Carmen Leal on The Perfect Storm: How are Rescue Shelters Faring After COVID?

When I decided to adopt, I thought dogs were free and that I was doing them a favor by taking the pooches off their hands. I learned that before they go to their new homes, all dogs are spayed or neutered, appropriately vaccinated, dewormed, heartworm tested, given flea and tick preventatives, and microchipped for identification. The adoption fee also helped to cover any additional medical treatments that may be needed and they did all of this through donations, with no government funding. 

I started volunteering in a marketing capacity and helped the rescue for four years. Sadly, on September 30, 2022, ten years and 12,000 dogs after they opened, they closed for good and the ripple effects of COVID were absolutely the biggest factors in their decision. 

COVID kicked off the perfect storm and we lost staff who needed better-paying jobs with benefits, our volunteer pool dried up, and giving plummeted. It’s a miracle we stayed open as long as we did.

Mandatory closure of our daycare, boarding, and grooming meant that the income from those profit segments were no longer there to pay the rent, utilities, and salaries. We reopened but never bounced back. Clients who were unemployed or working from home didn’t need daycare. Travel came to an abrupt halt so our boarding business all but disappeared for a couple of years.  

During our final year we had the largest number of owner-surrender dogs ever. These weren’t pandemic puppies that people decided they no longer wanted once they returned to the office or they discovered how expensive it is to be a responsible dog owner. Some were surrendered because of the expense or divorce or relocation, but there were many people who got caught in the COVID crunch and could no longer keep their beloved family members. 

The number one reason was housing-related. The saddest ones involved landlords selling their properties and in too many cases the new owners would not allow dogs. If they did, there was a weight limit or a breed restriction. 

There are many costs to rescuing and only a tiny fraction are paid for through adoption fees. Veterinarians, vaccinations, gas prices to transport dogs, utilities, rent, dog food, and even small items such as microchips skyrocketed. 

A lack of funding for animal welfare organizations is not new. There will always be financial challenges for independent recues and shelters who do incredibly important work within their communities.

The good news is the number of heroes who are dedicated to ensuring no healthy animal is euthanized and that the sick and wounded receive the treatment they deserve. Thank goodness for people who want to create a world where every dog can be surrounded by love. You don’t have to adopt to save a life. You can volunteer, foster, give money, or in-kind donations. Every little bit truly does matter. 

Carmen Leal is a storyteller and the author of multiple books, dozens of articles, devotionals, and human-interest stories. Carmen relocated from Hawaii to Oshkosh, yes, there is a story behind the move, and has become an awesome dog mom. Carmen and her husband have become reluctant gardeners and know a crazy amount about Wisconsin weeds. She is the mother of two sons, two incredible grandsons, and Coconut, the best imperfectly perfect rescue dog in the world.

Elizabeth Gould On Finding Our Mythical Selves in Modern Times

by ELIZABETH GOULD

Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve been captivated by the power of a good story. Once I learned to read, I happily immersed myself in fairytales, myths, and legends from around the world. As a devoted journal keeper who filled notebooks with poems, dreams, and fanciful musings, I discovered that writing was a magical act that used the ingredients of daily life to create a new world where wonder and beauty could coexist alongside trouble and heartbreak.

Throughout my school years, I was fascinated by the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Drawn to stories that featured goddesses and female divinities, I went on to study Art History at university, fusing my love for myth and history with visual storytelling.

In my twenties, I had the good fortune of spending a year traveling through Asia and the Indian subcontinent, immersing myself in the spiritual traditions of these lands. During my travels, I read Women Who Run With Wolves by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Goddesses in Everywoman by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, and She by Dr. Robert A. Johnson. These books set me on a path of exploring how feminine archetypes can provide a portal to access more profound levels of self-knowledge.

We all hold masculine and feminine energies within us. But our modern society, with its emphasis on power, control, and speed, is completely out of balance. I’ve often wondered what the world would look like if we called forth values and traits traditionally associated with the feminine - such as empathy, inclusion, and nurturance. How can I, as a modern woman living in a fast-paced world, resource myself from my inner knowing and from the dynamic rhythms of the natural world?

I thought a lot about this question as I wrote The Well of Truth , which was a creative project I set for myself while I was busy raising my family. Over several years, I slowly crafted these stories, embroidering on themes that were close to my heart. The book was completed during the pandemic, at a time when many of us have re-evaluated what it means to live an authentic, meaningful life.

The magical realism tales in The Well of Truth follow a female heroine named Grace through powerful moments in her adult life: getting married and divorced, raising children, going through menopause, losing loved ones, and ultimately making an independent life for herself. Through the trials and tribulations she faces, Grace receives guidance and mentoring from a diverse array of mythic figures. The Hindu goddess Kali, Yoruba orisha Yemanja, Egyptian priestess Nephthys, Tibetan deity Green Tara, and even the Celtic Green Man make cameo appearances in the stories. Although there’s a fantastical element to the mystical interactions, the stories are ultimately grounded in the exploration of a woman figuring out who she is and what she wants throughout her life.

Something special happens when transformational stories are shared. A space for healing is created which lifts us out of our mundane experiences and reminds us that we are not alone. My deepest hope is that the reflective waters of The Well of Truth will provide readers with a shimmering glimpse into a world of imaginative possibility in addition to offering refreshment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and creeds. More than ever, we need stories to help us remember our mythic selves so that we can meaningfully meet the challenges of our times.

ELIZABETH GOULD has long been fascinated with feminine archetypes, mythology, and rites of passage. She has taught and mentored girls at puberty and is the former director of a non-profit dedicated to positive menstrual/menopausal education and awareness. She holds a BA in Art History from Stanford University and an MS in Education from the State University of New York.

The themes in The Well of Truth grew organically out of her two decades of experience as a mother, teacher, and menstrual advocate. The stories incorporate her love of art, travel, mythology, goddess traditions, trees, storytelling, and the moon. The Well of Truth is her first book. For more information, please visit