Letter: How One Special Dog Helped An Injured 9/11 Recovery Worker

My name is Meredith Festa and I am a member of Guardians of Rescue. I am a Guardian because I truly believe that by helping animals, you get to help people too, in a way that you can only understand by doing.

Guardians of Rescue is a nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to promote compassionate action in the realm of animal rescue. Our mission is to facilitate and foster programs and activities that further the uniquely symbiotic, therapeutic and pragmatic benefits of interaction between people and animals.

My husband is disabled. He was part of the 9/11 recovery and when he was hurt at work a few months after, his being down there caused some complications. He had suffered a back injury in December 2001 (he was crushed by concrete pilings) and developed 9/11 related pneumonia while wearing his back brace awaiting surgery. Unfortunately it delayed any surgery to fix his spine. He can walk but is in constant pain and everyday things we take for granted were becoming harder for him with each passing day. In April 2009 I got him a dog to keep him company. He named her Luna.

In February 2010 our little angel was diagnosed with megaesophagus, and she passed away on May 1st, 2010 from aspiration pneumonia. She was so important to my husband’s mental well being. We just couldn't save her. She brought such a light to my husband's life while she was with us, however brief the time. He is doing so much better now, and I know in my heart that Luna was the catalyst to all his improvement.

We still have her half-brother Bogart; he was treated very badly by his first owner and taken back by the breeder at seven months old. The breeder called us with an S.O.S.; she was ill and could not put in the time in Bogart so desperately needed. Local rescue groups were filled and could not help her, so we agreed to foster.

We got him In January 2010 just before Luna fell ill. He was afraid of everything and everyone. He’s almost 2 now, and with a lot of love is a happy dog again and is my little “foster failure.” He’s proof that no matter how bad a dog or cat may appear, re-homing and rehabilitation is possible.

Bogart was our first foster.  Since Bogart there have been several others.  Watching all of them blossom and find new homes where they are loved and cared for unconditionally has brought us so much joy. Un-doing the wrongs these animals suffered at the hands of man and showing them that there are good people in the world makes the time put in worth every moment.

Take Uncle Fester:

Uncle Fester was found wandering the streets. No one knew what happened to him. They had a hard time getting a clear x-ray because he was writhing in pain. He had an untreated level-five heart murmur. His teeth were infected from being broken violently from what appeared to be a kick (he had a sneaker print on the roof of his mouth) and many were just missing. He had Fatty tumors everywhere from poor nutrition and open sores and wounds from old beatings. He had broken discs in his spine and a hernia on his abdomen. He screamed in pain 24/7.

After 2 surgeries and months of love and training, Uncle Fester is finally going to get a chance to know love for the rest of his life. He will never know harm at the hand of a human again. He wagged his tail for the first time yesterday and I cried. Imagine a dog not wagging his tail, it’s just wrong.

I tell you my story because I want everyone to know how important animal rescue is to me. Animals give so much to us, and I want to give something back to them. Every dog and cat deserves a home and second chance to be loved.

My husband and I do what we do in Luna’s memory. We could not save Luna, but we can save others like Uncle Fester. Being able to help animals in need and the people who own them is so rewarding, I can’t put it in to words.

The Guardians of Rescue programs are designed to provide assistance for a wide range of issues that pertain to animals and rescue care, to educate and motivate, and advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves:

Sheltering Arms is an outreach program focused on animal shelters and encompasses assistance in a broad spectrum of areas. Our highly skilled members run the gamut of services, from improving shelters' physical conditions (heating / air conditioning, plumbing, roofing, painting, masonry, electrical, painting and security), and shelter administration to volunteer recruitment, fund raising and marketing.

Gimmie Shelter is a program that works to ensure that all animals are provided with proper protection from the elements. This program's initiatives include volunteers patrolling for animals in situations without proper protection and adequate food and water, workshops on shelter construction, and special construction and competition events. Guardians of Rescue will be providing shelters free of charge to any and all dogs and cats in need. With this program, we will be joining forces with numerous organizations including organized labor, law enforcement and fellow animal welfare groups in order to maximize the resources needed to assist animals in need. Winter is here and pets are suffering from the failing economy. Job losses, home foreclosures, overcrowded pet shelters, abandonment, skyrocketing costs from pet food to pet healthcare, and to human failings due to a failing economy... and most certainly, not due to any failures on the part of the most vulnerable, our furry friends. What affects the pet owner will have a direct effect on their pet. When homes are foreclosed upon, pet owners have very few options as to where they can rehome their pets. This forces the pet owner to either surrender their pet to a shelter or keep them outdoors. In some cases these animals are just abandoned.

Food For Animals Human Food Bank is creating collection and distribution points throughout the country where canned and dry pet food can be warehoused, and subsequently distributed, to those who could otherwise not afford it. This initiative is to cut down on the number of cases of people not being able to afford to properly feed their pets, especially in a time of unrecorded unemployment and mass layoffs.

Pet to Vet is a program designed to assist seniors, the homebound and the disabled with transportation to the vet. All too often pets are neglected due to their owner’s physical inability to take them for proper veterinary care. Guardians of Rescue members provide round trip transport to the veterinarian for both routine and emergency visits. In conjunction with this program, we are developing a nationwide network of veterinary practices that will be providing special discounted rates for those who cannot afford to get their animals proper vet care. We are working to assist families affected by the economy, by helping to provide medical care to their pets. To avoid their pets being placed in to the shelter system, keeping families together.

Home Again is a program that is a part of our Veterans and Military Affairs efforts, assisting returning service men and women in adopting a dog or cat from an animal shelter. Guardians of Rescue volunteers act as a special shelter liaison, helping with selection, completion of the adoption process, and training for both the animal and owner. Many men and women in the service are also faced with the dilemma of pet care when deployed on active duty, and are often stuck with no positive alternatives. To help those who are helping our country, the Guardians of Rescue's "Petriot" program provides long-term foster care by volunteers who will provide a good home and companionship to animals left behind during their owner's deployment. We also assist them in bringing home animals they adopt while overseas serving our country.

Animals Helping People is a program that aims to provide information and resources relating to the training, treatment, and placement of therapy dogs. There is a wide range of conditions and afflictions affecting people who can benefit from a higher quality of living with the addition of a therapy dog in their life. From those suffering from autism to people with physical limitations imposed by birth defects, MS or debilitating strokes, the presence and assistance of a therapy dog can make a tremendous difference in the details of everyday life. For people suffering from psychological conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, the presence of a therapy dog can also make a huge difference, improving day to day outlook and offering hope for the future. Through the Animals Helping People Program, Guardians of Rescue will provide assistance to identify the appropriate resources for those in need and expedite the process of getting help to those who need it.

Humane Education is a program very important to every aspect of our mission. It is presented at public middle schools, high schools, vocational schools and residential facilities for at risk youth. This program encompasses a number of animal welfare related topics, such as:

How to recognize the signs of animal abuse and neglect, and how to report it in the proper manner.

How to fight animal abuse and help defend creatures that cannot themselves.

Why dog fighting is wrong and morally reprehensible and why it cannot be tolerated.

To further the impact of our Humane Education program and further empower students, Guardians of Rescue works with schools and school districts to organize food and supply drives to benefit their local shelters.

The other members of Guardians of Rescue are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. They are selfless in their efforts to help the helpless. They are all volunteers, and devote every spare moment to Animal Rescue. They all come from different backgrounds, all have their unique stories, but we all have our love for making a difference in common.

If you need help, or know of an animal or family in need or in trouble, please contact Guardians of Rescue at info@guardiansofrescue.org or call (888) 287-3864.

Together we save them. One cat, one dog, one family, at a time.