End animal suffering in KCMO urban core

"Gotti" was a routine stop for the Chain of Hope outreach team for nearly two years.  So much so that he lit up as soon as he saw the van pull up.  He knew fresh food and water, treats, toys, and a lot of love and affection were coming.  Chain of Hope also provided Gotti a dog house, hay to cover mud in summer and keep him warm in the winter.  Gotti had a canine brother that lived in his owner's house, pampered and loved, but Gotti remained outside, all day, every day, even now at the age of 13.  But they refused to give him up.  

A dangerous cold blast was expected hit Kansas City.  The outreach teams were out and stopped to warn the owner of impending temperatures and how dangerous this would be for Gotti - life threatening.   The blast hit and the teams went out.  On this horribly cold day, Gotti was a priority stop with wind chills expected to be 18 below zero.  And there he was, on the side of the house where no sun could even touch him. Despite the warning, despite the conditions, they would not consider letting this boy in the house.  

Education only goes so far, and sometimes must be replaced by insistence that a person do the right thing.  And finally on this day, they did.   Gottie was free from his chain, his isolation, his neglect....and "Reggie" started his new life.  That van that brought him the only goodness he knew, was now taking him to freedom.

Reggie had a cheesburger on the way to Chain of Hope where he got a warm bath, more food and fresh water, a fresh blanket on a clean cot where he settled in for a long warm cozy nap.  And it wasn't long before his distinguished good looks and charisma landed him a girl.  He and Abby are the best of friends.  

We don't know how long Reggie will be with us, but we do know he will spend the rest of his days loved and in comfort.

In honor of Pit Bull Awareness month, this is a story about.... well, a Pit Bull. 

Chain of Hope monitors hundreds of households through outreach.  But there is rarely a day on outreach that a new one isn't identified.  Volunteers were out setting up a run for a dog we had been monitoring.  Cuddles lived with a woman in hospice care, who did the best she could for her beloved dog.  As with so many families, COH was there routinely to help.  On this one particular day, volunteers were out setting up a donated run for Cuddles for her yard had no fence. They heard a dog barking and could see in the way back of the neighbors yard a chained dog lying on the ground...no shelter...no food....no water, and she looked pretty thin.  When she barked, someone from inside the house would scream at her to shut up. Volunteers called in Kate to weigh in on the situation.  After nearly 20 years in outreach, you get a sixth sence about these things, and it was telling Kate it was not safe to approach.  But something had to be done. 

So as to not jeopardize Cuddles's support, a call was placed to Animal Control, followed by another to make sure there was a response.  Kate is persistent that way.   The dog had been impounded and taken into shelter.  From a distance she looked thin, but what a shock to see how emaciated she really was, her spirit broken.  They told her they would be back, and they were, on day 5 when she was eligible for release, praying she would not break with kennel cough due to her weakened state.  Judy had a mocha cappuccino with her and this gal was not too weak to sniff that out, thus, they named her Mocha.  Today Mocha is strong, thriving, and has a classic pitty smile a half a mile wide!

And that's how we do it.  Day by day, one by one, changing a life....and changing ours by being a part of it.  And you are too, whether it's one dollar, ten or a thousand, your support makes it happen and we thank you....

Mocha thanks you!