Friends of the Formerly Friendless Animal Rescue Organization

FFF News and INFORMATION

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened" --Anatole France

NEW COMMUNITY RESOURCE

Petunia Beginning August 19, 2009, a new community resource for "good Samaritans" and feral/stray cat rescuers will be activated. The "Petunia's Project" will provide vouchers for independent rescuers and "good Samaritans" who have rescued and taken in abandoned, stray and/or feral cats that will provide:

FREE combo test.
Spay/neuter.
De-worming (if deemed necessary).
FVRCP shot.
Rabies shot.
Advantage application.

For those rescuers that will be practicing TNR and caring for a colony, the basic voucher will also provide for ear-tipping.

For those "good Samaritans" and rescuers who will be fostering/socializing and/or adopting an abandoned, stray adoptable cat, they will have an option for $5 to have a 24 hour pet-watch microchip placed in their rescue cat/kitten. Petunia's Project will pick up the rest of the cost of the chip and implanting.

These services will NOT have to be scheduled. Once authorized through "Friends of the Formerly Friendless", the administrator of the Project, the rescuer can contact our participating veterinarian, Animal Care Clinic, which will have been notified of the impending feral or stray and will arrange for the rescuer to drop off and pick up the cat/kitten the following day. The services INCLUDE an overnight stay after spay/neuter to insure a safe transition from anesthesia and recovery upon leaving the clinic.

SAME day drop off is available if pre-authorized.

This Project was developed to fill a critical need in our community for independent rescuers and "good Samaritans" not affiliated with a group and requiring immediate and ongoing services. The flexibility in scheduling and in working with an independent veterinary office that is open 7 days a week provides a new option for these rescuers/good Samaritans in our community that have hitherto been underserved.

This Project is being made possible by a grant from a new Family Foundation in our Community, the Max T. and Grace D. Morgan Charitable Foundation.

For more information, interested parties may contact Sally.

WHAT'S NEW IN ANIMAL NEWS

In keeping with its commitment to Community Service,..............

FRIENDS OF THE FORMERLY FRIENDLESS is pleased to pass on this new community resource for all animal lovers. It promises to be a continuing source of relevant and timely information on issues important to all animal lovers:

www.animalstodayradio.com

SOCK FIP RESEARCH FUND

SOCK FIP FRIENDS OF THE FORMERLY FRIENDLESS is proud and excited to be a founding member of the new S.O.C.K. FIP research project. S.O.C.K. is the acronym for Save Our Cats and Kittens. SOCKFIP is a group of cat-lovers, breeders, rescuers, shelters and vets working together to generate essential funding for FIP research at the UC Davis Center for Companion Animal Health. Virtually 100% fatal, FIP strikes 1 in 100 of all cats. We know that most cats acquire the FIP virus early in life, though actual disease signs may not occur until weeks, months or even years later.

Right now, there's no prevention and no cure for FIP. It's time to change all that - and it can be done! Through the very exciting and promising work at UC Davis, we hope to learn how to prevent FIP or find suitable treatments, and spare future generations of cats and cat-lovers this nightmare. Because very little government funding is available for companion animal studies, we are relying on the vast community of cat-lovers to help.

SUPPORT FIP RESEARCH AND SOCK IT TO FIP!

CHECK		Payable to: Memo: Mail to:	UC Regents FIP research Lisa Woodard-Mink, Director of Major Gifts UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Dean's Office, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616
CREDIT CARD		If you would like to make a gift using your credit card, please call UC Davis at (530) 752-7024.

For more info, please visit the S.O.C.K F.I.P. website.

FFF ANNOUNCEMENT

FFF now has available our new, exclusive, bumper sticker "ANIMAL ABANDONMENT ... IT'S AGAINST THE LAW". It is our hope that by spreading this message throughout our community that we can stem the tide of animal abandonment that has intensified with the mortgage crises in our communities. If you suspect that an animal in your neighborhood has been abandoned, please do not wait for someone else to do it, report it to our local Animal Services Department at 925 335-8300. You can get your bumper sticker at our adoption site at Pet Food Express in Concord. Please help us spread the word!

SPECIAL EVENTS

More events coming soon—stay tuned!

