Dear Lucky Dog Supporter, Do you ever have one of those days where it feels like you can't possibly get any more bad news? That was my day on Monday. It started off with a Sunday night trip to the emergency vet for one of our puppies whose face was lacerated by something sharp in some bushes in his foster's yard. It got no better on Monday morning when another one of our pups was rushed to that same emergency vet with an intestinal obstruction requiring immediate surgery. Not even 2 hours later, our Team Lead in South Carolina went to her home on the Rescue Campus only to find a dog abandoned in a crate at her front door with a bag of food. The same dog that people had tried to surrender at our office a few hours earlier, but who were told we don't accept owner surrenders without appointments. And, finally, the day capped off with the news that not one but two of our dogs need eye surgery in the coming weeks. Seriously, how many emergencies can one organization take in one day? A close friend of mine texted me that evening asking how things were going. A seemingly simple question that evoked a not-so-simple response. My immediate thought was "not well at all." My overtired and overstressed brain went immediately into complaint mode. Not only had all these bad things happened, but they happened on top of the general uncertainty and unrest that are permeating the Washington, DC area. Every day, I worry about declining dog adoptions both across the country and in our area. I am scared that donations are dropping as people lose their jobs and the economy faces turmoil. And, I am faced with countless pleas for help -- with no end in sight. It seemed like I had a lot to complain about. But, then I took a moment to really think. And, I realized that, in fact, each of the emergencies that we faced on Monday were actually something positive. No, it was not good that we had so many significant medical emergencies arise in one day. BUT, we were able to handle each and every one of them. -- Blake suffered a significant laceration, but did not need stitches -- only antibiotics and pain meds.
-- Misty survived a difficult surgery, one many places would not have attempted, and is on her way to a full recovery.
-- The small dog in the crate is a lovely pup who will find a tremendous home.
-- Our very skilled vet in South Carolina is able to perform both eye surgeries, saving the eyesight of not one but two dogs.
-- We had 62 dogs & cats adopted last week. And, on top of that, in the last 2 weeks, we have treated 13 puppies and one adult for parvo virus -- without losing a single one. So, rather than complain about how things are going or sink into my fears about the future, I am choosing to celebrate. Lucky Dog is an incredible organization with an incredible community of supporters. We face our challenges head on, whether they be medical issues or slow downs in adoptions. We put the health and welfare of our animals first and foremost, and we do because we have YOU in our corner. And, knowing all those things, I know deep in my heart that tomorrow will definitely be better! With gratitude for all you make possible, | 
