It is with an aching heart along with some relief that I must tell you that Willy has died. About a month ago he was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and for awhile he did okay with medications and a diet he didn’t much care for but ate anyway. As it always goes with all incurable maladies, he began taking a turn for the worse a few days ago. I had planned to have him euthanized today, a very painful decision, but he decided to go here at home next to me on the bed about the time the sun began to rise.

I’ve loved and had dogs all my life but, to a number, I always chose them. Willy is the only dog that ever chose me. I’ll never understand why, such things probably aren’t ours to know anyway, but I’ll never regret a moment of the brief two years he graced my life and loved me.

I will miss Willy and I will continue to sing Muttville’s praises forever. Thank you for the great humane work you do. In saving one little dog’s life, you brought love and happiness into mine.

~ Amy Duval

11.23.11 11:42am | commenting on Wee Willy Winky went to his forever home!

I remember Emo. He was a huge temptation the day I adopted Wee Willy. Just the sweetest, tiniest bundle of white fluff, he’s often been in my thoughts. I’m so glad to know he has his forever home.

12.26.09 05:28pm | commenting on Evening In Pawris! A Huge Success

When I read this I had to grab the latest newsletter from the Humane Society of Sonoma County and do some math.

In 2008 HSSC had a total of 496 dog adoptions. Granted, this is for a period 1.5 times shorter than Muttville’s 2.5 years but then I got to thinking (oh, trouble!)

HSSC, part of the nationally well known Humane Society, is in a recently constructed multi-million dollar facility. It generates some portion of its income on-site through public veterinary services, grooming and boarding. In addition to adoption fees and public contributions, it receives funding through wills, living trusts, corporate sponsorships, advertising profits and tax deductible vehicle donations. It also has an amply stocked gift shop, online pharmacy and offers cremation services.

While HSSC doesn’t receive government funding I highly suspect Muttville doesn’t, either. They do have a foster program but only for very “special” cases. Not to mention their services are for all pets of all ages – dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, farm animals – while Muttville devotes itself to saving the lives of the much smaller and least attractive segment of all adoptable pets – the Senior Dog!

I don’t mean to put down the Humane Society’s work but to my way of thinking they should be many times more successful than Muttville. Much more than a mere one and a half times more. They’re a slick and shiny steamroller and a definite household word.

Then there’s lil ol’ Muttville. Only thing big about it are the huge and loving hearts of folks who prove over and over that hard work, persistence, team and individual effort and, often, sacrifice are what really gets the job done.

The Humane Society of Sonoma County with it’s many and ongoing resources could learn a lot from Muttville.

GREAT JOB!

~ Amy
(Wee Willy’s tummy rub slave…)

11.07.09 01:59am | commenting on A Landmark for Muttville!! 500 dogs rescued in only 2.5 years

Dear Julie,

Since it flies so fast, maybe time doesn’t always matter. What truly matters is that you had the courage and compassion to give JoJo the greatest of all life’s wondrous gifts – the gift of love.

He really did look like a happy little guy.

May the sweet memories he gave you help your heart heal.

~ Amy

11.06.09 10:01pm | commenting on Saying Goodbye to Jojo aka Cujo

By no means could I ever come up with all the reasons pets are being abandoned. Right now the economy seems to top the list. People losing their homes being forced to live in pet unfriendly places is one thing but to simply dump a pet on the side of the road because it’s too expensive to feed is just pure B.S. Amazing how much dogs, sometimes even cats, enjoy a 99 cent burrito from Taco Bell.

Of course, veterinary costs (just like human medical ones) are astronomical but there are still vets who accept small payments from established clients. Some will even swap services and goods, just a matter of letting your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages. I know this latter is true because my sister swapped her vet organic produce and flowers to pay for her dog’s chemo when he was dying of lymphoma.

I’m unable to make up my mind concerning “drop boxes” some shelters offer for those who can’t afford to pay surrender fees. A more sensible alternative might be to make it mandatory for those who can’t pay to offer needed labor such as cleaning or to bring in a box of blankets and towels, anything that might ease the financial burdens which shelters and rescues like Muttville face every single day.

More than anything, I believe it comes down to education. Reading, writing, ‘rithmetic and ongoing lessons in compassion in our public schools. More stringent and expensive punishment for those convicted of animal cruelty. Ditto for puppy millers. Online communication for known web sites who profit and/or promote “free to good homes” and ads from irresponsible bteeders.

Yeap, you can always count on me to get in a long winded flap about how our society treats its innocent and most defenseless creatures.

But Willy helped this time! He’s half asleep in my lap, gently grumbling about it all…

~ Amy

10.23.09 11:22am | commenting on How could anyone abandon these dogs?

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you All for the good wishes and for all your great and HARD work! Unlike with Sherri and Molly who have received moment-to-moment emails about Willy’s great new (and last) adventure, I promise to be short and sweet…

Willy’s doing wonderfully. Within moments of arriving home, Queenie the ChihuaWhat showed him where to take care of his beeswax and, despite the rain and soggy ground, Willy has a 100% perfect record. Like me, he likes to fall asleep during sappy sweet British movies and he likes banana yogurt smoothies. Queenie has also shown him the finer points of defending the front door against the mail carrier. (If they could just persuade him to keep the junk and the bills…)

Okay, I promised short and sweet but there’s so much more I could say. Willy’s at home with us and we are in love with Willy! Tomorrow he goes to make acquaintance with our vet. Right now he’s napping in a sunbeam and after he wakes up he’s scheduled for a pedicure.

Again, thanks to you all at Muttville so much for all you do to help our more “mature” four legged friends!

Beauty, Pffft! Too often wasted on the young!

~ Amy

10.21.09 09:05am | commenting on Wee Willy Winky went to his forever home!

Despite the awful way London was treated, God is smiling on you for the love you gave him at the end.

Thank you for your willing and noble compassion. The world needs more people just like you!

10.11.09 01:02pm | commenting on A fond and peaceful farewell to a special yorkie boy