February 9, 2008
Please click to see more of
Reese
Maddie

Katie and owner Lewis
February, 2008
Katie

See Please click  to see Puccini and Amadeus

Please click to vote on the Best Picture for the Auburn Tigers vs. Florida Gators football game day weekend 2006.

GameDay

Please click to see more of Kyle with his Haley

Cassius and Hudson
March 3, 2007

A beautiful Saturday, October 28, 2006
Irene and Maria with
Billy  Dusty  Jasmine

Great Blue Heron Bird in the creek next to Lakeshore Drive in Homewood, Alabama on Sunday, October 8, 2006
http://petministry.com/GreatBlueHeronAlabama.htm

September 23, 2006
 

Uschi and Chipper

Created by Mike Sawyer
Master of Divinity
1992
Asbury Theological Seminary
(See this degree)

For the comfort & support of grieving pet owners

Please consider sending Mike Sawyer picture(s) of your favorite pet(s)
This would be very valuable if your pet was lost
Mike@PetMinistry.com

Your pet will have their own web site
www.PetMinistry.com/Chipper.htm 

Charlotte, North Carolina
Readership: 551200 daily; 798600 Sunday Circulation: 229440 daily; 281766 Sunday

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/opinion/14712375.htm

June 1, 2006

Tank the turtle, won't you please come home?

The writer is founder of Pet Ministry.

Thank you for "Pet persuaded her it didn't need rescuing" (May 29 Catching Up With ...):

Wouldn't it be awesome if Tank returns home one foggy morning? I kind of hope so.

Mike Sawyer

Birmingham, Ala.

 

 

Posted on Mon, May. 29, 2006

email this

 

 

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/14691913.htm

 

CATCHING UP WITH ... TANK THE TURTLE

Pet persuaded her it didn't need rescuing

Tank, a female red ear slider turtle who had been Deborah Todesco's pet for 20 years, walked out of her house near Lake Norman on the night of April 25.

Todesco, who moved to the Charlotte area last September from British Columbia, had left her back door open because her dog, Karma, was sick. When Todesco wasn't looking, Tank walked away.

She and neighbors spent several hours that evening, looking for the 12-inch-long, 3-pound turtle by flashlight. But Tank proved too elusive. Todesco then posted fliers in the Westport community of Lincoln County, asking for help.

A few days after a May 1 Observer article about Tank, Todesco got a call from a resident across the cove from her house. The neighbor had seen a turtle that resembled Tank. Staff writer Steve Lyttle, who wrote the original story, recently talked to Todesco about what she has learned since early May about her turtle.

Q. Did you ever find Tank?

Yes, I did. A few days after the article appeared in the paper (on May 4), I got a call from someone in the 4000 block of Lakeshore Road South. They told me they had two turtles swimming off their dock. They said one was a normal lake turtle, but the other was very unusual. I stopped by, and sure enough, it was Tank.

Q. How far away from your house had he gone?

Traveling on the road, it's quite a ways (1.4 miles), but by water it isn't. It was just across the cove. I live across the road from the lake, so Tank apparently walked across the road, went through the yard across the street, and got into the water.

Q. Is Tank back at home?

No, she's not. My neighbors and I got pool nets, fishing nets, and my kayak together for "Operation Turtle Rescue," but Tank didn't want to be rescued. We were out there until dark, paddling around in circles and running back and forth through people's back yards and on their docks. But Tank kept dodging us.

Q. You had Tank for 20 years. Wasn't it difficult to let her go?

Oh, sure. But it certainly seemed like she was happy there. The people who live by the dock have been giving her fish food. And since she's in the cove, she'll be safe from the boaters.

Q. Have you been back to see her since the rescue operation?

I went back once more, and I saw her in the water. She was swimming around, and to me, it seemed like she was doing well. I'm going to paddle over there from time to time and take her favorite meal of rare steak and prawns, and we'll visit.

 

 

Minnie Mae and Cullie
Sunday, November 19, 2006

Please click to see more to Minnie Mae and Cullie

Pam and T-Bone
Saturday, November 18, 2006

Please click to see more of T-Bone

Please click to see more of "Chico" and Harriet

Bruno
Please click to see a larger view
Picture taken November 5, 2006

Sydney

Please click to see a larger view
Picture taken November 5, 2006

Please remember all pets and their owners of the Hurricane Katrina areas.
Www.AfterKatrina.us

July 4, 2005

Please click to see more of Chipper and his broken leg

Please click to see Chipper under the mistletoe tree

See Chipper and Abby

Chipper gives a kiss

Chipper and little Buddy

Sierra and Sid
with Jennifer
August 22, 2006
Please click to see larger picture
 

Please click to see more of Dexter

Please click to see more of Bear

Please click to see more of Jax and pals

Lady a pit-bull puppy

Truman on his birthday
July 5, 2006
Please click to see more

See more of Josie

Dot

Zarah

Click for larger view

Chipper cooling off!

