Category: TASP Blog

Muggs Has an Urgent Problem

Muggs Has an Urgent Problem

Hi, my name is Muggs. I’m a Shih Tzu. My Mom is a senior citizen who lives on Social Security. She adopted me from a local rescue three years ago.

And this is who I’ve always been…..

Sharp Dresser

Good Neighbor

Clean Livin’

Ladies’ Man

But this is who I am now……..

Stricken with secondary glaucoma from an old eye injury I suffered when I was a pup. A few weeks ago, out of the blue, my left eye just started hurting and swelling and now I’ve got one heck of a headache.

The Animal Support Project paid for a specialist at Upstate Veterinary Specialties to examine my eye. He says it’s got to be removed ASAP. There’s no saving it and it’s blind now. That surgery is the only way to relieve my pain but it’s gonna cost over $3,000!

I’m in good shape otherwise but the bad news is, on her limited income, Mom doesn’t have the funds to pay for this surgery. She only had $400 in the bank and she used that to get me seen by our vet before we even went to the specialist. I’m taking pain meds and eye drops to help keep me comfortable but the pressure won’t go down. And I know just looking at this eye is scaring people. I used to be a handsome little guy that the kids loved but now they run from me cuz I look like a freak.

Mom went back to the rescue that sold me to her to ask them for help. But they said they’d only help me if she surrendered me back to them! How do ya like that? The vet says it would be cheaper to put me to sleep but Mom can’t bear the thought of that. For cryin’ out loud, we’ve been together three years and it’s been just magical for both of us! We love the same TV shows, the same snacks, the same movies…….We’re made for each other! Mom could take care of my regular needs just fine. Everything was wonderful. We never dreamed my eye would explode like this! It took nearly a lifetime to find each other. I hope it doesn’t have to end so soon. That would be a heart breaker for both of us.

The Animal Support Project isn’t giving up on us and neither is Mom. She’s calling and emailing everywhere to try and find more money for my surgery. And TASP is posting my story in the hope that others who read about us will maybe donate to help save me. They’re just a small organization and COVID has really hurt them financially just like everyone else. But they know the value of relationships, two-legged and four-legged. They don’t want to see Mom and me separated, especially with the holidays coming. If you can’t donate, would you please share my story so maybe someone who can donate will learn about Mom and me and help us? The time is ticking on this bomb of an eye so I hope we can raise the funds soon. Thanks from the heart for caring and God bless!


Thanks to our caring community, Muggs was able to have his surgery and is now living the good life as a one-eyed dog.

According to his Mom, “He’s doing wonderfully, he’s back to playing with his toys and is running around outside. He is enjoying his treats again, he’s full of life.”

Thanks to all who contributed to make this possible.


Fantasy Photo Fun Time!

Did you know that in 2021, TASP spent over $38,000 helping 392 animals who would have otherwise been sent to the shelter or worse? The donations we receive at our Fantasy Pet Photo clinics are a vital part of our fundraising. All proceeds of our photo clinics go 100% to the care of the region’s animals in crisis; allowing us to keep saving needy pets of all species when they need us most.

Visit our Events Calendar page to find the photo clinic nearest to you. For a $10 donation, take home a framed keepsake photo of your pet against one of over twenty different digital backgrounds.


Personalized Dog Mom Mother’s Day Shirt!

Robin sez, “Get a load of the extra-neat T-Shirt Mom got for Mother’s Day! Available in just about any color of the rainbow, Mom‘s royal blue one shows off her pretty red hair, don’t ya think? And check it out! The shirt spells, “Mom,” the way I would spell it…..with a big pawprint heart! And do ya see my name written across that heart? Yep, that’s the way I wanna always be for my Mom, written across her heart.

Sending a big shout out to all of you who purchased one of these ultra-cool shirts for Mother’s Day gifts! And thanks to the kindness of Sixty4DesignStudio, you can still get a T-shirt like this for YOUR Mom, or a special Mom in your life. For just $20, they’ll send you a shirt like this in the color of your choice, with the name or names of Mom’s kid(s) written across the heart, just like ours. Sixty4DesignStudio is continuing to donate $10 from each sale directly to the TASP General Operations account so TASP can keep on helping Moms (and Dads and kids, too) keep their pets safe, healthy and loved, even through tough times. So who needs a holiday to celebrate a special Mom? 

Wanna know more? Click the gray T-shirt below for details!


Fantasy Photo Clinics – Update!

