HOW I FOUND LISA & BLUE LION & HOW WE ARE HELPING – Debra Griffin
My family physician Nancy was desperately trying to find a new home for her beloved but unpredictable Aussie mix, Addie, before the arrival of their new baby. She had gotten Addie as a pup when she was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 years ago. The thought of giving her up was almost unbearable.
She heard about Blue Lion Sanctuary through another patient who owns a doggie day care. Lisa Kavanaugh, who runs Blue Lion was reluctant to take in Addie because Blue Lion is devoted to large-breed dogs such as Mastiffs. After much pleading, Lisa agreed to meet them, and Addie and Nancy set off to the town of Yoder on the high plains east of Colorado Springs to check it all out.
When they first drove up to Lisa's 35-acre ranch, Nancy’s heart sank. They were greeted by 80-100 dogs in large kennels, large fenced areas, and roaming about the grounds, all barking excitedly. Within 10 minutes, however, the barking had stopped and the animals seemed content, happy and well-fed.
More impressively, Lisa knew every dog by name, knew their likes and dislikes, and knew which ones could play together. Nancy felt so relieved to have found a good home for Addie. She worried about how Addie would handle the heat of the summer and the high snow drifts and harsh winters on the plains. Lisa commented that with the especially brutal winter last year, she had to dig out the dog houses by hand by herself multiple times and nearly lost several dogs. She added that if we have another winter like the last one, she wouldn't be able to continue. Nancy’s husband, who is a woodworker, designed an insulated house for Addie that could provide shade in the summer and shelter from the snow drifts in the winter. Nancy’s husband and I drove Addie and her doghouse down to the sanctuary. That very same week Lisa moved her 84 year old mother Ruth, who has Parkinson’s disease, on to the ranch as well. Addie has become her constant companion & caretaker. So we believe it was divinely guided for Addie to end up at Blue Lion Sanctuary. Nancy & I & many others looked & prayed for months for Addie’s next healing assignment in this world. It’s no accident that Ruth & Addie came to the ranch at the same time.
Lisa was impressed with the doghouse Nancy’s husband designed & she wished that all her dogs could have a dog house like Addie's. We were so impressed and overwhelmed by Lisa's dedication to her sanctuary that Nancy & I decided to try to organize a dog-house building event this fall to help Lisa prepare for next winter.
We are calling it Dawg House Days
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH
I was overwhelmed to tears with the sheer enormity of the situation & I have set my heart & intention in motion. I have gotten trees donated & machinery to dig the holes & trucks to transport the trees and am hot on the trail of materials donations for “Dawg House Days”.
The ideal solution would be a building to protect the animals during Colorado's blizzards. As it stands now, Lisa has to haul 300 feet of hose all around the 35 acre property to get everyone watered and that is hard even in the best weather. A building would make the care of the dogs so much easier on Lisa. One of the most daunting things that Lisa divulged to us is that it takes only 2 days to go through $500.00 worth of dog food. I honestly do not know how she does it.
I set out to find a metal building and what I found out is that the building is the least of the costs involved with such a project, approximately $180,000.00 dollars to get it all done right. There is the architect and contractor, the concrete for a foundation, which is actually more than the building itself, the plumbing, the electrical, the labor to transport & assemble it all. We will need to do some serious fundraising over time to get that done. I do have an architect and a major construction company that are willing to help. Speaking of fundraising, my husband Brian will be filming at the sanctuary in order to produce a fund raising promotional DVD for Lisa Lisa is an amazing woman who has single-handedly saved countless dogs by being a no-kill shelter. She has also single handedly built everything you will see when you go out to the ranch. It looks all handmade because it is all handmade- by Lisa!! Over the years she has been able to buy some good professional fencing and all the dogs have igloos or dog houses but a permanent structure is VERY NECESSARY.
The storms of last year were horrendous and they may not survive another one like that. The conditions that Lisa lives in are fine but small and with the addition of her mother to the ranch it is no longer ideal but they at least have reliable shelter, her foremost concern is for the dogs. PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. Passing this along to other animal lovers counts as DOING something.
Blue Lion survives on donations alone, like most shelters, and if Lisa doesn't have enough donations for food or other materials, it comes out of her own pocket. ANY support you can offer could help save the lives of countless dogs.
