Diana's Story: We promised not to euthanize her.

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August 2006, Day of Rescue



September 2006

In August of 2006 Amazon CARES rescued a very ill dog from the streets.  We named her Diana, in honor of donors Diane & Greg Paschell who sponsored her.

October, 2006 Photo by Molly Wald of Best Friends Animal Society

During October of 2006 I responded to an inquiry about Diana, and wrote:  Diana is still in treatment for an eye infection and anal gland infection. Her treatment has been lengthy. She still has a bit of distrust in her eyes, which is heartbreaking. She craves human companionship, and she does not live in the kennel area. She roams free, and she sleeps on this spot on the porch of my house. At night she keeps our security guard company on his rounds!

Recently somebody abandoned a dog and her 5 month puppy at our shelter in the middle of the night. The puppy escaped, and we hoped it would be lured back by his mother. I told my employees to secure the mother to an outer fence post with this hope. Later I went looking for the dog and questioned my employees. They told me Diana was guarding her. What?

Sure enough, they had the two dogs attached by two leashes, and Diana stood her ground in the most stalwart fashion.

January, 2008Diana is the most loving, playful dog -- when she has her eye medication. She can not produce natural tears. We put natural lubricant in her eyes five times a day. She requires constant monitoring, therefore she will live out her best years at the Amazon Cares no-kill shelter!



December 2012
Over the years Diana's eye condition got much worse.  A Veterinary Opthamologist volunteered for Amazon CARES, and we made the decision to relieve the source of so much pain and irritation.  Diana was already blind, and the Veterinarian removed both of Diane's eyes.  Diane still accompanies our security guard on his nightly rounds, and she loves to bask in the sun, and then take refuge from the heat on the hard packed dirt underneath the Director's raised home on the shelter premises.  She has never been restricted to a kennel.

We made a lifetime promise to Diana.  We promised her a life with all her necessities are met, where she is walked several times a day and receives affection.  We promised not to euthanize her.  Please help us keep this promise.  We need your support now.



Sincerely,

Molly Mednikow

The Saddest Blog I've Ever Written - Redux

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This blog is reprinted from May 15, 2012
Our animal shelter where we cared for 50+ dogs has been completely destroyed. See video:



We relocated all animals into a treatment building that is built on stilts.   It was a very trying 2 months as the dogs were forced to live in a very crowded space.  Healthy, sick, small, large, puppies...all were forced to live together.  We always have promoted adoption, but it is not ingrained in the culture of Iquitos.  However, the flooding provided an added impetus to get the word out.  
We had a record number of adoptions in April and May, and now we are caring for just over 20 dogs.  Incidentally, we shelter cats as well, but at another facility, in-town at our Vet Clinic.  Our dog shelter is 30 minutes away by boat or land (currently only by boat, of course) from our in-town clinic.  We got an emergency grant of $4000  from the Fundación 30 Millions d'amis (30 Million Friends) of France , and our supporters stepped up also, helping us raise an additional $1200.
Last week we completed work on a new, smaller, shelter at the highest point of our property.  It is such a relief for the remaining animals to have space to roam again.  You can see these photos on Facebook.

The effort has nearly destroyed us.  We had to cancel our April Veterinary Trip.  We are currently $500 short on paying our bills this month.  Sadly, a matching grant Donor we depended on states that we misunderstood his original grant limitations.  We hope to receive the money promised to us, but that will not occur for another 6-12 months.
I have never earned a salary as the Founder or Executive Director of Amazon CARES.  I founded and supported Amazon CARES when I sold my part in my family's 125 year old jewelry business in 2005. Since 2004 I have supported CARES, but in late 2011 my money ran out.  I have enough to live on, but not enough to continue supporting CARES in the same manner.  Despite the fact that my travel to Peru will be severely curtailed, I am currently looking for full time employment to supplement my income and keep CARES alive.  Luckily, we have a wonderful Director in Peru and a wonderful, loyal staff (at least for now...if we can't pay salaries that would probably change).
We still run very active ABC programs, and thankfully, these programs and the medicines needed are paid for by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
It is very hard to get grant money for shelters, however.  The WSPA doesn't believe in sheltering, for instance.  They believe that long term solutions are found through active ABC campaigns and Humane Education.  We are very involved with both of these strategies as well.  I would challenge any international animal charity of our size to rival our Humane Ed program, which has continued despite recent challenges.
However, we believe sheltering is an essential component.  Many dogs are abandoned, especially litters of puppies, or dogs suffer from infections (mange, parasites) that can be treated easily.  We have seen enormous transformations from former, sickly street dogs to beautiful, healthy adoptable pets.  We are a no-kill shelter, incidentally.

