Tour

Yesterday I had the pleasure of touring a new animal rescue/rehab center in our county.  It was open to the public.

The facility used to be a no-kill shelter that went bankrupt nearly 5 years ago and was abandoned since then.  The Brandywine Valley SPCA which operates our local animal shelter purchased the facility at auction a few months ago and plans to open it as a rescue/rehab facility.

Dogs and cats picked up as strays, surrendered by owners, or rescued from natural disasters and hoarding environments usually end up at shelters for adoption. But some of these animals need medical attention, nutrition therapy, and behavioral modification to become adoptable.  This process can takes several weeks to several months.  So that's what this new rescue/rehab center will be used for; to bring these animals back to healthy, adoptable pets which will then be adopted from the regular shelter.  It will not be an adoption center nor will it be open to the public, so this was pretty much the only opportunity to get a look at it in person.

Here's a photo of the facility as well as an aerial shot.

Its quite a distinctive-looking building.  But since it was designed to be a shelter, the tour guide said they really don't need to do any retrofitting of the building to accommodate their use of it.

There's even a central courtyard which will likely become a play or training area.

The interior is kind of industrial looking, with exposed HVAC ducts and concrete floors.

These siblings were present for the tour, although the facility is not yet operating.  They were so cute and friendly I wanted to take all 3 home with me.

Then there was this adorable Chihuahua mix named Johnny Pickles.  He'd recently been adopted from the main shelter.  I wanted to take him home too.

This rescue/rehab facility plans to partner with other shelters to accept animals from outside the local area (other states, etc) when there is a special need like hurricanes, floods, and extreme hoarding environments to help get them healthy and adoptable.  This facility should be able to do what many regular shelters can't, so I am really excited its located near me, and plan to donate to its success.

The Brandywine Valley SPCA still needs to raise more funds to bring the formerly abandoned building back to operational condition and support their other activities related to this, so if you feel inclined to donate CLICK HERE.  For larger donations you can even name areas of the facility after a beloved pet or person!

Homecoming

Today is the 4th anniversary of Marvin Parker's adoption, or as I call it, his Homecoming.

This was the photo of Marvin on the shelter's website.  They said his eyes were a little groggy because he was just coming off of the anesthesia from his neutering

 We adopted Marvin from our local shelter so we don't know his actual birthday.  Instead, we celebrate the day he joined our family and found his forever home; thus his Homecoming day.

Me & Spouse with Marvin on the back porch

 

One of my favorite photos; Marvin sleeping on my shoulder

Marvin is typically social.  He's not afraid of strangers and will let nearly anyone pet him and hold him.

Marvin 'took' to Sean immediately when he & Jeffrey visited

 Marvin loves to be petted and will sit on your lap for hours as long as he's getting good scratches.

His Regalness

 Marvin has always loved Spouse's mom.  When we visit he will hop up into her lap for some love.

Sleeping on Grandma's lap on Mother's Day

Bath time

For the most part Marvin gets along well with other dogs.  Sometimes when we're in the yard and someone approaches 'his territory' he will get protective.  He gets along great with Walter.

Marvin, Papa, and younger brother Walter

Marvin is very smart and responds to many verbal commands.

Sleeping while Daddy watches TV

It is rare for Marvin to relax or sleep on his own.  He always wants to be on me or at least touching me.

Marvin just can't tolerate yet another episode of House Hunters

Chillin' on Daddy's shoulder

So today its all about Marvin!

National Dog Day

Today is National Dog Day!

According to their website it was created to bring awareness to the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort.

To celebrate I've shared a couple National Dog Day posts on facebook, sent 'Happy National Dog Day' texts to my dog-loving friends and family, will take Marvin & Walter for a walk around the pond after work, will give Marvin & Walter a yummy chewy treat after dinner, and am sharing with you some of my favorite photos of my boys.  (Click each to enlarge.)

Happy National Dog Day!

Marvin on Daddy's shoulder

Marvin on Daddy's lap on the back porch

Marvin after a bath

Marvin's first day with his new Daddies

Daddy with his 2 boys

Walter & Marvin sleeping while I work

Marvin sleeping on my shoulder

Marvin & Walter love being on the back porch

Marvin on my lap

Marvin on Sean's lap

Walter and his floppy ears

Walter fell asleep with a chew toy in his mouth

Walter trying to escape from a bath

Marvin & Walter relaxing on my lap

Walter snuggling with me

Walter gives Joe P some puppy kisses

Walter playing on the back porch

Walter snoozing on my shoulder

Marvin & Walter on a walk

Walter at 2 months; the day we chose him

Walter sleeping on his back

Napping on my lap

Marvin on my lap; Walter sleeping on my arm the day he came home with us

Happy birthday, Marvin!!

Its hard to believe it, but 2 years ago today Spouse brought Marvin Parker home to live with us.  Time flies when you're having fun!

Since Marvin came from a shelter, we don't know his actual birth date or age, but the volunteer believed he was just a few months old.  He wasn't "fixed" yet when he arrived at the shelter which also lead them to believe he was young.  So we refer to his adoption date as his birthday.

He is a bundle of love mixed with fun and smarts.  He made me a dog person.  So happy birthday, Marvin!!!

Marvin and his dads

Just chillin' on the chaise

A shoulder to nap on

Relaxing on the porch

Sitting on my lap

My other shoulder works good too

Instant friends: Sean & Marvin

Happy birthday Marvin!

It hardly seems possible, but a year ago this week we brought Marvin Parker home to join our family.  The time has passed so quickly!  Since we don't know Marvin's birthday, we are celebrating his adoption day as his birthday.

It has been a wonderful year.  Marvin quickly adjusted to us, and we to him.  He goes right into his "house" (crate) without coaxing when both Spouse & I are going to be out of the house.  He's very smart and knows the difference between his toys.  If I ask him "Where's your rope?" he will bring me the rope, NOT a different toy.

He loves it when we play 'tug of war' with his knotted rope.  If I stop tugging, he will drop the rope in my lap.  When I go to pick it up, he quickly grabs it and playfully growls at me.

He also loves playing fetch.  I will throw his knotted rope from the sofa in the TV room into the foyer and Marvin tears off like a bolt of lightening to retrieve it.  We could repeat this 100 times before he'd tire of it.  

If I pretend to ignore him, Marvin will poke me with a paw as if to say "Hey Dad, I'm here - ready to play!"

He has brought immeasurable love and laughter to our lives and I look forward to many more years to come.

Gay adoption

In 1977, Florida’s Miami-Dade County passed a city ordinance protecting gay and lesbian citizens from discrimination. The law, remarkably progressive for its time, prompted Anita Bryant’s Save Our Children Campaign, one of the most virulently anti-gay crusades the country had ever witnessed. The clash between a gay-friendly beach community and the state’s religious conservatives foreshadowed a cultural divide that would widen in the coming decades.

IN THE LIFE travels to Florida to speak with Martin Gill, a foster father whose case is challenging Florida’s ban on gay adoptions, meet with openly gay Mayor Craig Lowe, and learn about the struggle toward legislative equality in the Sunshine State.

Watch IN THE LIFE's story here.

Crush du Jour: Tom Hardy