Quincy

June 26, 2006
Birmingham, Alabama

Please click to see more of Quincy

Misty and owner Freeda
June 26, 2006
Birmingham, Alabama
Please click to see more pictures of Misty

LuLu

Clover Marie Woodham

                                     Copper                  Dot                 Hannah                Max                   Sadie                Sage                  Snow
                                                                                                                   Mary Grace
 

Yardly

\
McGraw             Sanders

Rudy

See Pumpkin

Tyler

Daisy and May
Please click on picture for larger view

May 13, 2006

As you know, Mike, my mother was a life-time smoker until it literally squeezed the life out of her at a young age: 73.  I grew up exposed to smoke as my parent's owned nightclub and bars.  I saw so many smokers and drinkers that I knew that wasn't a road I wanted to travel - long before I was aware of the health aspects for people and animals.

In the last 25 years of her life, my mother discovered the love of companion animals.  She had never allowed them into her heart prior to that.  Her cats were inside pets but none lived the long, healthy life that mine did (a rabid non-smoker) and she often wondered aloud "why?"  While most of my cats lived to be anywhere from 16 to the maximum of 22, hers never made it to ten years even though the care she provided was above average.

The difference was her 2 pack-a-day habit - mostly in the home. She had four snow white cats she rescued at different times over the years.  Three of them l died from Melanomas and other skin disease - two became covered in hard, marble-like lumps over 90% of their bodies and had to be euthanized.  This couldn't have been hereditary as the cats were all adopted at different times. 

The vet wouldn't confirm my thoughts that those cancers and the many respiratory and other illnesses of her pets over the years were due to smoke - he was a smoker, of course.  My mother didn't want to hear it either.  I may start a book on the excuses offered by smokers as to why their habit isn't hurting those around them. 

Sandra (Sue) McCoy
Daytona Beach, FL.

Copper and Castro
in Gainesville, Florida

Happy

Please click to see more pictures of Muffin and Maggie

Please click to see more pictures of Lucky

Please click to read about Clover

Please click to see a slide show of Bijou

Random pictures

See more of Lola a Pug puppy

Mike with BJ in Florida
BJ has 9 Chihuahuas
May 3, 2006

Please click to see more of Bongo

Please click to see more of Ed

Please click to see more of Zoe

Please click to see more of Peyton

Mike Sawyer and Riley in Birmingham, Alabama
Picture taken by Riley's owner Richard

See more of Riley

Blue Bird is 22 years-old.
Do you know sign language?

Visit Www.PetMinistry.com/TheBoss.htm

Click for larger view of Rita with her adopted Bree and Cowboy

See more of Bree and Cowboy

Click over picture for larger view

Www.PetMinistry.com/ChippervisitsBham.htm  

See more of Scout

Must see
Www.PetMinistry.com/Barney.htm   

Www.PetMinistry.com/Baylee.htm

Www.PetMinistry.com/Fannie.htm

Www.PetMinistry.com/Lady.htm

Www.PetMinistry.com/MacyandLeroy.htm

Www.PetMinistry.com/Oakley.htm

Www.PetMinistry.com/Tangles.htm

Bitty says, "Please click to see more of me and my cat pals."
(Pets of Rhonda in Birmingham, Alabama)
Amber
Bitty
Josie
Reese
 

See Buddy and Abby
Www.PetMinistry.com/BuddyandAbby.htm

"Chipper Jones" Howell

Kacey in Birmingham, Alabama

Rollerblading with two dogs is pretty courageous!

Chipper

http://petministry.com/ChipperSprinklers.htm
http://petministry.com/MikeChipper.htm
http://petministry.com/Chipper.htm
http://PetMinistry.com/ChipperStranger.htm

Mike Sawyer meets Stretch on the walking trail in Birmingham, Alabama
Please see more of Stretch a four-month-old Dachshund puppy owned by Debbie
www.PetMinistry.com/Stretch.htm
This pet carriage above was purchased at http://fourpaws.com/

Please click for larger view

Chipper says good-bye to Philly
See more of Philly

Mike Sawyer with Freeda and her Great Dane Misty
June 26, 2006

Bo a Yellow Lab  and Tucker a Schnauzer
See more at: Www.PetMinistry.com/Bo.htm

Abby with owner Melinda
Abby's date of birth is 10-6-04

Travis and "Little Man"

Travis waiting for his mother who is shopping in Eastdale Mall, in Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, October 8, 2005

"Little Man," an American Red Nose Pit Bull dog
Date of Birth is May 1, 2005
cost around $1,200.00

See more of Travis at:
Www.PetMinistry.com/LittleMan.htm

Gainesville, Florida, Humane Society Pet Thrift Store

James Stephens

born Feb. 9, 1880?, Dublin
died Dec. 26, 1950, London

 

James Stephens, 1925 BBC Hulton Picture Library

Irish poet and storyteller whose pantheistic philosophy is revealed in his fairy tales set in the Dublin slums of his childhood and in his compassionate poems about animals.

