was to give her whatever she wanted. We did not.

The woman who said her dogs were out of food and she needed help quickly. Luckily she lives just across the street from a human food pantry that The Pongo Fund supplies with high-quality dog food. But she refused to go there because someone who works at that pantry wears a perfume that she does not like. When we asked if the perfume caused a medical or allergic reaction, she said no. She just didn’t like it. And she also didn’t like someone else’s hairstyle there either.

So instead of going across the street for dog food she instead demanded to come directly to The Pongo Fund. When we told her we were not open at that time she grew incredulous, threatening to “get rid” of her dogs if we did not help.

So we sent someone to meet her at The Pongo Fund. Because that’s what was needed to help the animals. But when she arrived she proceeded to complain about each of the 20 different foods we offered. Explaining that she was an expert in pet nutrition and we did not know what we were doing.

After about 30 minutes she began laughing. Telling us that we were just another group that did not care. She finally agreed to take a bag of one of the best foods we had but later complained that her dogs did not like it. And she added, if we really cared about her dogs, we would have known that.

The man who called asking for services that we did not provide. So I offered him three other organizations to call because those groups could help. But he refused to make those calls. Instead he spent the next several moments letting me know how he felt about me, The Pongo Fund and my Mother. None of which, according to him, were worth anything. His unchecked anger became a river of caustic words, simply because we did not have what he wanted.

The man whose puppy had an injured leg but refused to let us help because he feared someone at the veterinarian would keep his dog because she was so cute. We assured him that was not the case and told him he would be there the entire time during the exam. He said that would be ok, but he was also going to bring his big knife “and use it if he had to.” We did not treat his dog.

And then there’s the one that just happened a couple of days ago. The woman we rolled out the red carpet to help. That one still stings fresh. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished.

Luckily these stories are just a small number of the tens of thousands of good Pongo stories. And we remain proud to Pongo. But those few stories still hurt.

We are one small group. Doing something that no one else does. Making an impact never thought possible. But we do not have six layers of paid staff to handle calls like these. When you complain to us you are complaining directly to one of the people that gives their own time to keep Pongo Pongoing. We are there because we care. No matter what. We still care.

We’re not perfect. I’m not perfect. No one is. But calling my Mom names doesn’t help. She knew me better than anyone and she’d be the first to agree I’m not perfect. But she would not use nasty language to make her point.

None of this is a complaint. And I ask you to please not read it that way. And please do not judge any of the people or episodes described above. Because none of us walk in anyone else’s shoes.

This post is simply a reminder. A reminder that at the beginning of the day and the end of the day, no matter what, we’re still all in this together.

Together for the animals. And for the people who love them. Anger. Arrogance. Anxiety. Criticism. We’ve all been there and we’ll all be there again. Because that’s life. But.

We get it. You’re stressed. You hurt. You care. We do too. But to use your words to beat us up doesn’t help. And the truth is there may well be a day when you look back on those moments with regret. Because you know you could have handled it better. Us too. That is called being human.

Scooby doesn’t shout. He doesn’t criticize. He doesn’t use nasty language. He brings the good. He finds the good. He helps others find the good too. Your own pets probably do the same.

Maybe we can let them be our guides?

Today is another day. We will Pongo On. Helping when and where we can. Both the good and the bad.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. We’re all in this together. thepongofund.org

We see the good. We see the bad. We see the in-between too. Sometimes we understand. Sometimes we don’t. But every now and then someone does or says something with complete clarity. Their words may be many, or just a few.

But they speak them in a way that leaves no question as to what they mean. What they’re feeling. Those moments touch us quickly because everything that needs to be said gets said right then.

David rides the bus several miles to get food for his four cats. Each one of them has been spayed and neutered. He’s no longer a young man and he lives on a budget that would make you blush. He’s also suffered some hearing loss, so he asked us to speak a bit louder when we talk with him.

First there was Grandma Carol. Then Matt. Followed by Molly. Then Abbie. And now 8 year-old Nate. Five different members of the same family that spend their Sundays volunteering with The Pongo Fund. And they drive nearly 100 miles round trip to do it.

Yesterday was Nate’s first day. He exploded into the warehouse, shook my hand and got right to work under his sister’s tutelage. After he helped pack about 100 bags of kibble we surprised him with his own Pongo tshirt. He put it on right away. And then straight back to work.

