FOUND GLORY

A HUGE thank you goes out to all the volunteers that came to our desert cleanup on Saturday, Oct. 3! We collected 30 bags of trash, 3 tires, and rescued one doggy in 3 hours! It's amazing what can be done when we unite in a shared cause! Two cleanups down and 3 more to go! See the flyer for dates and details on how to join us!

Not only were we able to clean up our city, but we saw the need for compassion when helping out a sweet animal that was left in the desert, alone and in need of help. We urge you to not look away when assistance is needed from those that are weak and vulnerable.

Glory, as we have named her, is safe now. The update post below is from Muttlove Dog Rescue, the incredible rescue group that has stepped in, anytime we've needed them. Please read below and consider donating to them to help Glory, and other dogs like her, with their medical bills.

UPDATE on 10/3/2020:

Update for Glory. She's done at the vet and nice and comfy in a loving foster home.

Unexpectedly enough, we found her former owner including pictures of her looking comfy and spoiled within the last couple of years. And while we are SUPER suspicious of them based on the circumstances of how she was found, we always want to at least give the owners the chance to at least explain themselves. We've reached out, but there's been no response.

She has a lot of things wrong with her. She has entropion in both eyes which is a condition where her eyelashes are facing into her eyeballs; this will require surgery to fix. She has tumors all over. Arthritis in both knees is definitely causing her pain. And she has anemia. So for the moment, she's on meds to help treat/mitigate what we can.

But the most disturbing problem is that she has an enlarged heart. It is too large for her to safely go into surgery to fix all of her other issues right now. We thought maybe it would be heartworm that was causing that which would have had a fix, but no. It's weird to be sad a dog doesn't have heartworm. So we're treating her for the next 10 days and then she'll go in for a follow-up. Our fingers are crossed that her little heart will maybe be a more manageable size so we can go in and fix things.

We know there's definitely no way she could have just run off into the desert on her own based on her mobility. We know she wasn't out there that long based on her body condition. And we know that the medical issues that she has, were all progressive. It's not like she ran off into the desert and then a day later had everything wrong with her.

We believe either she was stolen from her owners and dumped or her owners decided they didn't want to deal with all of her medical issues and dumped her. Neither is ok. Both are cruel. And she deserved better.

We've already begun the process of transferring her chip to us to be safe.

UPDATE ON GLORY 10-8-2020

Update on Glory, the dog that was found in the desert on Saturday. She is getting some much-needed love and attention at her foster home and boy has it made a difference! She is walking better and eating well! It appears that medicine, bath, food, rest, and love were really what she needed! Fingers crossed her heart isn't so enlarged when she goes in for her checkup in a little over a week. We really need it to be smaller so that she can get the eye and leg surgeries that will really change the quality of her life for the better. One step at a time!

If you'd like to make a donation to help Glory or any other dogs that are in the care of Muttlove Dog Rescue, you can go here: https://www.paypal.me/muttlovedogrescue

Help us do more by donating to support our efforts, which includes helping the abandoned animals that we find at our cleanups.

Please donate today: https://elpasogivingday.org/organizations/green-hope-project

(ALL DONATIONS MADE ON OCTOBER 15TH WILL BE MATCHED BY WALMART.)

Join our desert cleanups: https://www.greenhopeproject.org/clean-up-photos

Your Vote Matters!

We need to participate in our local and national elections now, more than ever. Please don’t think that your voice doesn’t matter. Take just a moment out of your day to speak up for the people, land, plants, and animals that cannot speak for themselves. If you are concerned about our planet’s future, just as we are, then take the steps below to find and vote for the candidates that share your views and have plans to make a positive change!

Step 1- Register to vote

You can register by mail to vote in Texas by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer. Texas does NOT offer online voter registration. Register: https://www.votetexas.gov/register/index.html

• The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Monday, October 5, 2020.

• The deadline to register in person to vote is Monday, October 5, 2020.

Who can vote

To register in Texas you must:

• be a citizen of the United States

• be a resident of the county in which the application for registration is made

• be at least 17 years and 10 months old (you must be 18 to vote)

• not be finally convicted of a felony, or if a convicted felon, you must have fully discharged your punishment, including any incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or be pardoned

• have not been declared mentally incompetent by final judgment of a court of law

• *find more information on voting rights restoration here

Step 2- Research political parties/candidates

Being an informed voter allows individuals to select candidates based on their state's platforms, without relying on party propaganda or media coverage. By researching parties and candidates, informed voters are able to make knowledgeable decisions about who their votes support. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities offers a comprehensive guide to becoming an informed voter.

Step 3- Know the issues

Once a new voter is familiar with the basic tenets of political parties, they are able to learn about the issues at stake during the election. Be it a presidential or city council election, candidates almost always share the vision for their time in office on their website. Voters should review this information and consider how it aligns with their personal beliefs about how the government should function.

*To see where candidates stand on environmental issues, visit this website and click on the area of concern:

https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/energy-environment/

Step 4- Check state rules and regulations

Most voting stations are open at least 12 hours on election day, allowing students or those with busy workdays ample time to vote. Although only 35 states currently require voters to show a photo ID, first-time voters who registered by mail have other requirements. According to federal law, individuals who have not voted previously must bring a valid photo ID or a bill, pay stub, or government document showing their name and current address.

Step 5- Find your polling place

State election offices assign polling locations based on a voter’s address, so students and others who aren’t sure where to go to vote can either contact their election office or use Can I Vote to find your polling location and dates. Information about state and local election offices can be found via the search tool on USA.gov

Step 6- Cast your ballot

Dates and deadlines

• Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

• The deadline for registering by mail to vote is (postmarked by) Monday, October 5, 2020.

• The deadline to register in-person to vote is Monday, October 5, 2020.

• The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) Friday, October 23, 2020.

• The early voting period runs from Tuesday, October 13, 2020, to Friday, October 30, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.

*Information found at www.accreditedschoolsonline.org

Quick, Easy and Nutritious Mashed Potatoes

During the holiday season, sides have always been my absolute favorite. Nothing is better than mashed potatoes & gravy, savory stuffing, roasted sweet potatoes and, of course, pies! So, for the next couple of weeks, we will focus on some delicious, lighter and slightly more nutritious versions of Thanksgiving sides. We will be using vegan butter, sneaking in a little butternut squash and using non-dairy milk for delicious, creamy mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

6 medium russet potatoes (peeled and cubed)

1 small butternut squash (peeled and cubed)

6 cups hot water (or enough to cover vegetables)

2 bouillon cubes (I used Edward & Sons Not-Chicken Natural Bouillon Cubes)

1/2 tsp granulated garlic powder

4 tbsp butter (I used Melt Organic - Rich & Creamy Butter http://meltorganic.com)

1/4 cup non-dairy milk (I used cashew milk- see link for the recipe below) https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e5/ee/20/e5ee207b68c405c63f671d25f9072ce0.png

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Put potatoes and butternut squash in a pot.

2. Add hot water to cover potatoes and squash, then add bouillon cubes. Cover and cook at medium heat for 30 minutes or until both are tender.

3. Drain excess water.

4. Add butter, granulated garlic, mix and smash with a potato masher (or a fork!)

5. Add milk. Mix well.

6. Add salt & pepper to taste.

7. Serve and enjoy!