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Let’s Hear It For Blitz

Blitz (Andrea)Let’s hear it for Blitz! Two weeks ago we told you he needed. a new home fast or it was off to the shelter. And due to some tough issues, Blitz would not have done well in a shelter.

This sweet young Boxer had been left inside a small crate in the garage. Yes. This big beautiful boy was left inside a little crate all day long.

Wearing that nasty prong collar.

So yes, a shelter would be tough on him. He needed people. He needed love. He needed to trust again.

As you know, The Pongo Fund is a pet food bank. We are not a rescue or a shelter. But we learned about Blitz through one of our Pongo managers. She knew help was needed and she knew that the people who love Pongo may be the very ones to love Blitz.

So we tried.

And today we are thrilled to report the nasty prong collar is gone. Blitz is sleeping comfy and cozy in his new home. And he is happy and calm and running and playing in his new yard.

Like he knew this was his chance.
Like he knew this was his family.
Like he knew this is why we Pongo.

One more thing. Please DO NOT post any nasty comments on this FB thread directed at Blitz’s previous family. Because Blitz has a new home. That is what matters. This is a time for celebration. Not condemnation.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Welcome Home Blitz. thepongofund.org

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Three Months

Scooby Beach 11329915_10155655416065013_6611058799657343334_nJust about three months from today, on August 31st, 2015, this sweet fellow named Scooby will celebrate his 21st birthday.

This photo was taken two weeks ago. And just to give you an idea of how Scooby rolls, right after this photo I unhooked his leash on an empty beach and he ran full-speed straight for the ocean and tried to go swimming.

Peace. Love. And Scooby. thepongofund.org

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Addy Got Her Bed

Addy 11329982_10155674616265013_7683086900373687684_n--FB 6-2-15Addy and her Mom lost their home and ended up in a temporary shelter. Not luxurious by any means. But at least basic needs were met. And most importantly, they were still together. Luckily Addy’s Mom turned to The Pongo Fund for pet food so Addy never missed a meal.

When we checked in to see how things were, Addy’s Mom said they were ok. She sounded positive and optimistic, despite having her life turned upside down. Her only real concern was Addy.

And when we asked what we could do to help, among all of the things that Addy’s Mom could have requested, there was only one. A bed for Addy.

We delivered that extra-large and comfy bed on Saturday. Along with a bag of extra-tasty treats. As you can see, Addy settled in quite nicely.

A new bed for Addy. And more hope for Addy’s Mom.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Sweet Dreams. thepongofund.org

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Best Friends

Sparky and Ginger2Sometimes the story is so powerful that I don’t know how to tell it. But for now I will introduce you to two incredibly well-loved, senior doxies. Both have had previous spinal surgeries.

We met their Mom just one day ago. Help was needed. The kind of help that exceeded our normal ability.

So I turned to our Army of Pongo Angels, our very own Pongo SWAT Team. A small group that gets the call when we need help fast.

A small group that seems to grow larger and larger as more and more of you email me to be added to our special emergencies list.

You are people that donate already but then donate again during emergencies. Standing ready to help us help others. To help both people and their pets. Because every time we help one, we really help both.

Because hungry people have hungry pets.

And just minutes after receiving my email, each one responded. Each one stepping forward to help. From New York. From Clackamas. From Alabama. From Portland.

From this moment forward the lives of one woman and her two dogs will be forever changed. And I am honored that The Pongo Fund will get to be part of that.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Thank You For Helping.
thepongofund.org

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Memorial Day

Memorial Day Dog and Soldier--FB 5-24-15A few times a year I trek out to see a special group of homeless veterans. But calling them homeless is not the right word. They simply live outdoors. A lifestyle they have chosen. They could live in the city, in housing, but they don’t feel comfortable doing that. So they do it this way instead.

These are fiercely proud men. Friendly, kind and respectful. With faces that show lives well lived. Crooked smiles. Some missing teeth. And as one of them added, some really bad tattoos.

All of them kind of chuckle in unison at the memory of bad tattoos.

But their dogs show none of that wear and tear. Three pit bulls. Happy. Wiggly. Waggly. Totally blissful dogs. Each one spayed and neutered. And licensed.

These dogs adore their people. And vice versa.

On the hottest days they wear clean tshirts to protect from sunburn. On the coldest days they have warm coats. The dogs. Not the men.

Watching them says it all. While we talk, unused hands automatically reach down to scratch a dog’s head. Then the neck. Then the dog moves himself into a position so those hands now scratch his back. Then his side. Leaning in further with every scratch.

The whole time the man almost unknowingly bending further and further to pet his dog. And the dog loving it. I ask if he knows he’s petting his dog. He was startled by the question. Because he didn’t even realize what his hands were doing.

He quickly looked down and saw his dog. He looked at him. The dog looked back. A frozen moment that had likely happened thousands of times before.

