I will never forget the day that we rescued Hank.

It was a very cold and bleak wintry day-the kind of day that makes you long for the summer.  Hank was well known to PJ, and had moved to the top of the list to be rescued, as his health seemed to be rapidly deteriorating.  That morning, I watched PJ work her magic with Hank, and he was soon in the car with us, heading to the vet.  Until that day, Hank, who was an older dog, likely never experienced the loving warmth of a home and had certainly not spent much time around people.  As I sat in the backseat of PJ's car and brushed my hand along Hank's bristly, weathered fur, he gently nuzzled his head on my lap, as if to say "thank you for saving me."  After assessing his injuries, it became clear that he would not have made it through another winter.  We all knew--including Hank--that the road ahead would be rough for this sweet fellow, but he was now safe.  He would have a warm home and a loving family to look after him while he regained his health.  His days on the streets, in the bitterness of winter, would now only be a distant memory.   I will never forget the day that we rescued Hank, as it was the day that I fell in love with Gateway Pet Guardians.   

Hank's story is not uncommon.  PJ and the Gateway Pet Guardians volunteers have rescued countless dogs and cats and given them a new "leash" on life.  More importantly, they've given them life-saving care and helped to restore their dignity.  I can't begin to describe the feeling I felt that day when Hank looked up at me with his tired eyes.   It made me proud to be a part of Gateway Pet Guardians. 

The cold winter months are most definitely here, and I can't help but think of the animals that still await their rescue.  As the year draws to a close and the holidays are upon us, I urge you to keep Gateway in mind.  This time of year is often packed with holiday festivities.  The thought of volunteering even a small amount of time seems impossible.  This New Year, resolve to make a difference.  Make a pledge to volunteer a couple of hours a month at an adoption event, or hold a pet food drive at work.  If you have an animal lover on your holiday list, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Gateway on their behalf.   Or, check our list of adoptable pets-a sweet dog snuggled at the foot of your bed goes a long way in warming the soul.  Knowing that you helped save a dog (or cat) from the bitterness of winter will give you a feeling of warmth that will last much longer than that loaf of fruitcake! 

Kendra and Blake Billhartz are siblings and huge animal lovers.  They began volunteering this past fall and prove to be two of the most reliable volunteers we have.  They have assisted at numerous adoption events, fundraising events and are in the process of starting a dog/cat food drive at St. Louis University!  Thank you, Kendra and Blake for your dedication to the animal community and Gateway Pet Guardians!  We love the energy and fun you bring to our group!  Below are some words from Kendra and Blake.

"My name is Kendra Billhartz and I will soon be a graduate of Southwestern Illinois College. I am a volunteer for the Gateway Pet Guardians and have only been involved for a few short months.  I have always had a love for animals and was an avid dog walker for the Belleville Human Society. I love animals and enjoyed making connections with dogs that had either been picked up off of the street, abandoned by their owners and tied to the fence outside of the Humane Society overnight, or the pitbulls who weren't given a chance. I was able to be with some of them during their final moments. I recently started volunteering because my cousin, Jamie Case, the Executive Director gave me the opportunity to join such a great team of life savers. I have enjoyed each event and adoption event. Although, I have not gotten to make it to ESTL to rescue, I soon hope to join PJ."

"My name is Blake Billhartz and I am a sophomore at St. Louis University. I recently got involved in this outstanding organization about four months ago. For one of my classes, I was given the opportunity to participate in a service learning experience for extra credit. During that same week, my cousin Jamie Case, the Executive Director of Gateway Pet Guardians, was on SLU's Campus for the community service fair. I immediately knew that GPG was the perfect place for me to volunteer. Not only would it allow me to spend some time with my comical cousin, but it would also allow me to continue doing something that I loved, which was to take care of "unloved"

animals.  I started caring for these animals when I was in high school by helping out at a local humane society with my sister, Kendra. When I finished a day of volunteering at the humane society, I always felt a sense of fulfillment and I wanted to continue this by helping with Gateway Pet Guardians."