Hello everyone, CEO Olivia here. Today is a Canadian howliday; it’s Victoria Day.  For many that’s a day where fireworks & gathering in groups seems impawtant to humans but not my huMom. She sees every howliday as a day to spend with her fur-family & nature. Us four leggers, apparently the feathered two leggers & just being in nature are what makes life happy for her.  She has always been this way.  We are an integral part of family for her & she would do everything to keep the pack together.

But imagine being in a situation where you would have to surrender a family member due to hospitalization, an abusive relationship or incarceration. Many humans have or will have to do just this.

Poverty, homelessness, mental health, substance use, & violent living conditions are real situations that many humans face & addressing them often leads to a need to surrender a four legger, giving up maybe the only pawsitive thing in their life. The grief would be paralysing & it would be difficult to move forward in a new & challenging journey.

Thank dog there are organizations like Toronto based Through Ruff Times. Co Founders Mella Brown ( a harm reduction counsellor & instructor in George Brown College’s AWCCA program) & Melissa Pisante (10 years of experience in the social justice field) work with those in need using harm reduction & anti-oppressive principals. They along with their team offer options so that people don’t need to make a choice between accessing the supports they need & losing their animal companions.  Through Ruff Times ensures safe, furienedly, judgment-free exchanges, & they respect the specific & changing needs of everyone involved.

Sitters are always needed as are donations. If you have a service, products, supplies, cash donation, want to shop, or a loving home please take a moment to think of this pawsome organization, the humans & their much loved companion animals.

They are also on Instagram & Facebook.

Do you know of any wagnificent organizations like this one near you?  If so, we would love to add them to our resource page.  Leave a comment here or where ever you are reading this blog. 💜 nose nudges 💜

Have a pawsome week, CEO Olivia, Dot & Jerry Underfoot 💜

PS 🐾 Looking for wagnifient healthy & furbulously fun toys or pawsibly a supplement for the well being of your pawtacular good dog or cat? Shop Naturally

Join my pack at knottytoysforgooddogs.com