COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL March 18, 2015 Transporting pets across state lines — Volunteers save lives M iranda and her husband, Bob, have rescued dogs for 30 years. They currently volunteer as pet transporters, driving animals from kill shelters to animal rescue organizations, or for the lucky ones, to their forever homes. The couple has purr-formed over 100 transports, saving untold furry lives. Most transports involve 1- 20 pets, take fi ve hours and cover 150 miles — the couple pays for their gas. Disaster area transports involve up- wards of 80 dogs. It takes a legion of volunteers to transport these suddenly homeless pets over state lines to avail- able rescue shelters, until their owners can claim them. “Bob enjoys volunteering,” said Mi- randa, “but he teases me, ‘YOU got us into this!’ Yes, I was the one who dis- covered the need for transporting res- cued animals on the Internet. I signed us up for IN and OUT-of-state trans- ports. It started out slowly, but soon other transport coordinators contacted us, so now I spend hours networking people via phone/emails to move homeless animals. Complex transports start in one state, then they are met by other volunteer teams who drive some of the animals north, south, east, or west to shelters with open space. Retired vol- unteers drive weekdays, and those who Courtesy photo Miranda cuddles her rescued dog, Rusty, fondly nicknamed Schmoopy. He was a puppy mill dog for nine years, then was discarded into a “kill” shel- ter before happily ending up in Miranda’s arms. work, like Bob, drive weekends. The cooperation of many rescue or- ganizations and a legion of volunteers are necessary to save pets destined for euthanasia. For the very long distant transports, some volunteers overnight the animals and their drivers in their homes. In the beginning, I rode with Bob but soon relinquished my seat because it was needed for animals. Just before we became involved, we traded our van in for an SUV. Now, we wish we had that roomy van back! We overnight dogs in our ‘posh’ car- peted and heated garage that has never housed a vehicle, just dogs! The ga- rage-dog dorm has a comfy bed for Bob and his traveling guest-dogs. Some of our dogs join him, and the ‘visitors’ making for a very crowded bed. It’s a canine sleepover or Pup Party! Then at 7 a.m. Bob is on the road again to meet the next transporters, who drive the res- cues onto their fi nal destinations.” The couple’s love for their ‘pet’ chil- dren extends to their fenced backyard ‘dog park’, so they can observe the res- cued dogs’ behaviors. Some animals need obedience, leash training, or have food, toy, and space aggression. The couple patiently trains these diffi cult rescues. Some otherwise good-natured animals have developed aggressive tendencies, making them unattractive to adopters. These dogs growl as their only form of communi- cation. Miranda and Bob reap the re- wards of helping and adopting rescued dogs: “Each dog is interesting, chal- lenging, and loveable,” said Bob. “We have learned how loving older, sick, and disabled pets are — they extend their love and appreciation to us. We no longer adopt cute puppies who eat our shoes and fur-niture!” The couple also enjoys their less complicated dogs — the ones who live to eat, play, sleep, and lick a hand. “We ‘found’ Rusty at a rescue. I was talking to his foster mother about busi- ness, and behind my back, Rusty cozied up to Bob on the couch. When it was time to leave, Rusty tried following us out the door. Look how smart that dog is! We ended up adopting him, and he ‘did’ follow us out the door!” Always a team, Miranda authored and Bob took the photographs for “I Never Met a Dog I Didn’t Like”. The book shares their many cat and dog