In Honor of Heidi

This is what we are all about! Meet Heidi. She was in a car accident and due to no restraints was thrown against the windshield and lost her eye. She is an example of why we support pet restraints systems. She then had an familiar experience of her own and ended up at a pet shelter at the age of 8. She could now be an example of Pet ID tags, proper yard fencing, keeping your pets on leash and/or many other pet safety protocols you can find us speaking of. Heidi was a true survivor! While that can make you smile she unfortunately lived the true definition of the word; to function or prosper in spite of opposition, hardship, or setbacks. I love a story with a happy ending. Heidi was adopted!! At age 8, with one eye missing by Human angels Anne & Frank. We are told they had a wonderful life for the last two years of her existence. I am as many so touched by those that adopt the elderly or those less fortunate, takes a special soul. Anne and I met last month and she was told about our foundation, she decided to donate a Pet Oxygen Masks in Honor of Heidi's name, how appropriate. The little dog that was saved, saving others! You go Heidi Girl! This is the story of an In Honor Card from the Emma Zen Foundation and how Heidi helped supply a Pet Oxygen Masks kit to Brick NJ EMS!!! Debra Jo / President

Damaged Fruits?

I have been successful at what I do because I have stuck to one thing, however there needs to be many to stick to a subject that is getting worse. It's no wonder we have so many hungry people just here in the US the laws and even habits of individuals have changed over the years. My husband was telling me tonight how 30 + years ago they use to go to the back of the grocery stores and get enough food to feed all the people at homeless place for free. "They laws have changed old man it hasn't been like that in years" I started to explain. You see these days corporations are afraid that if they leave food out or give food to one person and that person gets sick, the fallback and responsible lays on the corporation you are dealing with. To take it even further ever notice how every single piece of fruit and vegetables and every single can is perfect. They have to be to sell at premium prices, but what happens to all those beautiful apples that grown that may not be creme de le creme? Today I was at the market I purchase 6 flawless polished bright red apples (the only ones they carry) and proceeded to the checkout. When the cashier grabbed the bag the bottom ripped open and 5 of the apples went rolling down the check out but one little apple went bouncing along from the checkout, to the shelf and down the floor a time or too, until it landed under the foot of the grocery bagger. She immediately picked it up and lay it aside, then shuffled off as she exclaimed, "Sorry Ma'am, I'm getting you a new one!" I thanked them both and purchased my food and then asked him to ring up the broken little apple. "But Ma'am, it's damaged!" To you but I have a pet a home who will think otherwise needless to say after about a 6 minutes of me not giving up the manager came over and let me take the damn apple! (Not my words) I saved a perfectly good cracked apple from the depths of the land fills. Well I do not wish to get into a debate of the worlds hungry crisis, I do wish continue my thoughts for the day by remembering the things we forget to think about... Do you know the taste of a home grown apple? Those totally sweet beautiful sensations that don't always necessarily look pristine. When was the last time you had fresh hand picked lettuce? Doesn't even taste the same as the stuff you get in the store. Or how about a red grape that was a little sour at the same time it was sweet? Notice how in the store every grape in a cluster taste the same. I came here to B**** about how manufactured we have become. When we weren't looking what we produced was our very own hunger population. I'm sure, no I am hopeful that someONE or maybe even some organization is busy trying to undo the damage that we did. But instead of complaining I think I will just back to the farmers market where I can get home grown food that I can still take home even if I drop it.

Homer

My friend and I had a wonderful experienced in Home Depot on Katella in Orange, CA this week. You can read that heart touching story on our website! Today I printed up the article we wrote and took it into the store, so that the manager and associate Scott could have a copy. I know they are not our social media friends at the foundation so we told them about all the positive feedback and to be expecting many more people asking about Homer! The manager said he was running around the Christmas tree lot in his fancy new collar. Now that is about all you ever hear from me, the positive side. While I would't classify this as an opinion it is diffidently an observation with a conclusion I wouldn't choose that you can and have seen happen before. What am I talking about? When I enter today to deliver the article I saw a woman holding her dog in her arms. I saw a man walking the aisle with is dog too. Both these things made me smile but later it got me to thinking, you know this store under different management use to except dogs all the time, Emma Zen herself use to go her every week it seemed. But then one fight and corporate liability concerns later, there was a sign that said no more dogs allowed. So as a reminder as nicely as I can say, PLEASE keep your pet on a short leash when in a pet friendly establishment. Even if your dog is friendly, maybe the other dog isn't? There are so many reason to keep Fido aside you. You've heard the stories before one fight and we lose the very thing to which we as pet lovers are drawn to. The freedom for our pets to become mainstream.