Decision on our Appeal

YAY! The Customs Collector turned out to be a good guy. At 4:53 PM today, he personally called the Secretary to inform that my wheelchair will no longer be subjected to customs duties so UPS may proceed to deliver it.

Good thing the Secretary was able to catch him on the phone earlier. She realized we needed to change strategy because raising legal arguments will involve bureaucratic processes that will only prolong our agony. So the Secretary did the next best thing: BEG. Yes, she told the Customs Collector that she will beg if she had to so he would take pity on me.

The appeal to emotions worked, and we get to keep our one month food allowance( which we would have ended paying to the Bureau of Customs).

Hurray to the Power of Paws- The power in believing that anything can be possible for as long as we don't give up.We doggies and kitties know it by heart, my hoomans learned through the saga of my wheelchair.

I am still crossing my paws but I think I can face any more challenge that will come in the way between me and my wheelies. Thank you my dear friends, you know who you are. You give me strength.

Mom's Appeal to the Customs Collector*

January 25, 2010

Atty. XXXXXX

Special Deputy Collector

Bureau of Customs

Clark, Pampangga

Re: Airway Bill No. XXXXXXX

Sir:

This refers to my shipment covered by above captioned airway bill number. I was informed by UPS that said shipment has been assessed an import duty of P7, 000 more or less. Delivery is being put on hold unless I signify my willingness to pay.

I write this letter to appeal for a reconsideration, and that I be exempt from payment of import duties. The item shipped is a veterinary quad cart for Scarlet, a dog who suffers from quadriplegia. I have been taking care of Scarlet for two years already, after her owners rejected her because of this disability.

The quadcart was purchased in part through a funding by Labrador Life Line( LLL), an organization in the US helping disabled dogs. Attached (Annex “A”) is a copy of the notice of approval emailed to me by LLL. The amount of 500US$ was directly paid by LLL to Eddie’s Wheels, while remaining balance of the purchase price was paid by me using funds I raised. Attached ( Annex “B”) is a print out of my PayPal transaction history showing the donations we received from people who all wanted to help Scarlet overcome her disability and enjoy a quality life. It is only Scarlet who will benefit from this wheelchair. Neither I or anyone will profit from this.

On my own, I do not have the money to purchase Scarlet’s wheels. I do not have the money to pay P7,000 plus on import duties. Scarlet is just lucky to benefit from the generosity of other people, and the thought of having to pay the government to get her donated wheelchair, is very, very disheartening, to say the least.

Section 105 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines enumerates the following exemption to the payment of customs duties, to wit:

r. Scientific apparatus, instruments and utensils specially imported for the bona fide use and by the order of any society or institution incorporated or established solely for educational, scientific, or charitable purposes, or for the encouragement of the fine arts, or for the bona fide use and by the order of any institution of learning in the Philippines, and not for barter, sale or hire.

u. Articles donated to public or private institutions established solely for educational, scientific, cultural, charitable, health, relief, philanthropic or religious purposes, for free distribution among, or exclusive use of, the needy.

With all humility, I appeal to you. Please consider that Scarlet’s wheelchair is similar or analogous to the above articles and importation that merit an exemption.

*We have submitted this already and waiting for the decision of the Customs Collector. Thank you for the positive vibes you have sent to me. Still keeping my fingers crossed.

The Saga of my Wheels

They say they will not deliver my wheels if I dont pay P7,000 in customs duty! That is already our food expense for one month! I am just lucky to have come across compassionate people who wanted to make my dreams come true, but now our government could take that away from me.

The Secretary is busy making our letter of appeal to the Customs Collector, I'm crossing my paws.

A Sad Scarlet

Tracking my wheels

My wheels came from a far place, and has travelled to different places before it will reach me, hopefully on tuesday. It will be my best buddy for life, and I'm sure I will go places with it.