WHO WE ARE

We are a recognized California non-profit Animal Rescue organization. We are recognized by the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) (3) non-profit. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

The mission of this Organization/Network is:

To find responsible and loving homes for companion animals
To alleviate the overpopulation problem in our communities by assisting in the current spay/neuter campaign
Provide emergency foster care for animals at risk, in danger and/or caught in a domestic violence/animal abuse situations
Work cooperatively with County Animal Services to assist in placement of shelter animals
Establish a mutual support network among rescue organizations and independent community rescuers
Maintain an ongoing web site that consists of:
- Lost and Found site - attempts to link lost/stolen/stray animals with their owners
- Extra Special Pets Adoption Program (ESP) places pets with special needs in loving, responsible homes
- Short On Luck Program - provides emergency foster care for animals at risk, and/or victims of domestic violence or animal abuse
Mobile Adoptions - provides mobile adoptions throughout the County at convenient scheduled locations
Community Education - disseminates humane education materials in our communities

...As always, we hope to serve our "formerly friendless friends"
...and our communities
...with a sense of humor.

HOURS OF OPERATION

OUR NEW HOURS ARE:

SUNDAY 1:00PM - 4:30PM*

*EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

ADOPTING A FRIEND

An application, interview, and preliminary home visit are required. If deemed necessary, a follow up home visit is scheduled.

The person responsible for the pet is required to sign an Animal Care contract.

A recovery cost of $95 covers vet costs for the pet. There is a reduced recovery cost for additional pets if more than one is adopted at one time. Vet services for each cat include the following:

Combo test: feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline AIDS (FIV)
Distemper test (for kittens and those at high risk) spay or neuter
First FVRCP shot (includes distemper)
De-worm
Ear treatment
Flea control
24-hour Pet Watch microchip

AGES OF OUR CATS AND KITTENS

Ages of our cats and kittens are approximate and may reflect the age at which the cat entered F.F.F.'s Program. F.F.F. makes every effort to update the ages of our cats periodically.

When inquiring regarding one of our cats, please ask regarding the current age.

FFF POLICIES

Under special circumstances, we show our cats by appointments in the evenings during the work week. Availability of the cats/kittens for appointment depends on the availability of the foster and/or transportion arrangements. If you see a cat/kitten you are interested in on our website, contact Sally via our email and/or phone to check on the availability of that cat/kitten for evening appointments.

As a rule, F.F.F. does not offer kittens below twelve-to-fourteen weeks of age for adoption. All F.F.F. kittens/cats are combo tested for feline AIDS and feline Leukemia prior to adoption. Our veterinarians have advised us that the testing for these diseases is not accurate or dependable below twelve-to-fourteen weeks of age. Therefore, we will not release any kittens/cats for adoption until we can be assured of an accurate test result.

It is F.F.F.'s philosophy that we will not knowingly adopt any kitten/cat into your home that we wouldn't place in our own homes. We appreciate your understanding .

Sally ..... and Petunia

MICROCHIPPING

In an effort to provide our "F.F.F. graduates", their families, and our dedicated F.F.F. fosters/staff with peace of mind, we have begun microchipping all of our adoptees. This will provide a "safety net" for our "formerly friendless felines" that go on to their new homes.

F.F.F. is listed as the secondary contact in the event that an emergency or unforeseen circumstance, causes them to be lost, stolen or strayed. This should make sure that our "F.F.F. adoptees, will always "have a friend" if they are in need....and ALWAYS be "formerly friendless".

FFF OTHER CRITTERS
Cat in cradle

F.F.F. has always been committed to helping any and all formerly friendless creatures.When we were approached to help feature some homeless bunnies, we were only too glad to lend some of our web space to help these homeless buns find loving homes. These buns have hopped onto our webpage and hopefully, right into your heart!

THE BUNNIES ARE HERE, THE BUNNIES ARE HERE:

F.F.F. has always been committed to helping any and all "formerly friendless creatures".

When we were approached to help feature some homeless bunnies, we were only too glad to lend some of our webspace to help these homeless "buns" find loving homes.

These "buns" have "hopped" onto our webpage and hopefully, right into your heart!

9 COMMON RABBIT MYTHS

Myth 1: Rabbits are great, low-maintenance starter pets.

Reality: Although they don't need to be walked like dogs, rabbits are anything but low-maintenance. Their quarters need daily cleaning, and fresh food and water must be offered daily, including a salad of well-washed, dark-green leafy vegetables. Certain rabbit health problems can become chronic and can require regular (and sometimes expensive) veterinary treatment. To complicate the picture, veterinarians skilled in rabbit medicine are often hard to find.

Myth 2: Rabbits only live a year or two, so no long commitment is necessary.

Reality: Well cared-for indoor rabbits can live 7-10 years, and some live into their teens. This is approximately the same life span as some breeds of dogs, and requires the same long-term commitment.

Myth 3: Rabbits do not need veterinary care the way dogs and cats do.

