My name is Larry Chusid and today is my birthday. And my birthday gift to me is taking this moment to say thank you to you. To each and every one of you. Thank you for caring about the animals. Thank you for loving the animals. Thank you for being the voice for the animals. For they too deserve to be heard.

“Until one has loved an animal, part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~ Anatole France.

My birthday wish is to see the end of animal abuse. End it forever. Finished. Kaput. Done. To stop any and all animal suffering. To end the agony that these majestic friends far too frequently feel when people choose to do bad things.

May we someday find a way to educate those that bring harm so that they too can learn what they have done is wrong. So that someday, they too can celebrate and enjoy the unconditional love of an animal friend.

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Mohandas Gandhi

For my birthday this is my wish. Because the animals deserve that wish. For each and every one of them. Whatever they are. Wherever they are. They deserve better.

Especially for those already gone at the hands of abuse. That have suffered. That have known pain. Because they deserved better. May they rest in peace. Running on rainbows. Sleeping in clouds. May they know the smiles they brought. May they know they were loved. May they know. May they know. May they know.

“Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.” ~ Mother Teresa.

Every wish that I wish for the animals I wish the same wish for the people as well. Because we share this fine earth together. Even for those that bring harm and may not seemingly deserve that wish, I still wish it. Because that wish brings hope.

“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.” ~ Orison Swett Marden

And with that wish I wish that today will bring a better day for all. For all animals. For all creatures. For all people. For all beings. For all living things great and small. That is my birthday wish.

“You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” ~ Mohandas Gandhi

On my birthday I thank every single person that makes Team Pongo purr. Getting up and showing up time and time and time again to make a difference for those less fortunate. There are far too many names to mention here, but please know that you are important and appreciated and loved.

You give with heart and you give with joy and you are the core group of dedicated souls that have defied the odds and proven that impossible is possible.

And I thank you.

“Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

On my birthday I thank Pongo for being who he was. The grand spirit of life that knew it was all about love, kindness and joy. And great food. He lived large and he lived long and against impossible odds he thrived. Outliving his years many times over. Always with zest and gusto and love. He blessed my life for many years.

But the 19 years we had together were still not enough. And I miss him.

And I thank Scooby, my 19 ½ year-old beagle-basset buddy, for the love and friendship he brings me every day. He is kind and patient and filled with love and grace. He is my compass. My Dalai Lama. He has lived long enough to know what’s important and what’s not. He is an inspiration. His soul is pure. His heart is full. And I am lucky to have him as a mentor.

“Never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well being of a person or an animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

This message is far longer than I had hoped. Yet it does not even begin to come close to conveying the sincere gratitude that I have for each and every one of you. You are held dearly. Because we are all in this together.

“Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen

For my next year and each one of the many thereafter my wish for myself is that I will ring more bells. That I will be more understanding. More compassionate. More patient. More forgiving.

And that I will always err on the side of kindness.

If nothing else I hope that I will bring the same kind of love and kindness that our animal friends bring. Because if I can do that, I will have done well.

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, I can do or any kindness that I can show… let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”  ~ Stephen Grillet

~ Larry Chusid, Founder, The Pongo Fund. March 20, 2014.

 

 

In honor of St. Patrick, today let’s remember Patrick. The dog that beat death. The dog that changed us forever. Cheers to you always, Patrick. Today and everyday we toast to your long and always happy and healthy life!

With love, from all your friends at The Pongo Fund.

Denise and Bowser. They ride the bus more than an hour to get to The Pongo Fund. And then they ride it more than an hour to get back home.

Denise has faced many challenges in her life. Challenges that never go away. Yet she works every day to make every day the best it can be. Especially when it means making life better for her Bowser.

Bowser is much the same. His easy going and happy nature are quick to bring love and joy to anyone needing a Bowser hug. He is nearly nine-years old and they’ve been together for five years now. And Denise provided him the first consistent comfort and stability in his life.

Like Denise his days are not always easy. But his love and kindness help them both to find gratitude in life’s gifts. Even if those gifts are sometimes hard to find. Denise and Bowser are a gift to all of us at The Pongo Fund. They make our Sundays brighter and happier and we look forward to seeing them just as much as they look forward to seeing us.

The Pongo Fund gives a chance to animals that might not otherwise have a chance and gives hope to families that have little else to be hopeful for. Families like Denise and Bowser and tens of thousands more. And this is why we Pongo.

Wishing you always peace, love and kibble. From all of us at The Pongo Fund.

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day two years ago was the last Valentine’s Day that she received chocolate. But that chocolate meant little because she also got treated in a way that no one should ever be treated. And she left shortly thereafter.

