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I’d like to begin by telling you all that our boy Scratch is coming along wonderfully.   Josh tells me that he now comes around for hugs and I believe for the first time in his life he’s not just existing, he is actually happy. I can’t express the joy I feel in my heart when we can help an animal.  

You go get ’em Scratch, I’m sure a forever home is waiting.

I received the call about M.J., an 8-month-old chocolate lab that escaped her pen and was struck by a car. I was told the family did not have the well over $2,000 it would take to fix her broken leg and dislocated hip. To the family’s credit, they did raise over $500 and I used Lennie’s Kids’ fund to handle the rest, which was $2,400 after discounts.  

I did get to visit M.J. after Dr. Parker performed a successful procedure to mend her leg and hip. I opened her cage to take a photo and gave her my customary kiss between the eyes.  

“You’ll be okay sweetheart,” I told her, “you are well loved and I’ve been told you are really a good girl. We all were young once, M.J. Let’s hope it was a lesson well learned.”

Another case involves Lexi, a 7-month-old Chihuahua who broke her leg and wasn’t taken care of, so it was mended crookedly. Dr. Osborne at Landrum Vet said she would have to go to a specialist to be reset. Lexi was brought to my attention by Verna Wilkins of Forever Dream. I made Verna aware that she would have to contact Upstate Specialist and explain that Lexi is one of Lennie’s Kids. They will usually send me a bill after the procedure is done and I’ll send them back a check with a thank you note for working with me. From past experience, this usually runs between $2,500 and $3,500. Verna must get the powers that be to okay it, and then we’ll fix the little girl.

I did turn down a 9-year-old fairly large dog that had two pups and wished to have her spayed at the cost of over $2,000. I said it once, and I’ll say it again, “I will help the helpless when I can, I will not help the clueless.”

My funds are still okay, but it’s been a while since I’ve received any donations. I know I’m just a worry wart, but when it comes to my kids, I don’t have any shame.

I do trust in the Lord, one way or another I will get what I need and whatever that is, it is in His hands.

Thanks for listening.

Leonard Rizzo is the founder of Lennie’s Kids, a nonprofit organization that helps sick and injured animals in the foothills, promotes animal welfare and works to find homes for pets.