8/19/21 – This very sad and sweet girl was found in a neighbor’s yard. Alanda, the finder and her friend searched the neighborhood trying to find an owner but no one claimed her. Alanda, who was Gus’ rescuer (see website for his story) named her Imelda — sweet survivor. Imelda will be seeing one of our partner vets because she has a severe flea infestation and the poor baby is constantly scratching. She will be tested for heart worm, vaccinated, and spayed if needed. Alanda needs a reputable foster or adopter for this sweetie. So, please contact Alanda if you can help at: [email protected] Thank God for people who care! – diana.4paws1heart.org/donations/

8/18/21 – A little over 11 years ago, I had a conversation with a colleague from Leadership Macomb (an organization I volunteered with for 21 years) about starting a non-profit which funded medical treatment for abandoned, stray, and abused animals. I originally got the idea because of the experience of Gina DeLuca Jenio who at the time was a vet tech at an emergency hospital on the east side of Wayne County. From that point, my friends, Cheryl Allmacher, Pam Willer, Cynthia S. Wojtowycz , Jimetta J. Dion Lewis and Gina got together and created 4 Paws 1 Heart. We had the perfect group of business, marketing, IT, non-profit, and animal expertise. And, 11 years later we have paid a little over $1.1 million in medical funding for stray animals in Macomb, Wayne, Oakland, and Genesee counties–also, in other parts of MI but not predominantly. We have assisted over 8,500 animals start a second chapter in their lives and have reduced the over population of strays on the streets by ensuring that every animal we assist is spayed/neutered/vaccinated. And, we could not have done it without our thousands of donors, our veterinary hospitals who provide us access and special pricing, and the many rescuers who do the ultimate work of rescuing those orphans on the streets. I want to recognize those hospitals we work with most although there are dozens of others who will work with us from time to time, and we, of course, appreciate them. Thank YOU to: All About Animals Rescue, without you thousands of cats and dogs would be born and killed on the streets; Patterson Veterinary Hospital, you’ve been with us from the beginning and we are furever grateful; Orion Animal Hospital, we met you at Patterson and then, Dr. Zalak, you went out on your own. You have come into the office on your days off and you’ve taught me so much–I don’t know what we would have done without you and your amazing staff; Groesbeck Animal Hospital, Center Line Veterinary Hospital, Five Mile Animal Hospital, Veterinary Medical Center, Pawsitive Steps Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine, the home of our canine mascot, Hercules. Dr. Kern, you, too, have been integral to our success; Advanced Animal Emergency always there to help us with emergencies and support while so many others emergency hospitals are closing; Humane Society of St. Clair County/ S.N.A.P, The PAWS Clinic, COMFORT’s PLACE — all low cost clinics overwhelmed during this very difficult 1 and 1/2 years.I apologize for this long post but this journey has been amazing and it absolutely filled what was supposed to be a retirement from 32 years at Detroit Edison with the opportunity to not only save animals but to meet such a wonderful group of people who in some cases have become life-long friends. Thank YOU to our current Board of Directors: Gina DeLuca Jenio, Cynthia Wojtowycz, Lori Jobak, Dee Brown Gudenau, Angela Rogensues, Julie Ann Van Ameyde, Denise Najera, and Kim Fuhrmann. And our former Board Members: Dar Chip, Melissa Wills-Jeffrey, and Jimetta J. Dion Lewis. And, thank you to everyone who shares these posts and gives me the encouragement to keep fighting the fight to save those who have NO VOICE. May God Bless all those who advocate for the animals and may he watch over those who have no one. Here’s are Canine and Feline Mascots — Hercules and Chance may they live forever on this earth and in our hearts. – diana4paws1heart.org/donations/

8/17/21 – RIP Pistachio (bottom right photo) – He was rescued with his mom and two siblings. They all had upper respiratory infections for which they received treatment. They were all set to get neutered/spayed, vaccinated but then came down with the infections once again. The mom, Panda, (top left) tested positive for FIV and we continued to wait for the babies to get better. One kitten, Pistachio, (bottom right) just couldn’t be touched. All of the others received treatment for fleas but Pistachio, kept separately, could not. Yesterday, when his rescuer woke up, Pistachio was not moving. He was taken into a partner veterinary and was found infested with fleas which left him in need of blood transfusions. He was also found to be FIV positive. The rescuer and the doctor believed that Pistachio’s chance of survival was minimal and decided to let him cross the Rainbow Bridge. This has been a horrible 1 and 1/2 years for not only the orphans on the streets but also owners who have been unable to get their pets into veterinary hospitals because of restrictions, illnesses, and staff shortages. We do what we can but we are limited by the dollars we have available. Your support has made a huge difference in the lives of so many and I just pray that we can continue to be there when needed. Tomorrow is our 11th Anniversary, please help us continue to help them- diana4paws1heart.org/donations/

