Can You Help Brenda KEEP HER DOGS?
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As we all know these are very hard times throughout the United States and some of us are being hit harder than others. I received a request for help a few days ago from a gal in Maryland who’s having a really rough time. Unfortunately, her situation isn’t unique these days … at least not to anyone else but her because this is her situation. I wish Riley’s Place could help everyone in similar situations, but there are so many people suffering that helping every single one is impossible. But just maybe with your help, we can make a difference in the life of one single gal and her two precious German Shepherds.
I’d like you to meet Brenda and her two German Shepherds, Ariel and Garnet! Aren’t they a couple of beautiful bookends?
Brenda’s Story
Like so many others, Brenda lost her job a few months ago. She’s applied for unemployment but even if she’s approved, her monthly benefit will be just $222 which won’t even cover her rent. She’s currently living in a pet friendly rental that even has a fenced yard! Pretty amazing stuff for a rental. The loss of her job has caused her to fall one month behind in her rent which when August 1st rolls around will become two months. Although her landlord’s been good about things so far, he has bills to pay as well. Let’s face it, a landlord can only be so patient. Brenda is in danger of losing her housing and if that happens she also loses her German Shepherds which would without a doubt break her heart.
Brenda’s visiting her local food pantry for grocery supplies. I had to do this when my children were very young and so I can empathize with having to resort to this. Her car broke down making it difficult at best to follow up on job leads. Thank goodness she has a wonderful friend who’s recently been able to lend her money to get her car fixed so she can get back to her job hunt. Brenda tells me she’s got some good leads she’ll be following up on. Good luck, Brenda!
Of course, paying her rent and eating are not their only financial problems. She’s fallen behind in her bills including utilities and medical bills. She’s got some health issues but can no longer afford her prescriptions. Her 80 year old Mother depends on her for some assistance as well and she very recently lost two of her kittens to feline parvo. There’s more but I’m sure you can see that Murphy’s Law is a frequent visitor in Brenda’s life.
Brenda’s IMMEDIATE Needs
Brenda needs to come up with $2,400.00 in the next few days in order to catch up on her rent and the other financial needs detailed in her story in order to avoid losing her home and her dogs. In the big picture $2,400.00 is not a huge amount and with a little help from you folks, we can help make this happen for her. Here are a few ideas, if you have any of your own Brenda would love to hear from you.
Some Ways to HELP BRENDA
- Can donate a few dollars? Please click the DONATE button below and enter the amount you wish to contribute.
- If you prefer to send a check or money order, her mailing and eMail addresses are at the bottom of this page.
- Send her a gift card for Walmart so she can buy dog food and other supplies that you can’t get at a food pantry.
- Maybe you could send a small care package of things like toiletries and other personal needs.
- We need to get the word out. Would you share this with your Facebook , Twitter and/or other online social network friends?
Please note that the Donate button will direct you to the Digital Mouse Designs PayPal account but states “Donations for Brenda Caley.” This is only because Brenda is not a merchant therefore cannot qualify to utilize the button feature at PayPal. Riley’s Place guarantees to forward all donations made to Brenda! Riley’s Place is owned by Digital Mouse Designs.
Anything at all you can do to help Brenda and allow her to keep her dogs would be greatly appreciated! With everything she’s been going through, the loss of her dogs would devastate her and make her life sooooo much more difficult. Losing Brenda would break her dog’s hearts, too.
Brenda Caley
PO Box 56
Charlestown, MD 21914
16 Comments
Hello, I am revisiting this kind article about me. It is now March 2014, and God blessed me with a 3 bedroom house. I still have Ariel and Garnet, my German Shepherds. We have passed through a lot, but I feel so thankful that I still have them and we have a home! My Mom lived with us the past 6 months after I took her out of the nursing home. She just passed away, and my dogs are such a comfort. They sleep on my king size bed every night. I like people who love animals! They are wonderful!
Hi Brenda! Nice to see you here again. Thanks for stopping by and updating us on how things are going which thankfully, are much better now than before. I’m sorry to hear about your Mom, though. Please give Ariel and Garnet woofs from Riley, Nissa and Gracie.
This is to the two precious people who sent me $50 and $20. Thank you so, so much for your sacrificial giving to help me and my dogs! Every dollar makes such a difference right now! Thanks to you and a few others who have helped, my girls and I have a home with electricity, and a phone so I can receive calls about job hunting!
I feel misty eyed with gratitude every time I think of people’s generosity and compassion. I feel responsible for these girls for their whole lives, even tho some people have pressured me to “get rid of them”. Trash is something you get rid of. These precious creatures are my friends. I feel so grateful that we are not living in my car. Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!
Here I am again. Thank you, Mark, for your kind comments!
