SPECIAL RATES ON ADOPTIONS DURING CAT-OBERFEST AT FAAS

Cat-Oberfest is happening all month long at Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS). During October, all cat adoptions are only $5 and kitten adoptions are $50. All the felines at FAAS are spayed or neutered prior to adoption, have been micro-chipped, health screened and vaccinated.  They are well socialized and ready to go!

To adopt, please bring everyone who lives in your household to meet the new feline, and bring proof of home ownership or your renter’s lease stating you can have a pet. FAAS also requests that all adopters bring in a bag of dry cat food for the FAAS Pet Food Pantry serving low-income Alameda families with pets. 

After The Ball was a huge success, raising over $83,000 for Alameda’s abandoned pets. Thanks to our generous sponsors, all proceeds will benefit shelter animals. More than 300 people attended the elegant evening at Rock Wall Winery with great food, wine, trapeze artists, music from renowned jazz musician Terrence Brewer, and some amazing stilt walkers.  Plans are already underway for the 4th annual After The Ball next fall.  Stay tuned!

Pet Photo Contest was also a huge success and lots of fun. The contest raised $14,000 and provided great photos for the FAAS 2014 calendar, which will go on sale later in October or early November.

Community financial support is critical for Alameda’s abandoned pets.  Events like After The Ball and the Photo Contest are two important ways that money is raised to pay for their care.  We need to raise approximately $450,000 in donations during this fiscal year July 2013 to June 2014. These two events set us on the right path to reaching our goal. 

Pet license fees are another important source of income for FAAS. All cats and dogs in Alameda are required by law to be rabies vaccinated and licensed.  Having your pet licensed also makes it easier to reunite you with your pet if it goes missing. FAAS sells the pet licenses and all proceeds benefit the animals at the shelter.  It’s a huge win-win with pet owners following the city’s laws while helping abandoned pets.

Angel Fund Stories:  It’s fortunate that FAAS has had these two successful fundraisers because we recently had three pets arrive with serious medical needs: 

·   Mr. Wrinkles, a handsome Shar-Pei, was probably used as bait in a dog fighting ring and arrived at the shelter with deep bite wounds on his head and neck. He’s recovering nicely and enjoying all the attention from the staff and volunteers who adore him. 

·   Stevie, a scared grey Maltese, was brought in by a Good Samaritan who discovered the poor little dog in the bushes by her house.  He was horribly matted and badly wounded, but he is also recovering nicely. 

·   A cute little kitten we named Ratatouille showed up as a stray with a broken leg.  A specialist needs to be brought in to reset the leg . Little Ratatouille will remain in foster care until he is healed. 

All three arrived in the past week and the FAAS Angel Fund will pay for their medical care.  The Angel Fund is entirely supported by donations from the community and we are always in need of contributions to help critically ill or injured abandoned pets.

Halloween is coming up fast, and Alameda really knows how to celebrate this wonderful day!  FAAS encourages all Alameda pet owners to please keep your pets inside and safe from ghosts and goblins.  Pets are also very curious about the bags of goodies that children come home with after trick or treating.  Please make sure all candy and other treats are out of reach of your pets.  Chocolate and other treats are poisonous to pets and should always be kept away from them.

Wish List

Please visit the FAAS Amazon Wish List for some great donation ideas.  Go to: www.amazon.com/gp/wishlist. Type in “Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter” to go to our Wish List.

The FAAS Pet Food Pantry needs donations of cat and dog food to be distributed to low-income Alameda residents.  Bags of dry cat food are especially needed.

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