Faces of the UAF Food Bank Program

As many of you know, part of the United Animal Friends mission is to reach out and help our fellow community members. So, while we're constantly striving to help place homeless pets in forever homes and foster homes, we're also committed to assisting the local pet owners who struggle to feed their own animals. This is precisely where the UAF Pet Food Bank comes in. Organized and managed by volunteer extraordinaire Andrea, the Food Bank provides free food for residents from all across Yavapai County. As the recipients of the program will attest, the donations couldn't come at a better time. In fact, at a recent Food Bank distribution event, UAF met with over 45 residents in need of food. Volunteers ran out of food just half way through the day.

UAF is committed to helping all those who request the services of the Food Bank program; we don't ever want to turn away an animal in need! But we need your help. Please donate to the program; monetary and food items are gratefully accepted. Importantly, UAF only provides Food Bank donations to those animals who have been spayed or neutered (we also provide low-cost spay-neuter options for residents seeking to qualify for the program). This ensures we stay true to our mission to reduce the number of homeless animals in Yavapai County, and it provides added motivation for residents to do the right thing by spaying and neutering. For information about donating to the UAF Food Bank Program, or for details about how you can receive Food Bank donations for your pets, click here. Whatever you do, be a part of the solution. Animals across Arizona will thank you for it!

UAF Rummage Sale!

Nothing compliments Halloween weekend like a bit of thrifty shopping! Great bargains will be a'plenty at the UAF Rummage Sale, scheduled for October 29th and 30th. Visit the Banana Tree building in downtown Prescott to check out a host of items for sale. The Rummage Sale will be open for business from 8:30AM through 4PM on both days. Of course, all sales proceed United Animals Friends' efforts to help animals in need. And, donations are still being accepted! Call (928) 778-2924 or email sandymc106@msn.com for information.

2011 UAF Calendar!!!

Attention United Animal Friends volunteers and fans! The 2011 UAF Calendar is finished! The fabulous wall calendar will be available on the UAF website in the next few days, so get ready to order your copy! Did we mention these calendars make the perfect holiday gift? Well, they really do! It's the gift that animal lovers can enjoy all year long. The calendars cost just $12 each, plus $3 for shipping. Extra special thanks go to Joellyn and Gayle for doing such a tremendous job! Remember, check the UAF website in the coming days to order your calendar!

The Perfect Job: Jasper's Story

It's not every day that United Animal Friends helps the unemployed, but that's just what happened in Jasper's case! We first met Jasper when he was relinquished to UAF by a family who had just adopted him from Yavapai Humane Society. The family thought Jasper was just too high-energy for their lifestyle, but they were reluctant to return him to the shelter. UAF took him into the system, and boarded him at Run-A-Muk in Prescott so that he could enjoy some doggie socialization and work off some of that excess energy during the day. Although Jasper enjoyed running around with the other dogs at Run-A-Muk, he knew what it was like to be with a family, and living without that kind of companionship just didn't suit him.

Just as Jasper began to show signs of weariness, UAF volunteer Kim in Peeples Valley stepped into the picture. Kim knew of a goat and sheep herder in her area who was in need of the boundless energy and focused determination of a herding dog. When Kim told the folks on the farm (a wonderful couple named Tony and Melody) about Jasper, they agreed to foster him. So, it was all up to Jasper at this point . . . would he be interested in a ranching career?

He sure was! After just a bit of time on the farm, it was perfectly clear that Jasper not only had what it took to herd Tony and Melody's sheep, but that he absolutely loved doing it! UAF is happy to report that Jasper has founded his forever home – and from what we understand, a great-paying job – on the ranch!

Dogtoberfest 2010!

Attention all dog-lovers! United Animal Friends is happy to be participating in the upcoming 2010 Dogtoberfest! Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 3rd, from 10AM to 4PM on the Courthouse Square in downtown Prescott. The events include fun contests, informative sessions, various demos, and much more! A number of services will be offered as well, including micro-chipping, nail-trimming, low-cost vaccinations, and pet tag purchasing. Most importantly, UAF will be on hand alongside numerous other rescue groups - working to find our wonderful dogs forever homes. This great event is also free to attend! Visit The Prescott Dog publication website for more on the details, and be sure to check out this year's commercial!

An 'Arlo' Update!

Some of you may remember a very special story about Arlo the Aussie. Earlier this year, UAF volunteer Joellyn rescued Arlo from the local shelter, where he was in dire trouble; Arlo had what appeared to be severe sarcoptic mange. After pushing through countless hurdles, challenges and obstacles, Joellyn and other UAF volunteers were able to get Arlo's initial treatment covered, and they even found a foster facility for him down in the Valley (Aussie and Friends) where he would receive the medical treatment and care he needed to recover. Joellyn recently got an encouraging update about Arlo that we wanted to share. Arlo's improvement continues; we understand that he is "much, much better." After thousands of dollars worth of medical treatment (even a bit of radiation for a benign tumor), the loveable young dog has almost conquered all of his mange! In fact, his coat has even grown back! It is likely Arlo will always need a bit of extra care due to a potentially weakened immune system, but then again, Arlo's attitude suggests he's got more than enough spirit to get him through any other challenges he'll face. We're sure - above all else - that the worst is over for this young fellow! Kudos again go out to Joellyn and all the other gracious, compassionate UAF volunteers, who never - ever - give up!

UAF In need of New Fosters!

United Animal Friends is at full capacity! We've got lots of dogs in paid boarding, and even more that we'd like to pull out of the local shelter and get into foster homes. Fostering for United Animal Friends can be an incredibly rewarding experience. For more information about fostering, please call Toby at 928-899-3942.

If you can't foster, please consider donating to our emergency kenneling fund so that we can get more dogs out of danger and into our system. Go online to www.unitedanimalfriends.org or call 928-778-2924 to donate today!