I'm obsessed with Special Needs animals. Why? Because they're perfectly imperfect....gloriously beautiful...and because they're the voiceless ones who need our help more than anyone.

I ended up on this Special Needs crusade about 5 years ago because of a beautiful ole girl named Sadie. Sadie melts my heart with every look, lick, and lovable breathe she breathes. It's a simple fact of life.

The story goes like this: I was doing volunteer work in 2005 at the Helen Woodward Center (a California animal center) during a Halloween benefit, and they had just brought in 200 rescued dogs from Hurricane Katrina. The first dog I spotted (I mean really spotted) was Sadie. Oh, she was just this bundle of goodness...sweet...shy...affectionate...but clearly in need of extra special care.

11 at the time, Sadie was missing most of her teeth and needed pretty serious ear surgery. Her right ear opening had to be closed, and the doctors rerouted her ear canal into the right side of her neck. So, yeah - now Sadie hears through her neck! (I know, I know...but one can't deny love at first sight :). What I loved so much about Sadie was that - through it all - the pain, the loss she'd just experienced, the uncertainty of what was next, she was just this total loveball. I saw that all this dog needed was a place to hang her hat. And I was going to give it to her.

While my story is definitely unique, there are thousands of animals out there without homes, abused and living under harsh conditions. I know everyone can't go out and adopt an animal, but you CAN help.

My project is supporting The Humane Society of the United States. They don’t operate local animal shelters, but when they rescue dogs and cats from hoarder situations, puppy mills or disasters, they partner with a network of shelters who take the animals in and try to find them homes. When those rescued animals have special needs, The HSUS can use the money raised through this project to help their partner shelters pay for the special care those pets need.

Please support me and Sadie by donating to The Humane Society of the United States on this page - and also joining our team to help us fundraise and get the word out. Remember… even the smallest donation helps cats and dogs (like Sadie).