Passing this along to all of the animal lovers you know counts as DOING something to help. Please help us help Lisa to continue doing the amazing work that she loves so much. Lisa’s ability to rehab these dogs into her society down there is nothing shy of miraculous.
One last thing to think about…
One of the hardest things about all of this for me to understand is how it is always the BIG non-profits and shelters that get the big corporate and private donations. It seems like there is no such thing as inter-agency sharing! And oftentimes, 70% – 80 % of all donations to these big charities will go to administrative costs! Think about the last time you got free address labels or a calendar in the mail from one of these charities- someone is paying for those and it probably gets paid for with the donations they receive. Some of the most well known animal shelters that get the big donations have huge buildings but very few kennels for the dogs. It is the smaller rescues that need money the most because they are too busy caring for the animals and have no time or the expertise for fundraising. The big charities can hire people with the knowledge and expertise to raise money. Many times people want to donate to a place that already has all the bells and whistles in place. Blue Lion is the ultimate definition of “A Labor of Love.” We strongly urge folks to seek out the smaller rescues.
Pick a breed they love and Google rescues on that breed. Give to the little guys.
$200,000 seems like such a drop in the bucket for some big company somewhere (Nike, NFL?) that already gives millions a year to the United Way, or some other big charity. Even a small percentage (10%) one time would be a donation that would save the lives of countless dogs over time.
Lisa is the toughest and most dedicated woman I have ever met. Animal Rescue is daily heartbreak having to deal with the result of the worst of human cruelty (like Michael Vick), but the rewards are inexpressible. She asks nothing for herself but the chance to give the dogs life in a happy place. Lisa is very knowledgeable and many other shelters from all over the country count on her to take the biggest hardest & saddest cases
I’ve included some pictures of last year’s blizzards on the ranch & of Gio, one of Lisa’s greatest achievements in doggie behavior modification. I really am scared for the dogs and Lisa this winter especially with her mama there now. Don’t get me wrong, they are all safe & happy. They are just exposed to the elements aside from the dog houses she’s built and gotten donated. A building is very necessary.
In light of this Michael Vick (I can hardly type his name) case, I hope the media will not shy away from the need to blow the cover off of this insane activity. The only way to do that is to get mad as hell. As hard as it is to even imagine the horrors. The actual images shown on the news have and will haunt me for the rest of my life. Maybe with some focus on the other end of it ….the rescuers, the ones taking in the these animals we can keep it in the forefront for a while instead of letting his (Vick)lawyers find a way to squelch it .
Although Lisa herself does not take very many Pit bulls, there is a Pit bull rescue on the neighboring property (they each have 35 acres) that is actually part of Blue Lion. Lisa loves to educate me about the true nature of Pit Bulls. Did you know that pit bulls used to be known as the “nanny” dog? It was because they took care of the children in the home- they were the nanny! You have to work REALLY hard to make them mean- things like putting gun powder in their food, beating them, starving them-things that would make any breed of dog mean. Oh, the stories Lisa could tell you will haunt you for life.
Please let me know if you think you can help or know someone who can, we have snow in the high country already!!!!
Thank you most sincerely for your time.
Respectfully, Debra Griffin, 720-628-5418
ANOTHER COOL WAY TO HELP
UGLY DAWGS GREETING CARDS
Burdened by high food and veterinary bills, Lisa and a friend hit upon a great fund-raising idea: Greeting Cards
Kavanaugh insisted that Zelda Mae, her Dogue de Bordeaux, enjoyed dressing up in clothing and would make an ideal model..
That’s how the Ugly Dawgs line of greeting cards was born. Zelda Mae was a born model who loved to ham it up for the camera. Sadly, Zelda Mae passed away from lymphoma on Dec. 23rd, 2005. But there are other dogs just waiting for their turn in the spotlight!!
Ugly Dawgs is a collection of 20 cards featuring Zelda Mae and three Neopolitan Mastiffs, the 180 lb Mister Houdini, Elvira and Miss Fiona.” Mister Houdini came from a horrendous home. He was living out on a patio with no shelter for over a year. We had to buy him from the owner. When I first saw him he had no spirit whatsoever. But he blossomed with with care and love and now he is Mr. Waggy Tail”, says Lisa.
