Category: Awareness

Today is $5 Friday and this rescue story is beyond heartbreaking.

With literal strings wrapped around his neck instead of as a leash, the precious senior pictured below was being dragged in the pouring rain to be surrendered to the New York ACC shelter.

A fellow rescuer who was at the shelter to pick up another dog witnessed this scene and immediately asked what was going on. In response, she was told that someone paid the man $20 to dump the dog. The dog could barely walk, he was in pain; he had bad hips, a bad spine, carrying around a hernia bigger than he was, a horribly rotten mouth and so much more. He had no chance of getting out of the shelter alive, so she rescued him; thank you to Michele of Remember Me Rescue NY for believing his life matters.

Meet our newest Sanctuary resident, the Sumo of all Pomeranians, Jimmy! Abused and mistreated, this 12 year old boy needed a place to spend his remaining golden years where he could be comfortable, cared for and loved for exactly who he is.

After spending 6 months in a foster home with little adoption interest, the decision was made that it would be best for Jimmy to come live in Sanctuary. This determination was based on the necessity for lifetime pain management, and proper behavior management since Jimmy lives in fear due to his abusive past.

While the physical effects of abuse can be relatively short-term issues, the resulting mental effects actually cause higher degrees of pain and suffering, with the damage lasting a lot longer. In fact, a multitude of studies have shown that emotional and mental harm is even more painful than the physical.

Jimmy has only been with us for a few days, but we have already seen his fear and are beginning to see the truth of his painful life through his very own eyes.

Though we can’t change his past, with all of you by our side, we promise he will NEVER suffer again; he will live the best days of his life to the fullest.

Will you donate today to help us give Jimmy the special care that he needs?

PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RKUHNPAA3ND3C

Venmo: @PAWSGIVEMEPURPOSE-INC

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/PGMPINC

By Mail:
Paws Give Me Purpose Inc.
2 Jade Lane
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

If anyone is interested in signing up to become Jimmy’s lifetime sponsor, please head over to:

Our Sanctuary Residents

Ziggy popping in to show off his fabulous new look thanks to our wonderful friend Jackie from Fairy Tails Mobile Grooming.

At 15 years old, with a host of medical issues, Ziggy requires constant care in order to keep him happy and comfortable, and Jackie’s loving touch is just what Ziggy needed to put a happy pep in his step.

Ziggy wishes you all a Happy Thursday – the possibilities are endless.

Grief only exists where there is love, and there is a lot of love within these walls here at Paws Give Me Purpose Sanctuary. 

This past weekend, our hearts were shattered into a million pieces as little Snorkel gained his Angel wings. He spent his final hours with his best friend Socks, who kissed him all over until the moment he left this earth. When he passed, then the tears fell from not just our eyes, but from Socks’ little eyes too. 

These moments, no matter how painful they are to observe, are reminders to us just how much dogs really do love and care about each other and their humans. Although the nature of the work we do here is difficult, their lives matter. 

Snorkel arrived to Paws Give Me Purpose Sanctuary back in August of 2021. A 6 pound French Bulldog/Chihuahua mix who was blind due to corneal scarring, suffered from regenerative anemia, had a heart murmur, lower airway disease and one enlarged lung. His spine was extremely hunched from arthritis, and he was missing many teeth. As if that wasn’t enough, he also had bilateral luxating patellas.

The most heartbreaking part to us was that this sweet boy had suffered for a very long time, yet even though he was in such horrible condition, he would look up at us with hope in his eyes and his personality was larger than life. 

We kept our promise to Snorkel and he lived out his remaining golden years to the fullest, comfortably, spoiled and loved unconditionally, just like every dog who walks through our doors. 

Snorkel became a very integral part of our Sanctuary family – he was always there for the dogs who were less fortunate than him. He would take them under his wing and help them feel safe, trust the humans here and even taught them how to eat when they were terrified to do so. He loved humans on his own terms, and had his favorites, but loved all the other dogs.

He would give the sweetest little kisses to those humans he loved and snuggled up close with his doggie friends, rotating beds to make sure everyone had a little Snorkie time. And if he didn’t like you – stand back, he was a biter and he was not afraid to show his true colors; just ask our Veterinary team. Oh the stories they could tell, Snorkel’s adventures was something our dear Dr. Joyce enjoyed sharing and laughing about. Snorkel truly captured the hearts of so many that no matter what he could do no wrong. 

He was always the first to greet staff, volunteers and visitors using his tiny squeaky voice to talk to you – and it almost seemed at times he was really trying to say your name and call out to you when you entered the Sanctuary doors. He felt he was important and we were happy to oblige his desires. 

Snorkel had a very bright, happy and loving personality and we will alway remember the special light in his eyes and the little smile on his face. Every day his actions towards the other dogs would literally melt our hearts and since his passing there has been a lot that has changed. 

Nothing will ever be the same here at Paws Give Me Purpose without Snorkel, as each dog that comes through our door brings us something special and Snorkel most certainly showed us his desire for life, for love and this second chance. We’d like to think that Snorkel’s time here with us was able to wash away his past suffering. Snorkel’s life mattered and he made sure every other dog here knew they mattered too. 

With every loss we often wonder how we will put the pieces of our hearts back together and move forward to help another soul in need, but dogs like Snorkel who will live on in our hearts forever seem to show us the way. 

You will always live on in our hearts little Snorkie; we were blessed to have known and been able to love you with our whole hearts!

Thank you to each and every one of our followers and supporters for helping us give Snorkel a life worth reminiscing. Thank you also for caring and being a support to us during this time.