Posts By: Emily Fromm

The Stories That Made Us Smile in 2018

Posted December 31, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Grants.

Every time we give a grant to a shelter or rescue group, we ask for a report detailing how they used the funds and telling us the story of an individual pet helped as a result. (You can read all of these reports here.)

There are always some that make us smile, or laugh, or say, “wow!” And I wanted to share those with you. So here you’ll find our favorites from 2018, all featuring pets helped by your donations.

Best Breed Ambassador: Ginger
An adoptable pit bull at Associated Humane Societes in Newark, N.J., Ginger (pictured above) arrived at the shelter fearful and anxious. The staff decided to make her the resident office dog to socialize her. She quickly came to love all people, and soon got a second job: She visits area libraries so children can practice reading to her. Her calm, sweet disposition mean she’s always a popular audience.

Best Jogging Buddy: T-Bone
We’ve heard of stray dogs joining humans on their runs, but cats? T-Bone was walking along a Colorado hiking trail when a man jogged by. The friendly cat joined him and ran along beside him for a couple of miles. After the run, the jogger brought T-Bone to Colorado’s Routt County Humane Society, where a Petfinder Foundation grant helped him find a wonderful forever home.

Most Dramatic Rescue: Bear
Fleeing Hawaii’s volcanic eruption in May, a dog named Bear and his owner were separated moments before they were to be rescued by helicopter. Despite many subsequent searches, Bear could not be found. After several weeks, volunteers hiked into the lava-flow zone and found him! He was much leaner, but in good spirits and happy for some company. With help from our disaster grant, Hawaii Island Humane Society was able to rescue Bear (along with some cats, ducks and chickens) and reunite him with his owner.

Best Model: Pom Pom
When Pom Pom was adopted after 2 1/2 years at Jersey Shore Animal Center, staff and volunteers cried tears of joy. Her adopter didn’t care that Pom Pom was 10 years old, had no teeth, and suffered from an autoimmune disease — she just wanted to rescue a cat who really needed a home. Sweet Pom Pom had been so beloved at the shelter that a volunteer painted a beautiful picture of her, which was presented to her adopter. Pom Pom is now being pampered in her forever home.

Best Second Act: Jackson
Jackson lost both eyes as a result of dog fighting. Florida’s Pit Sisters rescue took him into its TAILS (Teaching Animals and Inmates Life Skills) program and, when one particular inmate started training Jackson, they formed an instant bond. Thanks to a Petfinder Foundation grant, Jackson was able to go home with his new dad after graduation — the perfect second chapter for both.

Best Office Assistant: Casper
Casper would “attack” when anyone tried to open the door to his cage at Michigan’s Harbor Humane Society. So staffers decided to see how Casper would do in a different environment and put him into office foster. Within hours, Casper showed his true nature. He loved attention so much, staff took to calling him Caspuurrrr because of his loud purrs when he was pet. He soon went to a wonderful home with another long-term resident cat.

Best Cinderella Story: Ginger
Somerset Humane Society in Maine used our grant to purchase agility equipment, which worked like a charm on a 2-year-old pit mix named Ginger. Ginger had been at the shelter for months, with no interest because she was so anxious in her kennel, barking and throwing herself at the kennel door. But the new agility equipment helped her use up her excess energy and focus on learning routines. After the shelter posted Facebook photos of her doing her tricks, she was adopted within a week!

As you know, these stories are only possible because of your support. Thank you so much from all of us at the Petfinder Foundation, and warmest wishes for 2019!

Helping Dogs Traumatized by Hurricanes

Posted December 28, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Disaster.

We’ve awarded a Disaster Grant of $750 to Oscar’s Cause in Dundee, Florida, to help care for pets it rescued from Hurricanes Michael and Florence.

“Our disaster relief team deployed with supplies for Hurricane Michael two weeks after returning home from Hurricane Florence,” says Funding Coordinator Tori Hodges. “Our efforts included search and rescue, supply distribution, transportation and intake. We brought home three surrenders in need of medical care who were directly impacted by the hurricane.”

