Fur a Good Paws was started in 2003. I have been a member since 2010 and now serve as a board member and treasurer. In 2013, Fur a Good Paws became a small licensed no-kill rescue that takes in homeless, injured, abandoned/surrendered pets (dogs and cats), recruits foster homes, and adopts out healthy animals. FAGP is grateful to a very generous donor that stepped forward with a donation for the rescue that helped get it started.
Fur a Good Paws provides assistance for spay/neuter of animals in the community to prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. This will also reduce euthanasia rates at local shelters. Another goal is to provide emergency vet care for homeless pets. Public education on these issues is also part of our mission.
It has been a pleasure serving Fur a Good Paws as a volunteer and is rewarding that we have saved many lives through our efforts. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of work to be done.
WHEN WE STARTED THIS GROUP IT WAS A FLICKER OF A DREAM. AS THE FOUR OF US
BEGAN TO DISCUSS THE DREAM WE HAD, LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT IT WOULD
IMPACT OUR LIVES AND THE COMMUNITY THE WAY IT DID. MARCH 13TH OF THIS YEAR WE
HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS. PEOPLE COME UP TO US WHEN WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT
THE AREA ASKING IF WE ARE THE FUR PEOPLE. WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HOPE TO CONTINUE HELPING OTHERS WITH THEIR PETS AND
FUTURE PETS. EVERY PET DESERVES A FUR-EVER HOME WITH THE LOVE AND COMPASSION
THAT ALL ANIMALS DESERVE. AT TIMES I WONDER WHO RESCUED WHO? WE TRY TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT SPAY/NEUTERING, AS WELL AS ASSIST WITH LOW INCOME FAMILIES
AND PETS WITH EMERGENCY VET BILLS. IF WE HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE THAT WANTS A PET
WE TELL THEM TO CHECK WITH RESCUE GROUPS AND/OR PETFINDER.COM. WE ALSO TRY
TO HELP SOMEONE KEEP THEIR BELOVED PETS RATHER THAN LETTING THEM GO FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. WE'E A 501C-3 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATON. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE
WHO GETS PAID TO WORK. WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEER. ALL PROFITS GO BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY IN OUR HOPES TO HELP PETS, FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN. HAVE YOU HUGGED
YOUR PET TODAY?
Review from Guidestar
I started volunteering with Fur a Good Paws in February 2010 after seeing a flyer at the local vet clinic asking for volunteers with a love for animals. Over the next few years, I became passionately involved with the work this small all-volunteer nonprofit does in the community. I currently serve as the President with representation on the board, but I continue to enjoy being a community outreach volunteer encouraging the people I meet to spay-neuter their pets and helping make available the resources to do it. We live in the rural Midwest where we often face the challenges of pet overpopulation and an apathy towards spay-neuter. In the past 10 years, this organization has slowly but steadily built the groundwork for providing spay-neuter assistance alongside educating the public about the benefits of spay-neuter. This is done by posting educational material and about our spay-neuter voucher assistance at various locations/businesses, and by using online media (website, Facebook), and writing articles in the local newspapers. Our small team of volunteers organizes various fundraisers throughout the year (bake sales, donation cans, benefit suppers) to raise money for spay-neuter vouchers to be given for pets primarily targeting households with limited income. Our funds also help injured homeless pets get emergency veterinary treatment. We believe every litter counts. And by educating our community and stopping the cycle of breeding, we can greatly reduce pet euthanasia and homelessness.