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Every iHeartDogs product is developed with this core concept in mind. We strive to make the highest quality, most unique products for pups and people that also do something even greater. That’s why when you shop iHeartDogs, we make a donation through each purchased item towards one of a variety of give-back programs. In May 2015 we asked ourselves, “What do shelters need? What would truly and tangibly make an impact”. The answer? Food. As our Flagship Program, many of the items in the iHeartDogs store provide meals for shelter dogs. Every product in our Pets & Vets Collection provides funds to help pair companion dogs with veterans suffering from physical and emotional injuries, such as PTSD. When shelter dogs are seen playing with a toy, adoption rates skyrocket! That’s why for every Project Play™ toy purchased, we donate a durable toy to a shelter dog. The Second Chance Movement™ provides funding to charities that transport adoptable pets from overcrowded, high-kill shelters to shelters and rescues in areas where families are waiting to adopt. Our K9 Body Armor Collection was a symbolic way to show support for our brave police force and to fundraise for K9 body armor and the medical expenses of our injured K9 heroes, often not provided for in municipal budgets. Every purchase from our Rescue Rebuild Collection generates donations for underfunded, crumbling shelters and those impacted by natural disasters. Every Give Warmth™ purchase provides a cozy, warm, durable blanket to a shelter dog in need. Oftentimes, dogs in underfunded shelters don’t have much more than a water dish in their kennel.

Die GLS Bank ist in Deutschland die Refernz für sozial und ökologisches Banking. Wer bei der GLS Bank Kunde ist, kann sich sicher sein, dass sein Geld dazu beiträgt die Zukunft zu gestalten, die wir uns alle wüsnchen. Investitionen gehen in eigens sehr strickt aufgelegte Fonds welche das 1.5°C Ziel bereits erfüllen. Keine Kinderarbeit, keine Waffen, kein Genforschung oder andere negativ Themen - sondern erneuerbare Energien, Soziales und Kultur, ökologische Landwirtschaft, Ernährung, nachhaltige Wirtschaft und weitere positiv beitragende Vorhaben werden ausschließlich unterstützt. Als Kunde bei der Bank trägt man dazu bei, dass ausschließlich diese positiven Projekte gefördert werden. Der strickte Zuspruch zu sozial und ökologischen Projekten wird bei allen Produkten, die ein Kunde von seiner Bank kennt (Baugredite, Firmenkredite, Altersovrsorge, Anlagen, Investitionen etc) unabweichlich eingehalten. Privatpersonen, Firmen und Vereine werden darüber hinaus aktiv unterstützt ihrn eigenen Impact zu verbessern. Die GLS Bank ist eine Universal-Bank, bei welcher man nahezu alle Finanzdienstleistungen in Anspruch nehmen kann - jedoch immer unter einer strickten sozial, ökologischen und nachhaltigen Perspektive. Die Bank ist überwiegend in Deutschland tätig. Es können alle Dienste online wahrgenommen werden und es gibt mehrere Filialen für den persönlichen Besuch. Desweiteren besticht die Bank durch Ihre Rechtsform, die Genossenschaft. Die mitgleiderbestimmte Gesellschaftsform ist darauf gegründet in Gemeinschaft einen gesellschaftlich positiven Beitrag zu leisten. Mit der GLS Bank gibt es keinen Bedarf mehr als Privatperson sowie Firma bei einer konventionellen Bank zu sein und indirekt Umweltvernichtende Projekte zu unterstützen. Die GLS Bank bietet den vollumassenden Banken-Service mit reinem und ehrlichem guten Gewissen. Klimaschutz kann so einfach sein: Werde jetzt Mitglied bei der GLS Bank. The GLS Bank is the reference for social and ecological banking in Germany. Anyone who is a customer of GLS Bank can be sure that their money will help shape the future that we all want. Investments are made in specially designed funds that already meet the 1.5°C target. No child labor, no weapons, no genetic research or other negative topics - only renewable energies, social affairs and culture, ecological agriculture, nutrition, sustainable economy and other positively contributing projects are exclusively supported. As a customer at the bank, you help ensure that only these positive projects are funded. The strict encouragement to social and ecological projects is inevitably complied with for all products that a customer knows from their bank (building loans, corporate loans, old-age provision, systems, investments, etc.). Private individuals, companies and associations are also actively supported to improve their own impact. The GLS Bank is a universal bank, where you can take advantage of almost all financial services - but always under a strict social, ecological and sustainable perspective. The bank operates predominantly in Germany. All services can be used online and there are several branches for personal visits. Furthermore, the bank impresses with its legal form, the cooperative. The member-determined form of society is based on making a socially positive contribution in community. With the GLS Bank, there is no longer any need to be a private person or company with a conventional bank and indirectly support environmentally damaging projects. GLS Bank offers the full banking service with a clear and honest good conscience. Climate protection can be so easy: become a member of GLS Bank now.