Then you look down and see that dog has quietly moved himself into a bit of a half-somersault. Just trying to make sure every bit of his happy body continues to get equal attention. Face down. Rump up.

And then, with an almost upside down mouth hanging open and tongue dangling sideways, it happens. The dog goes kathump. Now down on his side. Motionless. Then a quick roll to his back. Arms and legs up in the air. And there he waits. For the belly scratches that this man has given so many times before.

The man laughs. The dog smiles. Then the other men join in and give belly rubs to their dogs too. Perfect.

I comment that these dogs are loving their pets. And the men, almost in unison, all say the same thing.

That they loved it more.

These were dogs that may not have had a chance without these men. And these were men that may not have had a chance without these dogs. In many ways, they were therapy for each other.

Yes. These men and dogs live outdoors. Some may call them homeless. But without question they still share a home filled with love. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Three more Vietnam era veterans. Tired of life as it was so they have carved out the life they want. This life is not for everyone. But who are we to tell these men that their way is the wrong way? Because from what I’ve seen, they’re doing an awfully good job of doing it right.

This Memorial Day weekend gives us pause to once again thank our Veterans. This is not about war. This is about the job they did when they were told to do it. Even if it was a job they did not want to do. And we owe them our debt of gratitude for that.

Sadly there are countless Veterans, right her in our own community, that go without. They endure some of the toughest times. Frequently too proud to ask for the help they can easily get. I know many of them. And The Pongo Fund does all we can to help them and their pets.

But of course we can’t reach them all.

That’s why today, in just a few hours when our pet food bank opens our doors, one of the first groups to receive their food will be the Veterans Administration.

And from this day forward the Portland’s VA Community Resource and Referral Center will be well stocked with high-quality dog and cat food from The Pongo Fund. Other centers will follow.

Memorial Day is about more than just barbeques. It’s about remembering. About giving thanks to those that have done the thankless. Both two-legged and four.

The Pongo Fund helps hundreds of Veterans. And their dogs and cats too. If you’d care to make a Memorial Day contribution, the link is here: https://www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page/ .

We honor. We remember.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

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Shirley and Addy

AddyShe lost her home and now her dog was sick. But she found The Pongo Fund.

Shirley said that if it wasn’t for The Pongo Fund she wouldn’t have any food for Addy, her service dog. A six year-old cattle dog mix. And then she sighed. She said she didn’t want me to think she’d let Addy go hungry.

Instead she would go hungry herself. She didn’t mince words.

I’ve heard people say this before. And it stings.

And I think of my Scooby and how his homeless family struggled so hard to keep him fed.

When Shirley found us a few months ago she apologized for needing our help. But she said there was no one else. And we’ve been there for her many times since.

But today things took a turn for the worse. Her sweet Addy wasn’t feeling well. Extra rich food the likely culprit. Shirley was worried. And rightfully so.

The Pongo Fund is a pet food bank. We go the distance time and again to provide all of the help we can. And we are honored that Portland’s best pet supply stores and community experts line up with us daily to help us do what no one else does.

So when Shirley called us we knew we needed extra help. So we called Christine at Green Dog Pet Supply​. And we asked her to please help us help Shirley and Addy.

And right about now Shirley and Addy are going to walk smack dab into the loving arms of Green Dog Pet Supply. She will be greeted like an old friend. One of their most valued customers. Even though she’s never once stepped foot inside that store before.

For those of you that have talked with Christine, you know how it goes. She asks every question possible to help identify a cause and solution. Always, always, always doing what is best for the animals. Today was no different.

She jumped right in and called Shirley immediately. And when Shirley arrives at Green Dog she will receive everything she needs to sooth Addy’s sore tummy.

And the cost? There won’t be any.

Because that’s just the sort of people Michael and Christine are.

But there’s more to the story.

Just a few days ago Shirley lost her home and moved into a shelter. She’ll be there for maybe 90 days. It’s a good shelter and they’ll do all they can for her. That they let Addy live there too is the biggest bonus.

And one more thing.

Shirley’s daughter is graduating from college in a few days.

That’s right. A woman who is homeless and sleeping in a shelter. Yet she still finds a way to go the distance for both her dog and her daughter. This woman is a hero.

Helping Shirley and Addy.

And this is why we Pongo.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

 

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Something Wasn’t Right

Dog 7778276232_7d4b8c32af--FB 5-20-15The little dog barking the biggest barks. Not for fun. For fear. Because his Dad had slumped to the side. And here he was, ten pounds at most, standing guard over the man he loves. A man tilted sideways on a park bench.

Something wasn’t right.

But what could have been worse was not. The man had narcolepsy. And falling asleep was not uncommon for him. But he said it usually happens when he is at home. When they are safe. And he cried telling me that his dog, his Yoda, his only family, is the only reason he lives each day.