COVID lockdown may still be keeping us socially distanced, but thanks to the wonders of technology, TASP continues to keep the Fantasy Photo Fun flowing indefinitely!  

Continuing indefinitely, The Animal Support Project’s Fantasy Photo clinics are being offered in person at local Benson’s Pet Centers and also ONLINE! 

Now, if you can’t make it to Benson’s, you can order your TASP Fantasy Photos ONLINE each month, at your convenience, in the comfort of your own lockdown……and know you’re continuing to help our community’s pets stay safe and healthy while you stay safe and healthy, too!

CLICK HERE to check it out!


Want to see what you missed in past TASP Newsletters?

Click on the links below to check them out:

TASP Newsletter #1

TASP Newsletter #2

TASP Newsletter #3

TASP Newsletter #4

TASP Newsletter #5


Opt-In for Our Upcoming Newsletter

The 5th issue of  The Animal Support Project’s email newsletter is in development, and we’re hoping to get it out to all of you who opted in before the trees lose their autumn leaves.

In this edition, you’ll find out how Mitch’s dogs are doing. You’ll meet a couple of TASP volunteers who have been helping out with all four units of TASP’s Incident Command structure: Finance, Logistics, Operations and Planning (better known as FLOP) ;o). And of course, we’re bringing you up to date on all the latest tips, resources, and legal developments concerning companion animals! 

What’s that? You say you haven’t received a TASP email newsletter yet?  Well, then you might still need to OPT-IN.

To opt-in, just click on this Opt-In link and follow the ensuing instructions. BTW, please share with anyone you know who might also be interested in receiving the newsletter. Thanks as always for keeping tabs on us. We hope you will enjoy the newsletter as much as we enjoy creating it for you.

The fifth edition will be out before you know it!

And you won’t want to miss out on the news about Sarah!


COVID-19, Riots and The Animal Support Project….NOW WHAT?

Right now, many folks are reading this message while still in isolation or quarantine or curfew. You may be wondering how The Animal Support Project will be dealing with the changes in all of our lives brought about by the arrival of the Novel Corona Virus and the Random Acts of Crime occurring here in the Capital Region and throughout the state.

Like everyone else, TASP faces some challenges ahead.

We face a loss of revenue from having to temporarily call off our popular Fantasy Pet Photo fundraisers and our tag sales. Add to this an already-evidenced reduction in donations due to the financial stresses many of our supporters are facing after the State imposed mandatory shutdown of so many businesses in NY and then “vampires” decided to destroy what was left of local businesses.

These are realities we can’t get around……CLICK HERE TO READ MORE


The Paws2Protect FREE FLEA AND TICK CAT COLLAR event at Troy Area United Ministries was a blast!

Folks did what they had to do to get to the event to take advantage of our free Seresto cat collar offer. Free spay-neuter-vaccination vouchers were also handed out to those who needed them, too! What an awesome day! Thanks to TAUM and our volunteers for making the event a success!


Update on Mitch’s Dogs……

SADIE’s FOSTER MOM IS A FOSTER FAILURE!!! 🙂

Sadie’s Foster Mom decided Sadie is too good to give up, so Sadie will now be Lucinda’s dog for life! CONGRATULATIONS, SADIE!

This means we are still seeking a home for just ONE! of Mitch Valerien’s dogs. We’re also now in need of a new TASP foster home, now that Lucinda’s home is complete.

Thanks to the kindness of our community, Midnight, Andy, Billie, Ben, Zach and now, Sadie! have all found loving homes. That leaves just Mallory still in foster care and hoping for a permanent home.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to view the video and learn how you can help. Details on Mallory can be found on the Adoptable Animals page of this website.


And WHUUUUUUTTTT???? ANOTHER FOSTER FAILURE?????

Yep, Wouldn’t ya know, Miss Coco Chanel is now the permanent resident at what used to be her foster home and is now her FOREVER HOME!

That’s right, Fran and Wayne decided that at Coco’s mature age, it just wasn’t fair to her to remain on the adoption fair circuit anymore. So now, when she’s not cruisin’ on the Harley or admiring her latest hairstyle in the mirror, Coco Chanel is curled up next to Wayne-Daddy on the couch, whispering into his ear what she wants for her evening treat.

And ain’t it sweet to know it’s going to be like that EVERY evening from now on for this little princess?

Thanks to Fran and Wayne Miller for turning one of the saddest canine situations ever into a really joyful last chapter for Jason’s little angel. He must be watching with great approval and gratitude, for sure.