ad- ventures like Lizzie, the Cocker Span- iel, who loved dressing up as a witch and handing out Halloween treats. The featured animals are rescues from kill shelters who lived to tell their tale. Their book also addresses the ridicu- lous prejudice towards adopting black dogs and cats. Just like people, the col- or of skin, or fur, is nothing - but, well, color! Both have loving purrs-onalities. “Black animals are often overlooked or even avoided by adopters,” said Bob, “Yet, they are the most loving pets.” Read about Lizzie’s funny trip to the “I Want a Biscuit” bakery. Lizzie knows exactly where they are and why. She marches in barking - demanding a cookie. “The owner tosses her her fa- vorite peanut butter treat,” said author Miranda, “she has him trained, while I pay.” (Apparently she has Miranda trained too!) One day the bakery featured an ani- mal communicator (pet psychic). Be- fore the woman could begin reading for Miranda’s other two dogs, Lizzie de- manded to know from the communica- www.epud.org/myCommunity/ scholarships.aspx em POWER ing Scholarships Calling All Crafters CRAFTER’S MARKET added to the COTTAGE GROVE HOME & GARDEN SHOW EPUD offers five $1, 250 scholarships to any customer, or their family member, interested in pursuing a career in the utility industry. April 11th & 12th Spaces available for as low as $30. Applications are available at KNND Radio This includes high school seniors graduating in June, adults seeking second career training, and returning students. tor, “Am I going to get more cookies?” Some dogs’ minds are easy to read, even if you are not an animal commu- nicator! Enjoy more of their animal adven- tures in “I Never Met a Dog I Didn’t Like”. Proceeds go towards their ani- mals’ medical bills. www.mmcadams- books.com TIPS “Never abandon a pet,” advises Mi- randa. “Please take them to a no-kill shelter. One of our rescued dogs was tied to a tree in coyote country. The dog’s food and water were beside him. His previous parents ‘thought’ they were doing the right thing, but their pet was ‘easy bait’ and could have been helplessly killed by a wild or aggres- sive domestic animal!” “LIKE” Pet Tips ‘n’ Tales on Face Book! https://www.facebook.com/PetTip- sandTales Share your wonderful/funny pet mo- ments. angelscribe@msn.com Adopt Loving Pets www.PetFinder.com Humane Society for Neuter/Spay Assistance Program. (541) 942-2789 Live presentation to commemorate 'Nam vets' 'Welcome home Day' Five years ago, the Oregon legislature declared March 30 Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Day. To mark the occasion Inner View Productions is bringing its live presentation of "Viet Nam: An Inner View" to Roseburg's VFW Post 2468 on March 29. Post Commander Kirkland Conner reports that the Rose- burg VFW is pleased to have the opportunity to welcome visitors (both veterans and civilians) to the Post, which is also the site of the brand-new Oregon Veterans Memorial Wall. The multimedia documentary project is entirely focused on de- tailing one three-tour Marine's experiences during and after the war. Marc Waszkiewicz, is 100 percent PTSD disabled, and Waszkiewicz this week became a resident of Cottage Grove. The presentation will begin with an open house at 1 p.m. followed by the love presenta- tion at 3 p.m. 321 Main St. • Cottage Grove across from City Hall Applications due April 15, 2015 541-746-1583 y www.epud.org Board: Ron Davis, Kevin Parrish, Lee Kelley, Penny Jordan, Katherine Schacht W orship D irectory 6th & Gibbs Church of Christ 195 N. 6th St. • 541-942-3822 Pastor: Aaron Earlywine Youth & Families Pastor: Seth Bailey Services: 9am and 10:30am Christian Education Nursery for pre-k - 3rd Grade www.6thandgibbs.com Calvary Baptist Church 77873 S 6th St • 541-942-4290 Pastor: Riley