The grant funds will go directly to those three dogs, who needed to be completely vetted and cared for while awaiting forever homes. One of the three, Riley (pictured above), a 2- to 3-year-old boxer mix, has severe PTSD and anxiety from being crated inside his home as it collapsed during Hurricane Michael. Oscar’s Cause is working with local trainers to provide him support during his decompression time. The group expects him to be one of the more difficult adoption cases at its facility.

Another dog, Rico (pictured below), approximately 11-month-old, 70-lb. male bulldog mix, has been adopted.

The Year’s Best Pet-Rescue Transformations

Posted December 21, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Grants.

We asked the shelters and rescue groups that received grants from the Petfinder Foundation this year to send us their favorite rescued-pet transformations of 2018.

Here are just a few of the submissions we received.

Many of these images are graphic. But these are the realities that animal rescuers face on a daily basis. Thank you to the shelter staff and rescue-group volunteers who work around the clock to save these vulnerable pets.

Your donation today can help change more pets’ lives.

The Most Amazing Transformations of 2017:

The Most Amazing Transformations of 2016:

The Most Amazing Transformations of 2015:

The Most Amazing Transformations of 2014:

Saving Pets from California Wildfires

Posted November 21, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Disaster.

Bernie, an injured cat at Butte Humane Society

As wildfires devastate California, we’re helping shelters save displaced and injured pets. Here are a few of the disaster grants we’ve sent out so far:

Butte Humane Society: $4,000
The Camp Fire in Northern California’s Butte County has destroyed more than 10,000 structures, displaced more than 50,000 people, and caused more than 60 deaths, and more than 600 people are currently reported missing. Many households in the region have pets. “Conservatively, we estimate that there will be at least 15,000 dogs and cats (not including other small animals or livestock) that are displaced, injured, abandoned, lost or have already perished,” Butte Humane Society Development Director Brad Montgomery tells us. “We feel it will take weeks or even months in order to truly evaluate the scope of the impact.”

BHS has been working with regional partners to do everything it can to help its community’s pets and their owners. The first day of the fire, the shelter moved out all of its adoptable animals — either to emergency foster homes or shelters in safe zones — to open up needed space for evacuees’ pets and injured and stray animals from the impacted areas.

Ruger, a rescued dog at BHS

“Our partners North Valley Animal Disaster Group, Chico Animal Control and Butte County Animal Control have handled much of the sheltering of the evacuated animals, and we’ve been asked to shelter and care for overflow and a number of injured strays,” Montgomery says. “We also noticed that, because people can’t keep their animals with them at the American Red Cross shelters, many people have chosen to keep their animals with them wherever they are, from living the last week in a Walmart parking lot to staying with friends or in motels, to staying in shelters and keeping their animals outside in their vehicles or in crates or whatever they have.”

To help these evacuees, the shelter established a temporary pet-supply resource center at an offsite warehouse. “We have received literally tons of donated pet supplies and we are giving them to people in need,” Montgomery says. “People are breaking into tears when we give them a doggy bed, a bag of cat food, or a dog leash.”

A burned stray cat being cared for at BHS

BHS has also been providing veterinary services at its clinic. “We are fortunate to have an exceptional veterinarian named Dr. Turner, as well as backups in crisis from other partner agencies,” Montgomery says. “Dr. Turner lost her home in this fire, yet she’s still at work providing our clinic services. She’s ensuring that the injured animals we are taking care of are getting the treatments they need.”

At the same time, the shelter continues to provide many of its regular services, such as spay/neuter, vaccinations, and microchipping. “We have started providing these services at no cost to those impacted by the Camp Fire,” Montgomery says. “It’s simply the right thing to do in this situation to remain true to our organizational mission. Our average costs are roughly $190 per animal.”

Santa Maria Valley Humane Society: $3,000
Southern California is suffering from wildfires as well. As of Nov. 17 in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, the Woolsey Fire was 82% contained after burning 98,362 acres and displacing thousands of people and animals. Santa Maria Valley Humane Society is providing care and safety to dogs and cats transferred from at-capacity shelters in the area.

Dogs transferred to Santa Maria Valley Humane Society to make room for evacuees’ pets

“On average, Santa Maria Valley Humane Society cares for about 100 dogs and cats at any given time,” says Executive Director Sean Hawkins. “In addition, this last week we accepted another 43 dogs and cats who were transferred to us from Ventura County Animal Services and Santa Barbara County Animal Services so that those agencies could make room for animal victims of the emergency evacuation due to the Woolsey Fire.”

