hey you guys. i hope that everyone has been doing well since we've last seen each other. i'm back home after all of the grammy fun. i just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all of the birthday wishes and especially for all of the donations that were made to PETS ALIVE. it means alot to mari and i, all that you guys have done to help us help sara. don't believe the hype. this woman is very cool. let's see.....i'm working on songs for my solo record. i'm so far very happy, but i'm sure there's time for me to throw myself into a fit of depression and curl up in a ball on the floor and scream "go away" to myself for a while. i'm working on getting a web-site together for my new album to keep y'all posted, so keep an eye out. mari is working on getting a web-site for our foundation, SIDEWALK ANGELS, and we hope to be able to pull together some kind of benefit in the coming year. oh yeah, mari IS NOT PREGNANT. but i'm sure she appreciates all the good wishes. (remember, sometimes we read this stuff too.) anyway, to all of you who were at the last show, thanks. that was a big night for all of us and i assure you we will all be together again before we know it. life is funny that way. way too fast. slow down. have fun. damn the man. rob.

Hey Rob...I truly was looking for a forum to mention this...and since u brought up PETS ALIVE here first...i relly need to comment on it..Let me begin by saying..i do believe in the organization...but I have had a few personal issues with them...which brought me to very interesting crossroads a almost two years ago...I had a very unpleasant encounter with a pit bull..and elderly woman...and PETS ALIVE attempted intervention in the matter...I was not going to buy tickets to your concert when I found out some of the proceeds were going to PETS ALIVE....(I say almost because a very nice DJ from K104 explained to me the breakdown..)I did buy the tickets..but then donated money to a charity of my choice to make me feel better about it.(What occured at the concert was an experience all in its own).
My second bad experience with PETS ALIVE comes to 3 dogs that need a home because the only other choice was abandonment and they never returned phone messages or emails...
I have all the respect in the world for you and you wife and all that you do...I just wish that the organizations that you are affiliated with had as much heart as you do.

No kills can only take in so many and abandonment is never an option. There's never a reason or excuse to leave or dump an animal. It's possible with all the phone calls and emails she's sure to receive she missed it. It seems she takes even older and special needs animals and many don't. I think it's wonderful...having a deaf dog myself. Many are put down over myths. How long ago was this? Do you still need help? If so, I'll do what I can.

I forgot to add...the animals there could really use your support even if there are valid issues. The money wouldn't be helping her directly, simply helping her to help them.

Hiya Rob, just to let you know that your new single is really awsome! Good luck with the future and keep rocking!!
Oh yeah....when you comming to dublin?>?????

Hi....the new music is amazing.....it moves me......you are truly a gifted person......good luck and please do a show in oregon sometime

Catahoula...The pitbull occurrence happened 2 years ago this month..a date i will never forget..I do agree that PETS ALIVE dpes do good work and I am sure that they get tons of mail and all...but, when you are looking for help with no where else to turn...you hope for at least a reply that they cant help..some reply is better than none...
yes..still have two dogs needing a home..one a yellow lab..one a chocolate lab...7 yrs and 5 yrs..both male....any ideas????
you can email me at edrn@aol.com

Yes, but I'm heading out the door. Kitty litter run, lol. I'll email you as soon as I'm back.. Thanks.

Marisol found out about Pets Alive and her and Rob fell in love with the charity.
Several popular fans have had private and public problems with the charity. I don't know if Rob and Marisol know about them but what is clear is that regardless they adore the charity.
They support it.
Pretty much anything you buy will ultimately go to pets alive because sidewalk angels profits go there to as well as Rob and Marisol donating their time and personal money.
I don't support them either but I am not going to miss out on any matchbox stuff because I don't support them.
Besides, I know they do a lot of great things for animals, I just don't agree with everything.
I think it's good what you did.
Bought the tickets but then donated money to whatever you chose.
That's how it should be.
None of us have to support anything or everything just because Rob does.
It's nice if people want to, but it's not required to be a fan.

In the end, it's all about the music.
That's what should bring anyone to the band and evidently I've learned, what keeps them hooked.
It's not Rob's looks, their charities, or their personalities. That's all gravy.
At the end of the day...it's about the music.
At least it seems to be for a lot of people.

Peace and love,

Vonnie

In reply to "why" sarah doesn't answer if you spent a day at her place you would know why. I have supported pets alive for a couple of years now and even fostered "tyler" for over 7 months so she could take other dogs in as there was no space and Sarah works from 4a in the morning until almost midnight sometimes. Her priority is the animals and believe me a hundred of us couldn't do what she does in a day. Go spend a day there, Rob and Mari have and you will see what it is like to run a sanctuary with no help, sick animals,discarded pets, etc etc.
It is a great place so instead of putting it down go there and experience it. Until you do, don't judge!

Woodsy...ur right..i can see that Sara is so busy that she has time to constantly post on here....I dont need to spend time at Pets Alive to know what they do..I do agree they do wonderful things...My comment was not on the cause but on the person involved in the cause. I also volunteer the majority of my time...I know what it is all about..But, just as you..I can only talk about my experiences...so dont judge...

quote:

I have all the respect in the world for you and you wife and all that you do...I just wish that the organizations that you are affiliated with had as much heart as you do.

Your words above. Sara gets hundreds of emails every day and if she took in all the animals that everyone wants to give up she would need thousands of acres and employees and also precious minutes she could be with the animals. I have volunteer'd there, I have seen what her days are like. Just because you don't like the person who runs it doesn't mean you take away from the animals or her cause. Walk a day in her shoes, then you will know what I am talking about. Until you do don't ever say she doesn't have a "heart" as she has a bigger heart then all of us put together. I am not going to get into a "debate" with you but my conscience is clear that I have helped a good cause and the animals who were throwaways. No I don't agree with sarah on some things but that is sarah, it doesn't make me any less of a person but it makes me a better person knowing I helped some helpless animal who would of been dead if not for her.
I have emailed her countless times with no response, WHY because she is out in the kennels, or the paddocks or running animals to the hospital etc etc. It's easier to blame HER as to why she didn't return your call or email because of dogs about being abandoned then to blame the person abandoning them. If it were my animals which I have 4 of and love like my kids I would move the earth to find them a good home instead of abandoning them and then blame another person because she cannot take them in because she is full beyond capacity.
Take my challenge and spend a day there, then you will know what I am talking about and see if you can return phone calls and emails. I doubt it very much

quote:

Originally posted by rob_thomas:
i'm so far very happy, but i'm sure there's time for me to throw myself into a fit of depression and curl up in a ball on the floor and scream "go away" to myself for a while.

This sentence hit me with a bang...I am sure why but I don't honestly know what I want to say about it. I've been there and probably will be again. This relation is the reason i registered here, I'd been reading through things in the forums and came across this yesterday...don't know what registering is going to do but it'd be nice Rob, if you weren't some big famous guy and we could talk.

quote:

..It's easier to blame HER as to why she didn't return your call or email because of dogs about being abandoned then to blame the person abandoning them..

I have to agree with you there Woodsy.. It always seems easier to blame someone for not doing enough, then the person who's actually committed the offence in the first place..

It's always ok to have your oppinion on things, but it is also very important to know exactly what you're talking about.. It's like reading an article in a magazine - you believe it and talk about it until you find out it never happened..

Kind of like the http://www.bonsaikitten.com/ website.. people were in hysterics telling me that people are ACTUALLY putting kittens in glass jars.. I was in a hysterical-laughing fit becasue I knew that it just wasn't true..