8/16/21 – Although this very feral mom was returned to where she was found after we covered her vaccine and spay, her kittens are now safe and have since received all of their vaccines, been tested, and have been spay/ed neutered. Here is the story of Mama and her kittens, Cedar, Birch, Walnut, and Maple. – Diana

“5/20/21 – About 1 month ago my neighbors and I noticed a long haired calico cat actively running around the neighborhood. Last week I was able to see where she was going to — a huge pile of brush and wood in my neighbors backyard — out ran 4 little kittens. After over an hour of removing all the brush and stumps we were able to get to the bottom of the pile and get all 4 kittens. It was NOT easy, it was very dusty and very dark. That same night, I was able to trap momma in a live-trap, as she is very feral, and I now have her in my sunroom. The kittens are all eating hard and wet food along with nursing from momma. They are about 4.5 weeks old and my best guess is that on June 11th they will be about 8 weeks old. They are all healthy and I plan on fostering and finding them homes once they are fixed and get their vet care. – [email protected]”The need never ends. Please consider a donation today and joining us at our September 25 golf outing. In TWO days we will be celebrating our 11th Anniversary and to date we have paid $1.12 million in medical treatment for the abandoned, stray, and abused. And, without the support of our friends, thousands of animals would have been born on the streets, or worse, died. Thank you, as always. – diana

More cats taken off of the streets and medically funded by 4 Paws 1 Heart for our friends at South Mittens Kittens Rescue. I introduce you to Mack, Eve, Blake, Shiloh, Macy, and Charlotte. – diana4paws1heart.org/donations/

8/13/21 – We’ve been helping an independent rescuer who has been doing her best to trap/neuter/return (TNR) a large area where there are strays. We have been helping with the medical funding and when Shelby comes across a cat who is more domesticated, she attempts to find placement. I love these 3 photos that she sent me the other day. She has been trying to get them for awhile but these felines are smart and can see and sense what is going on. There is no doubt that these 3 are giving her the stink eye. We are thankful that we can assist all of the great individuals in our communities, like Shelby, who have been working so hard to reduce the population of stray cats roaming and dying on our streets. – diana.

8/11/21 – A huge THANK YOU to our many friends who joined us at our “Baseball is Back” Fundraiser at Jimmy John’s Field, Utica, MI. It was great being with so many of our supporters once again after such a long time. And, thank you to the Jimmy John’s staff who always does a good job making everyone feel appreciated – diana.4paws1heart.org/donations/

8/10/21 – UPDATE – You might remember that Amelia and Ariana were dropped off in a box at the door of a 4p1h friend. They are the siblings to Jasmine, who was at death’s door from parvo virus and who is now fully recovered and looking for a permanent home. Their other sibling, unfortunately, died before we could get her into the hospital. Well, as puppies do, they are getting big. Amelia and Ariana will go for their next round of vaccines in a couple weeks and once they are spayed, Ariana will be going to her new home with to be trained as a service dog for a young man with autism. Amelia will then be looking for her furever home. Here are photos of Ariana and Amelia when they were first rescued and now — lounging around. – diana4paws1heart.org/donations/

Meet Vixie,( first 3 photos),Chief (4th photo) and the whole litter – Vixie, Chief, Todd and Cooper. Vixie was the first, and the most ill, who was rescued from under Kirsten’s home. Her eyes were full of puss and she was the easiest to be caught by Kirsten’s friend because the poor baby couldn’t see. We arranged for Vixie to be seen by one of our partner vets and before Vixie could be seen (which was pretty quickly), the other three in the litter were caught — Chief, who was also sick from an upper respiratory but not as severed as Vixie, and then Todd and Cooper. Vixie and Cooper had to be seen again after their first visit because their eyes were still cloudy and the other two in the litter were treated for upper respiratory infections. When everyone recovers they will get their vaccines, tests, and spay/neuter. Kirsten is still trying to find and trap the mom. If she is successful, we will take care of her also. Anyone interested in these babies should contact Kirsten at: [email protected]4paws1heart.org/donations/

8/8/21 – On International Cat Day, I want to give everyone an update on sweet Romeo. I posted his story last Thursday when I asked for prayers prior to his eye removal surgery. This little guy has been through so much including long rides between his new home in Lincoln Park and Lake Orion, MI. On Friday afternoon, Dr. Zalac, our veterinary hero, performed successful surgery and on Saturday, our amazing friend, Debra Berolatti, picked up Romeo from the hospital and safely drove him to his new home. Yesterday his new mom sent me an update:”Hi! Romeo is doing so good. He ate, had his pain meds and I took his collar off while he ate and because I wanted to get a picture of his eye to show you. They did an amazing job and he has been doing great. I can’t thank you enough. You are amazing women. I’m so happy Romeo and I had the opportunity to have you in our lives. – Brittany” Again, I want to thank our village of amazing veterinary hospital staffs, fellow animal lovers, and our generous donors who make surgeries like this possible. – diana4paws1heart.org/donations/