Ugly Dawgs cards cost $2.50 each and can be ordered online at www.uglydawgs.com
My family physician Nancy was desperately trying to find a new home for her beloved but unpredictable Aussie mix, Addie, before the arrival of their new baby. She had gotten Addie as a pup when she was diagnosed with breast cancer 8 years ago. The thought of giving her up was almost unbearable.
She heard about Blue Lion Sanctuary through another patient who owns a doggie day care. Lisa Kavanaugh, who runs Blue Lion was reluctant to take in Addie because Blue Lion is devoted to large-breed dogs such as Mastiffs. After much pleading, Lisa agreed to meet them, and Addie and Nancy set off to the town of Yoder on the high plains east of Colorado Springs to check it all out.
When they first drove up to Lisa's 35-acre ranch, Nancy’s heart sank. They were greeted by 80-100 dogs in large kennels, large fenced areas, and roaming about the grounds, all barking excitedly. Within 10 minutes, however, the barking had stopped and the animals seemed content, happy and well-fed.
More impressively, Lisa knew every dog by name, knew their likes and dislikes, and knew which ones could play together. Nancy felt so relieved to have found a good home for Addie. She worried about how Addie would handle the heat of the summer and the high snow drifts and harsh winters on the plains. Lisa commented that with the especially brutal winter last year, she had to dig out the dog houses by hand by herself multiple times and nearly lost several dogs. She added that if we have another winter like the last one, she wouldn't be able to continue. Nancy’s husband, who is a woodworker, designed an insulated house for Addie that could provide shade in the summer and shelter from the snow drifts in the winter. Nancy’s husband and I drove Addie and her doghouse down to the sanctuary. That very same week Lisa moved her 84 year old mother Ruth, who has Parkinson’s disease, on to the ranch as well. Addie has become her constant companion & caretaker. So we believe it was divinely guided for Addie to end up at Blue Lion Sanctuary. Nancy & I & many others looked & prayed for months for Addie’s next healing assignment in this world. It’s no accident that Ruth & Addie came to the ranch at the same time.
Lisa was impressed with the doghouse Nancy’s husband designed & she wished that all her dogs could have a dog house like Addie's. We were so impressed and overwhelmed by Lisa's dedication to her sanctuary that Nancy & I decided to try to organize a dog-house building event this fall to help Lisa prepare for next winter.
We are calling it Dawg House Days
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH
I was overwhelmed to tears with the sheer enormity of the situation & I have set my heart & intention in motion. I have gotten trees donated & machinery to dig the holes & trucks to transport the trees and am hot on the trail of materials donations for “Dawg House Days”.
The ideal solution would be a building to protect the animals during Colorado's blizzards. As it stands now, Lisa has to haul 300 feet of hose all around the 35 acre property to get everyone watered and that is hard even in the best weather. A building would make the care of the dogs so much easier on Lisa. One of the most daunting things that Lisa divulged to us is that it takes only 2 days to go through $500.00 worth of dog food. I honestly do not know how she does it.
I set out to find a metal building and what I found out is that the building is the least of the costs involved with such a project, approximately $180,000.00 dollars to get it all done right. There is the architect and contractor, the concrete for a foundation, which is actually more than the building itself, the plumbing, the electrical, the labor to transport & assemble it all. We will need to do some serious fundraising over time to get that done. I do have an architect and a major construction company that are willing to help. Speaking of fundraising, my husband Brian will be filming at the sanctuary in order to produce a fund raising promotional DVD for Lisa Lisa is an amazing woman who has single-handedly saved countless dogs by being a no-kill shelter. She has also single handedly built everything you will see when you go out to the ranch. It looks all handmade because it is all handmade- by Lisa!! Over the years she has been able to buy some good professional fencing and all the dogs have igloos or dog houses but a permanent structure is VERY NECESSARY.
The storms of last year were horrendous and they may not survive another one like that. The conditions that Lisa lives in are fine but small and with the addition of her mother to the ranch it is no longer ideal but they at least have reliable shelter, her foremost concern is for the dogs. PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. Passing this along to other animal lovers counts as DOING something.
Blue Lion survives on donations alone, like most shelters, and if Lisa doesn't have enough donations for food or other materials, it comes out of her own pocket. ANY support you can offer could help save the lives of countless dogs.
