Help Fund Vet Care for Rescued Dogs

I have reinvented myself many times over the past 20+ years. I've been through two marriages (and divorces), parental alienation and the loss of my children that I raised through their teenage years, switched careers several times, and I'm where I'm at now. Single. Working a full-time job for a nonprofit. Working a side job. Volunteering for many other nonprofits. Rescuing dogs. I started as a graphic designer out of college. Quit to raise my two babies, opening a custom cake bakery, closing the custom cake bakery and working from home with another part time job, getting a full-time job at a nonprofit that serves senior citizens while working the weekends doing custom cakes for extra income. Why do I do this? Because my biggest passion is rescuing dogs.

In 2016 I got my first puppy, Bella. She was a pure-bred, AKC registered, very expensive English bulldog. She was like a new baby for me. At the time, I was experiencing parental alienation from my own two children and going through such grief because we were once so intensely close (many of you may even remember them helping out at the Hands On Design storefront in Allen, TX). That puppy saved me and gave me a reason to give my love to something that really needed me, like my children once did. Shortly after, I went through my second divorce and my life seemed to have nothing left of real value…. except that sweet little puppy Bella. A few months later, I felt like Bella might like to have a friend for company. Then my first rescue, Bertha, came to live with us. Bella and Bertha were YEARS apart in age but were the best of friends. Then came Thor. Then Luna. Then Rocky. Then Mia. Then Pheobe. Then Sasha. Then Maximus. Then Zeus. And most recently, Capone. They all have a story that is unknown to me except for Bella whom I was lucky enough to get to raise from a wee pup. I’ve always wished I could know their stories – where they came from, how they ended up in a shelter or a rescue, or why their owner would choose to give them away.

These dogs, even the ones that were a challenge from day one, have RESCUED ME. They helped me survive the loneliness of living without the children I loved so much. They gave me someone to care for, to feed, to walk, to sleep with. Of course, the care and vet bills for these rescues has to be paid for somehow. That was where my "side gig" Hands On Cakes helped me. Every dollar from every cake I’ve made since 2016 has gone toward the costs of rescuing these animals. Some of you have met these dogs over the years when coming to pick up a cake. I’ve had a couple of dogs that have been fairly low maintenance and not in need of a lot of veterinary care. However, most rescues (especially the ones that were strays or were on the euthanasia list at the shelter) come with a myriad of health problems that are just kind of waiting to surface. Some were a hot mess from the day they came to live with me. Thousands of dollars have been spent over the years paying for food, treats, training, dog beds, dog toys, medications, surgeries, hospitalizations, and basic annual vet care. The money made from every cake has gone directly back into the efforts of rescuing these “throwaway” dogs. Of course, most of them have been English bulldogs. But there has also been an American Bulldog, Boxer, Cane Corso, Border Collie and a Pitbull.

It seems like most people just say "stop rescuing dogs" if you don't want the vet bills, food bills, and costs associated with them. How do I do that? My latest two rescues were a bit unplanned... and some would say I needed another dog like a hole in the head. But I went to the main Dallas Animal Shelter literally hours before they were scheduled for euthanasia and broke them free. One had kennel cough, the other was heartworm positive. But they have been with me for 7-8 months now and are healthy and just part of the herd. But even the basics of dog rescue can be costly such as Vaccinations, food, beds, toys, etc. and that doesn't include any medical bills. Many rescues come with medical issues that are the reason why an owner surrenders them. Imagine having been with a partner for years and all of a sudden you are given away to a dirty, crowded, noisy shelter because you are having health problems. I work very hard doing both my full time job and my part time cake creations to pay my basic living expenses and the expenses of the dogs. I just need a bit of help from time to time when we have some health issues that need to be dealt with.

The Bulldog Bakery is the name of the mission of Hands On Design. Now selling (and tested by most every dog I know!) pupcakes and dog cookies on top of the regular custom cake orders that I still take. They are made with all natural ingredients, no sugar, no salt, nothing artificial. Even the frosting is made from natural Greek yogurt, coconut oil and peanut butter. Period. And the best part is that all of these items support the rescue of some pretty amazing dogs!

If you love dogs, or animals in general, I would greatly appreciate any help you might be able to give so I can continue to rescue dogs in need. Thank you so much!