Why Mondays aren’t so bad at RAL

January 16, 2012

I'll be the first to admit it: Mondays can be a drag.

Spending your Mondays at RAL, however, can be a real treat.

This morning started off with a visit from the children's mission of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church. The kids, ranging in age from kindergarteners to 5th graders, recently held a donation drive and donated the proceeds to RAL. After they unloaded all the of the goodies for the homeless cats and dogs, the kids toured the shelter and got to meet the recipients of their generosity. Kelly Clarkson, a lab/beagle mix, became an unofficial tour guide and showed the kids all of the best spots in the exercise yard.

Speaking of Kelly Clarkson, anyone walking into RAL's lobby was greeted with a board FULL of animals who recieved adoption applications this weekend - including Kelly Clarkson! Despite the chilly weather, volunteers brought adoptable animals to the Metro Richmond Pet Savers at the Car Mia Way PetSmart, and lots of RAL pets found potential forever families. The Dread Pirate Roberts and Princess Buttercup were among those lucky ducks who met awesome families and are now back at the shelter, urging staff to hurry their paperwork along so they can bid adieu to the nice folks at RAL for the last time.

A quick visit to the clinic was another occasion for celebration. Puppies Missy and Savannah spent the day at the Loving Spay+Neuter clinic, but they will be spending the night with their forever families! It was wonderful to check in on the girls and give them goodbye hugs before sending them off to what we know will be great lives.

Oh, and did I mention that I got to make somebody's day today? How many times do you get to say that on a Monday? Because we had such a busy weekend, there were LOTS of adoption applications to approve. I had the privilege of calling Lady Gaga and Prego's adopters with the good news that they could take their new family members home. 

Then it was off to Punch to meet with Sarah Shannon about Woofstock 2012. Punch is an amazing organization staffed with dedicated people who do great work for RAL - for free. Perhaps you remember our Operation Silent Night logos? Courtesy of Punch. Our Woofstock logo? Punch again (Sarah even sports her Woofstock tee shirt around the design firms's new downtown office). Not only do they always come up with the perfect design and graphics, but the folks at Punch are great to work with.

Sitting back down at my computer, pictures of a smiling Frederick have landed in my inbox, courtesy of Canine Adventure. Frederick is the latest RAL pup to benefit from Canine Adventure's "Sponsor a Rescue Dog" program, and got to take an Adventure Walk through Rockwood Park. Seeing our pups enjoying the trails and parks of Richmond is always a pleasure!

So yeah, Mondays at RAL are pretty cool.