Our June 22 Boat Cruise was a tremendous success! With over 200 guests and 50 silent auction /raffle prizes, we were able to raise close to $40,000! Thank you to everyone who attended.

Check out more photos from our June 22 Boat Cruise by clicking here!

Monty Healing

Monty is a brilliant dog. He was rescued last year from a shelter in Baltimore, MD. He’s a 6 year old pit-mix, beautiful sandy blonde with a black mask. He was rescued from a life on a chain in a backyard somewhere in the city, but not thought to have been a fighting dog. He bears the scars of his former neglect, including a long, snaking scar down the middle of his back. (No one knows for certain what its from – the latest theory, is acid!!)  His disposition belies his past. He is a confident, mostly happy dog who enjoys lots of exercise. He can even run on a treadmill!   

Sweet Monty

But he is very smart, eager to please, easy to train, and has come so far since rescue. When FOAR heard about Monty from his owner, we stepped in and were able to get Monty a wonderful home with Eric Bellows at Train of Thought in upstate New York. Eric is an incredible trainer and animal humanitarian. Eric is willing to keep Monty for life if need be, and Monty will NEVER EVER be on a chain or left alone for children to pick on-ever again.

FOLLOW UP LETTER FROM MONTY:

Ladies of FOAR,

I can not truly express my gratitude to you, your shelter, and especially Ilse, for all of the hard-work and generosity that you have shown to me and my wonderful dog, Monty.  (I truly hope that you get to go and see him at Eric’s…  he’s such a special dog!!)  I am so humbled that anyone would just give so openly and without reservation. Thank you a million times over!  Monty truly deserves another chance and thanks to you ladies, he’s got the best chance!

I had told Ilse that my birthday is June 2nd.  On my birthday, since its halfway through the year, I re-evalutate my new year’s resolution and often make “Colleen’s New Year’s resolutions.”  I was walking Monty one evening by the water at my complex and I was looking for fireflies. I keep trying so hard to look specifically for them, knowing there are plenty around.  Have you ever tried to look for fireflies?  I mean, really concentrate on it?  It doesn’t work.  But, if you soften your eyes and widen your gaze, you will see tons!  With their strange beauty and magic, just dancing in the twilight.  I thought it was a good metaphor for where I was in my life.  I was trying to see the good things — the beauty, the magic — straining to see it and I just couldn’t.  I realized that I needed to soften my gaze, relax and the fireflies would appear!

Thank you so much for being my fireflies!  I feel like I can barely sleep at night its so bright!

Forever in your debt,
Colleen and Monty

All of us that have been involved with Friends of Animal Rescue have at one time had to say goodbye to a beloved friend. Yesterday, FOAR President, Betsy Goldman had to bid farewell to her Nero. What started out as a temporary foster, turned into a 3 year stay. Nero became part of a constantly growing pack of rescues that Betsy fosters throughout the year. He was a guardian of sorts for the entire crew. He was a strong man that could not fight the ravages of old age and yesterday he went home – to where all animals live in peace. Here is an excerpt from Betsy’s note about Nero. Rest in peace lovely dog.

Best Friends

“He was an angel and a gentle gentleman til the very end. I loved him and will always love him. He was a polite and sweet soul. Did you know he would never enter through a door until he was “given permission”? He never once got mad when sweetie would leap over to his bowl and eat up his food. He got clawed by many a cat when he went up to sniff or lick them –but never once retaliated. The world has a lot to learn from this blessed beast who I will love forever. May he rest in peace. He was our very own cow in the city.”

Hank is still looking for a home.

We don’t know much about the first two years of Hank’s and Lucy’s lives, but it’s hard not to imagine the worst. They were rescued in June of 2009 as part of the notorious “Hartford 14,” a group of 14 pitbulls who were found living in tiny cages lined up and stacked in crates in a small outdoor shed in Hartford, Connecticut. The police raided the property and took the dogs to the city’s animal shelter, which put out the word that the dogs had 10 days to be adopted before they would be put down.

Several of the dogs were unfortunately returned to their owner, but Hank and Lucy were rescued and taken to a boarding facility in Queens. One person who visited them described them as “completely wild, incapable of walking on a leash or socializing with people or other dogs… Their paws were splayed from perpetually standing in the cages and they had parasites.”

Lucy found a wonderful home!

When Friends of Animal Rescue learned about their situation, Hank and Lucy had been sitting in the boarding facility for more than six months, with no prospects of being adopted. FOAR sprang into action and moved them to Bark & Play, a cageless boarding facility where they were given medical treatment and taught how to walk on a leash and socialize. Friends of Animal Rescue paid the costs of boarding, treating and training them, and began aggressively working to find them new homes. They both gained weight and became playful, affectionate dogs. In March, Lucy was adopted. Hank is still seeking a home.