As the flood waters reside we will need to continue rebuilding our shelter.  The one we constructed quickly is well built, but too small.   We may try to salvage a small part of our old shelter, but it is preferable to continue building another small shelter building on the highest land, adjacent to what we have already built.  

We recently rescued a dog found starving to death on a small patch of dry land and surrounded by water.  His owners had abandoned him.  Even as we have improved our adoption rates, there will continue to be a need for shelter for dogs such as this rescue dog.  He will heal and be adopted, but it will require months of re-hab.  We simply refuse to euthanize him, when he is a dog with a bright future as a member of somebodys family.
Funds are badly needed for reconstruction and for dog food.

I am sad to report that the survival of CARES is a matter of weeks, not months.  There is no other charity like ours in the region.  In a matter of a few years, much of the work we have done will have come undone.

Thank you for reading this blog.  I am extremely saddened to reveal this heartbreaking news.  If you can help us with a donation of any amount, we would be very grateful.  

P.S. December 16, 2012 - I can't believe we are facing such dire economic circumstances again, and I hate to use the pity card with our supporters.  Please remember that 90% of your donation goes directly to our programs helping animals.  Our outlook for 2013 is good, if we can just get past these few months before grant money comes in.  We are a tiny charity achieving BIG goals, and we are working on doing more strategic planning for the future longevity of the charity.

Molly Mednikow
Amazon CARES Founder

Keara's Holiday Miracle! An Adoption Tale!

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Donna and Dr. Kendall Bodkin of Hayden Pet Medical Center have volunteered for CARES in the Amazon.  Since then, they have been incredible supporters and friends to CARES.  We hope they return to Peru soon!  During their trip. Donna formed a bond with a very special and distinguished shelter dog, Keara.  Lucky Keara was adopted by the Bodkin family, and a smiling Donna retrieved Keara from the airport in Spokane!  It was quite a climate change for Keara, but she seemed to adapt very quickly!


"Beautiful picture of Keara playing in the snow! Recently adopted by the Bodkin's family, Keara is living a healthy and happy life in Idaho! We are truly grateful to the Bodkin clan!"
Molly Mednikow 










In November 2012 Keara celebrated her one year anniversary as a member of the Bodkin clan!

Looks like she is in the Christmas spirit!

Keara lived at our no-kill shelter in Iquitos for several years.  It breaks my heart to think that another shelter might have euthanized this beautiful girl.

The Bodkins have been huge supporters, and we are forever grateful.  I am reaching outside of our circle of supporters to ask that you "Chip In" $5 or more to help Amazon CARES survive into 2013, and so that our shelter dogs can thrive in a loving environment where all their needs are met.

Valentine's Day is for Animal Lovers! Join us!

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Valentine’s Day is for Animal Lovers

  Our Shop is Now Open!

Whether or not you have a human Valentine, if you have a pet, you already know what it is to have unconditional love on a year round basis.
Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education and Safety invites you to join our virtual event “Valentine’s Day is forAnimal Lovers,” which will be a Facebook event during the month of February.
Please RSVP "yes" and show your support during February by earning donations for our animals simply by shopping online!
In partnership with We-Care.com, we will promote Valentine related items that can be purchased online from reliable, well known merchants, at no extra cost to the purchaser.  
Having recently won a $1000 Grant from We-Care.com, in which we generated over 10,000 valid tweets that were worth 10 cents each, we know the power of pennies, nickels and dimes in fundraising.
Also consider that every penny earned is equivalent to 3 pennies where we operate in the Amazon Jungle of Peru!  Currently we are raising funds to improve our no-kill shelter in Iquitos, Peru.
We hope to introduce new people to Amazon CARES and our vital work.  Perhaps not all of these people would normally donate through us, but they would consider making an online purchase using one of our links.
Will you support this unique event?  
Would you go a step further by serving on our Host Committee?  A member of the Host Committee commits to inviting at least ten friends and promoting our virtual event.
Please let me know by commenting below or replying to molly@amazoncares.org.  Be sure to grab a banner for your blog, Facebook page or website!