Born and bred in beautiful Cape Town, mom to a long-awaited, witty, (inherited from me of course!), amazing, lively little 5-year-old girl, 2 dogs and 2 cats, 'my rescue children'. Married to Tomy, a senior digital content producer hailing from Tennenbronn, Germany. He is as introvert as I am extrovert – the scale balances beautifully. In my spare time (which is limited!) I sketch, paint, and try my hand at baking, while completing a mini-thesis in psychology. University after high school was not an option. I am also a seasoned HR professional, with a passion for people and process, building and maintaining great relationships form the foundation of both who I am, and what I do. And it’s a solid foundation. Hailing from the Pharmaceutical industry, I entered the world of investments about 14 years ago, where after joining as Office Manager, I moved into HR and have been in the HR sphere since. My journey has taken me on many a bumpy road, however, being a glass-half-full type, seasoned by an interesting childhood, and a solid determination to rise above, I march smilingly on. I have a passion for order, automation and software which could aid in optimization, easing transitions and processes. I am resilient with great sense of humour, always welcoming a challenge. I have a firm belief that building and nurturing relationships are paramount to success. I love meeting people and building relationships come naturally to me. I believe it’s the level of connection that counts. I am passionate about my work, I love what I do, and I do it well. I believe that doing what you love is a privilege. Yet, I still long for something more philanthropic in life. To give back, be it ever so small. Being an eternal optimist and peppered with life’s-experiences, I have been shaped into the person I am today. Pragmatic, passionate, and humble. An enormous amount of grit coupled a with good dose of grace! I am not done growing yet, not by a long shot, there are too many interesting, inspiring people to meet along the way, and there is always something to learn and something to contribute in life. It’s the journey that counts and I enjoy every step.

Hello and welcome from all the team at Evesham! We are nestled on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds and first opened our doors in May 1967. We have recently undergone a total transformation and offer the dogs in our care the highest standards of welfare from a brand new veterinary facility, enriched play areas, cosy and comfortable sleeping areas as well as the conservation of wildlife who have also made Evesham their home. As well as all this, we are very proud of our dedicated team who are on hand to discuss the adoption process and help find your new companion Did you know you can donate to us via the Amazon wish list? We regularly update it with the items that will benefit the centre, from doggy treats to things that will help us fundraise. If you want to take a look, there’s a link on the right-hand side of this page.

Hello and welcome to Dogs Trust West London! Our Rehoming Centre based in Harefield is set within 16 acres of farmland and home to seventy-five purpose built kennels. We currently have over 150 dogs in our care including our sponsor dog - Hobo! Our fantastic facilities including under floor heating, glass fronted kennels, six exercise paddocks, a four acre field, a Puppy Suite and our amazing new Sensory Garden. All help to ensure our residents really enjoy their time here; they even get room service! Every year we find loving new homes for hundreds of stray and abandoned dogs, if you're interested in offering a dog in our care a forever home, find out how rehoming works.

Street Tails Animal Rescue began in 2001 as a one woman effort to literally save one dog at a time. Initially operating out of her pet store, The Chic Petique, founder Lindsay Condefer spent years pulling and adopting out one dog at a time. In 2010, with the help of friends and supporters, her dream to help even more dogs in need became a reality. The operation blossomed into its own location. Since then, the number of animals STAR has helped find loving homes has grown exponentially. Street Tails Animal Rescue (STAR) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping the homeless, unwanted and abandoned dogs in the Philadelphia area. Our goal is to pull local animals out of shelters and find them loving, forever homes. To us, rescue is about saving a life, and each animal’s life, no matter the cost, is worth saving. Since our animals often require extra care and support, covering the costs is our greatest challenge.