It’s hard not to be moved and amazed by the story of Kikogue. This black-and-white papillon is only four years old, and she has  already cheated death twice. Her name is derived from the Korean word for “dog meat,” because as a young puppy in Korea she was given to a U.S. Army soldier by someone who feared Kikogue was going to be killed and eaten. The soldier shipped the little papillon to his mother in Queens, New York, believing he was saving her life. That was just the first time Kikogue’s life would be saved.

Kikogue

The soldier’s mom, Oliva, adopted the little dog, and cared for her as best she could. But in 2009 Kikogue became ill, experiencing bleeding and trouble urinating. A veterinarian told Oliva the dog had bladder stones, and that surgery would cost as much as $2000. She did not have the money, and began administering aspirin to Kikogue for the pain. In February of 2010 she decided she should put Kikogue to sleep. She couldn’t afford surgery and couldn’t bear to watch the papillon suffer.  One day while walking Kikogue, she revealed her desperation to her neighbor Carol, who sought guidance from a local animal rescue group Bobbi and the Strays. Carol had only met Oliva and Kikogue a few times, while walking her own 3 dogs, but when she heard Oliva’s plan she knew she had to do something.
Carol reached out to Friends of Animal Rescue, at the recommendation of Bobbi and the Strays. Kikogue had surgery on March 24th, paid in full by FOAR. The surgery revealed a stone that was as big as the dog’s bladder.  One day later, Kikogue was able to urinate freely, without blood for the first time since July of 2009.  And Kikogue sleeps peacefully each night now, which actually alarmed Oliva at first, because she had sadly become accustomed to the sounds of Kikogue pacing the floors at night, unable to sleep from discomfort. Carol considers herself Kikogue’s godmother, and she sent FOAR this email: “This whole event has been amazing. From the day little Kikogue crossed my path, my eyes have been opened up to the goodness of people.”  Oliva speaks very little English, but Carol tells FOAR that Oliva feels she’s been blessed by a miracle.

Gidget and Ray

Two lives in crisis.  But fate and luck were waiting in the wings to change their lives in amazing ways.

Gidget, a young, pit mix found herself at the Brooklyn NYCACC.  Her odds of leaving the shelter alive were slim.   Gidget, on the euthanasia list for the next day, caught the eye of a rescuer who scrambled to find a foster and eventually placed her in long-term boarding. The month’s dragged by but the loving home willing to accept a sweet, shy pit bull with little training didn’t materialize.

In upstate New York, Ray was struggling with equally life-threatening circumstances.  Diagnosed with full-blown AIDS, he spent months in the hospital- his independence and spirit  shattered.  When Ray decided to get back on his feet, he went to Craig’s List to job search but found himself drawn to the pet category and one particular posting.  It said, “Gidget has hard a hard life and needs a loving home.” He immediately fell in love with the freckle-faced pit bull and decided to adopt her.  He was fearful about being able to properly care for a dog, but still wanted Gidget.

“Gidget has given me the most unconditional love I’ve ever experienced. She made my life worth living.  I recently got a good job and we’re living in a brand new apartment.  Gidget gives me a reason to go home after work.  Being responsible for her every need has taken me from my deathbed to living life to the fullest. I recently took Gidget, dressed in butterfly wings, to my nephew’s special needs class. The kids went crazy for her. Gidget and I are inseparable!”

Dedicated rescuers played a major part in saving Gidget’s life and finding her a forever home with Ray. From long-term boarding, to medical exams, spaying and shots, and transporting, most rescuers go into great personal debt to do their work.   Friends of Animal Rescue provided the badly needed funds for Gidget’s boarding and gave rescuers the time necessary to find her perfect home with Ray.   We keep the dream alive that individuals can make a difference. There are so many other Gidgets out there looking for their Ray.    Please donate!  Help us help rescuers save more lives and make happy endings.

GoNogging has announced the winner for our “Smiling Pets” contest and these 2 cuties have taken home the prize. Thank you to everyone who participated and raised enough money to pay for 4 cats to get spayed!

Poor Bettina was brought to Animal Care and Control as a throw-away stray.  She was an FIV positive kitty with a severe upper respiratory infection and languished in a cage with a bloody nose for weeks.  Her weight began to drop and her chance for adoption was very slim.  A rescue finally stepped forward for her but quickly backed out when they heard her FIV+ status.

When S.I. Feral Initiative,  learned about Bettina, they immediately took her into their rescue.  Friends of Animal Rescue paid for Bettina’s medical care and watched her progress on the road to recovery, happy to give her new chance at life.

Bettina soon found a new loving home who had another FIV+ cat.  She now lives a life of kitty leisure, playing with her brother and snoozing on pillows. Her mom says Bettina and her new brother is a perfect match.  They’re inseparable!