We’re proud of what The Pongo Fund does. But we’re also proud of what The Pongo Fund does when we don’t know what to do. Because at those moments, all we can do is try. Like today.

The call came shortly after 9am. It was Pongo 911. I was just heading into a meeting. But the moment I heard the voice on the other end I knew my meeting was going to wait. Because that voice was using every bit of strength it had to say what it needed to say. And even though the words came out softly and I struggled to hear them, every single one hit home.

David spent nearly eight weeks in the hospital. He was now in a recovery center working on regaining his health. And he just learned that he was losing his home tonight. At midnight. His possessions were going to be moved out. He didn’t care.

His only concern was what would happen to his two cats, 10 and 13 years old. They were his family.

His wind gave out after just my first couple of questions. That’s when his physical therapist got on the phone. She explained the situation with the utmost of courtesy and respect. Never once sharing personal information without his approval.

She told me that what David had said was correct. She knew that cat rescue and boarding was not what The Pongo Fund did. So why did she suggest he call us? I about fell over when she answered.

Because this health care professional who was willing to go farther than her job description said to go remembered the story of how we helped Dutch and Francis. How Francis’s physician, a Pongo volunteer, stepped in to start the process to rescue Dutch from the inside of a locked truck when Francis was unexpectedly hospitalized. And she thought if we could help then, maybe we could help now.

This was a tough one. We were told that we had just hours to line up boarding or foster care for two cats that would end up in a shelter without us. And that scared me. The meeting that I was late for went on without me. And then I got on the phone.

If you ever put together your Kitty Cat All Star Team, be sure to include Carma and Glenda. I do. They are the best of the best and were the first two people I called. Because I knew while they may not be able to help, they would try. How great are these two?

When I spoke with Carma she was already on her way to the vet to get care for two other cats she was helping. And Glenda?

Glenda’s Mom was in surgery at that very moment and she was at the hospital. Now you know why they’re part of my Kitty Cat All Star Team. Because while busy helping others they were going to help these two cats too.

Sadly we did not come up with a solution. Luckily I had a Plan B fired up and ready to go. And I knew that if nothing else, come 11:59pm tonight The Pongo Fund was going to be caring for two cats. Meow. Meow.

So at 5:30pm I made the call back to David to find out how things were going. His exhausted voice greeted me like an old friend. The first thing he did was thank me for following up.

And then he apologized for not keeping me updated. He had just spent 8 weeks in the hospital and he’s apologizing to me for not keeping me updated. Sheesh. What a guy!

I told him I was worried and so sorry that I could not find the perfect solution. I wanted to talk with him about what else we could do knowing we only had a few hours left to save his cats.

And that’s when he told me his landlord gave him an extra 30 days. And that his friends would continue to visit and feed and care for his cats. He told me everything was going to be ok. And he thanked me for The Pongo Fund’s help.

I told him we had not done anything. He said we had. Maybe we’re both right.

But at the end of the day these two cats, his family, are safe. And he is too. And that is what’s most important.

It all started with Francis and Dutch and The Pongo Fund’s Dr. Sarah making the call one year ago. And now two kitties are safe tonight. And their Dad will sleep better because of that. He said we helped. What a kind thing for him to say.

Feel better David. And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. For David and His Kitties. thepongofund.org

The Pongo Fund helps whenever we can. Sometimes food. Sometimes spay/neuter. Sometimes emergency veterinary care. Sometimes licensing. Sometimes nutritional guidance. Sometimes rescue and adoption. And oftentimes more. It’s really a variety of things that we do. But most of all, we always try to provide hope.

This tumor needed to come off and The Pongo Fund Emergency Vet Care Fund helped make that possible. To each and every one of you that donate to help those less fortunate, we thank you. And they thank you too.

He got hit by a car just last week. Reminding us to celebrate the small victories. If it’s better today than yesterday, we celebrate. No parades or popping champagne corks or balloon bouquests necessary. Just a simple and heartfelt moment of gratitude. A moment that reminds us that we helped. Help that we could provide only because each one of you were there to help make it happen.

Peanut went to the vet yesterday. A vet appointment that his Mom could afford only because your donations will pay the bill. And despite being hit by a car just one week ago, this little Tater Tot is recovering well.

The bill is on the way to The Pongo Fund now. It will arrive in the next couple of days. When we write the check I only wish we could sign it with the names of each and every one of you. Because this is one bill that we will all pay together.

We’ll follow up with another exam in a week or so, and until then this little dynamo is on bedrest with only limited outings. And that means no zoomies!

