IN HONOR OF LIL' MISS--a sweet but very sad dog who recently died from starvation while chained to a tree, isolated and alone in Longview with no one to help her as her family ignored her suffering and plight.  On a special Saturday in Kelso on February 4, 2012 we built THREE fences in one neighborhood in one day, just across the river from where Lil' Miss died due to neglect.  We needed many volunteers to make three fences go up in one morning, so many people from the community near and far joined us for this very special project dedicated to her memory and to bring attention to the plight of chained dogs.  The 4 lucky dogs below were part of this special day of freedom and now have their own safe yard to play in thanks to Fences For Fido volunteers and supporters.

Payton is one of those dogs that seems happy no matter the circumstances. He loves people and his favorite trick is to get up on his dog house to interact with his family through the kitchen window. He is chained 24/7. He does get to sleep in the garage at night but had the chain going under the garage door and only a couple feet to move around inside. His new yard is small but at least he has a safe place to call his own!

Sadie is a sweet brindle pittie mix who has an owner who loves her, is already spayed, has a nice yard, a nice tree, a nice doghouse... all she needed was freedom from her chain because she was chained 24/7.  She is a very friendly girl who loves attention and keeps a close eye on all the goings-on in her neighborhood. Sadie has a lot of energy and was so much fun to watch run once she was off her chain!

Bruticus (pittie) and Zuko (Pomeranian/Shih tzu) sleep indoors with their loving family, but also spent a lot of time tethered outdoors.  They occasionally escaped their chains and went for excursions in their neighborhood. These sweet and friendly boys had been waiting a very long time for their fence! They both have their doghouses and their neuters, now they are happy to be together and romping in their new yard!

We were very grateful to have so many long-term and brand new volunteers join together for this very large and emotional effort.  We were also very fortunate to have a special documentary video crew there with us while we worked who are also now our wonderful new friends who volunteer regularly with Fences For Fido.  Brian Grubb and his team produced a moving visual tribute to Lil' Miss and Fences For Fido's efforts that day.

Watch a community UNITE and CELEBRATE in memory of Lil' Miss

The morning started with a touching cookie baked specially by Melinda

"Payton"

Hay was spread around Payton's yard to help make him more comfortable

Payton "smiles" as he gets some love from one of his volunteers

"Sadie"

Sadie is a little shy but watches her volunteers with great interest

Sadie runs free in her new yard built specially for her

Sadie's Volunteer Crew

Sadie now has a safe yard to enjoy, off her 24/7 chain at last

"Bruticus and Zuko"

Bruticus and Zuko zoom around their yard after being untethered.

Bruticus is joyous and free as he plays with his new toy

Bruticus and Zuko's Crew

A very happy Bruticus safely behind his new Fences For Fido fence

Read the very sad story of Lil' Miss here...we are heartbroken that we did not find her in time to set her free from the chain that she died on.

Lil' Miss may have been forgotten by her family, but her sweet spirit lives within each of us, inspiring us to GIVE love each and every Saturday and CELEBRATE the lives of the fidos we can change together.  We believe the spirit of Lil' Miss was DANCING AMONG THE STARS as she watched us free four dogs in her memory. 

 Without Fences For Fido, our volunteers, and your support, they may have otherwise lived their entire lives on the end of chains.

Your SUPPORT enables us to reach and rescue . . .so that it's never too late.

Our special friends and videographers spent the morning with crew volunteers and captured all 3 Lil' Miss Memorial fence builds.

In addition to the moving video seen above, they also produced this fun time-lapsed video that shows how we 'quickly' put up fences!