The Scoop Spring 2018 from Feral to Family ARF Partners with Pawsitively S.A.F.E
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Tony La Russa’s the Scoop Spring 2018 From Feral to Family ARF Partners with Pawsitively S.A.F.E. The Power of Love Touching Hearts with Pet Hug Pack® Therapy Animals Saving Swanson The Story of an Albino Doberman with Six Special Puppies ARF is Expecting, and You’re Invited to celebrate We’re expecting kittens, that is! Warmer weather ushers in Board of Directors kitten season. Join Tony La Russa, Co-Founder & Chairman us at our Puppy & Gregory L. McCoy, Esq., President Kitten Shower on Jennifer Hall, Vice President Saturday, April 14 at Kara Carter, Secretary our Walnut Creek, CA Neal Mitchell, Treasurer Steve Degnan headquarters, where Jim Heim we’ll collect gifts of Timothy Krisch supplies – puppy pads, Bianca LaRussa kitten formula, and Steven C. Parrish more – giving these Dayna Sayres little ones a great start. John Steiner This is a perfect event ARF Executive Staff for children as well, with games, prizes, Elena Bicker, Executive Director Kitten births return in the springtime, causing Elaine Durkin, Finance Director an influx into shelters. and furry guests. Can’t Stephanie Erickson, Operations Director make the party? View Erin Jones, Development Director or our puppy/kitten gift registry at arflife.org and donate online! 2890 Mitchell Drive Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (925) 256-1273 www.arflife.org c facebook.com/tlrarf Your Spring Cleaning Saves Lives youtube.com/tlrarf @ARFtweets • @ARFadoptions @tlrarf • #arfadoptions Adoption Hours Wed - Thu: Noon - 6 pm Fri: Noon - 7 pm Sat - Sun: Noon - 6 pm Wendy Taylor-Tanielian, Scoop Editor Cole Kuiper, Scoop Art and Production On the Cover: Chick & Eaglet These adorable kittens came to ARF still nursing alongside five siblings. After spending a month in a foster home, where they stayed Purging clutter can raise your spirit and funds for animals. The ARF busy learning and playing, the Thrift Store in Concord, CA accepts clean clothes, appliances, books, entire litter found loving homes. and more. Sales support our ARF Emergency Medical Fund® (EMF) that Learn more about our kitten rescue provides veterinary funds for families in need. Go to arflife.org/thrift-store efforts on page 10. for information on accepted items. A Message from the Executive Director pring brings one of ARF’s busiest Sseasons with thousands of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens flooding shelters due to young pets found homeless or abandoned and families unable to afford the high cost of spay/neuter. ARF’s proactive commitment to reducing the cGerman Shepherd mix puppies were abandoned in number of animals entering public shelters and a cardboard box and left in a public shelter’s parking finding homes through collaborative efforts is lot. These precious pups were only 10 days old, and highlighted on page ten. Partnerships like our one in order to survive needed round-the-clock care and with Pawsitively S.A.F.E. are instrumental in reducing bottle feeding. The shelter contacted ARF, knowing feral cat populations and allowing community trap- we had the medical staff and foster teams available to and-release groups to focus on trapping more felines care for the delicate pups. Today, we are happy to say for spay/neuter and medical care. As partners, we that Lego, Fisher Price, Hasbro, and Mattel are now unite in saving more lives and helping these precious all safe with full bellies. Can we count on your help to animals find new loving homes. rescue more puppies and kittens through your support of Animals on Broadway? This fun-filled festival and Prior to adoption at ARF, each beloved rescue pet walk is on Saturday, May 19 and an exciting way animal undergoes a miraculous transformation. I to save lives. I encourage you to create a walk team am incredibly proud of the medical treatment and (or a virtual walk team) with your friends, neighbors, meticulous care that our dogs and cats receive c or coworkers or consider a gift to help rescue more after being pulled from public facilities as they run animals like the little ones abandoned in a parking lot. out of time. Be sure to read page eight with the To learn more about their plight and how you can help, story of our beautiful Swanson and her six amazing visit https://arf.donordrive.com/participant/bicker. Doberman puppies recently rescued from Sutter Animal Services. Swanson faced unique medical We remain deeply grateful for your continuing challenges, including a genetic clotting issue. After support of ARF. Together, we are making great additional accommodations and testing for both her strides in animal rescue and positive outcomes in and her litter, Swanson blossomed into a strong and our many programs focusing on People Rescuing affectionate dog and