Passing this along to all of the animal lovers you know counts as DOING something to help. Please help us help Lisa to continue doing the amazing work that she loves so much. Lisa’s ability to rehab these dogs into her society down there is nothing shy of miraculous.
One last thing to think about…
One of the hardest things about all of this for me to understand is how it is always the BIG non-profits and shelters that get the big corporate and private donations. It seems like there is no such thing as inter-agency sharing! And oftentimes, 70% – 80 % of all donations to these big charities will go to administrative costs! Think about the last time you got free address labels or a calendar in the mail from one of these charities- someone is paying for those and it probably gets paid for with the donations they receive. Some of the most well known animal shelters that get the big donations have huge buildings but very few kennels for the dogs. It is the smaller rescues that need money the most because they are too busy caring for the animals and have no time or the expertise for fundraising. The big charities can hire people with the knowledge and expertise to raise money. Many times people want to donate to a place that already has all the bells and whistles in place. Blue Lion is the ultimate definition of “A Labor of Love.” We strongly urge folks to seek out the smaller rescues.
Pick a breed they love and Google rescues on that breed. Give to the little guys.
$200,000 seems like such a drop in the bucket for some big company somewhere (Nike, NFL?) that already gives millions a year to the United Way, or some other big charity. Even a small percentage (10%) one time would be a donation that would save the lives of countless dogs over time.
Lisa is the toughest and most dedicated woman I have ever met. Animal Rescue is daily heartbreak having to deal with the result of the worst of human cruelty (like Michael Vick), but the rewards are inexpressible. She asks nothing for herself but the chance to give the dogs life in a happy place. Lisa is very knowledgeable and many other shelters from all over the country count on her to take the biggest hardest & saddest cases
I’ve included some pictures of last year’s blizzards on the ranch & of Gio, one of Lisa’s greatest achievements in doggie behavior modification. I really am scared for the dogs and Lisa this winter especially with her mama there now. Don’t get me wrong, they are all safe & happy. They are just exposed to the elements aside from the dog houses she’s built and gotten donated. A building is very necessary.
In light of this Michael Vick (I can hardly type his name) case, I hope the media will not shy away from the need to blow the cover off of this insane activity. The only way to do that is to get mad as hell. As hard as it is to even imagine the horrors. The actual images shown on the news have and will haunt me for the rest of my life. Maybe with some focus on the other end of it ….the rescuers, the ones taking in the these animals we can keep it in the forefront for a while instead of letting his (Vick)lawyers find a way to squelch it .
Although Lisa herself does not take very many Pit bulls, there is a Pit bull rescue on the neighboring property (they each have 35 acres) that is actually part of Blue Lion. Lisa loves to educate me about the true nature of Pit Bulls. Did you know that pit bulls used to be known as the “nanny” dog? It was because they took care of the children in the home- they were the nanny! You have to work REALLY hard to make them mean- things like putting gun powder in their food, beating them, starving them-things that would make any breed of dog mean. Oh, the stories Lisa could tell you will haunt you for life.
Please let me know if you think you can help or know someone who can, we have snow in the high country already!!!!
Thank you most sincerely for your time.
Respectfully, Debra Griffin, 720-628-5418
ANOTHER COOL WAY TO HELP
UGLY DAWGS GREETING CARDS
Burdened by high food and veterinary bills, Lisa and a friend hit upon a great fund-raising idea: Greeting Cards
Kavanaugh insisted that Zelda Mae, her Dogue de Bordeaux, enjoyed dressing up in clothing and would make an ideal model..
That’s how the Ugly Dawgs line of greeting cards was born. Zelda Mae was a born model who loved to ham it up for the camera. Sadly, Zelda Mae passed away from lymphoma on Dec. 23rd, 2005. But there are other dogs just waiting for their turn in the spotlight!!
Ugly Dawgs is a collection of 20 cards featuring Zelda Mae and three Neopolitan Mastiffs, the 180 lb Mister Houdini, Elvira and Miss Fiona.” Mister Houdini came from a horrendous home. He was living out on a patio with no shelter for over a year. We had to buy him from the owner. When I first saw him he had no spirit whatsoever. But he blossomed with with care and love and now he is Mr. Waggy Tail”, says Lisa.
Ugly Dawgs cards cost $2.50 each and can be ordered online at www.uglydawgs.com