Kimmy's Quest for a Home!

An incredibly sweet girl with a zest for life, 1.5 year-old Kimmy has seen too much confinement in her life. After spending seventy days in a local shelter and being saved from the e-list in the nick of time, this staffordshire terrier - lab mix has now been in boarding with United Animal Friends for nearly two full months! But Kimmy doesn't let it get her spirits down. She's still an incredibly happy girl - so happy in fact, that she's developed a condition called 'happy tail' in boarding. She has simply wagged that joyful tail of hers a time too many against the concrete walls of her kennel, causing the tip of her tail to split open. So, it's crucial that Kimmy get into a foster or forever home as soon as possible!

Once she finds a home, we're sure Kimmy will be quite the pleaser. Despite her young age, Kimmy is relaxed and even a bit of a couch potato. She loves to get out and hike or walk, she's also more than happy to indulge in some much-deserved down time as well! She's also very treat-motivated and rides beautifully in the car. Thus, Kimmy really does offer the best of all canine traits! Kimmy is still working through a few prey drive issues, so she should likely not be placed with small animals. But she enjoys the company of bigger dogs (especially boys), and absolutely adores people. More than anything, Kimmy is ready for her new lease on life to begin!

Please help us alleviate Kimmy's happy tail and months of confinement! For any foster or forever home inquiries, contact Joellyn at uafdogs@gmail.com or call (928) 778-2924.

UAF's 3rd Annual Woof Down Lunch a Huge Success!

The tails were a-waggin' and the fun was a'plenty at the 3rd Annual Woof Down Lunch, hosted by United Animal Friends in downtown Prescott on June 4th. Ticket holders were treated to delicious local lunches, along with free goodies from on-site vendors and gorgeous, hand-made dog bowls.

The weather also cooperated fully as the events progressed through the day. Highlights included agility demonstrations by Northern Arizona Australian Shepherd Association, Top Dog Performance Club and Dandy Dawgs Agility Classes. Talented pups participated in the Best in Show Contest, and the winners walked away with honors in Best Wiggle Butt, Best Ears, Best Singer, Best Dancer, Best Trick, Best Spots, Longest Legs, Shortest Legs and Deepest Bark. Event-goers also enjoyed live music, hugs from the Elks Opera Guild, and free massages from local massage therapists!
The flow around the vendor booths was constant all day long, as local business and organizations handed out samples, answered questions and showcased merchandise. Several rescue organizations were on-hand (including United Animal Friends, Rescue a Golden, and others), sparking interest from the community for wonderful adoptable animals and spreading the word about spay-neuter, fostering and adoption resources. All eyes and ears were on deck during the Raffle Prize giveaway, with one lucky ticket-holder walking away with the Grand Prize, a mosaic dog toy box handcrafted by Susan Cole of Majestic Mosaics.

Ultimately, all enjoyed a furry-filled day of good fun, where the focus on everyone's mind was the same: animals! And best of all, United Animal Friends was able to secure a record-breaking fundraising success – primarily by way of ticket sales, raffle proceeds, sponsor donations and vendor spaces. All proceeds will enable United Animal Friends to continue with their mission of caring for homeless and needy pets in Yavapai County. Special thanks to all the day's sponsors, including United Animal Friends, Olsen's Grain, Prescott Dog Magazine, Whiskers Barkery, Dandy Dawgs, ThINK4inc, Prescott Animal Hospital, Art's a Cause, Olde World Bagels & Market, New Frontiers Natural Foods, and Nummies.

When It Really Is The End: Lessons from A Rescue Named Willa

A special tribute to one rescue who supported United Animal Friends in life and spirit. By Katie Borman

Most of us who adopt animals do so knowing that we will likely outlive our furry family members. But few of us are truly prepared for the raw emotional heartbreak that accompanies such loss. Such was the case with our dog Willa, rescued from Prescott Animal Control as a four-month-old puppy in April of 2006. From the onset, Willa was a force to be reckoned with. When we first met her at PAC, she lured us with her pensive, caramel-colored eyes and shy demeanor. Once she arrived home with us, however, we found ourselves paying retribution for having kept her waiting for so long in the first place. Chewed shoes and blankets, missing household items, and a surprisingly emotive voice, it wasn't long before Willa was lovingly nicknamed "Monster."

Through the years, Willa was a not just a presence in our lives, but an active participant in our family dynamic. We grew to know her personality as we knew each other's – intimately, with admitted frustration at times, but always with a fierce sense of protection, love and tenderness. As we became involved with United Animal Friends, Willa championed our efforts by tending to foster family members. She took on a surprisingly touching maternal role with a small, abandoned puppy whom we fostered for just a few weeks. Later, she assisted us as we attempted to tame the wild ways of one UAF foster name Louie. It was Willa who ultimately helped convince us that there was really no home as well suited for Louie (now Mowgli) as ours. She had showed him the ropes, after all, and surely didn't deem it fit for another family to reap the benefits of all her hard work.

She stood by our feet when we got married nearly three years ago, christened the doggy-door when we bought our very first house, and spent every Christmas amid a pile of her own presents and treats. Though we can look back on it now and point to the warning signs that were surely evident, her role as a member of our family was simply too integral to ever doubt. And when we told her we loved her for the last time on May 19th, we finally felt the true weight of her impact on our lives.

We get used to the feeling of anticipation at the door, as we struggle to unlock the door and get inside to those furry, wiggling bodies. We get used to commenting to friends and families about the behavioral quirks of our dogs and cats. We get used to assigning them their very own voices and catering to their ever-changing dietary needs. But we never get used to letting them go. There's really no way to prepare ourselves for the gut-wrenching pain of deciding that a member of our family – one who depends on us for everything – no longer has a quality of life that is worthy of her character and spirit. And though those moments inevitably make us question how we can put ourselves through it again, we recognize deep down that the joy of saving a life and making it a satisfying one is more than worth the grief of having to say goodbye. Indeed, when it comes to Willa and to all the rescue animals we adopt knowing we will one day set free a final time, the honor is truly all ours.