GELA Foundation

In 2009 we went to an adoption event in Anderson, SC to "look" for possibly adding a member to our family. As I bent down to check out this little 6-month-old pup she put her paws on my shoulders to give me a hug and the rest, as they say, is "her" story. 

This sweet pup was named "Mudpie" and we just didn't see that in her. We decided to give her a name as unique and special as she was to us. She was named after both her dad and myself, using the first and last letters of both of our names - GE (GeorgE) and LA (LisA).

We knew immediately she was a special girl. She showed more love in her short lifetime than most people get in their entire lives.

The pandemic hit in 2020 and we were all on lockdown. Shortly after lockdown, Gela's dad, George, had to have emergency heart surgery. For the next several months, while George recovered it was just us. During this time Gela and I became inseparable. We spent every second together and did everything together. She became my shadow and my biggest supporter.

As Gela's dad recovered, Gela's health took a turn for the worse. We believe she stayed strong and well to help us while her dad recovered. We spent our time together making her life the best life not knowing how long we had with our girl. In 2021 our hearts were shattered when we had to say goodbye to our sweet girl. As I sat in my grief and heartache I realized I needed to do something in her honor; something to help the pain in my heart and something to bring back some of the joy she brought to my life. And so the G.E.L.A. Foundation was formed. 

Our mission is to share with others, the extraordinary love you can both give and receive from adopting a pet. The same extraordinary love we experienced with our Gela.

You will be my friend for always and always and always.

Lisa Marie Carter

Gela's mom and Founder of G.E.L.A Foundation