Last Valentine’s Day she spent alone, curled up in a sleeping bag for warmth against the cold. And there was no chocolate.

She’s an optimist. And she said it sounds worse than it was. Because at least the sleeping bag made her feel hugged. And it didn’t punch her in the face. But she was homeless, and there was no chocolate in the budget.

Anyone meeting her now wouldn’t know any of this. Although they might wonder about the slight bruise around her eye that seems to not go away, a reminder of an eye blackened too many times. But aside from that and the fact that she lived under the stars, she said she was happy. Happy, but alone. And then she met Bud.

She met him on a blind date. Sparks flew. She fell in love again. Just like that. Just that quick. And that’s where this story is going.

She was fearful. She was hopeful. But he made her feel good. He was older. A little bit rumpled. A little bit gray. But he was kind. He was quiet. He was patient. And even though she did not know him well she wanted to give it a try. Because she felt like this guy needed her just as much as she needed him.

And she wanted her heart to remember what it was like to feel love again.

So on this Valentine’s Day she’s in love again. But after buying gifts for Bud her budget did not allow any chocolate for herself. But she said that was ok because she really doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth. She said she just liked the idea of a little bit of something sweet to remind her of love.

But she already knew Bud well enough to know he wasn’t going to think about that. That wasn’t his style. She said that was ok though, because she’d rather shop for him. And shop she did.

Not just one gift for Bud. Not just two gifts. But three gifts for Bud. Treats, she called them. Because Bud loved treats. This whole time Bud had been standing right there, but he was completely silent.

But the moment he heard “treats” he wagged his tail like a helicopter. Three different kinds of dog treats, that is. Three. Different. Kinds. Not the cheap treats. The really good ones.

But no chocolate for Bud’s girl? That’s not right. And that’s where you come in.

Because The Pongo Fund has several kind and generous friends that donate for our Homeless Fund. A fund set up to help people and their pets that temporarily live on the streets.

People and pets that face some of life’s biggest obstacles but still manage to live with a joie de vivre.  And thanks to you, they get to enjoy a few simple things along the way. Like the things you and I take for granted…a new toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, hand soap, shampoo, deodorant and other personal items.

Last week and last month during the bitter cold it was blankets and gloves and hats and sleeping bags. And now it was a little bit of dark chocolate. With orange. And a card with a little smiling bear hugging a heart that on the inside said “consider yourself hugged!”

For Bud there were two different coats, a leash, harness and collar, a brush, some natural spray conditioner and toothbrush and toothpaste. And great food too. Because this man deserves to be pampered.

We weren’t there when this romantic couple opened their gifts. Because as you read this they are on the road to a new place. With a new job and safe shelter waiting.

This Valentine’s Day please join all of us at The Pongo Fund in celebrating a moment of love. Because we all deserve that.

And if the mood strikes you, please consider making a Valentine’s Day contribution to our Homeless Fund. Please visit our website www.thepongofund.org for donation details and put Homeless Fund in the comments section. Feel free to add Sealed With A Kiss, too.

Being there on Valentine’s Day for a woman whose heart has healed. Being there too for her wonderful boyfriend named Bud. Giving love and hope to those who need it. And this is why we Pongo.

Wishing you always peace, love and kibble.  From all of us at The Pongo Fund.

 

In memory of Shirley Temple Black, April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014.

She was a dear friend to the animals. And she will be deeply missed. Rest in Peace, Bright Eyes. We wish you always wonderful travels On the Good Ship Lollipop!

Inclement weather will force The Pongo Fund Pet Food Bank to close on Sunday, February 9, 2014. This was a very difficult decision for us to make. With heavy snow accumulation already on the ground and ice in the forecast, we do not wish to place anyone in harm’s way. 

The Pongo Fund provides dog and cat food to many area food pantries. If you need food, please contact your local food pantry to find out if they have food available. If you would like to home cook for your pets, please look online for easy-to-make recipes. Please pay close attention to ingredients that are dangerous, such as onions.

Please also consider contacting your local independent pet food store for advice on home cooking and other pet related questions. The people that work at these stores are dedicated and knowledgeable and will provide you with the best help possible.

Please use this also as a reminder to keep you pets safe and warm and to not leave them unattended outdoors. If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them too. Thank you.

(Photo Credit: Timothy J. Gonzalez/AP)

 

As you settle in for Super Bowl Sunday please remember that for many people life is not always super. And for those that struggle the great struggle and fight the great fight, they still find a way to make sure their pets receive plenty of love. And that is a victory.

So please, amidst all the Game Day celebrations, won’t you please take a moment and say a silent prayer for those that need it most? For those that will spend their Sunday cold and hungry and mostly forgotten?

