Year in Review 2014: November
What a month to be thankful for – a big grant, a wheelchair for Kennedy, a productive Fall Vol Day and, most of all, more adoptions!
Posts
Spring Vol Day a Smashing Success!
What can we say? Saturday’s Spring Vol Day was nothing short of perfect! The weather was beyond beautiful, the food was fantastic, and the teamwork was beyond amazing.
Impromptu Vol Day
We had a last-minute/unplanned “vol day” this morning. About half of Team Russell showed up to take all of the dogs out for a little while to eat and do their business before tucking them back into their warm crates (on fresh blankets) indoors.
Jack Flashback 2013: November
November simply blew us away and gave a whole new meaning to the word “Thanksgiving” for us. We have never, in our history, had such an incredible month of donations, volunteer help and support, locally and across the country and globe.
Jack Flashback: July 2013
The volunteers had barely recovered from June’s fundraisers when July arrived and it was time to do it again with another Vol Day and fundraiser.
Message from Mama Donna
By now, you’ve read about and seen the photos from our Fall Vol Day last Saturday. Donna was blown away from the turnout and commitment of so many to help her with the dogs. There were a couple of years after Jimmy passed that it was just her and another friend/volunteer or two wrapping kennels. Suffice it to say, it took forever – and there wasn’t anyone around to walk and spend time with dogs. She wanted to thank everyone personally. Here goes ..
Fall Vol Day!
Join us for our fall volunteer day! We will be cleaning and weatherproofing kennels and trying our best to get the indoor kennel ready for winter. We could really use some handymen and women for this one!
If you’re ready to sign up, please visit our Facebook event and “join,” so we can get a headcount. If you’re not on Facebook, just email us and let us know you’re coming.
Then head over to our sign-up sheet (don’t worry, we won’t do anything bad with your email) and sign up for the “duties” you’d like to handle, plus any goodies you’d like to bring for the crew. We definitely need help with wrapping the kennels and cleaning out the indoor kennel – not fun jobs, but high-priority jobs for the fall!
If you’re a new volunteer and need directions to the ranch, please email us.
Thank You from Mama Donna
Mama Donna doesn’t have time to go online and do much, but she asked that we share her direct thank you with all of the volunteers who came out and busted butt last Saturday during Volunteer Day … and on any given day. We really do have a rockin’ group of volunteers – and can always use more! If you live in the Atlanta area and would like to help out, please complete our volunteer application.
Mama Donna hugging Sadie
I want all of you to know how much I appreciate what all of you do for me and the dogs every day. Saturday was over and beyond the normal things you do for the rescue but all of you are appreciated every day.
Auctions, t-shirts sent out, taking applications, Facebook, PayPal, driving dogs to the vet, taking care of sick dogs we find, begging for donations, raising money, scooping and water on the weekends – all the weekday/weekend warriors! So much is done for the rescue I just get a little emotional when I have to talk about it.
There are no words that could ever express my gratitude for all you do for me and the dogs and ask for nothing in return. The rescue could not operate without all of you! This year has been the best year ever for the rescue, thanks to all of you, and we have more good things coming our way.
Then the others who have come to the rescue who just jumped right in! … Sandy,who I felt she has been there forever! Abby, who has been out several times and may be thinking, ‘What have I done,’ but even talked someone into coming with her! The K’s, as we call you, with our little Pippa. Lily, Mike and little Carson, who is so adored. Jennifer, who brought Susie, who Terry spoiled rotten … as if she already wasn’t … along with Pumpkin and Chuckie. Morgan, who made a special trip to see Oscar!
The weekend warriors – thanks to all of you!
(You are) so loved and, because of all of you, there are so many more in great homes that would never have made it out of the shelters. Each of you should be so proud for being a part of saving so many dogs from the shelter.
When I see all the dogs who are so loved, I know why I do this.
The food was great; all of you worked so hard. I am eating leftover fruit and salad today for lunch! Peach cobbler – how good was that! The ice cream man in my driveway! Yum!!!!!!!
Sally – a special thanks to you for helping with the inside dogs! Letting them lay in your truck! The grilled food was the best! I know you are recovering (and) that was a long day.
The clean up crew, who helped me take down the tent and throw away garbage and letting Skip have a little bite of burger. Skip now runs to the spot where the grill was! Please tell Britt thanks so much. We need to have adjustments at the next event.
Volunteer Day is Tomorrow
Tomorrow’s the day to work and to play at Volunteer Day! We have a lot of people signed up for a day of kennel cleaning, dog washing/walking, general repairs and a yummy cookout!
People will be coming and going all day at the ranch between 9 am and 6pm (or dusk). Feel free to come out at any time that’s best for you and stay however long you want or can. If you want to be there for the cookout, it is scheduled for 12:30.
If you haven’t signed up for volunteer duties or cookout goodies, please do so ASAP:
Things to Bring
We will have most supplies on hand, but here are some things you will want to bring:
- Your goodies for the cookout
- Work or rubber gloves (depending on what duties you’re doing)
- Lawn/foldable chairs
- Umbrellas
- Old towels
You’ll also want to bring a pair of “poop shoes.” We try to clean up as much as possible, but with this many Jacks … well, poop happens.
If you still need the address/directions, please email us at jrtadoptions@gmail.com
Dog Day Events on Tap
We’re headed into the dog days of summer, but we’re not going to let that slow us down. In fact, we’ve got two big events scheduled for the dogs in July alone.
Volunteer Day
It’s been awhile since we’ve had our last volunteer day, so we’ve scheduled another one for Saturday, July 13 from 9am-6pm. For those volunteers who have attended in the past, you know this is a fast-paced, full-day schedule of doing all the stuff we don’t normally have time to do, as well as the much-needed seasonal upgrades. This includes washing doghouses; cleaning out all of the kennels and replacing hay; fixing or installing new tarps; repairing, extending or building onto kennels; and mowing grass. The dogs need out of their kennels while all of this is going on, so there’s fun stuff to do, too, like walking the dogs, playing ball in the field and working on agility with them.
And there’s always great food. This time, we’re doing a cookout!
We’ll rally at the ranch around 9 in the morning to discuss tasks and see who wants to do what, but we plan to be busy most of the day, possibly until sundown. If you can’t make it all day, come out whenever you can and stay for however long you like. Wear your old clothes and your “poo shoes.” We’re gettin’ dirty for the dogs!
If you plan on joining us, please visit our event page on Facebook and “join” us. If you’re not a Facbeook user, email us and let us know. We will provide everyone with the address and directions to the ranch offline. (Just know that it’s outside Conyers, Georgia, in case you’re wondering.)
Also, if you’re coming, please sign up on the volunteer duties sheet and the cookout sheet.
Dog Days of Summer
We are proud to take part in celebrating the Dog Days of Summer event with Ahimsa House and the Westin Hotel in Buckhead. Scheduled for 2-4 pm Saturday, July 27 at the Westin (3391 Peachtree Road NE in Atlanta), this special event invites you to bring your canine companions to help raise money for Ahimsa House and our rescue.
Mix and mingle in the hotel’s pet-friendly event space with light bites, specialty cocktails and pet-fun activities. All proceeds from the cash bar and pet-friendly raffle will benefit Ahimsa House and our rescue.
The event sponsors have asked everyone to RSVP by calling 404-688-1466 or emaling rsvp@lizlapiduspr.com. If you’re on Facebook, we would also love it if you visited our event page and “join” us.
