It started with Max, this gathering of canine and feline tribe. Twenty eight years of adoration, worry and tears, belly laughs, belly rubs–life in the land of fur and howls–the chase and catch through neighborhoods and off rooftops… We all have our story, and their earliest stories remain unknown to me, but we lived as clan–as family.
Max’s Safe House is a private fund which donates to the organizations below whose main purpose is the betterment of the lives of animals. Please scroll to the bottom of the page and consider supporting.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mohandas K. Gandhi
Max I
Devil Dog they used to call him. One eye blue, the other pinto–the upper half being brown, with the bottom blue. This gave him a menacing look. He was deeply broken by the treatment of humans, and came to be my beloved protector on all levels of being.
Bastet. Goddess of the Nile.
Her celebrations were carried out along the Nile expressed in song, dance, and with the gift of the grape. She was my feline collaborator and teacher as I learned to celebrate life. While petite in physique, her roar was as the lion’s.
Shaxepere
Galactic emissary of kooky behavior. She talked way more than I did, and with so much to say, she came to exercise her unique voice in a sometimes jabbering way. While others may not have understood, I cherished our conversations.
Sophia Michelle.
Little Shamaness Sophia – Queen of dreams, and lover of delicious meals. Kitty most wise, and expert traveler of the inner planes. She tolerated us all with great charity and benevolence.
Elvis and Travis
Elvis. Well, no one else’s hips moved the way hers did, and the name Elvis suited her royal method of commanding attention. When she danced, I swooned. As she was also the runt with a super-ego, she needed to dominate the clan by humping everyone now and again just as a reminder.
Travis. Brother to Elvis, most gentle Travis, lived on the unified plane. He preferred his belly towards the sun, lying in the grass or in the cool shade of a bush. When alpha male Max died, Travis killed a rabbit. I think it was how he tried to take on his role as alpha male. It broke his heart so much he never chased another animal but lived content to hunt apples from the lower branches of the apple tree.
Max II
Most abused at the hands of humans. At 100 pounds and not able to use his back legs, I once saw him crawl a hill towards the woods chasing a black bear. I ran after him, and brought him back to the yard. I never saw him happier than when he’d fulfilled this act of duty as our protector.
Snow
Cantankerous, obstinate, and a fabulous dancer. I called her Starla Mae in the beginning, but also called her Snow which was her name given by the animal control officers who’d chased her through the woods for 1 ½ years. Finally captured, she was to be euthanized the following day but she came to my attention, and into my home and heart. Her attitude was of immense snark and exceptional gratitude.
Max III
Most transfigured Max. Abandoned and mistreated but whole enough to find joy in each moment and bring this joy to others. He was chief of mischief, full of tease, and supremely impressed with himself. He was the Phoenix of rebirth, near death on several occasions only to regenerate once again to continue the lineage of Max.
We support local and national animal welfare organizations!
Domestic Animals – sanctuaries and rescue
Farm and Wildlife – sanctuaries and rescue
www.fullmoonfarm.org/what-is-a-wolfdog
www.facebook.com/friends2ferals/
www.animalhavenofasheville.org/
Legal, Education, Research
Last Chance For Animals – Pioneers in undercover research and creating change in the legal system related to a variety of animal rights issues.
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine – Leading the medical community in humane and ethical scientific research
