Today was a banner day for the Jersey Girls. WE WON! We have been raising money for Companion Animal Advocates for the last month and were able to raise over $5000.00 to retain our crowns as Queens of the Carnivale 2012.
We arrived a bit late to the event for several reasons but suffice to say we made it. We are always greeted so warmly by the volunteers from CAA, makes us feel right at home. Each year gets a little easier for the girls to navigate. This year there was much butt sniffing and only one tiny little scuffle with a pit puppy who didn’t know his own clumsiness. Lina was all about “don’t mess with my sistah…”
Had our picture taken by a man from mybergen.com who was pretty happy to find out from Patricia that he was amongst royalty first picture of the day. Patricia tells me I don’t brag enough. Yeah it’s not my style, doesn’t sit well with me to brag, however, it doesn’t mean I’m not proud of our accomplishments. And if there’s anything I am it’s grateful, that I can talk a blue streak on.
One of my dear friends sent me a quote from a board she follows that went like this, “I would rather live in my car with my dogs than in a castle without them.” Oh how I know like I know. There are no words to describe the bond between woman and her dogs. They know everything there is to know about me, have heard me laugh and cry more than any other breathing being. They are grateful every day to have been rescued by me but the truth is I was rescued by them.
That quote represents one of the reasons I feel so strongly about raising money for CAA. The thought of having to give up the girls because I was unable to feed them just doesn’t have a place in my head. The fact that we are able to help prevent that from happening to others makes me proud. The gratitude I have for the wonderful people in my life that give each year so generously runs deep.
It’s not as easy for the Jersey Girls to be in and among the dozens of dogs at the event like other dogs. Whatever their life was before left its mark on them. We’ve all worked very hard to grow and trust again and with the help of some very good friends (thank you Shawn) we make progress each day. We are all grateful to be together, we take care of each other and we are proud to do what we can to take care of others; makes for a great life.
A blessing from Rev. Celine Penti and the girls can go home to their respective comfy chairs and sleep the rest of the afternoon away….acting royal can be exhausting.
Congratulations to our Jersey Girls – Queens of the Carnivale! And sincere thanks to you, Sandi, our kind friend who helps us feed so many pets each month. We often get feedback from the food pantries indicating how grateful their clients are for this help. Before we started CAA, they were feeding their dogs the food they received from the food pantry and eating less themselves. Now, the whole family is taken care of. This brings both dignity and hope to the recipients.
We couldn’t do it without you and your girls.