Best Friends Animal Society is a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. In addition to running lifesaving programs in partnership with thousands of animal welfare groups across the country, Best Friends has regional centers in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Salt Lake City, and operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters nationwide from an estimated 17 million per year to about 347,000. That means there are still more than 950 dogs and cats killed every day in shelters, just because they don’t have safe places to call home. We are determined to bring the country to no-kill by the year 2025. Working collaboratively with shelters, rescue groups, other organizations and you, we will end the killing and Save Them All. By choosing to adopt a pet from a shelter, you are saving a life. Plus, no matter what type of dog or cat you're looking for, you're sure to find your new best friend at a shelter, where there are wonderful pets of every breed, size and age. You can also adopt from the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City. Each pet at the center comes from a Utah shelter and is vaccinated, spayed or neutered and microchipped before going into a new home.

Pawp gives you unlimited 24/7 access to licensed vets & a $3,000/year pet emergency fund. It’s like pet insurance, but better. You’re covered in any emergency, big or small. Caring for your pet is expensive — Pawp is committed to making it affordable for everyone. We handpick our pet experts who are best-in-show at veterinary care and who have the patience, experience, and understanding needed to help you and your pet. We built our telehealth clinic to be lightning fast to get you connected to a vet with the shortest wait times possible — no appointments required. Our vets always have your back. We want to give all pet parents the peace of mind of knowing they have expert, on-demand pet care at their fingertips 24/7.

All 4 Paws Rescue is a non-profit, foster-based, all-breed, no-kill animal rescue based in Malvern, PA that offers rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary to animals in need. Our goal is to offer each and every one of these animals a safe, permanent and loving home. All 4 Paws Rescue was founded in May 2009. Since inception, All 4 Paws Rescue has saved over 13,000 needy animals and continues to grow and save lives daily. For most of the animals rescued by All 4 Paws, we are their last chance. Many reside in shelters that are not even open to the public, but are instead holding facilities where the animals go to die. Many come from commercial breeding facilities that throw them away like trash when they are no longer useful for breeding purposes or not fit for sale. Puppies, purebreds, family pets - these are animals you would never expect to end up in these horrible situations, but it is a sad reality. Through our extensive rescue network, All 4 Paws has developed relationships nationwide that allow us to save countless lives that would otherwise have been ended. As a foster based rescue, our animals live in homes with our families and our personal pets, so we are able to learn a great deal about them and work on preparing them for their forever home. There is no greater feeling than releasing these wonderful animals into a safe yard and watching them run and play as they should. They sleep curled up in soft beds in our homes when hours before they laid on concrete floors. They feel grass beneath their feet when many have never experienced the outdoors. Having never known freedom or a full belly, they are so very thankful. This is why we at All 4 Paws Rescue do what we do - because they all deserve a home.

PackHire’s job search platform is the perfect meeting place for jobseekers and employers in the pet world. PackHire was created by pet people for pet people. We believe that animal lovers should have their own place to search for jobs that cater to their skills, background and interest in working in pet care. Say goodbye to poor and irrelevant search results and expensive membership fees. Now you can easily browse various categories and positions that interest you and perform focused searches with pawsome results… for free! Do you love working with pets or do want a career where you can showcase your talents in an industry you are passionate about? Look no further! PackHire is an employment search platform connecting businesses in the pet care industry with candidates seeking careers in pet care. Companies just post jobs and candidates can search open positions, post resumes, and apply directly! The global pet care market is expected to reach 202 billion by 2025 as a result of people around the world embracing the pet-owning and pet-loving lifestyles to a far greater extent as compared to previous generations. Our favorite pet supply and service companies in retail, ecommerce, healthcare, insurance, grooming, training, daycare, walking/sitting and non-profits are hiring at lightning speeds to keep pace with the demand to care for our furry, slimy, and slithery friends. Why not find your dream job today?

