Monday, March 30, 2009

What's on your DVR?

I think I have briefly mentioned this topic before, however I was moved tonight and wanted to write elaborate. I know many people have DVR/TiVO, one of the new wonderful devices that allow us to record and watch our favorite shows. You know, the ones that you just can't live without, I sure know I have a handful. My all time favorite OTH, American Idol, others that I enjoy such as Gossip Girl, Grey's (that's more of a "I can't live without categeoty, haha"), Dancing with the Stars, and a new one to my DVR this year; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. If you have never watched this show, then I don't know what is wrong with you!! This show is a reality check for me, sad but true.

This season has been remarkable as they have directed the season towards heroes. Each week they honor a family who either struggle with a daily disability, has overcome tremendous loss, or donates so much of their own time and money that their own home is almost unlivable. Tonight's episode falls in that last category. A family who runs an animal rescue center (that doesn't even really explain it) in their backyard. The Almquist family, a family of 6; mom, dad and the four children, give their hearts, income, and time to saving animals that have been raised in captivity and then abandoned, neglected, etc. They call their organization Forever Wild and I have included a link to their website so you can see for yourself how wonderful these people are.

It is unbelievable how cruel human beings can be to animals and how careless the end result is. Most the animals that the family takes in are cats (tigers, bengals, etc.) who people have thought would be great pets, get them as kittens, love them for a little while and then when they become too big, dump them. What people don't realize is if you've raised a cat (or any animal in that matter) in captivity, they can NEVER be successfully put back into the wild with a chance of survival. They lack the skills necessary to fend for their owns because that's been taken away from them. One of the commonalities that this family faces with the animals is that people have "declawed" them, or cut their toes off essentially. Take a look at your finger, and then imagine cutting it off at your first knuckle; that is what is done to these poor animals. It causes them extreme pain, infection, and discomfort. Some of the animals are in such pain that they walk on their elbows, because their paws are too broken. The family with the help of donations (which in this trying economic time have severely slowed) pay for the animals to have re constructive surgery so that they can have a second chance at pain free and running around as they should. At the point the show was filmed, they had one tiger who badly needed the surgery, however their were no funds available to provide it. That tiger is pictured here, Diablo; a beautiful Siberian X Bengal.Of course, the show surprised the family by paying for Diablo's surgery and having it done while the family was on vacation.

This family goes through over 300 lbs of meat a day just to feed the animals. Their own home had holes in the floor, cracked foundation, and rats in the kitchen. As you watch ABC, extreme home makeover, the coalition of builders, volunteers, etc. work for seven days straight to make someone else's life better it is the most amazing thing. It reminds me that being a good person is so important and that whenever you are given the chance to help someone or give back just even a little, you should do it.

My point of this blog tonight was to encourage you to add one more show to your DVR schedule. It's on ABC on Sunday nights at 8:00. While the reality tv shows are fantastic, and the dramas allows us to escape life for a while, extreme makeover does just the opposite. It throws life at you full speed. It reminds you that their are people out their living in unimaginable circumstances, with life threatening diseases, people who give their hearts and souls to others and ask for nothing in return... as corny as you all may think I am, this show touches my heart and leaves a trail of tears down my face every evening I watch it. It allows me to realize when I am making a big deal about things that don't matter and forces me to try and be a better person. Maybe you'll find a connection with the show too!