Amelia’s Fund is aimed at providing support to senior/geriatric homeless dogs that are in need of medical care and a roof over their heads.
Amelia was one of these dogs – found as a stray senior citizen, in April of 2011, in Los Angeles, CA. Amelia was taken to East Valley Animal Control, where one of the kind and caring volunteers, Charlotte Fails, put out an urgent plea for Amelia. None of the local rescues or sanctuaries came forward. Charlotte contacted PAWS in a last ditch effort to help save Amelia from euthanasia. Please read her own words as she describes Amelia (known as Catalina at the time):
I met Catalina this past weekend at East Valley. This senior girl came in as a stray (yup, stray!!) on 4/24. Another volunteer and I saw her lying in the back on the hard concrete, no blankets, nothing to cushion her old bones. She was napping so he went into the kennel to sit with her while I got several blankets for her. When I got back with her blankets, she was up (he had coaxed her with treats, which usually works!!) so I put the blankets down in the cubby for her, and since she was awake, I decided to take her out to the yard. She’s thin, has arthritis, moves a little slowly at first – hard to get those joints going sometimes, believe me I know! But once she’s up and walking for a few steps, she gets a rhythm going and she’s off!! We walked all around the yard several times, stopping periodically for bathroom breaks, plus the weather was warm and she gets winded kind of easily.
What a sweet senior girl – yet another soul abandoned by her owners – I don’t care how she came into East Valley, she was not a dog that lived on the streets – she got old and her humans didn’t want her anymore – she needs arthritis meds and why, after her being loyal for 11 or 12 years, would her owners even consider coughing up some $$ to take care of her in her final years??!! Nope, easier to get rid of her and get another dog – we all know that script.
Please don’t let her die like this – all she needs is a nice soft bed, she would probably snooze a good part of the day – a yard to stroll around in and cool grass to nap on…..talk about low maintenance! Plus which she’s much more attractive than her picture, she was just having a bad hair day!
PAWS agreed to take this little old lady in. Meanwhile, Amelia left the pound and went into a foster home with Elaine Edford. Elaine provided her with a loving family and had her primped at the doggy spa. She stayed with Elaine for 2 weeks until transport to AZ was arranged. Charlotte was on a mission to get this girl to PAWS, and contacted a wonderful charity group called “Pilots N Paws”. Shiny, pretty Amelia arrived at Chandler Municipal Airport, thanks to Pilot Dave Sanov, who flew her in his own plane on May 30th!
PAWS decided she needed a new name – since she was starting a new life in Arizona. Being the first sanctuary member to have flown on a plane, a private one no less, we decided to name her AMELIA….
Amelia was definitely a senior citizen, estimated at around 14. She was almost completely deaf and her eyes were clouded by cataracts. Even though she moved fairly slowly, she was able to keep up with the older kids. All the sanctuary members, dogs and cats alike, immediately accepted Amelia! She fit right in! She learned how to use the doggy door in a day, and liked to wander in the grass or take naps under the rose bushes. She started playing with tennis balls, and was wagging her tail! She also enjoyed watching the younger dogs play. She even went out to the barn to help feed the horses, goats and chickens. She was doing so well with her new life.
Unfortunately, only 3 short weeks after she arrived, she suddenly suffered a stroke and was unable to walk. Despite supportive medical care and lots of love, Amelia’s condition worsened. In Amelia’s best interest, she was humanely euthanized. Thankfully, she was able to live out the rest of her life in a happy, loving environment.
On behalf of Amelia, PAWS would like to thank Charlotte Fails, Elaine Edford and Pilot Dave Sanov of Pilots N Paws for their dedication and love to helping dogs like Amelia.
Amelia’s Fund will provide medical support and placement into permanent homes for other abandoned and homeless seniors like Amelia.
All donations are tax deductible.
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