Friend,

Recently, I was having "one of those days," that weighs heavy on your heart. When life feels like a lot, we all have our ways of coping. Maybe we call a friend, take a walk, lose ourselves in our favorite music, or even have a good cry just to let it all out.

I found myself thinking, what about the animals here at New Leash on Life? When they face their hard days, when everything familiar is suddenly gone......how do they find comfort?

Sweet Pea, a gentle five-year-old, came to us recently with her five tiny puppies (9 weeks old). They were transferred to our Adoption Center from one of our shelter partners who simply didn’t have room to help them. Today, her babies are safe in loving foster homes, growing stronger every day. The hardest part is that Sweet Pea doesn’t understand why she’s here or where her pups have gone. What she does know is that she’s cared for and she can feel safe. With time and love, her heart will heal, and she’ll find her forever home, just as her puppies will.

Then there's Bear and Leo, two 12-year-old bonded cats who spent 204 days waiting for someone to see the magic in them after their previous owner passed away and they had nowhere to go. Most adopters look for kittens, not senior cats. One special day, their amazing someone came along. Today, they're curled up together in their new home, exactly where they belong. When their mom finalized Bear & Leo’s adoption, she said, “My two favorite grumpy old men! I’m so thankful to have them in my life.”

Each animal has a story. Some are joyful. Some are heartbreaking. All of them are waiting for a new beginning.

As we count our blessings this holiday season, we recognize that times are tough for many. If you can give to New Leash on Life, even a little, your gift makes all the difference and we would be so grateful. Your kindness helps us care for animals like Sweet Pea, Bear, and Leo until the day they're finally home again.

Because every heart - furry or human - deserves a second chance at love.

One animal at a time,

Angela Chapman

Every heart deserves a second chance (Holiday 2025)