Sincerely,
Molly MednikowExecutive Director of Amazon CARES
Manuella Incoming Director of Amazon CARES

Animals in Woodbourne seized in 'worst ever' abuse

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By Victor Whitman


Fallsburg police and animal control officers removed numerous animals on Tuesday from a ramshackle trailer home in the Town of Fallsburg and charged an elderly woman and her son with animal cruelty.Police executed a search warrant at 333 Rose Road outside Woodbourne, and found goats, rabbits, geese and two dogs living in "deplorable" conditions.Virginia Wagner McCombs, 81, and Donald Wagner, 62, were charged with multiple misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty under the section of Agriculture and Markets law that refers to "overdriving, torturing and injuring" animals.When authorities arrived in the morning, two cocker spaniels were tied by a rope to a pickup truck. The rabbits were in handmade chicken coops covered with feces. Goats were crowded into fenced enclosures on muddy ground. The property was strewn with detritus and hoarded items. Large rats were running around."This is the worst I have ever seen," said Joanne Gerow, Fallsburg's animal control officer.Gerow said authorities seized two dogs, 14 goats, seven baby goats, 23 rabbits, four geese and four chickens. All the animals were taken to a rescue farm in Sullivan County. Gerow said the animals appeared to have been fed, but will be evaluated..."  More

Loudermilk Bell acquires another Buckhead Village landmark, the former Pearson’s Wine & Liquor store

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Loudermilk Bell, LLC has acquired, at an undisclosed price,the 16,000 square foot Buckhead landmark building known for decades as Pearson’sWine and Liquor Store, located at 3072 Early Street in the Buckhead Villagemarket area. 

The former Pearson's Wine & Liquor store building, which
has been acquired by Loudermilk Bell LLC.

The highly visiblebuilding was foreclosed on by BB&T Bank in 2012.  The building sits on the prominent corner ofEarly Street and the West Paces Ferry Road intersection, across from the St.Regis Hotel and One Buckhead Plaza office building and adjacent to the shopping center where Whole Foodsmarket is located. 
“We continue to look foropportunities to acquire strategic properties that are irreplaceable in coreurban markets and the ‘Pearson’s’ property fits extremely well into our plansfor the Buckhead Village,” said Robin Loudermilk, president and CEO of TheLoudermilk Companies and co-founder of Loudermilk Bell. “There are very fewhighly visible, free-standing opportunities for retail tenants in a locationlike this,” he added.  

Robin Loudermilk

For Loudermilk Bell,this acquisition comes on the heels of the recent announcement of other keyacquisitions in the Buckhead Village market including the acquisition of theheadquarters for Harry Norman Realtors, 532 East Paces Ferry Road, and the StateBank Building located at 415 East Paces Ferry Road.
Last year the companyunveiled plans for a new boutique hotel onthe site adjacent to the Buckhead Theatre (formerly known as the Roxy). Inaddition, the company’s development plans also include new office/retaildevelopment along East Paces Ferry Road, as well as other development onstrategic sites in the Buckhead Village.
Loudermilk Bell isplanning development on several key sites in the Buckhead Village market thatare zoned for 1.6 million square feet of mixed-use space, and are complimentaryto the new Buckhead Atlanta (formerly known as The Streets of Buckhead) projectbeing developed by California-based OliverMcMillan, which restartedconstruction last year.

Dwight Bell

Loudermilk Bell, LLC isfull service real estate company based in Buckhead.  The company’s founders are former Aaron’sPresident and CEO, Robert C. “Robin” Loudermilk, Jr. and veteran Atlanta realestate developer and former Hines executive, Dwight Bell. 
Loudermilk Bell managesa diverse portfolio of properties including office, retail, residential, andmixed-use projects in core in-town markets.

