The "Why"

How the “PAALS, Inc.” Wheels Got Turning…

It was during the planning of an art auction fundraiser, "The Ensemble", that the brainstorming of PAALS, Inc. began. For many years, myself and other members of the PAALS, Inc. Board and Upper Management Team worked as full-time volunteers for various animal rescue organizations, always sticking to the cause and the grind, the blood the sweat and the tears.

With "The Ensemble" being a collaboration event between Kyle's Legacy, Inc. and Survivor Tails Animal Rescue, it was really only a matter of time before something clicked and it dawned on me just how many causes -- in addition to animal rescue -- existed in every day life. For example Kyle's Legacy, Inc. — the other “Ensemble” beneficiary — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focusing on Canine Cancer Research… A cause that I became increasingly familiar with as more of my beloved dogpal’s were diagnosed with different forms of this horrific disease.

• Zuba (Zoobs / Zubaru) was a silly, fun-loving, hilarious goofy beautiful and truly jovial Swiss Mountain Dog who enjoyed bounding around on off-leash hikes just as much as she enjoyed the comforts of spending time with her teeny-tiny Chihuahua-brother Rex.
  Zuba was an expert snuggler and despite her size, managed to always find her way into the crook of my side or snugged up against me underneath my arm.
  Zub always made dogfriends easily, loved everyone around her so easily, and was an expert at making you laugh no matter what. Zuba was the perfect antidote for any kind of blues that life might throw your way ~
  But on December 19 2016 I found out from Zubaru’s parents that my sweetheart buddy had Leukemia, and then on December 29 2016 — at only five years old — my sweetest funniest floppiest dogpal ever crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, leaving her heartbroken family and her tinier but older brother Rex behind.

• Ubu (Ububu / Bubalu / Bubaloo / Ububu) was a stubborn, loyal, goobery, hungry, cute, hilarious, beautiful and so so silly Rhodesian Ridgeback lovebug who became my own dogpal Oscar’s best friend in April of 2013. Ubu adored galloping around off-leash, letting you know that dinner-time was actually 3pm, and scavenging for any bits of edible-anythings that she could find…. No matter where it was located.
  Behind a closed door? “No prob.”
  In a drawer? “Haha you’re funny.”
  Up on a shelf? “Nooo problemo.”
  There was no snack too far for Ubu to track down, and no door too locked for Ubu to bust through.
  While there was no shortage of pantry-break-ins with Bubalu nearby, she was also an amazing support-buddy / sidekick / best friend. She was an old-soul kind of pal. A consistent and unwavering force who preferred to always hangout nearby to where you were, regardless of location or reason for being there.
  Cup of water? “Cominatcha…”
  Need to pee? “On my way…”
  Changing chairs? “K scoot on over…”
  She went where you went. She was so funny…. and she was such a love. All of the time.

  On May 30, 2017 Ububu was diagnosed with aggressive Lymphoma — but being the most stubborn dogpal on the planet, she took it in stride and fought with everything she had, for as long and as hard as she possibly could.
  Ubu gave it her all until her very last moments because there were no two ways about it — she was a force to be reckoned with. She was stubborn to the core and she wasn’t about to let Cancer dictate her timeline. She galloped and hiked, took chemo like a champ, and gave both her immediate and extended family a little more time…
  That lovebug girl was such a MamaBear that she even gave us a small wag and then nuzzled Oscar’s face when we arrived at her house to say Goodbye.
  UbuBear crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 2, 2017.

• For Ubu, Zuba, PearlGirl, Jazmin, ScyllaSue, Kenya, Rocco, Vinnie, Annie, Remy, Halle Berry, Pekas, BooBoo, Ginger, Chester, Samantha, Georgia, Hoss, Tia, Draga, Wilma, Rocky, Zeus, Genie, Jakey, Fenway, RockyGirl, RoccoBear, Watson, Slim, Pfeffer, Leeza, Dash, Sadie, Tilly, Mable and so, so many more lovebug pals who crossed the Rainbow Bridge before the humans in their lives ever could possibly have been ready…
  These lovebug canines were only pals of mine rather than members of my own family, but the heartbreak in hearing about their illnesses and the feeling of devastating loss after telling them Goodbye or after learning that they crossed over the Rainbow Bridge was more painful than I will ever be able to accurately describe. 
  [I love you guys, all the time, and miss you every single day.]

Animal rescue will always be an extremely important cause, worth every single ounce of blood sweat and tears shed by the tireless, superhero-volunteers who give of themselves every single day of the year. That endless giving of oneself can wear on an individual though, and can result in burnout or even compassion fatigue if a person is always fighting the good fight without any sign of reprieve. In an effort to take some pressure off of those selfless individuals always working to put the animals they are fighting for ahead of themselves, the PAALS, Inc. team hopes to alleviate some of that heaviness by providing financial relief through one of our two PIP Fund grants. .

Whether an organization focuses on dogpals undergoing cancer treatments, putting an end to poaching and other causes of animal endangerment, wildlife preservation, providing animal prosthetics to those in dire need, and so on… PAALS, Inc. is about being there for the organizations — and the humans — that are already working so very hard in an effort to Do Good. While we ourselves aren’t the ones out there on the front lines of the animal welfare world, working tirelessly day in and day out… we can do our part by providing some financial relief, so that these groups may continue to leap over hurdles, fight fires and bring any / all animals possible out of the darkness, and into the light with them.

Zuba Gloss-Walz
The most adorable, goobery, giant snugglebug in the world. At only five and a half years old Zuba was given a terribly surprising diagnosis of Leukemia, and this girl gave the battle of a lifetime her absolute all. Zubaru: Our sweet, smiley, perfectly imperfect, one-of-a-kind dogpal crossed the rainbow bridge on December 29, 2016.

We hope you are resting easy and running free, buggy.
We love you and miss you always.
✨💛 ^i^ 💛✨

Ubu Raisner
The absolute definition of a hilarious, always hungry, silly stubborn and just so wonderful lovebug. Best friend to dogpal Oscar Link, at eight years old Ububu was given the devastating diagnosis of Lymphoma. This girl moved mountains and crossed oceans giving absolutely everything she could for as long and as hard as she could.
On December 2, 2017 Bubaloo gave everyone in her world every last speck of her love.

We love you and miss you every day.
Rest easy and run free BuBuBear.
✨💛 ^i^ 💛✨