PAMPANGA, PH 24/01/2010 6:06 ARRIVAL SCAN

CHEK LAP KOK, HK 24/01/2010 4:19 DEPARTURE SCAN

CHEK LAP KOK, HK 23/01/2010 13:36 ARRIVAL SCAN

ANCHORAGE, AK, US 22/01/2010 8:51 DEPARTURE SCAN
22/01/2010 5:54 ARRIVAL SCAN

LOUISVILLE, KY, US 22/01/2010 3:28 DEPARTURE SCAN
22/01/2010 0:01 ARRIVAL SCAN

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT, US 21/01/2010 21:46 DEPARTURE SCAN
21/01/2010 20:35 ARRIVAL SCAN

SOUTH DEERFIELD, MA, US 21/01/2010 19:34 DEPARTURE SCAN
21/01/2010 18:34 ORIGIN SCAN

US 21/01/2010 14:39 BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

YAY! My wheels due to arrive on Jan. 26th!

Wohooooo! My wheels are now in transit. The UPS people gave us a tracking number so we are able to monitor where my package is. I still can't believe my dream is coming true, thank you so much my friends!


Scarlet, crossing her paws :)

A visit from Aki's Manang

Aki's Manang was in Manila last week and dropped by our house. She hand carried her donation for my wheelchair, plus some treats.

"Gimme, gimme!"

Thank you, Manang! Please say hi to Poopie and Koykoy( Aki) for me, I smelled them in your clothes!

Our christmas tree

The Animal Doctor made it! He finished putting up our tree just at the stroke of midnight on December 1st. Ohhh, it definitely smells like Christmas in our house now.

Secretary's note: I cannot believe how far we've gone with the fund raising. I am glad that I listened to Teri ( our LLL contact) not to give up. As of this posting, Scarlet's Wheelchair Fund is almost complete. Eddie's Wheels will likely begin constructing it as soon as we finalize Scarlet's measurements.

Scarlet and I will now focus on raising a few more hundreds to cover the cost of shipping her wheelchair to the Philippines. Sad to say, shipping and insurance charges are expected to be higher due to our locations and the size and weight of the shipment.

To all our friends and supporters who are responsible for this on going miracle, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Some of our donors were able to sponsor 1 female dog, 2 female cats and 2 male cats for free spay and neuter. We have activities lined up to pay forward your kindness and we will be telling you about these in our future posts.

Babysitting

This is Jao. My brothers and sisters babysat for him some weeks ago because his dog house was being renovated.

Of course, there was the usual introduction...

But it wasn't long before Jao made himself at home. I watched from our kitchen door while he played- quite wildly- with my siblings.

My brother Moymoy showed him his signature move.

Jao: Dog, don't you get dizzy running after your tail like that??

While my sister Pussy wowed our guest with her musical ability using only a piece of wood.

Today, I was surprised when I saw Moy enter the kitchen with an envelope in his mouth. What is that, Moy? I asked because the Nanny had just given me a boxful of paper to shred. Moy laughed and told me that inside the envelope is the money they earned babysitting Jao. They wanted to donate it for my wheelchair.

I was teary eyed especially when I read their dedication, because I realized that my brothers and sisters love me after all.

We received three more donations this weekend, from a lady named Pam in the US and from two ladies in Mandaluyong ( Did you tell them about me, Charlie?). YAY!
(Secretary's note:As of this posting, Scarlet has accumulated a net of $1041.06 as her Wheelchair Fund, including the 500$ pledge from LLL. This means that she is $158.94 away from fulfilling her Wheely Dream! With the funding for the wheelchair almost secured, the one last thing we have to worry about is the shipping charges because we know it will cost an arm and leg. But like we always say, when there's "wheel", there's a way!)

Full of Thanks

Last night, my Mom/Secretary took my measurements which she'll submit to Eddie's Wheels, the people who will be making my wheelchair in the US. She gathered her measuring tape, yardstick, home made caliper, visual guides for measuring, and called three(!) hoomans to assist her.

It needed three pairs of hands to hoist me up in a standing position, where I will be measured. I was embarrassed when the hoomans told Mom to hurry up because I was kinda heavy.

Mom had to double and triple check my measurements. There are parts of the wheels which are non adjustable. It would be difficult, next to impossible, to send the wheelchair back to the US if it does not fit me.

Mom thought the visual guide looked very easy to follow.

photo taken from the website of Eddie's Wheels

But not so if your legs look as bad as mine. Mom will have to ask Eddie's how to take measurements if my legs permanently splayed like this.

