Paws Press

As 2007 draws to a close, you may be reflecting on the pledges you made to your favorite non-profit groups and maybe you've attended fundraising events or even donated your time as well. Perhaps the year has gotten away from you and you're considering making a year-end donation or additional support donation to your most cherished organizations with life-saving community programs.

The dogs, cats and people rescued by ARF encourage you to contact your certified public accountant or attorney to find out what benefits you may receive on your 2007 taxes by making a contribution before the end of the year. Monetary gifts are accepted using cash, checks, stock and credit cards; and vehicle donations are accepted as well.

Both the animals and people touched by ARF’s life-saving services need your support even more during the holidays. Please consider a year end gift today. You can mail your gift to ARF at 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 or make your donation online on ARF’s secure server.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Naughty or nice, please support Pet Food Express and ARF on Saturday, December 8 from Noon to 4 p.m. for Pet Photographs with Santa "Paws"! Pet Food Express is located at 609 San Ramon Valley Road in Danville, California and their phone number is (925) 837-1777. Thanks to Pet Food Express, 100 percent of all proceeds benefit ARF. Color photographs are $10 per picture or two pictures for $15. Perfect for family holiday cards or gifts for your friends and co-workers. 

Please remember, all dogs must be on leashes, and cats and other small pets must be in carriers.

Looking for a fun ARF experience for your
children while you enjoy a day for yourself?

Bring the kids to

They will play games, make crafts and participate in other fun animal related activities.
Sign up for one day or both!

Please fill out the Holiday Camp Application and return to ARF with payment by December 13, 2008.
If you have any questions please contact Erika at (925) 296-3106 or ehart@arf.net.

This holiday season, help ARF find loving homes for abandoned dogs and cats.

Champ

Darwin

Champ and Darwin were both rescued by ARF and now await loving forever homes. Thousands of other rescues are in need of help from ARF. Your tax-deductible gift will help ARF provide rescue and rehabilitation, essential care, food, shelter, spay-neuter, medical treatments, and most of all – time for each dog and cat to find a new loving home for life. Your gift will support ARF's mission of "people rescuing animals…animals rescuing people®."

For your donation of $50 or more, you will receive:

• A photograph of your sponsored dog or cat
• Your animal’s biography
• An annual subscription to ARF's newsletter, The Scoop
• ARF’s Celebrity Pet Calendar featuring headliners from the world of music, all-star athletes and top-flight entertainers with their furry friends
• The satisfaction of knowing you have helped many dogs and cats find loving homes for life

For more information about the Sponsor an ARF Animal program, contact Lynn Takahashi at (925) 296-3156.

Mark your calendar now for ARF's Walnut Creek, California Stars to the Rescue weekend at the Lesher Center for the Arts! If you’re looking for a rock n’ roll good time, don’t miss ARF Rocks! on Friday, January 4, 2008. Rock the night away with Vince Neil of Motley Crue, along with Brooklyn-based trio ZO2, Fyre Away, and Marty Casey & Lovehammers from the hit television show Rock Star: INXS.

Stars to the Rescue XVII gala will be presented Saturday, January 5, 2008. Host Tony will welcome Grammy nominee Paula Cole, comedian Rob Schneider, Jefferson Airplane song writer and guitarist Craig Chaquico, and San Francisco based Aja Vu. Tickets for both evenings go on sale early December and may be purchased by calling (925) 943-SHOW.

Come in out of the cold on Sunday, January 20, 2008 when Stars to the Rescue returns to St. Louis, Missouri! The evening will be filled with fun, when Bruce Hornsby, Ricky Skaggs, Darius Rucker, Christian McBride, Kathleen Madigan, and many others join Tony La Russa for this magical evening.

Please continue to check the website for additional performers, and ticket ordering information.

TO SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE DOG GUARDIANS

Sara and Leroy

People often adopt pit bulls as a pet because of their willingness to please and their innate clownish nature. Pit bulls are not naturally dangerous dogs as the breed has had 150 years of selective breeding to be soft with people. It is only since the 1980’s in which negligent people have utilized the breed for illegal fighting or status which has resulted in a frenzy of backyard breeding.

To support conscientious pit bull owners, ARF is excited to offer Bully Breed Basics, a six-week dog training course designed for pit bulls, American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers and these breed mixes. Trainer Sara Scott teaches basic commands and ways to solve common behavior problems. She teaches owners how to keep their bully dogs well mannered on leash around other dogs and how to address breed-specific training issues. Sara is a certified dog trainer and behavioral counselor who teaches group classes at ARF as well as supports Pit Bull Hall at the East Bay SPCA. Sara, who owns a pit bull orphaned during Hurricane Katrina, encourages students to learn more about the true temperament of a pit bull. To enroll in Bully Breed Basics, contact ARF’s Dog Training department at dogtraining@arf.net or by calling (925) 296-3111.

Refer a friend - Save $20

Sign up for one of the courses below with a friend and receive $20 off of the course fee!*

Puppy Manners • Basic Manners 1 & 2
Intermediate Manners • Small Dog Manners
Everyday More Manners • AKC CGC Prep

*$20 off courses $100 or more, or 20 percent off courses under $100.

Visit ARF’s headquarters and help ARF provide toys, treats and supplies to ARF’s shelter animals, and support its life-saving programs.

