SOL Foundation – Sharing Our Love

Guest post and photos by Sheila Appleby Williams

Phoebe Rose, celebrity Pug, joined Ashley Oelsen, President and Founder of SOL (Sharing our Love) Foundation at the Los Angeles East Valley Animal Shelter in the San Fernando Valley. The recently relocated and upgraded East Valley Shelter is one of the busiest facilities in the Los Angeles Animals Services Department with 165 dog kennels and one of the largest shelter community rooms that has hosted a number of celebrity pet causes and provided canine adoptions for Hollywood A-listers like Drew Barrymore and Hilary Swank.

Ashley Oelsen, referred to as the “Harriet Tubman” of the dog world, praised the committed staff.  “This shelter has a really good group!”  Ashley had recently returned from transporting six canines from the East Valley Shelter to a Canadian rescue group, Adopt a Paw, Pethaven, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  The East Valley Shelter has had a very successful adoption relationship with this Canadian rescue organization-particularly for Chihuahuas-which are seen as exotic as well as with Pit Bulls-no bans there on “bully breeds.”

The physical logistics of her solo mission – transporting the six dogs in crates and negotiating through customs was a labyrinth of obstacles -“a logistical nightmare” says Ms. Oelsen, but “I’ve committed my life to this.”  In fact, this determined and indefatigable young woman has maneuvered her way through these kinds of rescue missions several times.

The SOL Foundation, recently featured on Good Day, LA, targets long term solutions to the problem of unwanted pets and animal cruelty through inner city elementary school classroom programs emphasizing education, awareness and empathy.  “There are huge cultural differences in the treatment of animals and my goal is to teach a new perspective,” says Ms. Oelsen.

Studies have shown that child neglect and abuse and animal abuse are both elements of a family violence system.  Animal abuse has been found in 99% of families that were under state supervision for the physical abuse of their children.

Ashley is trying to break this cycle by going into the classrooms with her Delta Society service animal, SOL, a rescued Weimaraner, to teach responsibility and respect for animals and humans. The children follow up by signing awareness pledges, working on creative writing and art assignments and collecting donated items for local shelters.

Ashley has created, designed and personally funded this program.  100% of donations and contributions go directly into the foundation.

Photos courtesy Sheila Appleby Williams