was adopted by a caring family. Animals… Animals Rescuing People®. It’s thrilling to stay in touch with our adoptor families and watch their growth and transformation. Recently, on a frigid cold and wet night, a litter of Executive Directorc 3 The Power of Love: Touching Hearts with Pet Hug Pack® Therapy Animals Recent tragedies in Parkland, FL and around the nation highlight the role therapy animals play following times of crisis and stress. Whether offering comfort following disasters or lifting spirits of those battling illness, the human-animal bond can help heal. ARF is a proud leader in animal therapy with our Pet Hug Pack® serving as a national model for visiting animal programs. Our special animals (not just limited to dogs!) visit hospitals and nursing homes, where they gently bring happiness and a healing touch. They frequent UC Berkeley and high school campuses during finals week and other stressful times. They even make their way to Camp ARF (see page 15), teaching future animal-lovers how to interact with four-legged friends. Every year, thousands of children, seniors, veterans, and others in need come face-to-furry-face with members of the Pet Hug Pack® and walk away with extra love in their heart. Think you might have a future therapy animal living under your roof? Visit arflife.org for how you and your pet can bring unconditional love to people in need. ARF Pets and Vets Alums Giving Back Graduation from our Pets and Vets program doesn’t always mean goodbye for our veteran- rescue dog teams. A growing number of graduates now return to ARF as training volunteers. “This is their chance to give back to a program they feel has given them so much - their dog, increased confidence, and independence,” ARF Pets and Vets Program Manager Merritt Rollins said. These veterans, many of whom suffer from service-related conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, or anxiety often speak about how they and their dogs both benefit from training. “Many veterans have a hard time leaving the safety and security of their home,” Merritt said. “The fact that they now want to return to the social environment of training means they Pets and Vets dogs Finnegan and Skyler train toward their service received more than just a service dog.” certifications with their veterans. 4 Sue Cross: A Wealth of ARF Knowledge Zebedee the mini-horse brings joy wherever he goes. Sue Cross laughs that her upbringing with horses and cows in Connecticut led to her love of big dogs. But her compassion for all animals brought her to ARF’s foster program in the ‘90s, and she’s now volunteering in almost every area of the organization. “I loved the philosophy behind ARF and really wanted to be a part of it,” Sue explained. “I wanted to learn everything there is to know when I volunteered.” Sue has volunteered in almost every area, from giving tours Champ visits students at Miramonte High School. and helping with events to microchipping animals and Photo credit: Cathy Dausman, Lamorinda Weekly. cooking chicken for dogs with sensitive digestion. She worked with the original visiting therapy animal team, now the Pet Hug Pack®. Her late dog Daisy, a Leonberger, was one of the program’s original members, a legacy which continues today with Cooper, a Great Pyrenees. Of all her volunteering jobs, Sue treasures educating people about ARF’s diverse programs. She continues learning every time she enters the building and encourages potential volunteers to do the same. “Give it a try, and try everything,” she said. “Just experience it.” Veteran team celebrating their Pets and Vets service dog graduation. Sue Cross and Cooper greet students at Camp ARF. 5 Stars to the Rescue XXVII The stars were shining bright as ARF hosted its 27th annual Stars to the Rescue musical gala in late January. Attendees at the sold-out show enjoyed heart-pumping performances by 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chicago, Grammy-nominated country artist Cam, Phantom of the Opera legend Franc D’Ambrosio, and more. Tony La Russa also presented the 2017 Evie and Hope Awards and shared exciting news about the growing Pets and Vets program before a packed house. Thank you to all attendees, performers, volunteers, and sponsors who made this a fabulous night to remember. Chicago’s horn section combines power and fun. Antioch PD Chief Tammany Brooks receives ARF’s Evie Award. Bark at the Park Saturday, April 7 Saturday, April 14 Bring Your Dog Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona DBacks to a Ballgame Globe Life Park c Arlington, TX Dodger Stadium c Los Angeles, CA Sunday, April 22 Saturday, May 5 Cal Golden Bears vs. Washington Huskies New York Mets vs. Colorado Rockies Evans Diamond c Berkeley, CA Citi Field c Queens, NY Thursday, May 24 Friday, June 29 Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets Oakland Athletics vs.