Fire Chief: Buckhead fire stations to be renovated or replaced by 2017 and one new station added

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Atlanta Fire Rescue Chief Kelvin Cochran Thursday night told members ofthe Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods that by 2017 the plan is to completelyreplace two of Buckhead’s fire stations, build a new fire station in thePeachtree Battle Road area and renovate Fire Stations 21 and 26, which isoutside Buckhead's borders but services southwest Buckhead.

Atlanta Fire Rescue Chief Kelvin Cochran

Cochran said the plans call for the renovation of stations 21 (on RoswellRoad in the Buckhead Village) and 23 in 2014, the complete replacement ofStation 26 in 2015—hopefully on its present site at the intersection of HowellMilll and Moores Mill roads—and the complete replacement of Station 27 in 2017.
Cochran said he realizes he needs to do a public relations job with thenorthwest Buckhead neighborhoods along Northside Drive and Mount Paranbecause of the major commitment those residents made a few years ago, raising$250,000 and a lot of sweat equity to refurbish Station 27, which is located atNorthside Drive and West Conway.
Cochran looked straight at Dist. 8 City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean whenhe made that comment (who was nodding her head in agreement), because Adrean wasone of the residents much involved in that community effort before she was even a candidate for City Council.
Cochran said he also hopes Station 27 can be rebuilt on the site whereit is presently located or very close to that location.
The chief said the problem with fire stations that are 30 years old—asare most of them in the Buckhead area—is that they were built on very smalllots. Most of them do not have drive-through bays for the vehicles, which makesgoing in and out much more difficult—especially for the new larger trucks.

Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods board chairman Jim King, left,
talks with Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran before his presentation.   

Asked if a site had been identified for the new Peachtree Battle firestation, Cochran said it had not, but he hopes is can be located right in themiddle of the area, possibly near Peachtree Battle and Northside Drive. 
This was Cochran’s third meeting with BCN since first becoming firechief under Mayor Shirley Franklin. The purpose of the visit was to bring thecouncil members up to date with the fire department’s progress and futuregoals.
He said the department has experienced “tremendous accomplishments” inthe last three years under Mayor Kasim Reed and with the support of City Council.“We have been continuing in our pursuit of our vision in providing excellenceand prompt quality service,” Cochran said. 

He said there are six organizational prioritiesas part of department’s strategic plan and mission, including human resources,professional development, preparedness and response, public information andeducation, and facilities, equipment, supplies and technology.

In 2012, he said the department filled six newpositions in the training academy, which had been cut from 18 to 9 people in2009. 

“We hired two additional fire inspectors and oneassistant chief to special operations,” he said. “Our staffing levels are at a20-year high.”

He said there are 66 recruits in the academy atpresent. By June, Cochran said every fire truck and engine will have fourfirefighters every day of the year, which was one of their goals but has notbeen the case for several years. However,he said the department still has 52 vacancies.


“We’ve improved our fire standard of responsecoverage by 16 percent [and] our EMS response time by 5 percent,” he said.“Last year there were 44 people in Atlanta, that when firefighters were on thescene, they were breathless and pulseless. Because of our advanced life supportand partnership with Grady, they’re alive today.”

Chief Kelvin Cochran explains about the aged
firefighting fleet of the city of Atlanta. 

He also said the department last year rescued seven people who weretrapped when the fire personnel arrived, they delivered 80 babies and thedepartment did not lose a single firefighter in the line of duty.
He said Atlanta Fire Rescue has a “significantly aged fleet.” However,he reported that the plans are to add six new engines and five ladder trucks in2014. The department also is continuing to add new Emergency Medical Services(EMS) vehicles, which are SUVs, so that response times to medical emergenciescan be shortened and to reduce the need to roll out the large fire trucks forsuch incidents.
Cochran concluded by inviting the BCN members to participate in thisyear’s Citizen Fire Academy, which he said will be coming up in April. He saidit is a good way to learn just what the firefighters go through on the ;jobevery day.