Greetings!

My name is Emily and I’m the vice-president of Willow’s Paws and Claws Rescue. Why VP? Well, someone has to do it!

I grew up loving animals – we’ve had several animal companions including dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs and fish. Even if I couldn’t have the pet that I wanted I would create them out of whatever craft materials I had lying around – paper hamsters and plasticine dogs and elephants. In the summer my best-friend, her brother and my sister would conduct “Toad Patrol” – helping the neighborhood toads cross the road; and in the winter homemade bird feeders of peanut butter and bird seed for a bird feeder banquet.

I currently reside with my husband, whom I will affectionately refer to as “Himself”, and a crazy maltese “puppy” (she is a dog but please don’t tell her) named Lily. Lily is my constant companion at home and follows me around, pretty much, every where I go. She is a funny little dog (and very different from the golden retriever, Muffin, of my youth) but more about her later.

Here is a picture of Lily giving me her famous “face” – that “what are you doing?” face.

Doing more to help animals in need is a passion – I’m deeply saddened by the current treatment of many animal companions by owners who don’t take the time to get to know their needs and how to keep them healthy. I hope that WPCR will help bring awareness to the needs of animals and all the various rescue agencies in the greater Ottawa area. So many groups are out there doing good deeds for specific breeds of animals and animals of all ages, big and small. I think we all can learn more about our animal companions and how to help them live a long and healthy life.

I hope this blog will bring awareness to animal needs locally and around the world and be a forum to share funny and touching animal companion stories!

there is so much more to come…