Our grant funds will be used for veterinary care of these animals, including specialized surgeries, spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and to help offset fee-waived adoptions to move these animals into homes as quickly as possible.

Surfcat Cafe and Adoptions: $2,500
Our grant will help the Oxnard, CA-based rescue group care for cats displaced by the Woolsey and Hill Fires in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

Osiris, an injured cat cared for by Surfcat Rescue

“Our first response is to help fire victims recover their cats,” says Executive Director Leslie Ann Weiss. “We were able to purchase wildlife night-vision cameras and feeding-site materials so displaced cats had food and water. Once cats were spotted on the video feed, we were able to place humane live traps to rescue them and reunite them with their humans.”

The group is also pulling “less-adoptable” cats from local shelters including Ventura County Animal Services and Humane Society of Ventura. The Petfinder Foundation’s Disaster Grant will help fund emergency medical care for injured cats and supplies for foster parents keeping displaced cats safe and healthy until they can be in a more permanent location.

Thank you so much for your donation to our Disaster Fund; we could not have helped these organizations save lives without donors like you!

Millie

Posted October 9, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Memorials.

My donation is a memorial for my friends who have just lost their beloved spaniel, Millie. They found Millie 10 years ago with Petfinder. Here is Millie’s picture on a happy day when she got a new leash!–Diann Hicks Carlson

Meet the Florence Victims Our Grant Recipients Saved!

Posted October 4, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Disaster, Grants.

Hensley, a female Lab-mix puppy, was found in Pender County, N.C., by the Asheville-based Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

Here’s an update on how the adoption groups who received Petfinder Foundation Disaster Grants are helping pets impacted by Hurricane Florence.

A dog being transported to safety by Peak Lab Rescue

We granted $2,500 to Peak Lab Rescue in Apex, N.C., which has rescued more than 100 dogs from Florence, including 48 dogs pulled before the storm at the request of shelters facing closure, as well as pets still being rescued from affected areas on an ongoing basis. The group also transported 42 dogs and 40 cats to safety from the Carteret County Humane Society in Newport, N.C., after it was partially destroyed by Florence.

Larkin, a 3-month-old kitten, was found by Brother Wolf in Pender County, N.C.

We granted $2,000 to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, N.C., which rescued and/or provided care to around 250 animals before and after Hurricane Florence. Brother Wolf evacuated animals from shelters in Harnett County, N.C., and Horry and Fairfield Counties in South Carolina, transporting them to 10 rescue partners New York State and Fort Myers, Fla.

Brother Wolf also sent its Rapid Response team to rescue stray, lost and abandoned animals from the floodwaters in Warsaw, N.C. The pets rescued included a tiny 4-week-old kitten found screaming for help atop a floating pile of debris; two dogs, one of them completely blind, who’d been abandoned in one-foot-deep freezing water inside their home; and four cats whose elderly owners had been forced to evacuate without them and were desperate to get them back.

Kassandra was rescued by Operation Paws for Homes

We also granted $1,500 to Operation Paws for Homes in Alexandria, Va., which transported animals from rural North and South Carolina shelters. The pets saved included Kassandra (above), a 5-year-old Lab mix who’d been in a shelter that was right in Florence’s path and was forced to evacuate. Kassandra, who is shy at first but gets along with dogs, cats, and kids, is healthy and ready for her forever home!

Gummo was brought to an N.J. foster home .

Our grant of $1,000 to JerseyGirls Animal Rescue in South Plainfield, N.J., helped the seven dogs the group rescued from North Carolina, before and after Hurricane Florence. All the dogs, who range from just under a year to 4-5 years old, received routine vet care, spay/neuter, and treatment for any medical conditions, and all seven are still available for adoption. They include Gummo (above, pictured while waiting for transport to a foster home in New Jersey).

Thank you so much for your donation to our Disaster Fund; we could not have helped these organizations save lives without donors like you!

We’re Helping Save Pets from Hurricane Florence

Posted September 21, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Disaster, Grants.

