As I had said in a previous post, puppymill awareness day was an outstanding day! With a fantastic turnout from people from different states to show their support to help change puppymills in PA and elsewhere, it was an amazing day for me.
I met so many wonderful, caring people and organizations. As I was talking to Helen Ebersole, President of United Against Puppymills, we both said how great it was to not feel alone in this battle. Each group or individual wants to see puppymills abolished and each of us is fighting it. To be together in that group atmosphere was extremely charging for me. My husband remarked that Helen is so hyper, the same as me, to see these bills pass in the Senate. Helen is a spitfire. I have known Helen for years since she was on my first show on BCTV. That reminds me, I will be hosting a 1 hr. special next Tuesday, the 30th, on puppymills. Helen will be one of my guests. More to come in a later post.
Awareness Day would not be possible without Chris DeRose, from Last Chance for Animals. When Walt, Carol and Kathy (organizers of awareness day) were sitting around the table five years ago figuring out how to make this into something, they contacted Last Chance and Chris and his organization has backed and supported awareness day since the beginning. Chris says he won’t stop supporting this event until the problem is fixed and he has kept his promise. Chris was not in the best shape on Saturday. He has had two knee surgeries and back surgery. He told me he has lost 38 lbs.. I never expected him to be there let alone walk the entire walk (1 1/2 miles). I remarked to him that he seemed worse after doing so. And he said he was. Last Chance for Animals is the main sponsor behind Awareness Day ~ thank you.
There were many speakers including Chris, AnneMarie Lucas, Jana Kohl, Stephanie Shain (HSUS), Director from the Humane League of Lancaster County, Rescue Ink and more…..
As I was telling Walt, one of the co-founders of this day, it was remarkable how many people showed up and what a difference this is making. I was there that first year and to see how far it has grown is remarkable. We are making a difference~ all of us.
Here are some photos from that day if you weren’t able to be there.
To see more photos visit awareness day. Thank you to Walt, Carol and Kathy – job well done!!
Chris DeRose
Several puppymill puppies flown in from Lancaster, Ohio and headed to the Humane League of Lancaster County (yes, they are cute!)
This former puppymill mother had been bred repeatedly and her left front leg had been injured. Because it had been fused improperly, it is permanently crooked. She can put pressure on it but she will walk on three legs. She is a sweetheart!