I’m thrilled that my manuscript, Love Waltzes In, won the contemporary category in the 2012 Utah RWA Heart of the West Contest! And the editor requested a full!!!

Really Lifetime?

Lifetime – the network for women, has picked up Marc Cherry’s new series, Devious Maids. Centering on the scandalous lives of Latina maids for the wealthy.

So we currently have a show about hookers and maids. Wonderful role models. And on Army Wives, the Latina couple is portrayed as a complete stereotype.

The male character, PFC Hector Cruz, played by the handsome Joseph Julian Soria, is depicted as an angry, jealous solider that beats up a guy who talks to his wife, Gloria.

Gloria Cruz is played by Alyssa Diaz. She doubts if she loves her husband, spends all his money, and doesn’t understand why he has to work such long hours.

Why does Lifetime perpetuate these stereotypes? Where are the Latina teachers, engineers, and doctors.

And don’t even get me started about the hookers with hearts of gold on The Client List.

Do women really want to watch these shows? Seems like they are targeting male fantasies – a hooker, a maid, a cocktail waitress.

What do you think?

Jill at Lancaster

She is the cutest pug/boston Terrier mix. But I didn’t know anyone who could pull from Lancaster and that shelter is very high kill and also three hours away from where I live.

I called the shelter and they said she was super urgent and they couldn’t guarantee she would be there by morning.

I called my friends at Gone to the Dogs rescue and they found someone to pull her for me.

Jill's Freedom Picture

He took her to rescue oasis, a boarding facility nearby. We couldn’t find transport down to us but another rescue, Sunny Skies, agreed to take her and they adopted her out shortly after she arrived.

Tilly

Gorgeous Tilly was also a pug/boston mix. She was at Kern County. When Gone to the Dogs went to pull another dog, they saw her and pulled her for us. She stayed in foster for a few weeks with Trudy and then she was transported down to Katella.

We received 10 applications on her in the first week. She was adopted out to a great family and now has a Boxer brother.

Tilly Forever Home

Shiloh and Mimi were both on Baldwin Park’s networking lists.

Shiloh at Shelter

Shiloh was a sweet chihuahua mix puppy with a broken leg. The shelter paid to get her leg fixed.

Shiloh Freedom Picture

He was adopted shortly after we pulled him and now has a great life with his human brother.

Shiloh's Furever Home

We pulled Mimi because we had someone contact us who was interested in her.

Mimi at Shelter

But once we pulled her the adopter backed out! We didn’t have a foster for her so she went into boarding.

Mimi's Freedom Pic

But boarding was very stressful for her. She was extremely scared there. Luckily, our rescue friends at Collar of Hope found an adopter for her so we transferred her up to them.

Mimi at boarding

Mandrake's Networking Photo

Adorable Mandrake had no interest. He was on the Baldwin Park Shelter, and this cute puggle/dachshunds mix stole our heart.

Mandrake at Shelter

Shawna saved him with Zoey and Galahad, both of whom were adopted almost immediately.

Mandrake's Freedom Picture

We were baffled why this cute guy didn’t get any interest. One lady applied and backed out when we couldn’t guarantee he was housetrained. So poor little Mandrake spent both Christmas and New Years in boarding at the vet.

But 2012 is Mandrake’s year. We received an application from a wonderful family. Mandrake was adopted and they absolutely love him and are willing to give this puppy the attention he needs and deserves.

Mandrake with his family

Oso was also at Baldwin Park.

Oso at shelter

We immediately fell in love with his shelter pictures. Look at that smile! We don’t just rescue pugs – we rescue any breed of dog that is urgent. And Oso was running out of time so Shawna pulled him.

Oso's Freedom Picture

He is so sweet. He is a corgi/spaniel mix. We received an application on him right away and adopted him out to a lovely couple. Oso now has a corgi/spaniel sister named Bella.

Oso and his new sister Bella

When Shawna was picking up Comet and Vixenat South Los Angeles shelter, I did a quick search on Pet Harbor. I saw this adorable picture of a pug mix.

Noel at Shelter

We just couldn’t leave her behind – she was adorable. The shelter said she came in lactating so she had obviously just had puppies and someone abandoned her.

My friend Patricia had a friend who wanted to adopt her – so we transported her from OC where she was in boarding to Patricia.

Noel being transported

Patricia took her to her forever home and they absolutely love her!

Noel in her furever home

She is great with kids also.

Noel relaxing near the baby.

Such a great dog!

Donner was also alluding networking lists. He was at Baldwin Park Shelter.

Donner's Shelter Picture

Donner’s last chance for a home was at the Irvine Adoption Event.

Donner begging to be noticed

Shawna grabbed him at an adoption event.

Donner being pulled by Shawna

She transported him to Katella Animal Clinic to get healthy.

Donner's Freedom Picture

Donner was adopted by a wonderful couple – Jan and Denise. They’ve renamed him Sumo.