A dog evacuated by Brother Wolf

As the floodwaters from Hurricane Florence continue to rise, we’re helping adoption groups that are rescuing abandoned animals and evacuating adoptable pets from local shelters to make room for flood victims.

A kitten rescued by Brother Wolf

We’ve sent a Disaster Grant to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, N.C., whose Rapid Response team is running search-and-rescue efforts in flooded areas. “It’s not uncommon to find dogs on chains neck-deep in water, community cats in trees, and animals who are ill, injured, or severely malnourished and dehydrated from surviving for days without food or fresh water,” Brother Wolf’s Andee Bingham tells us.

A puppy rescued by Operation Paws for Homes

We’ve also rushed funds to Operation Paws for Homes in Alexandria, Va., which transported animals from rural North and South Carolina shelters in Florence’s path. “Many have only outdoor kennels that offer little protection from the elements,” says OPH volunteer Mark Conners. The pets are now in loving foster homes and receiving necessary veterinary care.

This dog is safe with JerseyGirls.

Another Disaster Grant recipient, JerseyGirls Animal Rescue in South Plainfield, N.J., has taken in adoptable dogs from a North Carolina shelter that had to evacuate prior to Florence’s arrival. “We intend to rescue more dogs from the areas affected by the hurricane,” says president Rosemary Petriello. “Unfortunately, the likelihood of those dogs being in poor health is very high.”

These grants are just the beginning of what we expect to be weeks of rescue and recovery efforts. We are continuing to reach out to shelters and rescue groups to provide whatever assistance is needed.

Your donation to our Disaster Fund will help the animal victims of Hurricane Florence.

These Four Dogs Were Suffering — Until You Helped

Posted June 28, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Grants.

Cindy before surgery (left) and in her new home

Your donations to the Petfinder Foundation’s Emergency Medical Fund help hundreds of sick, injured and abused homeless pets every year. Here are four of the most recent:

Cindy
As a young puppy, Cindy’s leg was badly injured (she may have been hit by a car). Rather than seeking proper treatment, her owner chose to apply a homemade splint. This caused her leg to become permanently deformed, making it difficult for her to sit, stand and walk and causing permanent pain. Our grant to Homeless Animal Rescue Team in Virginia paid for Cindy’s amputation surgery, and today, Cindy is happy, healthy, and living the good life with her doggy brother in her forever home! Read her story.

Vladimir has made a full recovery

Vladimir
This 1-year-old Siberian husky was hit by a car on a major highway in San Antonio. Rescued by Molino de Suenos/Windmill of Dreams Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Texas, he was taken to a veterinary clinic and x-rays showed multiple fractures in his leg. Our grant paid for his much-needed orthopedic surgery. Vladimir had 100% recovery of his leg function and has been adopted. Read his story.

Pixie is loving her pain-free life in her new home

Pixie
When Pixie came to the Roanoke Valley SPCA in Virginia, she refused to walk. X-rays revealed that her leg had been broken and had tried to heal without treatment. Thanks to our grant, the shelter was able to pay for amputation surgery and placed Pixie in a foster home to recover. After weeks of healing, Pixie’s foster family realized they had fallen in love with her so much that they had to adopt her. Pixie is now part of a loving family that spoils her rotten! Read her story.

Barney is loved by his new family

Barney
Barney was surrendered to Georgia Pet T.A.I.L.S. after his owner left him on a cable tie-out during the day. The cable got caught wrapped around his back legs. He was left like that for so long that the circulation was cut off nearly the entire day to both rear legs. Our grant enabled the rescue to provide Barney with two surgeries and several skin grafts, and today he is a healthy, happy boy who has recently been adopted! Read his story.

Thank you so much for all your support, which allows us to save these pets and many others like them!

Abused & Injured, They’re SAFE Now Thanks to YOU

Posted June 27, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Grants.

Gemma at the vet (left) and headed to her new home

Every day, our Emergency Medical Fund helps save pets who have been terribly abused, injured and neglected, getting them critical medical care so that they can find loving, forever homes.

