Resident of the Month: Meet Skippy

Hi, I'm Skippy.  My owner died last year. He was as old as I am, and because I only have three legs, he had a hard time taking care of me, but he loved me, this I knew.  However, one day he went in his car and never came back.  A relative came and took me to a very cold place; I was left there. I was so scared.  I didn't have a bed and because I only have three legs, I had a hard time getting around on the floor.

One day a lady came looking for another dog, I knew this because when she asked about another dog she was told that it was too late.  She began to cry.  She was walking by my cage and asked about me.  When she heard that I had been left because my owner was gone, she said she was taking me home with her.  So out to the car I went; I had not been in a car and was a little scared.  I came to this big place with lots of grass. There were many other dogs there too.  Every day, Miss Holly takes the dogs for a walk to the river, I simply couldn't make it.  I was just too overweight, and it was so hard walking without a leg.  I sat at the gate and watched them- feeling so sad I could not go too.

Then one day I went in the car again; they took me to a place with lots of food, toys and other items.  They began placing me in strollers until they found one that fit.  Now, I get to go to the river every day with all the other dogs. 

That was last fall, now guess what?  We found out that my thyroid was low and that I have arthritis in my back leg. I received the medicine I needed and began feeling better. I have also been eating healthy and walking more; I have lost weight.  I can even make it to the creek by myself.  But I still have to use the stroller on the way back.  That's ok though, I've come a long way. 

If you would like to support "Skippy" through our Distance Adoption Program click here.

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A Note from Our President, Sharon Emerson

Last month was a great start to our first newsletter, we had many people reply and tell us that they enjoyed reading the information.  I hope this month will prove the same.  We continue to face daily challenges and hurdles in our efforts to save our older animals.  But when one door closes, it seems another one opens. 

Right now the sanctuary is facing the fact that we cannot continue living at our current location.  Even though Allen and Holly knew that when they signed the lease it could not be forever, we just hoped it would be "longer" rather than "shorter".

Therefore, our most urgent need is to locate property.  Our ideal location would be a minimum of ten acres, zoned agriculture, currently with a house and possibly a couple of barns, perhaps land that is in a trust or land that the current owner would be able to get some tax incentives by "donating" or "leasing" to a not-for-profit. We would love to sign a 99 year lease with the option to purchase.

Should you or someone you know work in the world of real estate or work with estate planning, state land, etc.  Please contact me, Allen or Holly.  We would love to sit down and talk about any options out there. 

However, we currently have a wonderful location in West Nashville; it offers 43 beautiful acres in a wonderful neighborhood.  The house needs some work; but Allen and Holly are managing.  It is home to 23 animals - all who will live the rest of their life running free, playing, eating, drinking, walking, being groomed and most of all in the arms of love.   Please help us keep a home, not many places will take us and 23 animals, so it does need to be a very special place. 

On a personal note, I'm running the Nashville Marathon to help raise money for the sanctuary.  My goal is to raise $5,000.00. Should you want to donate to my efforts, please go to the website.  If you would rather send a check, make your check payable to Seven Blessings Animal Sanctuary and put my name in the "for" section. You can mail to my attention at 3200 West End Avenue, Suite 401, Nashville, TN  37203.  I'm also having T-Shirts made.  They will have the words, "Our owners died, but we didn't have to.  Thank you Seven Blessings."  It will have a picture of Athena, Skippy and Baby Girl (pictured above).  If you would like a T-shirt, send me a note.

Thank you for your time in reading, your hands with volunteering and your hearts with donations. 

Words cannot express how much it is appreciated.

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Overheard it at the Water Bowl:

A Story told by the Residents of Seven Blessings...

As Mopsey entered the sanctuary, she looked sad and tired; she smelled bad; she didn't have much to say and was very scared.  We tried to make her feel at home; but she was just so confused.  After a couple of days, we asked her about where she came from, that is when we learned she was deaf.  But somehow we knew that she understood she was now safe. Then she began to tell her story...

