Hi! My name is Spot. I’m here to tell you about myself and my experience at the Cleveland APL. I was born with distemper and I was the only one in my litter that survived. I had a few side effects from my illness - when I walk I kind of prance and I was sensitive to touch in some places but for the most part I’m just a happy go lucky kind of guy. I love to go on walks and my favorite things are those plush toys that squeak! Life for me was going pretty good for the first four years of my life, I lived with my mom and we had a human family that took great care of us.
Then in January of 2009 my family lost their home. They had to move to an apartment so my mom and I were brought to the APL. My mom got adopted right away, but I was left behind. That was right about the time I met Janet and we started our long Saturday walks to the park. I didn’t really understand why no one wanted me, but Janet and everyone else at the APL kept telling me not to worry so I waited. I waited over six months and then one day Janet and I were on our way back from our Saturday stroll and I heard that there was someone at the APL that wanted to meet me! I couldn’t believe it! They wanted to meet ME and ONLY ME! Well, that was the day I met my new dad after six months and one day at the APL I finally had my forever home! I’m so glad the APL doesn’t have time limits for healthy friendly dogs like me and I’m so grateful my original family cared enough about me to bring me there when they couldn’t take care of me anymore. It was so worth the wait. I have a fenced yard, Janet comes to visit me and I have the best mom and dad that love me very much!
The APL is such a great place. Do you know that they employ the humane investigators for all of Cuyahoga County? The humane officers are on the streets seven days a week and in 2009 they rescued over 520 animals from really bad situations. Mindy, a boxer mix came in from one of our humane officer’s investigations. She was less than a year old, under weight and suffering from the worst case of mange the clinic staff at the APL had ever seen. Mindy’s face was severely damaged from her constant scratching due to her mange, but the clinic staff went to work, and after three months in foster care Mindy made a full recovery. On her adoption day she looked just beautiful!
In 2009 the APL helped over 15,000 animals like Mindy and me, and of course I can’t forget to mention Black Belt! Black Belt, a six month old tiger striped cat was surrendered by his owners with a broken leg. They didn’t know how he broke it, but they couldn’t afford his vet care to get him help. Well, Black Belt went to live with my friend Janet while his leg got better, and after two months, and three casts (he was very smart and kept figuring out how to take his cast off!) Janet found a forever home for him with one of her friends! His name is Black Jack now and he has a great life!
Janet is trying to raise money to help the APL continue the life saving work they do. Please help her if you can and make a secure on-line donation today. The APL runs entirely on donations from people just like you! They don’t get any government assistance for the work they do. I know your help will mean a lot to Janet and believe me, as a former APL resident, it means a lot to all the animals too! Thanks for reading my message!
Sincerely,
Spot