Hendricks Sunday School: 9:45am Worship: 11:00am The Journey: Sunday 5:00pm Praying Thru Life: Wednesday 6:00pm Calvary Chapel Cottage Grove 522 E Whitaker • 541-942-6842 Pastor: Jeff Smith Two Services on Sun: 9am & 10:45am Wednesday Service 6:45 pm Child Care 10:45am Service Only Youth Group Bible Study: Wed. 6:45 pm & Sat. 6 pm www.cgcalvary.org Center for Spiritual Living Cottage Grove 700 Gibbs Ave (Community Center) Rev. Bobby Lee Meets Sunday 3:00 p.m. Info: 541-767-0182 (Mrs. “T”) Church of Christ 420 Monroe St • 541-942-8565 Sunday Service: 10:30am Cottage Grove Bible Church 1200 East Quincy Avenue 541-942-4771 Pastor:Bob Singer Worship 8:30am, 11am Sunday School:9:45am YouthGroup Mondays 6:30pm AWANA age 3-8th Grade, Wednesdays Sept-May, 6:30pm www.cgbible.org Cottage Grove Faith Center 33761 Row River Rd. • 541-942-4851 Lead Pastor: Isaac Hovet www.cg4.tv Sunday Service: 9am and 11am Full Childrenʼs Ministry available Delight Valley Church of Christ 33087 Saginaw Rd. East 541-942-7711 Pastor: Bob Friend Two Services: 9am - Classic in the Chapel 10:30am - Contemporary in the Auditorium First Baptist Church 301 S 6th St 541-942-8242 Pastor: Steve Johnson Sunday School: 9:30am Worship: 11:00am Come Worship with us First Presbyterian Church 3rd and Adams St • 541-942-4479 Pastor: Rev. Bruce Cameron Worship: 10:00am Sunday School: 10:00am www.cgpresbynews.com Grove Community Church 77820 Mosby Creek Rd. Cottage Grove, OR 97424 541-942-0123 Pastor: Bryan Parsons Worship: 10:30 a.m. Nursery: Infant - Pre-K Kidʼs Church: K to 5th grade Hope Fellowship United Pentecostal Church 100 S. Gateway Blvd. • 541-942-2061 Pastor: Dave Bragg Worship: 11:00am Sunday Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday www.hopefellowshipupc.com “FINDING HOPE IN YOUR LIFE” Living Faith Assembly 467 S. 10th St. • 541-942-2612 Pastor Rulon Combs Sunday School All Ages 9am Worship & Childrenʼs Church 10:30 am “The Bridge” Saturday Evening Service 6:00pm Youth ABLAZE: Wednesday 6:30pm Childrenʼs Breakout Class: Wednesday 6:30pm Non-Denominational Church of Christ 1041 Pennoyer Ave * 541-767-0447 Preachers: Tony Martin & Robert Evans Sunday Bible Study:10:00am Sunday Worship:10:50am & 5:30pm www.pennoyeravecoc.com 7A Old Time Gospel Fellowship 103 S. 5th Street • 541-942-4999 Pastor: Herb Carson Sunday Service: 10:00am Sunday Bible Study: 6:00pm We sing the old time hymns. Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Philip Benizi Catholic Churches 1025 N. 19th St. 541-942-3420 / 541-942-4712 Pastor: Roy L. Antunez, S.J. Euch. Liturgies; Sat. 5:30pm Sun. 10:30am St. Philip Benizi, Creswell: 552 Holbrock Lane • 541-895-8686 Sunday: 8:30am St. Andrews Episcopal Church 1301 W. Main • 541-767-9050 Rev. Lawrence Crumb “Church with the fl ags.” Worship: Sunday 10:30am All Welcome Seventh-day Adventist Church 820 South 10th Street 541-942-5213 Pastor: Kevin Miller Bible Study: Saturday, 9:15 am Worship Service: Saturday, 10:40 am Mid-week Service: Wednesday, 6:45 pm Trinity Lutheran Church 6th & Quincy • 541-942-2373 Pastor: James L. Markus Sunday School & Adult Education 9:15am Sunday Worship 10:30am Comm. Kitchen Free Meal Tue & Thur 5:00pm TLC Groups trinitylutherancottagegrove.com United Methodist Church 334 Washington • 541-942-3033 Pastor:Jerry Steele Worship: 10:00am Adult & Sunday School: 9:00am Comm. Dinner (Adults $3, Kids Free) Mon. 5-6:30pm cottagegroveumc.org “VICTORY” Country Church 913 S. 6th Street • 541-942-5913 Pastor: Barbara Dockery Worship Service: 10:00am Message: 11:00am “WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES” Our Worship Directory is a weekly feature in the newspaper. If your congregation would like to be a part of this directory, please contact the Cottage Grove Sentinel at 541-942-3325.