On top of it, I could not keep still. I am too excited.

We don't have a Thanksgiving Day in the Philippines, but I want to celebrate anyway because my heart is overflowing with thanks. Donations to my wheelchair are trickling in day by day, most of these came from people who did not even know me until they read my story in the blogs of my DWB friends.

I am thankful to these kind strangers-now my friends, and to my dog and kitty pals, to Labrador Life Line organization, Eddie's Wheels- to ALL OF YOU - who believed that my Wheely Dreams could come true.

Our friend Lorenza in Mexico celebrated Thanksgiving by remembering the day she was adopted. I thought it was a very nice idea so I gathered all my doggy siblings so we could silently commemorate our own adoption and be thankful about it.


We have come along way since our long faces.

( from left to right: Trudis, Bambi, me Scarlet, Woody, Moymoy and Jappy)

Something to smile about

I have another reason to smile these days. The Secretary~ Mom told me how our friends like Teddy and his Mom, Aki, Poopie and their Manang are going out of their way to help us with the fund raising campaign for my wheelchair. We also like to thank the following for their donation and/ or words of encouragement:

Evie
Jeff Sullivan
Lorenza
Ariel
Jasper and Ruth
Mango the Maltese Kiddo
Charlie the Japanese Spitz
Life With Dogs
Scout and Freyja
Sundae over at the Pampered Pets
Isis
Houndstooth
Rigel
Suzuki
Oz Girl
Sisa
Fudge, Princess and the Piappies

If I forgot anyone, please forgive me. I just want to let you know how I appreciate all your help.

P.S Mom made a christmas wish too: to have our kitchen floor tiled. The Animal Doctor gave it ahead of time. See how the color matches my fur? The surface is smoother and cleaner and more comfortable for my tummy. But then I'll be having my dream wheels soon. :)

YAY! I've been approved!

As most of you know, I applied for financial assistance so I could purchase a full quad cart in the US. I stopped using my homemade wheelchair because it gave me lots of pain and discomfort. My Mom( who knows nothing about bolts and screws) is now afraid to experiment with other designs in the internet, fearing it might do more harm than good.

Because of our location, and the state of the 'conomy these days, I knew we were shooting for the moon when we sent our application to several non profit organizations in the US. It came as a surprise when a very kind lady volunteer from the Labrador Life Line(LLL) emailed to tell us that she'd present my case to their Board. Mom and the Kind Lady exchanged several emails after that. It seems that my case posed several challenges because of my location and LLL's policies. Some people would have already given up, but Kind Lady did not give up on me. And now, I can't wait to tell you the good news: Our application has been approved! Wohooo!

LLL will give me financial assistance of up to US$500.00. This means that I am already halfway to reaching my dreams because my full quad cart could cost between US$ 800-1,300. From my end, I will need to raise $800 and a little more to cover the cost of shipping.

I would like to thank all my friends who have responded since we started posting about my dream wheelchair. Someone already gave us a generous donation , while others helped by way of encouragement or by blogging about my fund raising campaign. Another kind lady from the Westie Rescue of Orange County and Beyond wanted to donate a set of brand new wheels to me(only that it was a two wheeled cart). I think she learned about me through my other friends' blog or facebook.

I will continue to pray and cross my paws that I will be able to raise enough funds for my wheelchair. Til my next update :)

~ Scarlet

Please help our Little Scarlet get a wheelchair

If there's "wheel", there's a way!


I am very lucky to have been adopted in spite of my handicap. My Mom( the Secretary) does everything in her power to make my life as comfortable as possible. But in her heart, she knows how crushed I must feel in not being able to do what I was born to do~ to run and play.

One day, my Mom decided that she will not let my invisible chain pin me down on the floor for the rest of my life. She is going to help me get a wheel chair.

A company in the United States can custom build a full quad cart for me at around US$1,300 excluding shipping cost.

I have applied with a non profit organization but only for a maximum funding of US$500( if I get lucky) so I still need to raise US$800 or more. Our new friend Scout and Freyja suggested that we put up a PayPal donation button for our friends, acquaintances and even strangers who might want to help make my dreams of a wheelchair come true.