Sumo in his furever home

We’re so happy that Donner and Noel found homes for the holidays!

Holly At Shelter

Holly was one of our most heartbreaking rescues. We first saw her picture on the OC shelter website. I immediately placed a hold on her. We arranged to have her pulled. But there was a mixup at the shelter and they confused her with an unaltered pug. So they shelter held her for a week for a spay – but Holly was already spayed.

Holly at OC - waiting

We also at this time saw the picture of a sweet min pin named Vixen at South Los Angeles Shelter on the day we were pulling Comet and Noel. Sila offered to foster her so we pulled her also.

Vixen at shelter

When our puller finally picked Holly up – she was already sick. We thought it was just standard kennel cough – but we were dead wrong. Dawn from Gone with the Dogs rescue – our favorite partner rescue! – transported Holly and Vixen to her foster mommy – Sila.

Holly and Vixen at their foster home

The first night went okay. Holly was sick so Sila took her to the vet. He said she had pneumonia and prescribed some antibiotics – but she wasn’t getting better.

Holly at her foster moms

Sila took her back to the vet and she wasn’t improving. Sila and her husband drove her 200 miles back to our amazing vet Dr. Ahmed at All Creatures Animal Hospital.

Holly heading to the vet

Holly was so sick by the time she arrived at the vet that he didn’t think she would make it. She wouldn’t eat anything. Pugs N Roses spent thousands of dollars trying to save her.

Holly fighting for her life

Holly tried to give up several times but the vet techs gave her love and she finally ate! After three weeks in the hospital she recovered. And she was adopted by a wonderful family.

Holly's furever family!

Meanwhile Vixen spent the holidays with Sila but she went on vacation and we placed Vixen with another foster. But Sila missed her so much she became a foster fail and adopted Vixen when she returned from her trip.

Vixen and her mommy - Sila

So we are thrilled that Vixen and Holly found their forever homes!

We are still struggling with Holly’s bills. So if you can make a donation – it would be greatly appreciated.

Lovely Leo

Leo is a gorgeous four year old purebred cocker spaniel that was dumped at the Baldwin Shelter by his owners because they were moving. He developed severe kennel cough and was given until Sunday at 1  before the shelter vet was going to put him to sleep. Shawna rushed to the shelter on a Sunday and arrived at 12:30. Leo was so sick – he couldn’t even walk and had to be carried out of the shelter by Ric Browde, who is an amazing volunteer.

Leo leaving the shelter

Poor Leo was so ill, he got very sick in Shawna’s car. Dr. Ahmed is an amazing vet. He immediately treated Leo but was guarded with his prognosis. After a month of hospitalization Leo made a drastic improvement.

Leo at the Vet

Leo had been through so much that we were happy to find him a foster. Julie took him in and he quickly bonded with her dog, Buddy.

Leo and his foster brother Buddy

Leo was in foster care for at least a month. He thrived with Julie but we wanted him to have his own forever home. Our rescue was finally approved to be on Petfinder and within 24 hours of posting Leo – I received 2 calls about him. He ended up being adopted into the most loving home with Jay and Ryan. He has a fellow cocker brother named Harley.

Leo and his dad Jay

Leo and his dad Ryan

Leo and his brother Harley

We are so happy that Leo found his forever home!

Leo in his forever home!

Galahad at the Shelter

Galahad was a chihuahua puppy. He was found in La Puente. He was adopted to Shawna’s friend.

Galahad Freedom Pic

Zoey was a shih tzu at Baldwin Park. She was matted and dirty.

Zoey Shelter Pic

Zoey was adopted by Shawna’s father-in-law.

Zoey Freedom Pic

Comet was a pug mix on his final days at the South LA Shelter.

Comet Shelter Pic

St Nick was a puggle at North Central LA Shelter.

St Nick Shelter

Since we didn’t want St Nick and Comet to spend their Christmas in boarding and our foster homes were full, we transported them to Collar of Hope rescue in Washington. Here are pictures in their foster homes.

Comet in Foster

St Nick Foster

Please pray for Holly.

Holly was pulled from the OC shelter. She was already spayed – however the shelter thought she wasn’t so they held her for another five days. Though she entered the shelter very healthy for her age (she’s around 8), she contracted pneumonia. Our wonderful foster Sila gave her medication and love but she wasn’t making any progress. Sila and her husband drove her from Palm Springs to Murrieta to All Creatures Animal Hospital. The amazing vet and staff have worked with her around the clock. She is improving but still critical. Today she even kept food down – the first time anyone has ever seen her eat! And she ran away from the vet when he tried to medicate her. But she still has a long way to go.

Please consider making a donation to her care – we cannot save any other animals until we can pay for Holly.

I’ve started a chipin below or if anyone feels more comfortable – they can call All Creatures Animal Hospital and contribute directly to the hospital. (951)600-0830