Another Great Fundraiser By Little Victories.

source: first paragraph from the Herald Dispatch.

Little Victories Animal Rescue plans to raise funds and awareness during the Marshall University football game Friday, Oct. 3. Little Victories will have a tailgate and distribute "trick or treat" pumpkins to aid in fundraising.

The shelter is at it again to raise funds and help the homeless animals in our area. This is a great idea, as it will reach a lot of people. Come out to the game and watch Marshall win and help the animals and party, all at the same time!

Little Victories Pet Photos At Huntington Mall.

Little Victories No-Kill Shelter has been granted permission by the Huntington Mall, Barboursville, WV to let pets come into the mall at the Macy's dome and have pictures taken.

This is a first for the shelter. They have been rejected before by the mall. Sue Brown asked the owner of Just Dog's! Gourmet, Audra Sowards, if she might be able to help. Well, Audra went to the mall management and worked magic. The mall agreed to it.

Every Wed., Fri., and Sat., from 10am till noon, through the month of October, pictures will be taken at the Macy Dome. And, when you are through, come down to Just Dog's! Gourmet for a free 1/4 lb. sack of our bacon training treats. We are just across from Steak Escape in the food court. As this is a non-profit organization, I assume, yes assume, that a donation will be the price for the picture. Come out in October and have your pet captured in a photo, and at the same time, help a great cause.

The money from the donations will go toward medical bills and food supplies. Come out and join us. Maybe you have a Halloween costume you want your pet to wear. This is the perfect opportunity to get that photo taken.

Relief For Overwhelmed Animal Shelters Due To The Foreclosure Epidemic.

I have written about this, but now it is finally happening. On June 4th, '08, the first round of grants from a special fund created by the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), went out to local shelters and rescue organizations. This fund was created in March of this year. It will help shelters and rescue organizations with the overwhelming amount of animals that are being left behind because people are having their homes foreclosed and the financial crisis that our country is in.

The grants can help alleviate some of the already massive load that the shelters are encountering. Unfortunately, the humans are not the only ones suffering. Family pets have to be given up or some are just left behind to fend for themselves. I have had some people leave comments that the HSUS is an organization just like PETA. That they want all animals to be free of human control. This is so untrue. If they were like PETA, they would not help shelters and rescue organizations. They are helping animals get a second chance at a life with a family that can care for them, instead of starving to death, which is the cruelest way to die.

The grants range from $500.00 to $2000.00 per organization. To be eligible, the organization has to be a registered 501(c)3 non-profit or a municipal animal control agency. Preference is given to shelters and organizations that have a cooperative agreement with other community agencies such as food banks or other community service agencies.

We Need More People To Adopt Shelter Animals!

Chance says, "If you are looking for a new companion, check out your local shelters. Give all of them a try. You will find your perfect companion."

I just wanted to give a shout out to a great lady I met just today, 6/9/08, her name is Michelle. She is in the process of adopting one of the shelter dogs at Little Victories. If more people were like her, our shelters, kill and no-kill wouldn't be over-run. Go Michelle and good luck!

Walk And Wag - A Great Way To Help The Homeless Animals.

Chance says, "Get your head out of that bag, and come join us!"

source: Herald Dispatch and Little Victories website.

With the warm weather comes some great events. On June 7, 2008, from 8am till noon, Little Victories and Help For Animals will be holding the 5th annual "Walk and Wag." You can pre-register so that you don't have to wait in line to get signed up. Send your check, made out to Little Victories, to: Little Victories, POB 247, Barboursville, WV 25504, or you can register at the event. Adults are $15.00, and children under 8, are $12.00. Come out, bring your 4 legged best friend and your 2-legged ones, too!!! This is a great way to help the animals, and your health. If you need more info - call 304-743-5802 or 304-736-8555.

Here is a little taste of what will be going on Sat. the 7th. There will be contests for the best dressed, best kisser, tail wagger, and much more. The children will enjoy the face painting and the clown that will be there, too. And, I think this is cool, they will have a continental breakfast for the walkers. Plus, plenty of cold water for both 2-legged and 4-legged walkers.

If you want to form a "pack," like with people from your workplace, school, or church, you will need to notify Little Victories by email at jmhrth@gmail.com to register in advance. You can give your "pack" a cool name, too! The "pack" that raises the most money will win a trophy for their office, school or church. And, members of your pack are still eligible for individual trophy's as well.

A Fun Way To Help The Animals.

Chance says, "Little Victories is the bomb!"

source: Herald Dispatch

If you like Longaberger purses or Boyds Bears, Little Victories has just the event for you. On May 30, 2008 at 7pm, Little Victories is having their Basket Bear Bingo. It is going to be at the YMCA at 617 5th Ave. Don't worry about parking, as you can park on the street on in the back. The money collected will go toward the continuing medical care of the dogs at the new shelter on Wire Branch Rd., Ona, WV.

For more info, email Sue Brown @ sbrown7987@aol.com or call 304-523-1666.

Good Job, Hogs!

source: Herald Dispatch

Chance and I just wanted to say "Thanks!" to the Hogs for Dogs motorcycle run that raised over $600.00 to help with building the new Putnam County Animal Relief Center.

To make a donation by post - First State Bank, 1101 Hospital Dr., Hurricance, WV 25526, and make your check payable to PARCF. (Putnam Animal Relief Center Fund)

Little Victories As Seen With My Own Eyes.

pup with hair

sibling pupJust a tummy scratch is all this little guy wants.

This is just one of the houses in "PuppyTown." See how relaxed the dogs are! They are all that way. Happy and secure.