Stephens was working as a solicitor's clerk and educating himself when he met the Irish poet Æ (George William Russell), who encouraged him and helped him publish Insurrections, … Stephens was born into a poor family in Dublin and was educated in an orphanage.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9069608

Bogart gets adopted from a Shelby County, Alabama animal shelter in June 2005

Buddy in Birmingham, Alabama
Please click on each picture for larger view

Rosy is the larger with bow, and Max is the small male
From Birmingham, Alabama
(Please click each for larger view)

Kali at Spring Break 2004 Panama City Beach, Florida

In Wal-Mart lot Hoover, Alabama

Please read

A missing dog's tale
By Megan V. Winslow
Special to the Gainesville Sun of Florida
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005209130313&source=email

"School admits girl, her dog
Rockcastle superintendent gets word from doctor, opens doors"

By Bill Estep

SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU
The Herald-Leader Newspaper
Lexington, Kentucky
August 7, 2004
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/9342638.htm

A puppy named Fable inspired Clark woman to launch rescue effort
Published on Saturday, October 2, 2004 9:45 AM EDT
By JAMIE VINSON-STURGILL/Sun Staff Writer
The Winchester Sun Newspaper of Winchester, Kentucky http://www.winchestersun.com/articles/2004/10/04/local_news/features/feature9968.txt
 

Please read
"Dothan dogs finding homes in Florida"
By Jim Cook
A Dothan (Alabama) Eagle Staff Writer
January 15, 2004
http://www.dothaneagle.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DEA%2FMGArticle%2FDEA_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031773119577&path=!news!localnews

Please read
"Smoker's Pet"
By Julia Szabo
New York Post on March 7, 2004
http://www.nypost.com/living/19991.htm

Send your favorite pet stories to Mike Sawyer
PetMinistry@aol.com

Subject:	Re:Comfort for Queen Elizabeth II
Date:	12/26/2003 9:52:43 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:	PetMinistry
Reply To:   To: newsroom@NEWS.com.au

published by News Interactive, a News Corporation company
Address: Level 3, 2 Holt St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Postal: GPO Box 4245, Sydney NSW 2001
Telephone: +61 2 9288 3000
Press releases: newsroom@NEWS.com.au

 

The pet families of www.PetMinistry.com send their loving words of comfort to Queen Elizabeth II at this heartbreaking time, as she grieves over the tragic death of her best friend Pharos.

 

Faithfully,

Mike Sawyer

Master of Divinity

Founder & Director of www.PetMinistry.com

205-515-1560

 

 

 

 ^{Blessed are they that mourn:
for they shall be comforted.}
Matthew 5:4 KJV New Testament

Mr. Sawyer, I think you have a wonderful idea to establish a ministry for pets or rather for their grieving "parents". Over the past 40 years we have lost over 10 pets to death, from very sudden death to long, drawn out illnesses. Each one has hurt deeply and the grieving process has been difficult. We have been fortunate as we have a great many friends who understand and support us during these times. Unfortunately, not all folks do understand and think we are being pretty silly, or perhaps a little crazy. In fact, I almost lost a very good job, because I couldn't work when my beloved Eric lay critically ill in the local pet hospital. He did recover and I definitely feel he was helped because his best friend was by his side. My boss never felt the same about me after that, even though I was one of his best employees.
It would have been so helpful to have an independent person  who understood to be around when we went through these trying times. Additionally, we always have a memorial service when they depart and think how good that would be to have a chaplain there to conduct and guide that final tribute to those wonderful animals. Do you think that would ever be possible? Each day when I pray, I remember our departed  one and ask for blessings for all animals on earth. ( Even the ones, I don't care for!)
I hope you will be successful in organizing a Ministry and can encourage other religious leaders to become sensitive to the needs of their flock's pet related needs. Good luck to you and May God bless You in your efforts.        Sincerely, Thecla And Martha

Freckles

Please share your beloved pet memories & pictures here
PetMinistry@aol.com

A picture of a public cemetery taken by Mike Sawyer
 

If you would like to add your pet's picture to this photo gallery please write
PetMinistry@aol.com

Would you help this man because of his dog?
Should this be part of Pet Ministry?
Let Mike Know your thoughts
PetMinistry@aol.com

Lucy a two-year-old Jack Russell in Lexington, Kentucky
Has a stranger ever asked you at a red light for permission to take your pet's picture?

LuLu in Birmingham, Alabama
See LuLu again

Ed from Michigan, and his favorite pet Xena

Cody lives in Tampa, Florida
Did you know secondhand smoke is harmful to your pet?
Smoking should be away from your dog, cat, and other favorite pets.
 

• Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers.
• This mixture contains more than 4,000 substances, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and many of which are strong irritants
  From EPA..............  http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/etsbro.html 

Hope you, your pet(s) and Hunter Sawyer
will have a
Tobacco-Free and Safe Life!

Most all pictures taken by Mike Sawyer

by Elvis Presley

(Thomas Dorsey)

Oh well, I'm tired and so weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning's so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be lit by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

Any relationship you may have with Pet Ministry can be anonymous if you desire. Your personal information can be fabricated to protect your privacy. None of your information will ever be shared with any other without your written request and consent.

Dennis  on his July 30, 2005 birthday!
 

 "Dennis my lifetime friend, who loves me at all times!"
Mike Sawyer