Because we have been taught to not only take, the Animal Doctor will match donations over $50 with veterinary services in the donor's name for the benefit of less fortunate dogs and cats in our community in the Philippines. I will be sharing your kindness and generosity to these dogs as well.

Thank you so much in advance. The Secretary-er-Mom ( I am still getting use to the idea) promised to devote our blog for my fund raising project until we have gathered the required funds for the wheelchair. So please, do come back for an update.

More about my Wheely Dream

First Update on my wheely dream

Oh, but before that, I have some breaking news. There is a huge flood in Metro Manila, Philippines, where we live, due to Typhoon Ondoy. In low lying areas where the flood reached heights of more than twelve feet, people were rescued from their roof tops, while some were found dead. In our street, the water is knee deep but our hooman's house was spared due to an elevated flooring. Yesterday, Moy, Jappy, Trudis, Bambi and Woody were carried one by one to our nearby Pet Clinic after the flood threatened to enter their doggy pad. Electricity came back just this afternoon, but cellphones still do not have any signal. I'm crossing my paws that the flood will go away soon. I know Trudis hates it very much to live in the Pet Clinic ( I bet she is wailing there right this minute). Most of all, it makes me sad that a lot of hoomans and pets have lost their houses and are in a very difficult situation right now.

For my update - we got another email from the kind lady at the Labrador Life Line. She got my measurements for a full quad wheelchair, and other documents to help her get an approval for my funding. The deal is, if I do get approved( paws crossed!), I will have to shoulder 25% of the cost of the wheelchair. Of course we are already grateful with this arrangement. Better than nothing at all. The Secretary will come up with some ideas how to raise the remaining amount we need. We will appreciate if you have any ideas to share.

I am so grateful for all the doggies who left comments and wished me luck with my wheelchair or gave me helpful information. Life With Dogs told other doggies about me in via Tweeter. Then I also got an email from someone who would like to donate an existing set of wheels for me. The Secretary already emailed her to know if the wheelchair will fit me and will be appropriate for my limitations. Again, paws crossed!

Since today, there was no electricity and I was the only dog trapped with the hoomans inside our house, I got extra pampering. The Secretary massaged my legs and gave me lots of treats. I slept all day and wasnt even scared of the rain.

~ its me, Scarlet

A wheely dream

Its me Scarlet with some exciting news! The Secretary sent out several applications for financial assistance from non profit organizations based abroad, with the hopes of getting me a functional wheelchair this time. Today we got an email from a volunteer at Labrador Life Line who said she will present our application to the Board. We know the state of the 'conomy these days so our expectations are not very high, but we consider ourselves lucky that the LLL would even consider helping a dog from the Philippines.

I wasted no time digging for photos in our post archives because I need to submit several recent photos of myself, along with my health record. Please cross your paws!

This is how I ended up at Greenwoods Pet Clinic...

When I was a little pup, I hurt my feet. Next thing I know, my legs stopped working. Then other parts of me stopped working too, specifically, my poop machine.

Fast forward to the day when the Animal Doctor and his wife, the Secretary, took me home to live with them. My original mom and dad decided they could not take care of Scarlet anymore.

My new family took care of me-

and my special needs.

The Secretary even made me a wheelchair from scratch ( unfortunately it didn't work). Since the Animal Doc operated on me, I have been regularly making poopies, but my legs remained busted. My front legs followed suit. I could not even use them when the Secretary tries to "walk" me with a towel placed under my tummy. The Animal Doc said I need to see a veterinary specialist, but I know the Secretary has just enough money to feed me and my brothers and sisters ( there are 20 of us dogs and kitties that she adopted).

So I try to be happy lying on my tummy all day long

With my toys

and pig's ears-

in my soft, comfortable bed.

But whenever I hear my brothers and sisters playing outside, I feel this urge to hurl myself out of our kitchen door...

So I could play with them,

In a game of bitey face or two.

And run so fast and free,

just like how I remember it in my puppy days.
I would give anything to be able to run again.

Dear God in DogHeaven,

Please, pretty please make my dreams of a wheelchair come true.