Well, I have some good news! A long time friend of mine, Lisa, paid for my gas to drive the two hours to her home in Burke, VA, in order to help her organize and file all her papers. She is going to have me come back a few more times, because we only got started, but she fronted me the pay in the form of a $700 check to my landlord, and now I won’t be evicted!!!!!
Also, I went to three churches today for assistance, and two of them helped me with $150 on my electric bill, to help me avoid shut-off. I still need to come up with $60, which will leave $212 unpaid.
I still feel concerned about the upcoming September rent, only 2 weeks away, and I am continuing to seek assistance, because what I am getting from unemployment is simply not enough to live on. But I feel so encouraged and relieved!!!
And i feel so grateful for the pet rescue community. I feel the compassion and understanding, and it does my heart good!
Warmly,
Brenda
Every little bit number. That way we can all help Brenda and her two wonderful pets together. Chin area up Brenda, and way to go being an example for all of us on how we should really like our pets.
This is to my Precious Sister Becky, 3000 miles away in California. Awww, thank you so much, Becky! I have found my dog loving friends, and friends I haven’t even met, have become my most compassionate, kind allies in this struggle. Becky, thank you for your kind words.
Yes, we have been comparing German Shepherd notes for 9 years. Much Love, Brenda
Brenda is my “sister from another mother”. I’ve wanted a german shepherd since I was a small child. About 9 years ago I saw a pup of hers online and fell in love. We didn’t have the money, but Brenda and I connected and she FLEW the pup to me with just a promise that we’d send money when we could! That ‘puppy’ is now 9 years old and spoiled rotten. We don’t know where we’d be without Vroni as our furbaby, and if it wasn’t for Brends, we wouldn’t have her. We love you Brend. I will be sending what I can sis…. and reposting this as much as I can on Facebook. Give my dawgies sisters a hug and kiss for me, and have them give you one back for me! Luv and miss you girl.. Becks
This is to Asma, thank you so much!! I really appreciate that and I feel touched about me being an example. Back to job hunting…
This is to “Mom” – thank you so much! Great idea! I will do that!
Hello there, I don’t have a lot myself but I was thinking once I get paid I could pitch in about $10 or $20 bucks. I know Brenda personally and I know how much she cares for her pets and moves mountains to keep them safe and loved. I was thinking if we could all get together and pitch in even just a 10, 5, or even one dollar that could help her a lot. In this case, there’s no such thing as too little. Every little bit counts. That way we can all help Brenda and her two beautiful dogs together. Chin up Brenda, and way to go being an example for all of us on how we should love our pets!
The bomb dropped on Monday (8/6). I was handed an eviction letter. I have to pay my rent by August 20th, or else be out by August 31st. I naturally feel scared, but I choose to believe God is working.
Brenda, I’m so sorry. I’m sure you must be panicked, I know I would be. I’ve been keeping my fingers crossed, thinking about and hoping for good things for you every day.
Suggestion: get your friends and relatives to use their Facebook and Twitter accounts to promote this blog post (have them post the page link to it) to help get the word out as far and fast as possible. I posted it in about 20 different Facebook friends. If you have 10 people do this, that’s 10 people with their friends and their friends have their friends and on and on and the number of posts will grow quickly!
That was supposed to say THE BOMB dropped. Mark and Angie are my landlords.
The bomb dropped: Mark and Angie just gave me an eviction letter that I have to pay a minimum of $800 by August 20th, otherwise I am to be out by August 31st. Eviction proceedings have been filed with the Court. He said I’m not trying to be mean. It’s just that he HAS to have the income, whether it’s from me or from someone else. I said I understand your position, but I was hoping you would work for me. He said “Haven’t we worked with you??” The letter says that I was late 6 times out of the last 10 months. I feel scared, to the point of feeling paralyzed.
Natasha,
Thank you very much! One thing I feel blessed about tonight is that the Mid Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue reached out to me tonight with oodles of quality dog food, treats, supplies (including desperately needed flea drops!), and toys, and more! I started carrying it in, and my girls got real NOSEY, LOL, investigating what was in the bags! I started throwing “queaky” toys, and they started jumping around! It was a late birthday gift for one, and an early birthday gift for the other!
Right now, they are contentedly slurping on their new Kong toys stuffed wtih Natural Balance Duck and Potato Formula! My heart feels a little lighter, and I just hope and pray that I will somehow get the bills paid, especially the rent, before it is too late
A special thanks to Riley’s Mom for this beautiful article and her compassionate assistance here on this wonderful blog!
I’m sharing this on FB…. I don’t have any to spare at the moment due to our animal situation this past summer, but there is a German Shepherd community I am friends with on FB. Sharing. Hang in there Brenda!!