Remember Clarence, the guardian angel who helps George Bailey in the 1946 Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life? He had to work awfully hard to get his wings, but if he was in Silver City this year, he'd find out that it's easy to become a Guardian Angel for a homeless dog and it's even tax deductible!

Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary in Arenas Valley, continues to be the first and only "No-Kill", No Cage Dog Rescue in southwest New Mexico, and serves Grant County and all communities throughout 125 miles. PDR rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes abused, abandoned, neglected, unwanted and "special needs" dogs. Puppy Dog Ranch is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity, run by a hand full of unpaid volunteers and funded entirely by your donations. Since August 2009, PDR has rescued 225 dogs, through their adoption matching program, has found qualified FURever homes for more than 175 dogs and maintains a 99% adoption success rate. Currently there are 30 dogs living at Puppy Dog Ranch, 13 of them patiently waiting for their "furever" homes. Sometimes it takes only weeks for the right family to come along; sometimes it takes months, even years....and while waiting, each dog is fed, housed, vaccinated, neutered/spayed, socialized with adults, children and other dogs, groomed, leash trained, exercised, and loved. According to Laurie West, founder and president, loving them is the easy part.

Guardian Angels help with the harder parts.

Not all people want, or can foster a dog. Guardian Angels are people who sponsor a dog by making a financial donation either in the name of a specific dog or to all the dogs in general. The dog pictured is Doodle, a 2 legged chiwienie who Puppy Dog Ranch took in and has been taking care of for the past 2 years. Doodle, like more than half of the dogs at the Ranch, lives inside West's home.

But loving and caring for the dogs is expensive and just like Clarence saved George Bailey's life, Guardian Angels truly earn their wings because YOUR financial contribution is helping to save the lives of the dogs who find their way to Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue.

Using Doodle, who is a young, healthy dog, as an example, this is what a Guardian Angel's contribution would cover:

$40 - Doodle's first veterinarian exam or to feed and care for him for one month;
$50 - his de-worming and to pay for his first necessary vaccine;
$70 - the cost of having him neutered (mandatory for all dogs rescued by PDR);
$170 - the care and food for Doodle, one vet exam, de-worming, two of his necessary vaccines, neuter, his rabies vaccine and mandatory county license;
$800 - two custom wheelchairs as he continues to grow and become stronger.

Doodle will live the rest of his life at Puppy Dog Ranch.

Some people become ongoing Guardian Angels and contribute the same dollar amount every month, either for a specific dog, or for any of the dogs living at the Ranch temporarily or permanently, who are being housed, fed and is receiving medical care. Guardian Angels can also make their donation in the name of a loved one or friend, and in this case, a special card goes out to that person letting them know of this tax-deductible donation.

This Christmas season, should you hear a bell ring, you will know that a dog lover has helped to save a dog's life and just received their wings. That person could be you!

If you want to earn your wings this Christmas season, or would like more information, contact Laurie West at (575) 313-7232. Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue is open by appointment 10-5 Tuesday-Friday. The Rescue is located at 27 Twin Sisters Creek Road, Arenas Valley, NM 88022. To see PDR's adoptable dogs or to make a donation through PayPal, visit the website at: www.puppydogranch.org. Guardian Angel sponsorships can be made via PayPal, Check, Cash or Money Order.