Reality: Although rabbits in the USA do not require annual vaccinations, nevertheless, regular veterinary checkups help to detect small problems before they become big ones. Companion rabbits should be spayed/neutered by veterinarians experienced in rabbit surgery. This not only reduces hormone-driven behaviors such as lunging, mounting, spraying, and boxing, but also protects females from the risk of uterine cancer, the incidence of which can exceed 50% as rabbits grow older.

Myth 4: Rabbits are happiest outdoors in a backyard hutch.

Reality: Rabbits kept outdoors in hutches are often forgotten and neglected once the initial novelty wears off. Far too frequently, they are relegated to a life of "solitary confinement" and are subject to extremes of weather, as well as to diseases spread by fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes all of which can adversely affect their health and their life span. They can die of heart attacks from the very approach of a predator - even if the rabbit is not attacked or bitten. Rabbits are gregarious creatures who enjoy social contact with their human caretakers. The easiest way to provide social stimulation for a companion rabbit is to house him indoors, as a member of the family.

Myth 5: Rabbits are rather dirty, and have a strong odor.

Reality: Rabbits are immaculately clean and, once they have matured and are spayed/ neutered, they go to great lengths not to soil their living quarters. They will readily use a litter-box, and if the box is cleaned or changed daily, there is no offensive odor.

Myth 6: Rabbits love to be picked up and cuddled, and do not scratch or bite.

Reality: Although some rabbits tolerate handling quite well, many do not like to be picked up and carried. If rabbits are mishandled they will learn to nip to protect themselves. If they feel insecure when carried they may scratch to get down. Unspayed/unneutered rabbits often exhibit territorial behavior such as "boxing" or nipping when their territory is "invaded" by the owner.

Myth 7: Rabbits- especially dwarf breeds - do not require much living space.

Reality: Rabbits have powerful hind legs designed for running and jumping. They need living space that will permit them ample freedom of movement, even when they are confined. Dwarf rabbits tend to be more active and energetic than some larger breeds, and require relatively more space.

Myth 8: Rabbits can be left alone for a day or two when owners travel.

Reality: Rabbits need daily monitoring. Problems that are relatively minor in some species (e.g. a day or two of anorexia) may be life-threatening in rabbits, and may require immediate veterinary attention.

Myth 9: Rabbits do fine with a bowl of rabbit food and some daily carrots.

Reality: The single most important component of a rabbit's diet is grass hay, which should be provided, free-choice, daily. Rabbit pellets should be given only in very limited quantities.

©Mary E. Cotter, 2002

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO HELP?

Computer Cat

We understand that for some of you, adoption or fostering is currently not an option. However, there are many ways you can help us help the animals. Here are just a few.

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION (we are a recognized 501(c)(3) organization)
DONATIONS (of monies or supplies)
BEQUESTS
MEMORIAMS
DONATION OF SERVICES
SPONSORING OF FUND RAISERS

Whatever you choose to do, it will go directly to the care of the Animals in F.F.F. We are an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff or promo department. With your help, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of the animals we care for and to help the people whose lives are touched by them.

Sally

DONATIONS

Can't foster? You can still help us with our life-saving work by enrolling in ESCRIP. This helps us every time you shop at your favorite store for things you use everyday. It is a free, no-hassle way to help us with the costs of veterinary care, emergency rescue and fostering costs of food, medication and litter.

Signing up for eScrip is free. Once you've signed up, just shop as you normally would.

To register, log onto www.eScrip.com, then click on Sign Up. Designate Friends of the Formerly Friendless as the recipient and register your grocery and debit/credit cards. The Friends of the Formerly Friendless group ID number is 500000602.

For a complete list of participating businesses, click on 2 SHOP.

Each time you shop at a participating merchant, up to ten per cent of your purchase is donated to Friends of the Formerly Friendless in your name.


		Welcome iGive Shoppers! Purchase merchandise from your favorite stores — AND help out FFF Cat Friends! Click here.

CONTACT US

NEW MAILING ADDRESS

Please note our new postal mailing address:

Friends of the Formerly Friendless
PO BOX 6566
Concord, CA 94524

NEW PHONE NUMBER

925-808-8364

COME VISIT US...

...AT PET FOOD EXPRESS

Concord
785 Oak Grove Road. Concord, CA (925) 363-7776
(corner of Treat and Oak Grove, next to Trader Joe's)
Every Sunday of the month: from 12:30pm until 4:30pm (-ish)

Map to our Concord mobile site

Check this site for upcoming Special Events at this location.

Currently, our Organization/Network is serving the feline populations in the County. Hopefully, with further community support, we will be able to extend these services to other companion animals.

...As always, we hope to serve our "formerly friendless friends"
	...and our communities
	...with a sense of humor.