Today, 5/3/08, I went to Wire Branch Rd. off Rt. 60 in Ona WV, to visit a no-kill shelter called Little Victories that has been the subject of controversy by the residents living on this road. The founder and president, Sue Brown, gave me permission to take pictures while I was there, and I did. What I found were extremely healthy, happy and in all but one case, animals that felt secure. This one animal had been so horribly abused, he just couldn't trust anyone. But, it seems that since the new caretakers took over, he will now sniff the hand of the lady caretaker. That is reassuring.

As I drove down the road to get to the shelter, I passed sign after sign in people's yards that were all against this shelter being built on their road. When the caretaker, Twana, (I am sorry if I misspelled her name) showed me the property line I was amazed. Where the property owned by Little Victories starts, it is over 2 football fields from the nearest house. And, as I cruised down this road, I had my radio off and my windows both down. I heard absolutely nothing until I was abreast with the play area for the shelter dogs. One little fella was in there getting his daily romp, and he alerted I was there. And naturally, the other dogs followed suit, but only for a very short time. The caretaker, Twana, seems to really calm them. I was impressed by this.

The letter from the lady in the Voice of the People of this newspaper, saying that the dogs were dirty and no-one was there is what prompted me to call Sue and get permission to take pictures to show the public that, well, I just don't know what that lady is talking about. The pictures I have on this blog show that they have actual houses, called PuppyTown. Kudos, by the way to the Eagle Scout Troop that built it for the shelter. And, the dogs they have in lots have the entire top of the lot covered, and good houses to get into. All the dogs were clean and their areas are cleaned twice a day. With help, this can be a fabulous place for dogs to get a second chance, and the ones that can't be adopted, will have a place to live out their lives peacefully and securely.

Normally, my personal business is just that, but I am going to put Little Victories in my will. I have the library, too, because of an extensive book collection. But, after seeing what this organization is trying to do, makes me start to believe that there really is some good left in the world. What impressed me the most about the lady that took me around, was the attitude of all, and I mean all the dogs when she approached. They were so happy to see her and they just licked her hands. Even the one dog that is not approachable, he will sniff her hand. Gentle way about her. I liked her. I didn't get a chance to meet her husband.

She told me a story of this blue merle dog that she showed me. She went to bed one evening, and the next morning when her husband got up at 6am to start feeding and cleaning, he came back in and asked her who put the dog in the pen with the little fella already in there? She said there is no "other dog". Sure enough, someone came up there through the early morning hours and put her over the fence and into the pen. They(caretakers) said she was rail thin, but the bizarre thing was, the people left a garbage bag full of treats and food and toys. But the dog was so malnourished she almost died. But now, she is beautiful. And, if you go to the website: http://www.littlevictories.org and look at the 2 puppies they found that didn't have any hair, well I saw them today, and their coats are fabulous. They are pictured up on the left top. Both have full coats. Good work Little Victories!

They are working to get enough money to build an indoor kennel. Chad Pennington gave a donation specifically to be used in the building of the kennel. (The dog blog has a small story about his donation) The lady caretaker was very excited about it. Go see for yourself. I went up without calling the shelter. I had talked to Sue last week and got her permission, but didn't tell her when I would be going. So, no one knew I was coming. What I am relaying to you, comes first hand. With my own eyes.

Adopt A Thon.

Well, Little Victories is holding an adopt-a-thon at Pullman Square in Huntington, WV today, 4/12/08 from 11am till 3pm. If you are looking for a companion, this is the place to go. All animals are vet checked and either spayed or neutered.

Update: It seems that the adopt-a-thon went very well. What I saw when I went down was really fun. These dogs know just how to melt a heart with just a look! The volunteers that were there seemed so dedicated. It is so refreshing to see kindness. I mean, really honest kindness. If you are looking for something to occupy your mind, ask about being a volunteer at Little Victories. Helping the helpless gives one such a feeling of accomplishment.

Another Shelter Abuse Case - The Public Didn't Know About!

Chance thinks if the news media would get more involved in animal abuse cases, it might slow the tide.

Almost 2 yrs. ago, a Berkeley County woman was charged with keeping 149 dogs in inhumane conditions. Mari Spade, a 61 year old woman (at the time) that started a rescue called, ironically, "Second Chance", that actually arranged adoptions for hundreds of dogs at several Loudoun County pet stores and a local veterinary clinic, has been charged with animal cruelty.

This is another case of someone opening a shelter and not being able to handle it. Who suffers, the animals, of course. Her lawyer had the audacity to say, "There is no abuse. She may have been a little over-whelmed, but she is not a cruel person by definition." But, anyone that would defend someone like this woman, is desperate for a case. The evidence was abundant.

She has been ordered to pay restitution of about $115,000.00. This amount came from the total cost it took to take care of the dogs rescued from the hell they were living in. She pleaded no-contest in Dec. '07 to one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty. The charge is too lenient. I feel she should at least have done 6mo. to 2 yrs. in jail and paid the county back.

Little Victories Thrift Store Opening Soon.

Chance is dancing with glee over Little Victories!


In April, Little Victories, Cabell County's first no-kill shelter, will be opening a thrift store to help with vet costs and their new rescue farm on Wire Branch Rd. in Ona, WV. The store is located at 4465 WV Rt. 10 in Barboursville, WV. This organization has been giving homeless and abused dogs a second chance at life for 5 yrs.


The president, Sue Brown, is a tireless advocate for the abused and homeless animals that did not ask to be born. For more information on the new store or if you have questions about their organization, you can call 304 523-1666 or go to their website at: http://www.littlevictories.org/.