WAGS is funded and run. WAGS is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is contracted by two cities with a predetermined estimated amount of money to care for the pets that would be brought in based on previous year’s data. In fact, the contract spans 3 years. It is not lucrative money but limited monies to care for the cities stray, lost and homeless animals. To point out, there are no extra funds to handle hoarder and puppy mill cases (at least in this contract). Additionally, possibly due to our good reputation, WAGS has already exceeded the number of pets brought to us in the contracted estimated number. Possibly, we have more pets on property than anticipated because we do our best to rehabilitate and care for animals under our roof. We sometimes assume we have more homeless and lost pets because of our philosophy of care. Overall, WAGS cares for about 400 pets on property on any given day. WAGS has many programs to help pets get adopted. Notably, We strive to provide great medical care. To emphasize, we use standard protocols for care of the pets and facility. With this in mind, we pride ourselves on keeping WAGS in clear order and renovate when ever we have the funds to improve a room or two. We have vast volunteer opportunities, sponsorship, and donation options. Also, We are always open to suggestions for improvement and welcome the community in daily.

I’m a proactive recent college graduate (International certificate in Cyber Defence) from the Institute of Advanced Cyber Defence in Sandton, South Africa. During the course of my academic career, I also managed to accrue nearly 10 years of work experience. I had the privilege of working for Absa Bank Limited as a Forex Teller and an International Banking Consultant, where I learned valuable professional skills in foreign exchange, global banking, and branch operations. While working at Absa bank, I was exposed to a culture that had a high demand of customer or client services. I learnt to be a much organised individual and now able to deal with projects at hand and also to work under enormous pressure. I was awarded Teller of the year for two consecutive years and had been an ”A” performer influencing my colleagues to do the same. The role of being second in charge at the Teller department empowered me to lead, supervise and initiate action. I empowered myself by studying and finishing a Certificate in Banking, after which I registered and obtained a Higher Diploma in Banking specialising in Treasury and International Banking. My passion for International Banking and Financial markets led me to register and obtain a certificate for Regulation and Ethics of the SA Financial Markets with the South African Institute of Financial Markets. In 2015 I wrote an article about ” My purpose and Journey” within Barclays Africa and won that competition for a trip to Robben Island to meet the then Barclays Africa CEO Maria Ramos and the late political icon Amhed Kathrada. My broad range of interests brings me into contact with the diversity of people and that talent South Africa and the world offers. I want to promote this talent and creative output especially of local people. I am a hard worker, good organizer, very good with numbers, energetic and responsible individual. I started my schooling with a desire and passion to make an impact to every situation encountered. Education has taught me that world of work does not need greater minds, but the determination and desire to what one does. In both my academic and professional life, I have been praised as a hard-working individual by my lectures and peers. Whether working on academic, extracurricular, or professional projects, I apply proven teamwork, best customer service and critical thinking skills. I’m a very spiritual person who is passionate about the well being of others. My love for God led me to dedicate each morning into writing and sharing daily prophetic words and worship songs to my entire network including friends in Europe, and also guiding some on their spiritual journeys.

The formation of AfriPaw was inspired by local Marina Da Gama resident, Annette van der Berg, who started feeding a small number of township dogs in Vrygrond (an informal settlement near Muizenberg in the Western Cape) every morning on her way to work. The few dogs quickly became 10, then 20 and then 30. Annette started working with the community by helping people with their pets, scouting the area over weekends, facilitating sterilisations, re-homing unwanted pets and stepping in when there were emergencies. Her faithful work soon came to the attention of a reporter from a local newspaper, The False Bay Echo. An article, entitled “Feeding the Hungry Hounds” appeared on 9 February 2017 and Fish Hoek resident, Anél Wesson responded to the general invitation for assistance. The two joined forces the very next day and the idea of AfriPaw was conceived. AfriPaw Animal Welfare partners with low-income communities to educate families on their pets’ primary needs and facilitates free sterilisations, as well as access to affordable primary healthcare, food and shelter for township pets. With our door-to-door approach we aim to form relationships and build trust with the community and our first priority is to always try and help pets where they are. Our strategy is to identify, train and equip responsible, animal-loving locals, who are our eyes and ears and who are a permanent presence in the community, ultimately becoming respected “go-to” persons. At this point, AfriPaw focuses its efforts on serving the people and pets of Vrygrond, reputedly the oldest informal settlement in the Western Cape, situated just off the M5, close to Muizenberg. There are approximately 90 000 residents and thousands of dog and cats living in this community. Our geographic boundary is strictly Vrygrond (which includes Seawinds and Overcome Heights) but we hope to replicate our model and expand our reach to other low-income communities in the future. The Vision of AfriPaw Animal Welfare is to see communities that treasure their pets, provide for their needs, and protect them from suffering and disease. Our Mission is to partner with low-income communities to educate families on their pets’ primary needs and facilitate access to affordable support services, with a focus on mass sterilisation. Our Objectives are to encourage responsible and accountable pet ownership and prevent neglect by: • Building relationships with the community to create a trusting and enabling environment. • Educating the community on the primary needs and healthcare of their animals. • Facilitating access to affordable medical care, food and shelter. While the rescue and rehoming of animals is necessary in cases of abuse or intentional neglect, we aim to avoid removing pets for several reasons: Neglect of pets often occurs because essential services and support to ensure ideal pet care are inaccessible and unaffordable to pet owners. We find that most pet owners welcome us and embrace our help with deep gratitude and co-operation. We want to foster responsible pet ownership and accountability in our partner communities by promoting optimal pet care and working with community volunteers and role-models. Removal of pets often aids owners to quickly replace the old pet with a new puppy or kitten, resulting in a vicious cycle where little lasting good is achieved.

