BULLETIN!

Stop by the Skeena Storm Stones display table at the Skeena Valley Farmer's Market on July 17thbetween 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and purchase your, unique, shopping bag/tote. Handmade by folks from the Phillipine slum where Vanessa volunteers, working with impoverished deaf children, these bags are durable, fun and all profits will go to support Vanessa's Kids. This will enable Vanessa to distribute more deworming treatments, provide more transportation tickets so the children can attend their special school and to purchase school supplies and other necessities.  Every penny raised will help Vanessa do this very important work. Whenever you use your new bag, you can do so knowing you helped an extremely honest, dedicated and hardworking young woman help the poorest of the poor achieve goals that, without her dedication, they may otherwise only be able dream about. Vanessa will attend the market, with these fun bags, as long as supplies last! There are several styles available. The photos above are examples of these cool RECYCLED flour bag totes.

 I proudly donate 10% of my sales to  a couple of  good causes (5% to each) because I believe that, while I'm not a millionaire, not even upper-middle class, I have enough and I have a responsibility to help others reach their potential.  I strongly believe in, "From each according to their ability; To each according to their need."  Some folks believe that means something negative (antiquated cold war rhetoric-yes, I am opinionated!) - to me it simply means taking care of the people, animals and planet. It is a matter of ethics and morality for me.  I describe the causes I support below.

VANESSA & THE CHILDREN OF BICOL

<--Vanessa with her "kids".

I proudly donate 5% of my sales to  a good cause because I believe that I have enough and I have a responsibility to help others reach their potential.  Close to my heart is the energy and action of a local young woman, Vanessa Urbantke,  who visits a slum in the Philippines every six months or so to help the children who call it home.

The poverty is stunning and the needs of the children are extreme and, quite often, basic. The main program is providing de-worming medication (not a glamorous I know) to the children on a regular and  appropriate basis. I never knew, before I met Vanessa, how incredibly high incidence of intestinal worms  is in impoverished areas and how they rob the children of basic nutrition, which in turn robs them of the ability to grow and be their best.

In addition, she attempts to provide some basic school supplies and tutoring. She also injects fun and play into their lives. One of her favourite activities is to let the children use her digital camera to take pictures of  themselves, their friends and their world. As you can see in this photo, the children capture scenes that rival those of professionals.The pure, simple joy she inspires is evident on their faces as one child takes the photo and the others clamber around Vanessa!

She is a young woman for whom I have a great deal of respect and admiration. She graduated from university and, as soon as she possibly could, headed straight back to “her kids”. I believe that people like her are rare  and deserve our praise and support.  I hope you will agree that hers is a worthy cause.

DOGS DESERVE BETTER

DOGS DESERVE BETTER is a nonprofit organization (www.dogsdeservebetter.org) dedicated to freeing the chained dog, and bringing our 'best friend' into the home and family.TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE MISTREATMENT OF DOGS! "We provide foster and veterinary care for animals suffering neglect and abandonment in Terrace and the surrounding areas. We can't do it without your help. Donations are gratefully accepted at the Kermodei Veterinary Hospital and by contacting us." Look for their page on Facebook!

Back in 2006 DDB helped pass the laws of Care and Control of Animals as well as the Tether to private property Laws: http://www.terrace.ca/documents/bylaws    Found on page 10 and 11 of the Animal Control Bylaws 1255.

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED!! We have animals constantly needing help and we don't always have enough foster homes available!! If you can help please message or email TerraceDDB@hotmail.com

For every human born, 15 dogs and 45 cats are born. There simply aren’t enough homes for all these animals. As a result, 7 million healthy, adoptable animals are euthanized (killed) every year. SAVE A LIFE; SPAY AND NEUTER!! and OPT TO ADOPT!

Donations are gratefully accepted at the Kermodei Veterinary Hospital in Terrace BC. To donate directly to our account at the Terrace Scotia Bank, please contact us at terraceddb@hotmail.com Below is an image demonstrating why veterinary care is needed and, once you see this group's latest rescue, you will understand why I am committed to helping them as much as I can.

NOTE:  This photo is quite graphic and can be quite upsetting. Though, in my OPINION, not nearly as upsetting as the condition in which this poor, wee creature was found. My heart breaks for the life he has had and I pray his future is much, much brighter - he definitely deserves better!

Please CONTACT DDB at terraceddb@hotmail.com Look for  their page in Facebook!

Dogs Desrve Better: No Chained Dogs is an international organization. Here is a quote from their US website, "Dogs Deserve Better, 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award, is a voice for chained and penned dogs, whose sadness speaks only through the eyes. As the days become years, many of these dogs sit, lay, eat, and defecate within the same 10-foot radius. Chained by the neck, they exist without respect, love, exercise, social interaction, and sometimes even basic nourishment."