THE STORY OF CELESTE'S DOGS

Celeste Becker, wife of student long time student Bob Becker, lost her battle ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. One of her friends noticed a "SponsorSnip" (spay/neuter) program at an animal shelter and encouraged friends to start donating money to individual dogs for spay/neuter to help them get adopted and save their lives. Many dogs were sponsored in honor of Celeste.

Celeste always loved dogs and many of us wished to do something positive for dogs in her honor. The Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter has a "SponsorSnip" program that allows you to choose a dog to be spayed/neutered for only $35. These dogs are much more likely to be adopted. To date, 83 dogs, 2 cats and 4 dog beds have been sponsored in memory of Celeste and 18 dogs have already been adopted. Celeste had pictures of all of her dogs taped by her bedside and she took great satisfaction in giving these dogs a second chance.

HOW TO HELP

If you would like to sponsor a dog (or dog beds) in memory of Celeste, you can:
- call the shelter at 706-795-2868
- do it online at www.moaspets.org using PayPal
- send a check for $35/dog or $50/$52/$54 per bed (3 bed sizes) to Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter, 1888 Colbert-Danielsville Rd, Danielsville, GA 30633. You can either choose dog on the website or ask the shelter to pick dogs for you. All donations are tax deductible.
- Let the shelter know that your sponsorship is in memory of Celeste Becker.  Thank you so much!  For more information on ALS, go to www.als-mda.org

UPDATE 05.2007

A lot has happened since our last update. Cat just let me know that 15 more dogs have been adopted or picked up by a rescue group after neutering, plus several more who went to rescue before neutering so other dogs have been selected in their place. A couple more dogs and a cat have been sponsored.

Here goes:

• Dolly was spayed and adopted at an offsite (Sponsored by Bob Becker, in honor of Tara)

• Bailey was spayed and then transferred to rescue (Sponsored by Kate Hartsfield)

• Amos was adopted finally! (Sponsored by Kate Hartsfield)

• Calvin was also adopted! (Sponsored by Kate Hartsfield)

• Abigail was sent to rescue (Sponsored by Frieda Parks)

• Kay Kay was adopted (Sponsored by Tobie Bagliebter)

• Billy Bob went to rescue (Sponsored by Tobie Bagliebter)

• Lue Lue was adopted (Sponsored by Beth Antley)

• Doc was neutered and adopted at offsite (Sponsored by Paula & Roger Weed)

• Flip Flop was adopted (Sponsored by Michelle Hamlin)

• Chong was adopted (Sponsored by Ann Decker)

• Kurt was adopted (Sponsored by Kathryn Willis)

• Allan was sent to rescue (Sponsored by Ed and Kat Gilmore)

• Marie was spayed and rescued (Sponsored by Ed and Kat Gilmore)

New picks and replacement picks (the original picks all went to rescue before being altered):
Greg was chosen in place of Ally (Don & Betsy Hampton).  Willow was chosen in place of Moxie (Leslie Knight).  Carmella in place of Shaggie (Leslie Knight).  Herschey in place of Evonne (Roger & Paula Weed).  Hansel in place of Tyrone (Lewis Anderson).  Tony in place of Raven (Steve & Ruth DeTurk).  Lonnie in place of Mayberry (Steve & Ruth DeTurk).  Mick in place of Fergilicious (Steve & Ruth DeTurk).  Murdock in place of Pepi (Steve & Ruth DeTurk) .

New sponsorees: Tippy and Sassy chosen for Anna Jones.  Saga, a cat, was sponsored by Margaret Coleman. Saga has been spayed and was able to go an off-site adoption location. She might already be adopted.

Thanks everyone!! So far 126 dogs and cats have been sponsored\neutered and then adopted, with another 27 already sponsored awaiting their new homes.