These are just a few pets helped by your donation recently:

Gemma
In April, the Berea Animal Rescue Fund in Ohio received a call that a puppy had been brought into a local vet’s office after a family member strangled her for having an accident in the house. The puppy was close to death and the family, unwilling to pay for her treatment, wanted to have her euthanized. Berea ARF rescued the pup and, with help from a Petfinder Foundation grant, got Gemma the x-rays, oxygen therapy, and antibiotics she needed to survive. Gemma made a full recovery and was adopted by her loving foster mom. Read her full story.

Rosie before her surgery (left) and after

Rosie
Our grant to New Leash on Life USA in Pennsylvania provided much-needed relief to Rosie, whose ears had been crudely and cruelly cropped and stitched with fishing wire before she ended up at a crowded Philadelphia shelter. Despite regular cleaning, Rosie’s ears were chronically inflamed and infected due to fluid trapped within scar tissue. Surgery removed her remaining ear tissue, and Rosie is now pain-free, recovering well and serving as the organization’s ambassador dog, teaching children and adults about dogs’ resilient spirits. Read Rosie’s story.

Fonzie after surgery (left) and with his new mom

Fonzie
The 3-month-old beagle was found in a cemetery, where he’d been living for at least two weeks, abandoned with a badly broken hind leg. Forever Friends Humane Society in Oklahoma picked him up and, thanks to a Petfinder Foundation grant, was able to bring him to the vet for surgery immediately. Fonzie was quickly adopted and his new family followed all his recovery instructions. He now leads a normal, happy life with a wonderful family that loves him dearly! Read his full story.

Daryl after surgery (left) and with his new mom

Daryl
In January, a good Samaritan came across a stray cat who’d been hit by a car and was badly injured, a bone protruding from his hind leg. His rescuer took him to Pets Alive in Middletown, N.Y., which immedately brought him to a veterinary hospital. Sadly, Daryl had a compound fracture and doctors could not save his leg, but thanks to a Petfinder Foundation grant, he got the surgery he needed. He made a full recovery and soon captured the heart of a family, who report that he’s a playful and energetic companion, “even with just three legs!” Read Daryl’s story.

So many pets like these can only get a chance at happy lives with expensive medical intervention, and your donations make these treatments possible. Thank you again for helping the most vulnerable homeless pets.

These Pets Are Happy & Healthy – Thanks to YOU!

Posted June 26, 2018 by Emily Fromm & filed under Grants.

Shadow was emaciated and nearly hairless

Our Emergency Medical Fund grants are often the difference between life and death for homeless pets with medical conditions that render them unadoptable. Here are just a few of the pets who were helped thanks to donors like you:

Shadow
When the schnauzer mix (pictured above) arrived at Broome County Humane Society in New York State, she was emaciated, infested with fleas and parasites, and nearly hairless. Our grant got her on the road to healing, and her loving foster mom, who saw Shadow through her rehabilitation, has decided to adopt her! Read Shadow’s story.

Martha had been shot in the face with a BB gun

Martha
The sweet 3-year-old stray was found by Animal Control with multiple pellet wounds to her face. Rescued by Half the Way Home cat rescue in Georgia, her face continued to swell even after the pellets had been removed. Our grant helped pay for her testing and care; today she is doing much better and will never know suffering again. Read Martha’s story.

Wesley will soon be walking on all four legs!

Wesley
Bred for racing, the greyhound injured a growth plate in his right tibia as a puppy and grew up with a deformed leg. His owner realized Wesley would never race and asked Ohio’s American Lurcher Rescue Project to find him a good home. Our grant helped pay for surgery and Wesley is now recovering, with several families hoping to adopt him. Best of all, he’ll soon be running on all fours for the first time in his life. Read Wesley’s story.

Therapy and a brace are helping Diesel walk again

Diesel
Diesel’s owners left him outside for over a week while they were out of town. Scared and alone, the young border collie mix jumped a 30′ wall and shattered his right rear leg and left front leg. When his owners found out what happened, they refused to pay his veterinary bills and surrendered him to St. Louis Senior Dog Project, where he underwent surgery and extensive physical therapy. Our grant funded a custom orthopedic brace that finally lets the energetic pup go for the long walks he loves. Read Diesel’s story.

Your donations help us ease these and many other pets’ suffering. From all of us at the Petfinder Foundation, thank you for everything you do to help pets in need.