Pain meds and anti-inflammatories will continue to do their job and hopefully Peanut will continue his speedy recovery. We will keep you updated.

Being there for Peanut and the Mom who loves him. And this is why we Pongo.

To support our emergency vet care fund to help other animals like Peanut, please click here: https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Go Peanut. thepongofund.org

We never saw this one coming. An unemployed man who depended on The Pongo Fund to feed his two older dogs and even older cat. To make matters worse he was working hard to kick a deadly drug habit. With no money he was using his limited food stamps to feed his pets. Because, as he said, without them he had no other reason to live.

But his times were tough. Just one look and we could see how hard he was fighting. So in addition to pet food we also provided him with good people food too. Food paid for by private donations separate from our pet food donations.

The big beautiful girl on the left is Dolly. She was Pongo’s best friend. A sweet gentle giant that lived as a lapdog. We met her on the side of the road one day in April, 1996. It was raining. And there she was. Laying in the mud. Dirty and wet.

If anyone approached she would quickly get up and move a few steps away. And then she would sigh and lay back down. Even dirty and wet and laying in mud she looked regal.

Yet she was all alone.

She was big. And she was fierce looking. But when she sighed, she sounded like a puppy. It was clear that her life had not been easy. Her general appearance was one of suffering. Several spots were missing fur. She had some cuts and scabs, both old and new. Some tumors. A gash on her forehead. And she was missing many teeth. And of the teeth she had left several were broken or worn down to the nub.

We didn’t know what brought her to this place where she was now. But there she was.

At that moment Pongo and I were just finishing our morning walk. And that’s when we found her. Some other neighbors were also there trying to corral her. But she would have nothing to do with it.

Seeing that the situation was serious Pongo and I rushed home and I jumped in my car and drove right back. But this time I had a pocketful of kibble with me.

I opened the back of my SUV and began placing a Hansel and Gretel line of kibble from the rear cargo hold to the ground and then more kibble every few inches. I placed the last kibble a few feet from where Dolly was, careful to not frighten her.

After a few moments she got up and ate the kibble closest to her. Carefully watching everyone to make sure no one could get close enough to hurt her. And then she took the next kibble. And the next. And she followed the kibble trail and munched her way straight to my car.

And then it happened. She jumped right up into the back and shook herself off. The inside windows were immediately coated with water and mud. She then walked straight through the car and sat down in the driver’s seat. She let out a bark and then curled up into a ball.

The next step was tricky. Because I needed to sit in that same seat. The seat that was now soaking wet. But I did not know how Dolly would respond when I tried to share the seat with her. A few more kibble placed on the passenger seat did the trick and she moved there.

And then we drove home. With her spread across the seats so she could keep her head on my lap the entire time. It could not have been comfortable for her. But I loved it.

I did everything I could to find her family. Including walking all through the neighborhood thinking she would walk me straight to her house. Literally miles of walking. And every now and then Dolly would stop in front of a house and just stare. I’d get excited and ask her “is this where you live, sweetie?”

And she’d wag her giant tail that commonly knocked things off of tables and lead me straight to the door. We’d ring the doorbell expecting to find someone who knew her but it was always the same. No one had ever seen her before.

But over and over she did this. Until I figured out that for her it was just fun. And that’s when I knew she had already adopted me.

The final moment came a few days later when I saw a lost dog ad for a German Shepherd that sounded exactly like her. I called and spoke with a young girl who was in tears over her lost dog.

The dog she described sounded perfect, like maybe this was it. Until one crucial detail proved to not be the same. And then I knew this dog was not hers.

I was just as heartbroken as she was. I asked her what her dog’s name was. She said Dolly. And I told her from that day forward this big beautiful purebred German Shepherd would be known as Dolly. I did it for her. I really did.

But I also thought it would be so much fun to wake up every morning and say “Hello, Dolly!”

And every day from that day on that’s exactly what I did.

Dolly passed away nine years ago today. It was June 20th, 2006. The hurt is still too fresh for me to talk about. In nine years this may be the most I’ve ever said.

I still love her to pieces and miss her like it was yesterday. But she visits me often and for that I am grateful.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Hello Dolly. thepongofund.org

Peanut got hit by a car and he needs our help. It happened a few days ago and we’re told this little Dachshund has lost most use of his rear legs. His Mom is homeless and penniless, currently sleeping on the couches of whatever friends have room for her.