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/