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SPECIAL CRITTERS with SPECIAL NEEDS

Gracey needs our help...click to find out how you can help!

Thank you for being a FRIEND!!

Mindy Barone is a member of Adopt A Rescued Pet (www.adoptarescuedpet.com/), one of Citrus County's all volunteer animal rescues and we just had to create a special blog post for Mindy AND Adopt A Rescued Pet to say THANK YOU for all they do to help the animals and people of Citrus County Animal Services! We can all take a lesson from Mindy and “AARP” on the finer points of having the passion & compassion to "get things done".

In the last 2 months alone the animals of Citrus County Animal Services have received not 1 but 2 generous donations from the AARP team. To provide added comfort and increase the standard of living for the dogs at our now 40year old shelter...they have bought and donated 15 Kuranda beds (http://kuranda.com/) for the shelter - both medium & extra large in size. Kuranda beds are made in the USA beds that are comfortable, durable, easy to clean & provide comfort to the dogs at the shelter, as compared to the hard cement floor many shelter pets will spend weeks, even months on. There is nothing like seeing a litter of our shelter puppies curled up together on one of the kurandas!

Secondly, when Mindy and AARP caught wind of the surgery needs for Pepper, the Rotty Mix (see our previous posting from june 30,2010)...they immediately flew into action. It just so happens their team had been present at PetSupermarket when Pepper stole the heart of a family...who are seriously interested in adopting him! Not wanting to allow the cost of an extremely routine (although pricey) surgical procedure to prevent Pepper from being placed in the home that he deserves...Mindy and her team collectively raised $850 in one week towards our "Pepper Fund".



Our most recent PEPPER/SPECIAL NEEDS fund tally stands at $1,180 - thank you ALL who have contributed. Thanks to Mindy and AARP's amazing efforts - Dr. Julie is able to get surgery scheduled for Pepper and we will just have to keep our foot on the pedal of fund-raising for Pepper and the rest of our Special Needs shelter animals (such as Gracey pictured here who arrived at the shelter with her front leg bent/broken & will require surgery when she gets a little older)!

Adopt A Rescued Pet's advocacy for the Shelter is nothing new. Last year, when they discovered that the washing machine at the shelter was DEAD...with no money in the budget for a replacement in the foreseeable future...guess who donated a new washing machine to Animal Services? You guessed it! And if anyone has ever spent any time at the shelter knows...we produce PLENTY of laundry EVERY DAY from donated sheets and towels that are used in the care and bathing of our shelter pets.


Lastly, the Friends of Citrus County Animal Services would like to thank you - Friend of Citrus County Animal Services, Mindy Barone, for your personal donation to our incorporation expenses!! You are a true Angel and Friend!

The Life of John Henry

Lest any of us shelter friends (you know who you are) gets discouraged...I hope this posting reminds everyone of how our efforts have made a difference. We've just got an update and some photos of John Henry and his little brother Charlie...two CCAS alumni. Here are John Henry and little bro Charlie enjoying a dip with some ducks in their Summer home in New Hampshire with Friends member Donna Sprague and their new family.

John Henry and Charlie are the poster-children for creatures most of us would not hold out much hope for when surrendered at the shelter. John Henry's former owners surrendered him because they could no longer afford to keep him. A Retriever/Mix, JH's age was estimated at 9 years....9 YEARS OLD!!! What is the likelihood of a senior dog surrendered at our shelter...getting adopted? NOT VERY GOOD. Charlie was surrendered as a stray puppy, requiring medical attention for an injured eye. At the same time, the shelter was home to at least a dozen healthy puppies competing for placement into quality homes.

Donna spent her winter months walking & bathing our shelter dogs....even going so far as to foster dear Sophie (the catahoula mix) AND Sip (the walker-hound mix) until they found their forever homes. Being empty nesters (as it relates to furry companions), Donna's husband Bob and she had been keeping their eye out for a potential permanent new addition to their family. Donna had mentioned a fondness for Doberman's by her husband so she was not rushing into an adoption. Well...it was May and it was coming time for Donna to pack up to head back up North and to our surpise and pleasure...Donna & her husband decided on John Henry, the "senior" lab-mix who had been at the shelter for 2 months & who captured their hearts!!! At the same time, Donna's son adopted "little" Charlie.

Following is a note from Donna....we look forward to seeing her back in Citrus County this winter!!

Hi all,
I finally downloaded some pictures.
Happy to say that John Henry is doing well and has adjusted to life in NH right now and Charlie (the little puppy) has adjusted and GROWN!
We have one happy family and just had a large family gathering for the fourth of July. Everyone loves the dogs and they love the family as well.
John Henry may never have seen a lake before, but he goes up to his chest wading with the ducks.
Charlie has just learned to swim and he is very active!
Hope all is well with everyone and hope you all had a good holiday!
Donna

Fashion by Friends!

How exciting is the level of support & enthusiasm that is being generated towards the creation of Friends of Citrus County Animal Services. One of the most interesting aspect of the outreach coming to us, is members being able to offer their support by way of their many and and varied talents. Thus, "Friend of Fashion" has come to being (or whatever we want to call it...FOCCAS Fashion, etc....you be the judge)! Our dear friend and member, Chris Vanerka, has both an industrial strength sewing machine AND the talent to make wonderful dog coats....all she needs is the inspiration! Chris has been walking (and bathing) shelter dogs over the course of the last 6months...a huge contribution and commitment to the shelter. Recognizing the need to raise money for our incorporation and more importantly to fund the monies to help the shelter animal...Chris is making one of a kind dog coats that Friends of Citrus County Animal Services can sell!

I've got a collection of dog coats from Chris' talented hands and have attempted to do justice by shamelessly modeling my own shelter dogs - Lucy & Lefty (check out that lovely underbite on my Lucy) ....but was also able to model them on Adopt A Rescued Pet angel KiKi as well. Obviously these fashions look fabulous on many body types!

BTW - Chris also ended up getting "suckered" into adopting a beautiful dog from the shelter. Formally known as "Rebel", this bully dog is now more appropriately known as "Guinness"...he is a beauty, with a gorgeous brown coat that certainly remind me of a delicious pint!

Chris has reported that she has made additional coats, sweatshirts AND bandanas...while at the same time spreading the word about "Friends of " (aka FOCCAS). She has since been donated a bag of material, velcro and other miscellaneous items to MAKE MORE COATS!!! This is exciting!!!! Being the obsessive compuslive volunteer that she is (like the rest of us), Chris has just ordered 8yards of fleece and Velcro from JoAnn Fabrics....the fashion possibilities for Citrus County Pooches is infinite!!

Lastly, Chris was getting dear Guinness' manicure done at Heather's Dog Spa (on 491) and one thing led to the next and Heather's may very well be willing to put "Friends Fashion" up for sale at their shop...and probably a donation jar too!

Well...this is what its going to take! If you want to get involved...and HELP the SHELTER ANIMALS...bring on your talents. Ask....no....beg...for donations...whatever it takes! Let your passion for animals spur your creativity AND your ability to create our income streams. That's what it takes. Don't think for a second that some army of volunteers is going to do it for your. Get involved!! Use you talents. And don't forget the most important thing - "TO SUGGEST IS TO VOLUNTEER" - if you have some great way to gain funds for our shelter pets...make it happen! You have friends here at Friends Of Citrus County Animal Services...but don't forget for a moment how BUSY we all are. Bring on the great ideas & energy & recruit for our cause.....we need as many hands on deck to GET THIS DONE!!