She was dropped off many years ago at the end of a very long road.  She didn't understand why she was left at this place, but after a while of just sitting in the yard, two ladies came out of the house, "Another one, great.  What are we going to do with this one?"  And off she went to the back of a barn.  She was chained there to live the rest of her life.  She never left the barn, not even when it was very cold or very hot.  Many other dogs were chained in that same barn- never able to leave.  Everyday the ladies came to feed them and give them water, but they all became very anxious.  Some tried to get away, chewing on the chains, tipping over their only water bowl, fighting with other close dogs.  They only had a few feet in which to lay, sleep, walk and use the potty. It became a crazy place to be, and she eventually gave up hope. 

Then one day many people came and began taking one dog at a time to another place. They were all examined, given shots, fresh food and water and then put in a kennel.  Mopsey was actually happier in that kennel but still very afraid of what was going to happen next.  Later, another lady came and put Mopsey in a car. She had not been in a car for quite some time. She couldn't help it, but she got sick.  When the lady brought her in, we felt sorry for her, but we also knew that she was going to be one of us. She was never going to be hungry, cold or sad again.

Mopsey was part of a rescue effort in East Tennessee.  A unanimous call came to a rescue group and an intervention of the farm took place.  The place was home to two sisters, who lived at the dead end of a very rural road: a dumping ground for the unwanted.  The sisters became overwhelmed, not having enough money for vetting, spaying or neutering; the females continued to became pregnant over and over.  When the volunteers arrived at the location, there were over 87 dogs on the property.  Thanks to the Humane Association of Wilson County, a spay/neuter station was set up.  Over 50 dogs were vaccinated, spayed and /or neutered; 19 females were pregnant (just multiply that by 6 or more). 

Many volunteers came to help with transporting, cleaning the barn, working at the spay station, building fencing and taking babies to foster care or adoption homes.  However, the work is not yet finished, the clinic in Gallatin (the same one that took the animals from the Bethpage Puppy mill) If you would like to help, email Lisa Tarbet.  She is continuing to work with this effort.  She is in need of donations, foster care and permanent homes for the animals remaining at the farm and the dogs at the clinic.  She also needs volunteers to walk, sit, pet and love the dogs at the clinic.  Lisa took one pregnant dog home with her and on Valentines Day she had 9 puppies.  She will need a home for not only the new puppies but also the cats that are still at the farm.

If you would like to support "Mopsey" through our Distance Adoption Program click here.

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Our Greatest Need!

Success? What does it mean to be successful, to have success, to succeed?

To us it means:

The VISION to see; The COURAGE to do; The FAITH to believe...

The VISION to see -

    We are currently looking for a permanent, habitable location of 50 plus acres, zoned agriculture in order to establish a self-sufficient, state of the art, environmentally friendly, domestic animal 'campus' to support the: daily operations, nurturing, feeding, grooming, playing, housing, healthcare, resident and guardian pods, service, equipment, supplies and physical plant support. 

 
The COURAGE to do -

        To openly and honestly say this: "We need $500,000 to begin our vision".

The FAITH to believe -

That this WILL be provided because you too wish us success.

To learn more regarding our Capital Funds Campaign, click here! 

You will be introduced to ways you can help make this vision a reality.

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Our March Blessing, Sarah Smith

Well, you would not be reading this without volunteer, Sarah Smith!  She is the hand behind this creation, and she is definitely a blessing to us.

Sarah works for Facility Planners, a local commercial furniture dealership located here in Nashville. Sarah serves as office liaison, assisting sales, design and administration with her organizational and marketing talents.

Sarah is married to Hunter Smith, and the couple lives in West Nashville with their babies: Spud an 18 month old Dachshund (pictured), Louise a delightfully hefty Tabby and Macy Gray a rambunctious ball of kitten fluff.

Seven Blessings is very grateful to Sarah, as she has been instrumental in getting our stories to you!

Thanks Sarah!

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WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!!! 

If you would like to learn more, go to our website's volunteer section. 

You can contact us directly or complete a form with your interest. 

For more information about donating to Seven Blessing click here. Thank you for thinking of

Seven Blessings, without the help of our community, we cannot do the work we do!