Gioia Cares
As long as I can remember, I have loved animals.
When I got my first dog, a Sheltie we named Barstow, I felt what could only be described as true love for the very first time.
I was a very young girl, but what I learned from Barstow and the things that happened to him, would set the stage for a lifetime of loving and caring for dogs.
Barstow was born without hip-sockets. At that time, hip replacement surgery was brand new. The operation was a success. Before the surgery, I saw the pain he was in & wanted to help him in any way I could. I stayed home from school to care for him during his recovery. I don’t remember ever leaving his side for weeks.
In 1976 I got an Irish Setter I named Reilly. He is one my heros. The way he handled amputation of his left front leg due to cancer, was awe-inspiring. After he had recovered, he would tunnel out of our property, cross Pacific Coast Highway and go to his 2 favorite places. He would go into the kitchen of a restaurant on the beach by Malibu Pier. The staff would feed him whatever he wanted. Afterward, he would go body surfing with the surfers, and occasionally get a ride on their boards. All of this, with 3 legs.
He had a daughter we named Blazin, who joined Reilly & Sundance our beautiful Golden Retriever. A few months later, Bosco our Chocolate Lab came to live with us as well. Sundance fell down 2 floors of a house we were building in Telluride. After that, we called the house “The Flying Dog Cabin”
Sundance lived for 16 years.
We found out when Bosco was 4, that he was going blind from retinal atrophy, and he was also born without hip sockets. The pain this sweet dog went through was enormously heartbreaking. He did so well with his blindness, using our Yellow Lab Hoss as his eyes, & following commands he learned from me, such as….telling him to “step” when he was near stairs. This dog would go on hikes up to 12,000 feet in and around Telluride Colorado. He was fearless.
Soon we rescued an Italian Greyhound named Dolce. He came to live with us when he was 7 months old. He was purchased from a pet store by a 19 year old boy. This person, would only give him bong water to drink, and deli food to eat. Poor Dolce was outside by himself in an apartment complex parking lot late one night where he was run over by a truck. His pelvis was crushed and his legs were broken.
This “boy” left him at the vet where he was taken and didn’t pay for his care. The vet did not turn Dolce over after several surgeries, so his rear right leg became lame. He was so afraid of a male voice, he would quiver and hide his head.
When I found out about him, I got him from that vet, and took him to mine. There were pins left inside of his body that pinched his nerves every minute of every day.
They opened him up again, and took the pins out, and added metal strips to reinforce both of his front legs.
I took him to the beach everyday to help make his legs stronger. The sand allowed him to use his rear leg and when he fell, it was on the soft sand.
Dolce will be 12 years old on March 22nd. I have always taken my dogs everywhere with me, and Dolce was no different. He is now a wonderful, outgoing & loving dog.
Hoss was my rock when my son Tyler was killed. 3 months after Tyler’s accident, I learned that Hoss had an inoperable brain tumor. He had never been ill 1 day in his life. He died in my arms, 1 week before his 13th birthday.
Both Dolce and my other IG Bacia were attacked by coyotes. Both survived and are well and happy….always at my side.
Along the way, other things have happened to every one of my animals, but through the best medical care and love at home, we have gotten through all of it.
I am involved in several animal causes and groups. This is why I have added this tab to Gioia’s website.
Every animal, no matter what kind it is, deserves to live a good life.
With all of us working together, we will make a difference.
Through education, adoption, care and love, all animals will have a chance.
Thank you for reading this, and for any help you can give.
Teri, Dolce & Bacia
This group is very near and dear to my heart. Their message can only be spread with your help. Please help by giving a voice to the voiceless. Tell your friends about Bound Angels and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!
Halfway To Home was formed in 2001 due to the need in the Antelope Valley to rescue the many homeless and helpless pets. They have animals from individuals who have to give up pets and from pounds that have darling individuals who need to be spared euthanasia. There are puppies coming from individuals who did not spay and neuter in a timely manner.
Since their beginning, they have adopted out over 3,473 dogs and cats and spayed/neutered over 2,500 dogs. In 2009 they took in 540 dogs, adopted out 543 dogs, and spayed/neutered 382 dogs.
Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary (H.E.A.R.S.) is a non-profit organization devoted to the care and rehabilitation of domestic animals. C.C. Beaudette-Wellman, founder of H.E.A.R.S. has been rehabilitating animals for over 30 years. CC has been recognized and honored by the SPCA for her outstanding work and dedication to her cause.
California Wildlife Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is two-fold: to assist sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife by ensuring each receives the highest level of rehabilitative care for release back to its natural habitat; and to promote protection of wildlife and its habitat through public education.
The Peacock Foundation offers innovative programming that can teach and inspire any child. These programs are designed to incorporate safe animal activities and discussion to learn social skills and improve communication. We have incorporated programs in schools, foster care, youth centers, and homes.
GREY2K USA is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ending this cruelty. They are a network of humane-minded citizens who work to pass stronger dog protection laws and close down existing greyhound racetracks, and also offer adoption referral information to help the thousands of dogs still racing.