Good News - April 2021

A little over a year ago we lost our sweet and gentle-spirited Cavachon Mag- gie to old age. After 12 years of having such a calm, peaceful animal, we decided to get a rescue dog we named Bebe. Anyone who knows about dogs knows that rescue dogs have their own baggage along with this one being a beagle. It was quite an adjustment to this high-spirited, stubborn, yet funny dog. She has many quirks such as requiring at least 12 hours of sleep from which she does not want to be disturbed. She groans if anyone touches her while she is asleep as if to say "don’t bother me." When she is awake, she is in full on crazy mode! She howls (which is hysterical) at iguana's and loves to chase them. Yesterday, while chasing one over the 6-foot-high fence, she almost got its tail. After succeeding in chasing it away, she proudly pranced in looking for a treat. Patricia Colangelo, EdS, Lecturer, Professor, Trinity International University - Florida Pets provide unconditional love and they do not cost as much as people. I have a mixed breed dog. Ray Monteleone, President, Paladin Global Partners My ‘pet story’ is pretty basic...I have a half dozen Goldfish in a large freshwater tank, strategically designed with seashells and ambience lighting for “tranquility” and not a lot of maintenance. The largest goldfish’s name is SMILEY!! Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder/President, SAINTS International Sports Ministry and SAINTS of Florida Homeschool P.E. Our family has been blessed by our furry members. Frankie is getting very old and his health has been diminishing over the years. Luckily, we recently adopted a stray that has breathed new life in him. Rosie is just a puppy and they play for hours. Their fun has given us all so much joy. Robin Martin, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Broward My pet days were limited to my growing up years since our kids had allergies that precluded pets other than fish and a turtle. However, my favorite pet growing up was a mixed breed German Shepard that my mom named Schultz after Sar- gent Schultz from the TV show in the 60’s called Stalag 13. Schultzie was the typ- ical “man’s best friend.” He would lick your face in the morning to wake you up and meet you at the door with his tail wagging when you came home. Schultz never had a bad day, and all our family members got the same treatment from Schultz, even my dad who wasn’t a big fan originally. So this dog, who we bought for $5.00, was always there for me and the rest of our family and was sorely missed when he died. Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers, Morris & Ziegler LLP We have had dogs ever since before I can remember. I asked my dad once why he loved dogs so much. He informed me I owed my existence to a dog. When he was a young man, he lived in Indiantown, FL (he had moved there in 1915 in a covered wagon). He was out in the high sawgrass that surrounded the small outpost at that time and a very large diamondback rattlesnake struck at him. The dog jumped in front and the snake bit the loyal animal who died soon after. If not for that dog, I wouldn't have had a father. Thus, I find it very easy to love dogs of every persuasion, especially rescues. Samuel Lamerson , PhD, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies, Knox Theological Seminary I went from having four dogs (Speed Bump, Spunky, Sprout and Mooshu), who are all in "Doggy Heaven" as of the past four years, and went to four cats (Benghazi, Fatima, Harmony and Syracuse), with Bengazi up in "Kitty Heaven" and the other three cats still alive and well. What an incredible swing going from four amazing dogs to four feisty cats. I'm glad God gave me a good sense of humor…And, on the 7th Day, God decided to go back to work and created cats and dogs. Willy Guardiola, Christian on a Mission, PBC Right to Life League Wants to Know… Coach Rick Andreassen Robin Martin Romney C. Rogers Samuel Lamerson Willy Guardiola Dr. Mike Rozenblum Milan Stefanovic Nancy Robin Oksana Horton Patricia Colangelo Ray Monteleone