Albert's Dog Lounge House Pawty

I have been a volunteer for Albert's Dog Lounge for almost three years now. I started with just helping at fundraisers (which are non-existent right now), then I started driving transports to bring the dogs to Wisconsin from Texas. Soon after that, I became the transport coordinator. Eventually, I became more hands on with adoptions. Just within the last year, I have started getting to know these dogs virtually. I have only fostered a handful of dogs, but still play a part in the rescue and what it takes to make it run smoothly. 

Just recently I drove a van from Wisconsin to Houston, so they have a van to use for our monthly transports, which will save us over $500 a month, by not having to rent a van! While I was in Houston, (one of the most mentally and emotionally exhausting times of my life) I spent a little time taking in the stray problem down there. I only got a glimpse, a sneak peak if you will. I prepared myself for what I would see. How many stray dogs on the streets I would see, how many dogs would be in the shelters I would see, the poor living conditions owned dogs would have. What I didn't prepare myself for was watching a man running to the shelter doors at closing time dragging his dog. What I didn't prepare myself for was the look of fear in that dogs eyes, as if to say "what is happening? What did I do wrong?". What I didn't prepare myself for was the hurt that caused me. I saw hundreds, and I mean HUNDREDS, of dogs inside that shelter, alot of which I knew were probably never going to make it out, alot of which were so sad and broken. I prepared myself for what the inside dogs would look like. But this dog, it crushed me to my very soul. I cried. I cry today, thinking about the look in that dog's eyes. 

My trip to Houston ended by me getting on the van with 19 dogs who were traveling to Wisconsin. I snuggled with one in particular dog, who was too large to fit in a crate, so he was tethered. I spent 20 hours with this dog who had an adopter coming to meet him. I did his adoption counseling. His adopter brought her current dog with to have a meet and greet to make sure they would get along with each other, and I recruited another volunteer to do that part if the adoption. (I'm not good at that part. I get nervous and the dogs can feel my energy. I know this.) When the meet and greet was over I asked the adopter if it went as well as she had hoped and she got the biggest smile I've ever seen and said "even better". At that point I knew this dog I had just spent 20 hours loving on was getting his forever. And I cried. Again. In front of the adopter. I apologized and explained, in short, my trip to Houston, and how I was just so happy that he was getting a home. 

Now, since that day, I have had a renewed ambition to do what I can to help the poor souls of Houston get out of there. So, let me tell you just a little about the expenses that Albert's has every month. Each dog we take in roughly costs us $850. Each adoption fee is $250. That means $600 for each dog's care comes from donations. Vet bills are right right around $7,500 a month! During this fundraiser, Albert's has made their goal $7500, the equivalent of one month's worth of vet bills. I have personally set my goal for the fundraiser much lower than that, because I KNOW I can get that much in donations. Please, if you have just $5 extra, consider donating to these dogs. The dogs who so deserve to get out of Houston!