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians seeks to improve the health and well-being of animals in shelters through the advancement of shelter medicine. The ASV brings shelter veterinarians together to share and learn from each other, setting guidelines for shelter animal care and spay & neutering, promoting the teaching of shelter medicine in veterinary colleges, serve as a resource to other professional organizations (AVMA, USDS, etc.) on legislative or regulatory issues pertaining to animal care and welfare in group housing facilities. Over the last 20 years, ASV has achieved notable advancements in the field of veterinary shelter medicine. This timeline represents those advancements. As we grow, we will continue to update our guidelines and educational platforms to evolve long into the future.

The SPCA of Wake County (SPCA Wake) helps pets and people in over half of the counties across NC through collaborative partnerships. SPCA Wake is an animal welfare agency headquartered in Raleigh, NC. Donations keep families together, make frontline rescue work possible, and save pets and people in crisis across NC. SPCA Wake is an independent, 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization and shelter, Our mission is to transform the lives of pets and people through protection, care, education, and adoption. Our vision is to create a humane community. Funded by charitable support, we provide vital community programs that pick up where local government agencies leave off. For 52 years, we have provided comprehensive support services to companion animals in need with sheltering, care and adoption services. We provide people-focused programs that keep families and pets together, including spay/neuter assistance programs, affordable access to basic pet vaccines and preventative care, delivery of pet food and supplies for home-bound, low-income seniors, professional pet behavior assistance, disaster relief and response efforts, and youth education programs that promote empathy. The SPCA of Wake County operates two separate animal shelters and each facility serves a different purpose. The SPCA Curtis Dail Pet Adoption Center, built in 2003, is located at 200 Petfinder Lane in Raleigh and provides pet adoption, public education, and pet supplies through its on-site retail store. The Adoption Center location does not accept incoming animals. The SPCA Admission Center, built in 1971, at 327 Highway 70 East in Garner, accepts incoming animals from the public by appointment only. We also transfer as many animals as possible from the Wake County Animal Center, as well as other animal sheltering organizations around the area. Limiting intake allows the SPCA to effectively manage its shelter capacity and prevent the euthanasia of homeless animals for reasons such as space or time. The SPCA opened The Saving Lives Spay/Neuter Clinic adjacent to the SPCA Pet Adoption Center in 2009. The clinic provides sterilization surgery for all SPCA animals prior to adoption, as well as pets owned by the public. Because the North Carolina Veterinary Practice Act prevents us from providing services to owned animals, the physical clinic space is leased to a veterinarian who operates the clinic independently, but in collaboration with, the SPCA.