And to know that his dog was so scared that he barked like a Rottweiler made him sad. And proud.

But he was so thankful that such loud barking caught the attention of passersby. It only lasted a second. He woke up on his own. And things ended well.

But this man, soon as he woke, this man with the looks of a grandfather and the eyes of Paul Newman, immediately began singing to his dog in some sort of Irish brogue that both he and his dog clearly understood.

I don’t know the words. But whatever they were this brave little giant quickly calmed down and resumed his perch coiled in his Dad’s lap.

As they left some folks remained behind. A couple of them lived in the same building and shared some stories. To be respectful they shall not be shared here. But they contained both moments of joy and pain. For this man’s life had become one of challenge.

Challenges so consistent that they had become woven into his daily life.

Another proud American Veteran pounding forward through life. Just as he had done decades earlier. No complaints. Just living from one day to the next.

With a little dog who has his back. Two soldiers together. There for each other.

The Pongo Fund did not play a role in this moment. It was all about the little dog hero. He did his job.

We just happened to be there to see it. We also got to pet the little guy too. He was cool.

And a reminder that bravery comes in all sizes.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Serve. thepongofund.org

(Photo is a stock image for reference only, not the dog and man in the park).

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Compassion

Quote Animals Dog 10304442_863278463717727_7843220806769221100_n--FB 5-19-15“Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

Powerful words always.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Compassion. thepongofund.org

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Blessed Is The Person

Dog 1240025_519760358101973_2023546342_n--FB 6-29-14--FB 9-22-14--FB 5-13-15“Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.” And of course this absolutely applies to all dogs. And cats too. And goats and sheep and horses and pretty much whatever and whoever loves you. Because that love, that very love, is a blessing. And to have earned such love is an honor.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. thepongofund.org

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Howard and Scooby and Scooby and Howard

2015-05-13 15.45.33--FB 5-15-152015-05-13 15.46.39--FB 5-15-15Howard and Scooby. Scooby and Howard. If you could see these two doing what they do, you’d want to join their club too.

Howard as you know is the King of the Animals. His philanthropy is legendary in Oregon and beyond. For pets and people and more. From coast to coast and across oceans. He’s typically the first to give and he gives with both money and love. There is not another like him. Ever!

And Scooby, as you know, is the Beagle King. Almost 21 years old, he is my Gandhi. My Dalai Lama. He is a timeless old soul. I love him with all my heart and I know you do too. And I thank you for that.

Because a dog as good as Scooby really belongs to all of us. As they say, it takes a village. A Scooby Village.

Now back to Howard and Scooby. I think of myself as pretty special to the animals. They frequently seek me out and sit by my side, happy to get pets and neck scratchies and belly rubs. Scooby enjoys all of those things and he gets them from me often. And yes, he gets lots of treats too 🙂

But the moment Scooby sees Howard, he dumps me. It’s like I’m invisible. And it’s the same thing when Howard sees Scooby. Howard dumps me too.

They only have eyes for each other. No joke. It’s true. Howard is the real Dog Whisperer. I’ve seen it myself.

Scooby loves to visit Howard at his office. We open the door and Scooby runs full speed back to where Howard normally sits. He then leaps through the air hopeful to land in Howard’s lap. Yes. Scooby leaps.

And if Howard is not prepared, Scooby sometimes knocks Howard backwards and they both end up laughing.

But yesterday was different. Scooby burst in the door and ran to where Howard should be. But Howard wasn’t there. Instead he was standing behind the front counter. Scooby did not see him and Howard did not see Scooby.

Picture Scooby standing motionless, unable to find the man he loves. He looked incredibly sad. Because the man that was supposed to be there, the man with the lap he was going to leap into, was not there.

Then picture this.

At virtually the same moment Scooby saw Howard and Howard saw Scooby. They ran toward each other, ending up on the floor in a ball of cuddles.

Here’s this man worth kajillions down on the floor talking to Scooby. The stock market didn’t matter. Only Scooby mattered. A reminder that it is not dollars that makes us truly rich.

And within seconds Scooby was kissing Howard and Howard was kissing Scooby. Howard just drops everything to talk to Scooby, asking him how his day was and if life is good.

And then he always tells Scooby to let him know if I’m not giving him enough treats. And then Howard looks at me and tells me to give Scooby more treats. So I do.

And a split second later Howard started the belly rubs. In that moment the stressful world stopped. Replaced with a gentle yet powerful moment filled with meaning.

There was love. Love between two good and kind souls that do all they can to bring joy to others. And here they were, bringing joy to each other.

If only someone could harness the special energy in that moment.

If I could create the next reality show, it would simply be Scooby and Howard goofing off. I’d watch it all day.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Howard and Scooby Forever. thepongofund.org