FGHMovie.com HomePage. FGHMovieBlog: October 2007

Friday, October 26, 2007

Ellen v. Mutts N Moms

Here is the Smoking Guns link for the Ellen dog thing.
Showing emails between mutts n moms.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1025072iggy1.html


Here is a blog from Scott at RHA-LA (rescue humane alliance - los angeles)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-sorrentino/the-other-side-of-the-ell_b_69554.html

Thursday, October 25, 2007

FIRE - how you can help

I have been on edge all week and yesterday it dawned on me, I have been thinking more than usual about my fire.

The other day I was thinking of posting a blog suggesting what people can get for their friends who have lost homes in the fire.

The things the Red Cross will give them will help. But what really helps someone recover is having the things they are used to. Like a friend brought me essentials; toothbrush, toothpaste, towels and I was so grateful for all of it, but I noticed it wasn't until someone gave me a Target Gift card when I bought / replaced my electric toothbrush that I began to feel "okay".

And while some things survived the fire, like my film and photo albums... sort of... the albums themselves were all burned and I had to toss them. Some photos have been damaged and I probably should not have left them on the photo album pages... but did not have the wherewithal to deal with it then. And I have yet to replace those albums, my photos sit in a plastic tote, and when I open that tote the smell of burned paper is pretty overpowering.

I have to say I asked a friend to help me put them into a new book, a new scrapbook, but she replied that I would have to pay her to do that. Of course I had 21 photo albums. I never expected her to do them all. But thought it might jump start the project.

Anyway, another friend had a friend who had a fire after mine. And she asked me what I truly needed. I made a great list for her. But I also mentioned that a year or two after the fire, she should just check in with her friend and make sure that she was not still missing anything.

I wish I could remember the list.

I just replaced a used donated comforter I had received.
Sheets.
Pillow cases.
Blankets
Towels. ALL sizes.
Slippers. (generally the first few months you are walking around a new place, or hotel or rental its just nice to have slippers.)
Pillows

Great gift cards:
Target
WalMart
Ikea
A favorite clothing store
Petco
PetSmart

Ask what pet food the pet normally had. Because without it... the pet can get the runs.
Think? What was the pets favorite treat? Did it have a bed a favorite toy?

If you remember something from their home, a favorite blanket. A photo, plate, bowl, something special.
Maybe even a plant or flower vase.

Other things:
Toaster Oven
Microwave
Blank CD's and DVD's (for burning photos for the insurance)
Movies to keep kids entertained while parents are stressing over fire related things.

And USE the Red Cross. They will ONLY offer help in the first 30 days. If you have someone offering a place to stay right now. STILL get yourself registered with the Red Cross. They can help you get prescriptions and glasses/ contact lenses etc. So if a friend is offering you a hotel, ask them for it for December. It will take a couple of months to find a place to live while things are rebuilt.

OH and photograph EVERYTHING. I photographed half burned things to itemize it for Insurance. My Insurance agent said that most people do not get the full amount they are allowed because most people cut corners and do NOT take photos or itemize. You will be amazed what you can find in the ashes. Partial this and partial that. PLUS, photos if you saved them, and they were taken from withIN your house will help you remember the little things. EVERYTHING adds up. From candlesticks to silverware to bigs things lamps, chairs couches.

OH the smell does come out of clothes. I still have smoky books but unlike clothes that get washed and washed... the "smoke damage" would have aired itself out of clothes. I could have saved some clothes. I lost everything but the clothes I was wearing.

We were working on the film recently and I saw some footage of my dogs, I saved a photo, a great shot of Bambi's face. Maybe I will pull it off the other hard drive and post it here. Not sure.

It's been a tough week.

And lastly, one of the greatest gifts I received was a Christmas tree, complete with trimmings. I was driving home from filming and "caught" the elves in the act. A car with the top down with a Christmas tree in the back seat. (Very California).

It was great!

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Rescue Dog Saves Owners Life


Saving a Life Comes Full Circle when Rescue Dog saves Owners Life

Adopted rescue dog saves owners life when she becomes unconscious.

Los Angeles, CA; (PRWEB) October 2, 2007 – Last Thursday rescue dog owner, Kimberly Sanchez, from Southern California, became severely anemic and collapsed from the loss of blood. After having recently moved into a new home and no longer living in an apartment complex there were no nearby neighbors to hear any cries for help.


Just a few months ago Ms. Sanchez adopted a four-month-old Dutch Shepherd puppy from indie filmmaker and rescuer, Judy Crozier. Crozier has been making a fictional feature film, FREE to a Good Home, for the last few years. “The filmmaking constantly gets sidelined by my rescue work.” Crozier states. The movie is about one girl’s journey into the animal rescue world and looks to be completed by the years end.


Crozier mentions, “Although we are still seeking donations to help complete the film, we are farther than we have been. Juggling a full-time job, full-time rescue work and full-time editing has not worked. At the urging of my cast and crew I have slowed down my rescue work to focus on editing. But after hearing this story, that is going to be harder to do.”


Crozier and the film have suffered severe tragedy that has set both her life and the film back. In December 2001 she lost her home and five of her pets to a fire. But Crozier has continued to work on editing the film even though the footage is unbearable for her to watch at times. “Stories like these tell me, I’m going in the right direction.”


Kimberly and her co-worker, Cindy O'Connell, adopted two of the litter of three Dutch Shepherd puppies Crozier had rescued.

“These were very smart puppies and would be very smart and large dogs. Sometimes placing large dogs is difficult, especially in a city such as Los Angeles where small “apartment dogs” are prevalent. Often people buy or adopt a puppy not realizing how much work they are. When I met Cindy and Kimberly I knew they would be great dog parents.”

Kimberly takes her dog, Joey, to work. And the two sibling puppies get to see each other on special puppy play dates.


But last Thursday the bond between dog and guardian became very clear when Kimberly collapsed. Joey started licking Kimberly’s face and ears while yelping loudly until Kimberly woke up.


Doctors told Ms. Sanchez that Joey only had a few minutes to revive her owner before she fell into a deeper state of the unconscious.

Ms. Sanchez states, “She returned the favor I gave her when I brought her home. She is an angel. I am in awe of my dog right now, she may dig up the yard once in a while but beneath the furry exterior she is my guardian angel.”

Additional information about rescued pets can be found at: http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/shelter69824-pets.html and more information about the film can be found at: http://www.freetoagoodhomemovie.com. Or contact Judy Crozier at 310.492.5569 or via email at freetoagoodhome [at] aol.com. ###