These folks give their all every day. And they do it with far less than the basics. But despite it all they still have love in their hearts to share.

Although these people do not play for any football team, they are part of the Human Team. And all of us at The Pongo Fund think they deserve to be cheered on too.

Thank you for remembering the less fortunate. From all of us at The Pongo Fund.

The conversation was brief. She said she spent almost all of her time trying to escape. And when she did escape she spent all of her time trying to survive. And now that she has escaped and now that she has survived she said she works to move forward again. Her life is not comfortable or cozy by any means. She is living in a domestic violence safe house filled with several other women who share stories that remind her she is not alone.

But it is not a place to be comfortable. It is not a place to be content. It is a place to learn to breathe again. A temporary place to rest. To renew. To rebuild her life compass that has already taken her back to school and job training.

Her spirit tells me that she makes the world’s best lemonade from the lemons she has received. But her greatest joy clearly comes from her kitty. Her family. She said it twice just in case I did not understand what she meant. Her cat is her FAMILY. A tiny puffball that has been with her every step of the way.

Yet as much as things have improved, the fear and challenge is still there. Fear that is fresh because it is fear that she has lived. And a few days ago that fear reared its head when month-end expenses left her already tiny bank account at zero. She said she understood what that meant for her. But how was she supposed to tell her best friend that the food would run out on Thursday and there would be no more until Monday?

She called The Pongo Fund. Now they both have food. They are both safe. They are both well. They both have hope. And they both have Pongo.

Being there when a woman and her kitty need our help to fight the fear. Being there for them to help feed both the stomach and the soul.

Being there. Just being there. And this is why we Pongo.

Sylvia with two cats spoke so softly that I could barely hear her. But my hearing wasn’t the problem. She couldn’t speak any louder. Because she was afraid. Afraid that someone else would hear her and she was too proud to let anyone else know she was making this call.

As it turns out Sylvia was using the lobby phone of a non-descript public housing building in Portland, Oregon. One of thousands of such buildings sprinkled across the country. Every community has them. Buildings that you might not even want to know exist. Not because you don‘t see them. But because you do. 

You see them but don’t want to look at them too long for fear that you might make eye contact with someone standing outside the door. People that have endured the harshness of the years. Many rough winters.  People that could be your own parents or grandparents.

People that in many cases have been made to feel that they have outlived their useful lives. Even though they have many years left to live.  Challenged by maladies both real and imagined. But spend a few moments with them and you become the spark that ignites a conversation. Their words flow quickly, passionately. Yes, they are older. Yes, they have illness. Yes, they live in a place that you hope you never will.

But despite it all these people are still filled with sass and class. And although they might not have the chance to do many of the things we take for granted, they still have their pride. And they still have plenty of love to give.

Sylvia loves her two cats. Cats that are her sisters, she said. Cats that are her children, she said. Cats that are her family, she said. And here she was, speaking on a public phone with a group of others hovering nearby also waiting to use that same phone. But she relished her privacy. And she knew that speaking louder could mean that others might overhear that her hard times had suddenly become even harder times. And that they would find out she had run out of cat food and that she had no money left to buy any more.

So she quietly called The Pongo Fund. A plan was hatched for our Emergency Kibble Response Team to deliver some food for Sylvia’s family. Sylvia said the delivery should be left with the lobby manager. All Sylvia asked was for the food to be placed in a brown paper grocery bag with her name written on the top. And to not have anyone mention that these items were being delivered for free. Because she was too proud for charity.

We made the delivery as agreed. Out of respect to Sylvia, the Emergency Kibble Response Team courier did not even wear a Pongo shirt. When we left the bags with the building manager, she thanked us for helping Sylvia. We said nothing because we were honoring Sylvia’s wishes to not draw attention to this delivery.

But the building manager smiled a knowing smile. And we knew she knew. Because she knew all of the people that lived in her building. And then she said something that made us freeze in our tracks. She said Sylvia was just one of many Sylvia’s living in her building. And at that moment we knew we needed to help more than just one Sylvia. We needed to help them all.

A few days later The Pongo Fund opened a pet food bank annex in that very building. Now all of the Sylvia’s can receive the cat and dog food they need when they need it. Without fear of embarrassment.

Here’s to you, Sylvia, for being brave enough to make the call that has made life better for you and all of the Sylvia’s. And this is why we Pongo!

Peace. Love. Kibble. thepongofund.org

There are never enough tears of sorrow to wash away the pain of losing a best friend. And there are never enough tears of joy to equal the love that these great souls give us. When we earn the love of an animal, we are indeed the luckiest ones. Thank you for always loving the animals. With appreciation…from all of us at The Pongo Fund