Results: Since beginning operations in January 2006, ARF SEPA has rescued more than 1600 pets. ARF SEPA will take in pets of any age, size, breed, color, etc. - we even have special program’s like the “Lucy’s Senior Adoption Program” that encourages older pets to be adopted too.
Target demographics: Animal Rescue Foundation of SE PA (ARF SEPA) takes in pets from public shelters that must euthanize when full. Pets receive complete veterinary care (exam, testing, vaccinations, spay/neuter, microchip ID, plus any other needed care including surgeries and/or specialist care if needed), and pets live in a home with a foster family or at our kitty adoption center until adopted - as long as that takes. We place animals in adoptive homes within the greater Philadelphia area.
Direct beneficiaries per year: ARF SEPA saves 300-400 pets per year
Geographic areas served: greater Philadelphia area
Programs: - Second Chances Foster Program: this program is the core of what ARF SEPA volunteers do each and every day. Cats and dogs are taken in from public shelters, the pets are vetted and then the pets live in a home with a foster family until adopted - as long as that takes.
- Kitty Adoption Center at The Four Paws Shoppe: our kitty adoption center within a retail pet supply store in the town of Media, PA. Up to 12 kitty "residents" live at the center to increase their exposure to the public and help people learn more about the plight of homeless pets in our country. The cats live in a big, bright open room with lots of windows, toys, food and treats. Thank you to Melissa Prorock, owner of the Four Paws Shoppe, for donating space to ARF SEPA to house cats for adoption.
- Lucy's Senior Pet Adoption Program: named for one of our volunteer's beloved blind beagle that passed away in March 2009 at 16 years of age after being adopted at the young age of 10, this program encourages the public to consider adopting a senior pet instead of always looking at puppies and younger pets. ARF SEPA provides complete geriatric care in addition to the basic vet care we provide, and the adoption donation is waived for any pet age 5 and over.
- Abandoned Hunting Dog Rescue Program: hunting dogs like beagles, labs, foxhounds, etc. are useful while they're young but then get abandoned if they're not good hunters or if they're too old to hunt. ARF SEPA takes in these dogs, teaches them how to be house dogs and then finds them homes. Many of these dogs come with fleas/ticks, lyme disease or heartworms, and ARF SEPA pays for complete treatment of these ailments so the pets can get healthy and ready to be adopted. One heartworm treatment alone costs upwards of $500 per dog so the costs can add up, but seeing these dogs in their new homes instead of living in an outside kennel only to be discarded when they're no longer useful makes it all worth it.
- Feral Cat Relocation Program: ARF SEPA works with local shelter to help save 'feral' cats that have been surviving outside on their own - these cats are generally afraid of people and/or are unsocialized. Ferals have a very high rate of being euthanized at public shelters. ARF SEPA pays for complete vet care for these kitties - including spay/neuter - and places them with a safe haven barn home. ARF SEPA visits the farm regularly to stock up on food, check on the cats, etc. We've launched a pilot program with one farm and hope to expand the program in 2010.