Our Bi-Monthly Newsletter |
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Greetings, Fur Fans! Thank you so much for your continued support, and I hope you're all well. Despite my abrupt absence due to injury, Fur the Love of Animals has continued to progress forward. Over the last two months, we have made new furry friends, met an incredible fellow animal welfare advocate, and we welcomed a new cat into our Foster Care program. To those who perhaps are wondering after my health, I am happy to share that I have once again hit the ground running with enthusiasm and a serious surplus of energy—it was teetering towards torturous to be bed-bound, but the acute pain was paralyzing and persistent. Craniosacral therapy has helped me greatly, and the services I can provide are no longer restricted. Embracing the cliche, "every cloud has a silver lining," I accepted that my dream may have to become a modest one. However, modesty does not mean less powerful. An impact does not have to be big to make a difference—and, boy, do I feel that. Coaxing myself into acceptance of this minimization and acknowledging that I may be forced to face very real limitations, I did what I do best. . . I began to plan. Drafts were written, vision boards consulted, and research completed. My house has effectively become a renovation zone. Prior to my injury, my partner Jared and I were preparing for a large lifestyle change: From house to yurt, we wished to minimize and simplify. Items were sold and donated, location confirmed, and house officially put on the market. One week later, and I was flat on my back, and quite literally. With the future status of my health being unclear, our plan deflated, but suddenly the solution became clear—half of the house would become the brick and mortar Fur the Love of Animals. Jared and I could still minimize and more effectively utilize the spaces we hadn't been. While I will likely continue to dream of a large plot of land in southern Vermont for a future Fur the Love of Animals where space would be less limited and state-of-the-art facilities would be constructed to best support the animals in our care, I know I will reach the same goal on a smaller scale: To show that every animal deserves love. |
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Now for a look at our work over the past two months in numbers. |
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MYTH: Cats cannot be trained. |
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Just like dogs, cats benefit greatly from regular enrichment from puzzles to training sessions to strolls outdoors. Curious how to harness and leash train your cat? Send us a message! Kendra regularly explores with her cat, Orin (featured above), and it has become one of his favorite activities. |
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501(c)(3) NON-PROFIT PROGRESS Seventeen pages later and FTLOA Bylaws are officially drafted! Other documents have been assembled, and we hope to submit the full application before the end of the year. |
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WHISKER AWAY The construction of our feline-focused rooms has begun! People in our community have generously donated a variety of supplies and cat furniture to help transform the rooms into enriching and comfortable spaces for our feline fosters. Home-based and cage-free, the goal is to provide high quality care in an environment that not only supports the unique needs of the species but helps prepare the cats for their future furever homes. If you have unwanted pet supplies or building materials that you would like to donate in-kind, send us an email! Every little bit helps so much. Items that would be amazing include: toys; litter boxes; cat food; scratching posts; cat towers; metal, ceramic, or glass bowls; plastic pet carriers (especially small and medium sizes); cat wall furniture; puzzles; Kongs; fleece blankets; towels and face cloths; turf; hides; and enrichment items. |
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WISH LIST With construction underway on our cat rooms, supporters can help by purchasing an item from our Wishes for Whiskers List. Sharing the wish list with friends and family is also super helpful and greatly appreciated! Just click the image below to view our wish list. |
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Houdini came to Fur the Love of Animals on September 5th after being temporarily fostered by Rose, Founder and President of The Retirement Roost Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the rescue and care of chickens in Vermont. Acquaintances of Rose found Houdini as a stray. He was emaciated and scared. Taken to Windham County Humane Society (WCHS), it was confirmed that Houdini did not have a microchip, and unfortunately the shelter did not have room to intake another feline.
Luckily, we had space and happily agreed to welcome Houdini. After being vetted at WCHS, Houdini was transported by Rose to us. Over the past several weeks, Houdini has healed from his neuter surgery while decompressing and adjusting to his new living environment. |
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| | Houdini aka Houtini aka Dini aka Lil Dean is definitely a more timid cat. He prefers the calm over lots of noise, and he is easily spooked by quick movements. While he no longer hides when people are in his room (being able to relax, nap, and groom), he does not like physical touch. He will tolerate it, but he tenses and does not like it. Slowly, Houdini has been allowing Kendra to creep closer and introduce small amounts of affection while making sure to respect boundaries. There is a high chance that Lil Dean will remain a "Spirit Cat," a feline that cohabits your home while preferring to remain independent. However, Houdini has demonstrated a great fondness for other cats! |
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| | So far he has met three other cats and has been happy to approach them all. Orin (the orange cat pictured above) has become Dini's buddy. Whenever Orin pays him a visit, Houdini immediately slinks over to rub against him. It's clear having another cat around makes him more comfortable and confident. Wishing for all of our fosters to thrive once adopted into their furever home, we will be requiring that Houdini go to a home with another social feline. However, Houdini will not be placed into a home with dogs or young children, as this would cause him significant stress. Houdini is adorable and sweet in his own way, and we look forward to him blossoming further! |
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We have continued to meet new and amazing pets over the past two months, and their beloved humans. Welcome to our Furtastic Family, all! |
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BECOME A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT The goal is to submit our application for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the IRS before the end of the year. |
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SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS We are seeking passionate, creative, and professional individuals to join our inaugural Board of Directors! Interested candidates are encouraged to send a cover letter stating why they wish to join the board as well as a copy of their resume via email with the subject line, "Board Member Application." Even if you are not interested in joining our board, please share this opportunity with those you know who may wish to support FTLOA. For more information about becoming a board member, click here. |
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Have unique skills that you would like to utilize to help FTLOA? Consider becoming a volunteer! Whether you wish to donate time and expertise for a specific project or to establish a regular volunteer schedule, we are happy to work with you! As an organization in its infancy, support from the community is vital. If you are interested in becoming a short- or long-term volunteer, please send us an email with your ideas! |
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NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT US We are developing several new ways that the community and individuals can support our efforts. Soon merchandise will be available for purchase through our website, opportunities for creative collaboration will be shared, and community events will be hosted. Stay tuned! |
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Follow us on social media to support FTLOA while staying up-to-date on our day-to-day activities! We are on Facebook and Instagram. Have a general question? Shoot us an email: furtheloveofanimals.vt@gmail.com Want to schedule a service? | | |
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Please unsubscribe me from receiving any more email messages from FTLOA. |
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