Make a Donation
Volunteer
Foster
Corporate Partnership

Make a Donation

The Hope Fund

The Hope Fund helps pay for veterinary and other special needs of animals rescued by ARF's rescue patrol.

Helping these abandoned animals is an important part of ARF's mission. Although the expense may be cost prohibitive for these ARF shelter guests, the transformation is nothing short of a miracle. Only through your generous donations can ARF continue this life-enriching work.

“Red Ryder,” a magnificent cat was rescued from the Martinez Animal Shelter on February 11, 2008. Red Ryder was a stray neutered male when he was dropped off at the Martinez Animal Shelter on January 5, 2008. Two weeks into Red Ryder’s life at ARF, the Animal Care Staff notated an odd bowel movement pattern. Dr. Heather Coburn ordered an x-ray for Red Ryder, showing that Red Ryder was unfortunately constipated. The Clinic Staff performed an enema to no avail; he needed to then go under anesthesia to be de-obstipated, as well as being placed on medication to help with his condition. Red Ryder was placed into a loving foster home for a month to help regulate the medication and monitor his condition. When Red Ryder returned he was cleared for adoption. After about a month of a special low residue diet and medication, he became constipated again needing to be de-obstipated. For poor Red Ryder, this became a pattern for the following two months. The decision was then made for him to have a special surgery; a Sub Total Colectomy was scheduled for him with the Veterinary Surgical Associates. A surgeon from the Veterinary Surgical Associates came to ARF to perform the much needed surgery where a portion of Red Ryder’s colon was removed so he won’t become constipated again. Red Ryder recovered well from surgery and has a very good long term prognosis thanks to his special surgery that the Hope Fund paid for.

“Julian,” a cuddly three year old Chihuahua, is one lucky dog. Julian was fortunate to take a trip on ARF’s rescue patrol transport vehicle on June 17, 2008. Julian had been rescued from the Central California SPCA located in Fresno. Julian was a stray when he had entered the Central California SPCA on May 21, 2008. Upon Julian’s intake physical exam at ARF’s headquarters’, Dr. Heather Coburn noticed that he was holding his right rear leg up as well as limping. Dr. Heather Coburn assessed Julian’s leg to find that he had a grade 3 luxated patella that needed surgical repair. If Julian did not have surgery, the luxated patella would cause limping that would eventually lead to long term arthritis. Julian was a lucky boy; a surgeon from the Veterinary Surgical associates came to ARF to perform his MPL. Julian recovered well from the MPL and after 6 weeks of restricted activity, his knee will be in working order. Thanks to the Hope Fund, Julian was able to have the surgery he needed.

“Murphy,” the long bodied Basset Hound, came to ARF February 15, 2008. This love bug was diagnosed with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Epilepsy prior to arriving to ARF. ARF received a call from the Fairmont Animal Shelter to see if we could help Murphy find a home as his time had run out and they did not have the resources to help support Murphy’s conditions. Due to Murphy’s special needs, Dr. Heather Coburn referred Murphy to meet with the Veterinary Medical Specialists. Murphy has a few seizure episodes while residing at ARF. Dr. Heather Coburn placed a request with ARF’s Foster Coordinator to find a foster home where Murphy would be monitored for his seizures, enabling Dr. Heather Coburn to regulate the medication to help control his seizures. Once Murphy became stabilized, he returned to ARF to be placed for adoption. Murphy requires monthly blood panels to be sent out to the lab as well as rechecks with the internists. Murphy’s blood work and internist visits are funded through the Hope Fund. Without the Hope Fund, ARF would not have the resources to aid Murphy’s special needs.

“Moxie the Doxie”, is an adorable 6-year-old Dachshund rescued by ARF’s rescue patrol from a public shelter’s death row. It was obvious to the rescue patrol that sweet, friendly Moxie was experiencing severe pain in her hind area and was unable to even use her back legs. ARF staff however, looked past Moxie’s disabilities and sensed in her a strong sense of love and affection. Knowing Moxie would eventually become an exceptional companion for a lucky family, the rescue patrol brought her back to ARF.

Upon arrival at ARF, Moxie was immediately placed in foster care for some much needed rest and rehabilitation to heal her ailing back legs. Unfortunately, Moxie’s needs required much more to end her suffering. ARF’s medical staff discovered that Moxie’s ongoing severe pain prevented her from moving her neck from side to side. The initial prognosis was that Moxie has a disk problem in her neck. To confirm this prognosis, Moxie requires a full neurological workup in order for ARF’s medical staff to determine the correct surgical path needed to repair the disk. Without this neurological workup and surgery, Moxie’s condition will worsen to the point she will suffer her remaining years in excruciating and debilitating pain.

Thankfully, ARF has the cure for Moxie’s pain, but still needs your help. Please help ARF fill a prescription of “Hope”. Only through your generous gift to the Hope Fund, can ARF help Moxie and others like her. Your donation truly makes the difference between life and death. Please help provide hope for ARF’s dogs and cats in need of special medical treatment, by donating to the Hope Fund today.

Cleo’s story is hard to believe. She is a badly injured collie-terrier puppy just rescued by ARF in August. Attacked by dogs and left abandoned on the streets of Richmond, California, she had little chance of surviving her cruel and terrifying ordeal. But through the kindness of strangers and the dedication of ARF’s Hope Fund, this young terrier mix will make a gradual recovery and look forward to her forever home.

Cleo It has been a short and frightening journey for this courageous little dog. After she was rescued by a Good Samaritan and rushed to a veterinary hospital, Cleo’s future still looked uncertain. The hospital could not keep her, and though the time had come to turn her over to Animal Services, the busy shelter could not provide her the intensive medical attention she would need. Sue Underwood, a volunteer with Animal Services, knew that Cleo might not survive in a shelter environment with the chance of infection to her open chest cavity. Determined to save her, she called ARF.

The terrier mix has many months of surgeries and procedures ahead of her which will incur substantial cost. “Sometimes we see animals that are not only physically hurt, but also emotionally traumatized by their abuse and neglect,” explained Elena Bicker, Executive Director of ARF. “Cleo will need a lot of patience and a lot of love but her spirit remains strong. She is a very sweet girl. Everyone has fallen in love with Cleo.”

Update: Cleo received the surgeries needed and recovered from her wounds. She was adopted in October 2006 by a wonderful family who together enjoys morning and evening walks and playing catch with the Frisbee.

Norma

Norma is a loving seven-year-old spayed female mini-Dachshund who has pain in her back and trouble walking on her hind legs. Our veterinarian, Dr. Coburn, said that the most likely cause for her problem is a slipped disk which is a very common condition in Dachshunds. Dr. Coburn feels that, with surgery, Norma has a very good prognosis for a pain-free life and the ability to walk normally. She said that without surgery, Norma's condition will most likely worsen and she eventually could even lose her ability to walk.

Update: Norma was adopted in April 2005 by a veterinarian who will love her and make sure Norma gets all of the medical care she needs!

If you want to help gentle dogs and cats, like Cleo or Norma and many others, who are rescued by the ARF Rescue Patrol® but need extraordinary medical care, you can make a tax-deductible gift to the Hope Fund.