Wamkelekile (‘Welcome’ in isiXhosa) to one and all! My name is Iman Martin – ‘Iman’ having both Arabic and African meanings for ‘faith’. Just like my name, I come from a multicultural background: my mom has Indian and Malaysian origins, while my dad is from the Griqua people/clan in South Africa. In the same vein, I am a Muslim and have Christian relatives with who I am very close. It is because of my diverse background that I feel I was raised to be both tolerant and respectful towards those that are of a different culture, religion, or ethnicity. Cape Town has been the only home I know, and I’ve never ventured far out of it. I do however envision myself travelling to different parts of the world a few years from now. I am passionate about women’s empowerment and women having the choice to choose for themselves! I have recently graduated from the University of Cape Town, with a Bachelor of Social Work (Psychology Major) and placed on the Dean’s Merit List, awarded for consistent academic achievement. Through hard work and perseverance, I was fortunate to have received a scholarship from the Department of Social Development for three of my four years of study. My mini-thesis explored the experiences and challenges of 1st-year students at UCT adjusting to university. Studying social work has not only allowed me to better understand those around me and their thought processes but also, to better understand myself and the possible reasons why I am the way I am. As part of my course requirements, I had to complete field practicals – by putting the theory that I was learning in class to practice in a real-world environment. My field practice experience ranged along a spectrum: from providing social work services to underprivileged youth in a primary school in Bonteheuwel, to interning in the more affluent area of Upper Wynberg, at an international school. This experience further fostered my innate empathy and non-judgemental outlook for those around me. I am someone who is not afraid to get my hands dirty, work hard and help out where I can: currently job hunting, I have occasionally been helping my father with renovations to his property that include painting, plastering, applying putty, etc. This has taught me many practical things that I hope to apply when I own my own house one day. A few months before now, I worked as a Personal Assistant to a therapist and social worker. This was a remote job that taught me valuable organisation and time-management skills. In my early years of study, I found myself working a sales assistant job at the Robben Island Museum Gateway store, and found that my favourite part of the job was interacting with the different tourists that happened upon our humble store and hearing their stories – where they were from and why they decided to visit SA, etc. I love reading, and since a young age, I’ve been considered a bookworm. I mainly enjoy supernatural and sci-fi novels and webcomics, as well as other forms of content such as newspaper and magazine articles (need to know what’s happening in the world around me). English was also my favourite subject at school, and I think this was also encouraged by my English-teacher mother who was quick to correct any incorrect grammar and pronunciation when my siblings and I spoke incorrectly. I often assisted her in marking her learners’ English examination scripts and as a result, am quick to pick up on spelling or grammatical errors. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, long walks with my dog Ninja, and photography. This has led me to submit a piece that is currently being exhibited at the Zeits Mocca Art Museum, in their long-running ‘Home is Where The Art Is’ exhibition. Furthermore, my faith has given me strength through the darkest times and taught me to be tolerant and understanding of those around me. I am still very much figuring life and myself out as I go along and am always open to learning from those around me.

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides pet adoption in Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland. We find homes for dogs and cats rescued from low-income, rural animal shelters or whose owners can no longer care for them; abandoned hunting dogs who are dumped in woods or left at shelters; owned pets whose owners can no longer care for them; and animals who have been injured, abused and neglected. We have helped internationally as well: we have rescued dogs from Thailand, China, Korea, Russia, Peru, Greece and Kuwait. And we have run a full-time program in Puerto Rico for 4 years, rescuing more than 450 dogs and providing Trap-Neuter-Return services for more than 500 cats. We actively seek to reduce the rate of euthanasia, support proactive spay/neuter practices, and educate the public about how to care for their animals in a humane way. We facilitate adoptions from local shelters and support a large network of foster care providers who take homeless dogs and cats into their homes, care for them, rehabilitate them when needed, and prepare them for their permanent adoptive homes.

