From Small Paws. We ARE Going to make it through this./ What Ever Happened To Polo Pressnall?/ Some Personal Monkey Pictures From Robin.

If you think you have been exposed to COVID‑19 and develop a fever and symptoms, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider for medical advice.

April 3, 2020 Friday Morning

Quote of the Day: “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

Dear Family of Small Pawsers,

I apologize for waiting so long to speak to you.

I’ve been praying for the right words to say, during this time of such change in the world.

I told myself, “Ok. I’m not a physician. What can I possibly say to them that they haven’t already read or seen on the news?”

So I waited until I felt it in my spirit that it was the right time to come to you. This morning is that time.

Dale and I are fine. We are alright! We both already worked from home before this virus ever came, so that part is no different for us. We are having groceries delivered and we are staying safe at home!

Bonnie Ferguson, our Director of Adoptions and I are both still working, each and every day.

Things have changed a lot in the world and that includes the world of rescue.

Most shelters are now offering curbside service to rescue organizations.

This is also the way that most veterinarians, who have been deemed as essential services as they care for animals, are continuing to see patients, usually for urgent situations, only.

Some shelters are also putting the word out that they are no longer accepting owner surrendered animals, or stray animals. While I don’t like it, I do understand it.

We have had only one shelter dog come into rescue in the last two weeks.

We did have holds placed on several stray shelter Bichons, ready to take them at a moments noticed.

ALL were reclaimed by their owners. (Peoples, KEEP YOUR DOGS UP!)

This one, “Grady”, was an owner surrender, taken to the shelter to be euthanized, (as in assuming room temperature). Nope. Not going to happen! He’s ours!

This is from Sara Rhodes, our Il. Team Leader:

Grady, you are safe and sound in the arms of Small Paws® Rescue. Don’t you worry about a thing!

So please rest assured that if we are needed, we are here and ready to help.

I’ve always told you, from the very beginning back in May of 1998, that Small Paws® would be operated like a business.

Yes, we have saved the lives of tens of thousands of Bichons and Bichon Wanabees.

Even so, we are still a National Not For Profit business.

I’m very proud of the way our Board of Directors and I have conducted this business, this magnificent obsession that we all know as Small Paws® Rescue.

Because we are a business, for many years we have planned for an emergency.

We didn’t know if it would be a war, a famine, or a stock market crash. We didn’t know what it would be.

We only knew that for the sake of these precious lives, we had to have a plan, in case.

So we have always put back some funds, just for a time like this.

Because of this, until this is all over and the economy and your jobs return to normal, we are continuing to be able to operate.

I have faith in my soul that things will come back.

They tell us that it will get worse before it gets better. But that tells me there will be a “better” coming!

At a time like this, I only know of one thing to do.

This is my personal belief and I want to tell you how I make it when I start to feel afraid or down, which is what many of us are feeling at different times during our day.

I know that I know that I know, that the Lord loves each one of us.

I know because He lives in my heart. I know this to be a constant, as much as I know I am typing to you now.

In times when we have no control over so many things, it is the time to trust Him.

This is one of my favorite scriptures. And it means so much, especially in these times, times which we can’t even begin to fathom. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
  in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6″

I know this isn’t an easy thing to do. But it’s what He has told us to do in times when we can’t comprehend the enormity of things. So it’s what Dale and I are doing each and every day. We are trusting in the Lord.

Last night, we started a new tradition before we go to sleep.

Each of us names three things, that during our day, we are thankful for. And it was wonderful!

Romance Pressnall said he was grateful for Greenies. ( Some of you have asked what ever happened to the Bichon puppy we adopted after Chipper, the Bichon who started Small Paws, went to heaven. We had named him”Polo”.

Well, “Polo” is now named “Romance”. Lucy, let me ‘splain.

You see, when we named him Polo Pressnall, I thought that was a cute name.

Little did I know that when we called him, “Polo, come here!”, he thought we were saying “NO-NO!” and he would cringe, like he had done something wrong. OH-NO!

So at three years of age, we did it. We changed his name! And it worked!

So now his name is “Romance”. (P.S. If you name your Bichon “Romance”, you’ll have Romance in your bed, every night.)

So those are just some of the ways we are trying to keep things light while we wait this out.

I’d like to end with something fun, while at the same time, we are praying for our world.

I’m going to show you some pictures of a recent trip that my husband Dale and I, made to Belize, for his Birthday, of course before everything changed.

Belizeans have a saying that we heard many times. This is a very poor country and yet they proudly proclaim, “We are BELIZEANS! We are BLESSED!”

The people there were some of the most wonderful I have met. 

I had a magnificent experience in Belize that will be in my memory for the rest of my days.

We went to a wild monkey sanctuary, where a volunteer takes you deep into the jungle so you can get within just a few feet of wild howler monkeys, up in the trees.

Oh yeah, baby. This was going to be great, to be that close. They sound like a LION is right next to you! I couldn’t WAIT!

Little did I know that a little pregnant female would come DOWN FROM THE TREES AND DRAPE HERSELF ON THE BACK OF MY NECK AND NO I AM NOT KIDDING! SEEEEE??

Then she crawled in my lap, touching my hands and looking at my nails! Four were bright coral colored and my fourth finger was a bright sparkly blue. She was quite concerned about the blue one and softly put it up to her mouth to kiss it. I think she thought it was hurt!

I loved her and she loved me. I was thrilled beyond belief for a good twenty minutes until a group of 25 new visitors arrived and she went back up into the trees. We had been on a private tour and I didn’t even know it. I swear she looked back down at me from the tree tops and smiled “Good-bye, We will meet again.”

Our guide was an older gentleman who had been with the sanctuary for 42 years as a guide.

He told us that in 42 years he had never seen one of the howlers do that, come down from the trees and crawl onto a person!

He couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it! I was very honored and blessed.

He also told me that every year a veterinarian comes and darts the five families of monkeys to give them veterinary care. They get vaccines and dental work.

They have to dart them because they are wild and would NEVER come to you, or would they?? Hmm..

One last thing to share with you to help to lighten your day.

Of course hair and nail salons are closed, so necessity became the mother of invention in my bathroom.

My hair was getting heavy and it was falling in my face during my walks. Soooo..

My Dears, I CUT OFF MY OWN HAIR! Chop, chop chop and I never looked back! Hey, if I can do it, you can do it! 

I think if we can keep some things to some sort of normal, the better it will be for us while we all wait this out in our homes. 

We love you all and our Board of Trustees is praying for you! We are praying for your health and for provision for you and your families. We are praying for all of our medical people on the front lines.

We have Small Paws members who are Doctors, Nurses, and Veterinarians. Our prayers are covering you all! 

Some of you have asked abut our vet bills. This was from last week and we did pay it, thank God.

If you are able and ONLY if you are able, this is how you can help. I do not want even ONE of you to give if you are not fully able to do so. DO YOU HEAR ME?? (Don’t make me come out there! I’m on lockdown!)

Please know that you are loved! God loves you and we love you! We WILL make it through this!

And how we will all appreciate the wonderful things that we all took for granted. What a wonderful new horizon that will be!

Please stay safe! All My Love, Robin

Humphrey Sisco