Lisa Desatnik
Pitbull Lacy Teaches About Love And Forgiveness
I’d like to introduce you to Lacy, a sweet Pitbull who believes whole heartedly in the concept of pay-it-forward by freely giving of her love to those who have shown her kindness.
Sadly, she wasn’t always surrounded 
by people who care. Lacy made headline news earlier this year when a Brown County farmer found her near skeletal frame under a pile of lumber, clinging to a life with an unknown future. Her emaciated body was near frozen from the harsh ice storm. She had a fractured skull, an ulcerated eye and a head swollen from infection.
Authorities figured her skinny 27 pound frame was discarded after she was likely used as practice for bigger, stronger dogs trained for illegal fighting. When Lacy was brought to the Brown County Animal Shelter, her teeth were filed down, her body was covered with old scars, and she needed surgeries to remove the remnants of bullets.
A grudge? What is that?
The hearts of animals just amaze me. Such a powerless victim of senseless brutality should have no reason to trust humans again. But here she is a beautiful, plumped up girl who is eager to find her forever home where she can share and embellish love.
While her story began in an ugly place where evilness and hatred surrounded her. Those who have come into her life since that frigid day that she almost didn’t survive have more than saved her life. They have taught her that there really is good in this world. There a
re people who care and who can be trusted, and who want to see her thrive. And to each person who shows her some kindness, she gladly pays back with dogs kisses.
Lacy was a recently winner of Phodographer Carolyn Evans’ Extreme Doggie Makeover. Here she is being pampered by the groomer at Best Friends Pet Care of Cincinnati. And the happy studio picture below was taken by Carolyn to help Lacy find her forever home.
You can meet Lacy through the Adore-A-Bull Rescue group. You can even make her a part of her family.
And, if you do, I’d love to share your story.
Cincinnati Oyler School Now Has OneSight Vision Clinic
Have you heard about the new OneSight Vision Clinic at Cincinnati Public School’s Oyler School? The Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation is a founding partner and OneSight is funded by the company that owns LensCrafters and Pearl Vision and Sunglass Hut.
Families of kids who attend Oyler don’t have a lot of money. Marilyn Crumpton with the Cincinnati Health Foundation told www.marketplace.org ‘s Amy Scott even parents with Medicaid can’t always get their kids to the eye doctor.
“Sometimes it’s a choice between going to the grocery or taking that bus trip,” she says. “Poverty interferes with children getting health care,” Crumpton said.
Oyler is a CPS Community Learning Center, a neighborhood hub in Cincinnati’s Lower Price Hill that leverages public and private partnerships to offer dental, medical and vision care plus tutoring, quality after-school programming and more to remove barriers in the way of student success.
They say that it takes a village to raise a child. Thanks to so many who have come together with one common goal – to help young people achieve.
Several Thousand To Walk For Suicide Prevention
On Sunday, October 14, over 2000 people are expected to unite at the University of Cincinnati’s McMicken Commons and walk together to raise awareness (and funds) about the need for the important work of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
Emily Reitenbach-Molina will be among them. Below is her story:
We walk first and foremost to pay tribute to Shannon’s life. We don’t want how her life ended to define who she was, so we walk to remember how she lived. Shannon battled for more than half her life with an eating disorder, which is a physical, emotional and mental illness. It was her illness that controlled her life. She wanted to battle this disease alone, but her illness was bigger than she was. Although Shannon was never alone, her disease prevented her from seeing that. We don’t want anyone else to have to suffer the way she did, no one should have to battle any illness feeling alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. For so many unfortunately, there are not treatments for their illness, but fortunately for those who suffer with depression and mental illness, there is help and you can and deserve to live a happy and healthy life. We walk to make sure people know that they are important and we need them here. We walk to provide a voice for those who suffer in silence.
We walk to give hope and support to others so they know they aren’t alone in this journey. We walk to raise funds for education and research, but most importantly, we walk to raise awareness, for our own healing and prove that, “broken hearts, still beat.”
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of a wide range of suicide prevention initiatives — each designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. Among them:
- Fund scientific research
- Offer educational programs for professionals
- Educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
- Promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention
- Provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involve them in the work of the Foundation
The local Cincinnati Chapter has a number of important programs including providing education for teachers, support for survivors, and developing a web-based program for reaching at risk students.
With a suicide attempt estimated to occur every minute of every day in the United States and over 38,000 lives lost each year, the importance of AFSP’s mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.
This weekend will be the AFSP’s 9th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk. Last year over 1,500 people participated and they are expecting many more this year. It is a FREE event (however donations are welcome), and is very family and stroller friendly, with a 3 mile walk around the perimeter of the University of Cincinnati’s McMicken Commons. Day-of registration begins at 10 am. with the walk beginning at 11 a.m.
ArtsWorks Cincinnati Mural To Go Up In Mt. Adams
A sure sign that summer is over in Cincinnati…the final dedication for ArtWorks Cincinnati Summer Project is next week, October 16, at 5:30 pm. The Mt. Adams Mural is one of 15 projects in our neighborhoods – at the hands of 115 students. And, it is the very first mural in the program that incorporates both painting and mosaic. These pictures are of the work in progress. I can’t wait to see it on the building at 1136 St. Gregory Street!
Below are pictures of the work in progress:
House Vets for House Pets Celebrating 10 Years
Anderson’s House Vets for House Pets is hosting a 10th anniversary party this Saturday, October 6, from 11 am to 4 pm and you are invited.
There will be free food, prizes, music, games for kids and dogs, and a tour that includes several educational work stations. You could win free boarding, Fit Club, free products, food from some of our favorite local restaurants, and more.
They are located at 8240 Beechmont Ave; Cincinnati, Ohio 45255.