My Bio will tell you about my past and present. The past is important but nothing is more important as the present ME! The Beautiful and strong ME! The ME that makes the people who know and love me happy to be in my presence, the present me is what matters. My values and morals and my way of thinking are what is important, the past was just the "making of", the preview one see's of movies and series, the past is an ancient scroll where most of my life is narrated by my parents, teachers, siblings and the other significant people who come and go from one's life, My present is the true picture of what I am and who I am so let me give you insight into who I am: I am a straight talker yet I am loving and a helpful person who is always willing to learn new things, I follow rules only when it makes sense and is fair. I was born to a mixed-race couple in the "old South Africa (during apartheid)" while the political climate was unstable and in its rebirth stage, my mixed-race background has made me culturally rich. Ancestrally I come from a diverse lineage, I have a Scottish and Irish father, a mother with little french a little Indian (Afghan and Pakistani), I have a little of everything, which has made me the odd one out as I look different from the rest of my family, I do not fit in with the brown people, I do not fit in with the white people and there is nothing wrong with that I do not need to be labeled to feel like I belong, I am one of the reasons why our country is known as the rainbow nation a mix and mashed beautiful product of all that is good. My personality and likes have made me the odd one out and the weird one, luckily my husband is just as weird as I am, I always tell him my weird matches his weird, it makes us a perfect match, we were made for each other destined to be together almost as if it was written in the stars, a destiny fulfilled with a happy future in the ahead of us. Happy and together forever and always, I still find it hard to believe that there is someone out there who not only gets me, who understands me, my way of thinking, and the way I view the world but most importantly who LOVE'S ME for ME! I consider myself spiritual and not religious although I was raised catholic and attended a convent where a lot of who I am today was made. The making of ME! The sisters of mercy and catholicism had the opposite of the intended effect on me I am not deeply rooted in the catholic faith, even though I had many lovable and amazing teachers and friends who made my school days worthwhile. Religion does not make sense to me and I consider much of it to be untrue, designed and shaped to manipulate and to rule the masses or one could say those who prefer not to think for themselves who would rather be sheep and led to the slaughterhouse willingly. My philosophy is this: as long as I love myself and my neighbor I believe I'm living the right way and try to instill those principles and values in my two sons. I believe that knowing and giving Love encompasses all the values needed to live a healthy life, Love naturally breeds, respect, forgiveness, and mindfulness. Love means living from the heart when one lives from the heart it naturally voids the ego, the ego destroys the manically malevolent whereas the heart creates and builds, Love is a tool with which one can build a life rich in emotional health, enlightenment, and mental stability. Love is my church, love is my essence and if ever I am in doubt I read up on the writings left to us by all the great masters, Jesus, Muhammed, Buddha the Dalai lama and so many more masters, some of whom are more modern and still living and basically all their writings convey the message of Love. So this me and there is more to me than what is written here, but what is written here is more than enough to get to know me better.

For more than 50 years, Anderson Humane has been the leading animal welfare organization in our community, saving the lives of over 80,000 homeless dogs and cats through adoption. A one-of-a-kind animal welfare organization, Anderson Humane focuses on creating and supporting mutually beneficial relationships between people and animals. Current programming such as our Adoption Program, Military Veterans’ Program, and Healing Paws Pet Therapy Program create positive, impactful connections between people and animals, improving the lives of both. Future programs will be offered in partnership with human-service organizations throughout our community, maximizing impact and changing lives for the better. Anderson Humane is a resource for pet owners, providing information and services that allow them to provide better care for their pets. Services such as our Low-Cost Vaccination, Dental, and Spay/Neuter Clinics provide affordable veterinary care options, preventing owners from having to give up their pets simply because they can’t afford care. On the horizon are additional programs aimed at keeping pets in homes, such as a pet food pantry, affordable pet training options, and temporary housing for pets when families are in crisis. Our expanded mission includes all animals. Wildlife. In March 2020, Anderson merged with Fox Valley Wildlife Center, expanding our animal care programming to include injured and orphaned wild animals. Click for more information. Little Critters. We have begun to accept "little critters" such as hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, ferrets, etc. on a limited basis. Until we have the resources to house these special pets in our facilities, they will be cared for in foster homes until adopted. We are currently seeking foster volunteers to provide care for these pets. Click for more information. Parrots and other pet birds. Many parrot species are long-lived and highly intelligent. Some can live up to 80 years, and often outlive their owners. There are few resources for these wonderful pets, and Anderson is committed to changing that. We are seeking experienced parrot fosters, to provide care and training for homeless parrots and other pet birds. Click for more information. Horses. Through a partnership with the Field of Dreams Horse Rescue and Adoption Program, Anderson will promote the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of homeless horses. Through a partnership with HorsePower Therapeutic Riding Program, we will help make the therapeutic riding experience available to even more people, harnessing the healing power of the horse.

Our lovely centre has 66 glass fronted kennels that house hundreds of dogs every year on their journey to a new home. Like every Dogs Trust centre, we never put a healthy dog down, so we'll never stop trying to find a home for every dog, even the 'special dogs' who have been with us for six months or more. If you are on the lookout for a new pooch, please come in and visit.