The Giving Tree is adorned with special decorations, each one featuring a furry friend and a requested item needed to help care for the dogs and cats ARF rescues, or to help facilitate ARF’s many programs that enhance people’s lives by strengthening the bonds between humans and animals. Each decoration features an item crucial to ARF’s life-saving work and items are priced at $50 or less. Items needed for ARF’s life-saving programs include: washable dog and cat toys, Nylabones, dog and cat treats, cleaning and office supplies.

Visit ARF and take home a special decoration today – your gift will help animals and people in need.

Nancy Kolpitcke grew up with a variety of animals ranging from the typical dogs and cats to fish, lizards and pigs. Born and raised in Santa Cruz, California, Nancy became a surfer and a master swimmer.

Nancy was well into her 30 year career as a high school history teacher when she first starting reading about ARF in Gary Bogue’s newspaper column. Gary would share insights into the programs offered at ARF for both animals and people. ARF continued to expand and somehow Nancy knew she would someday volunteer at ARF.

Nancy started out by tabling at the mobile adoptions. She watched the adoption counselors and learned how to match the right pet to the right person. These days, Nancy is a cat adoption counselor helping make those purr-fect matches.

What do you like the most about volunteering at ARF?
Hands down – that would be the animals and knowing that their lives are being saved. Next to that would be the people. The people are so happy at what they are doing.

What is your most memorable experience?
Whenever an adoption works out. People are so grateful. It can leave you in tears.

What would you say is your motto?
Make a difference, leave a mark.

Well said Nancy!

For a complete listing of current volunteer needs, please visit ARF's volunteer opportunities page.

Holidays at Broadway Plaza
ARF adoption mobile has a "heartwarming station" at Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek this holiday season! Every day through December 30 (except holidays) from Noon - 4 p.m. volunteers greet shoppers and share ARF's story.

Broadway Plaza Transport Drivers
What: Transport ARF cats to/from the ARF facility and Broadway Plaza. Transfer animals and supplies to/from mobile adoption van. Clean cages in transport van.
When: Two hour shifts available daily through December 30.
Prerequisite: Must be at least 21 years old with a good driving record and be a current ARF volunteer. Completion of "ARF Driving Form" required.
Contact: Kathleen at khuls@arf.net.

Clinic Assistant
Help with afternoon cleaning in the clinic.
Training provided on the job.
What: Clean surgery packs. Clean cages, collect trash, sweep and mop in ARF’s clinic.
When: Available two hour shifts:

• Monday: 10 a.m. – Noon (clean surgery packs)
• Thursday: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (clean cages, etc.)
• Friday: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (clean cages, etc.)

Prerequisite: Must be at least 18. Must be able to reach cages at floor level and be able to lift 40 pounds.
Contact: Jennifer at jpeabody@arf.net or (925) 296-3173.

Please note, all volunteers must attend a volunteer orientation prior to joining any training classes. If you would like more information on becoming a volunteer, please visit Volunteering at ARF.

Current volunteers, please use the volunteer central website if you would like to sign up for any of the listed classes. If you do not have access to volunteer central, please call (925) 296-3118 or email volrsvp@arf.net. Be sure to leave your name and number along with the class you wish to attend.

Kerman	Kerman is a 1-year-old male German Shepherd who is intelligent, energetic and really wants to live with an active family. He's tolerant and easy going and does have basic manners. If you're looking for a jogging partner who can keep up with your daily runs, Kerman would love to be that partner.
Tyee is a 5-month-old Siamese boy who has personality galore. He's a white fluff ball who loves interacting with humans and felines alike. Tyee would love to spend the holidays curled up and cozy in a nice warm home. He's available to families with children of any age.		Tyee

Meet Skipper and Joyce at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation, 2890 Mitchell Drive at Oak Grove Road in Walnut Creek, during adoption hours: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Noon - 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Find out more about how ARF's adoption program works.

A few months ago we adopted a Sussex Spaniel mix from ARF. We named him Rocky. Your name for him was Gomer Hodge. He has turned out to be a wonderful, loving dog, good with kids and everyone else. He goes to the dog park every day and just about every day someone stops us to ask about him, say he is adorable and ask to pet him.  He is a fantastic ambassador for ARF since we tell people that we got him from ARF and rave about our positive experience at ARF. Rocky is now best friends with our Dalmatian named Bandit.

Wayne and Elaine Friedman

Bandit and Rocky (formerly Gomer Hodge)

Smooshy

I wanted to share my appreciation and happiness with ARF. I am coming up on the one year anniversary of adopting my cat who was formally named "Epstein", and is now called "Smooshy". My boyfriend and I took a trip to ARF one weekend just to look, still not quite sure if we wanted to adopt. Smooshy was the first cat we saw, a 7-year-old solid black Persian, and we knew immediately he was the one. We looked around at the other cats available for adoption, but our hearts were set on him. The adoption volunteer was great in letting us go into the condo and bond with him and see if his personality would work with ours. She let us know of his little quirks, like his obsession with his brush, and the fact that he is meant to be an only child, he does not like other cats.

Smooshy was very timid of strangers at first. In the past year he has become a little social butterfly. All you have to do is show him his brush and you'll be his new best friend. He has so much personality! I cannot believe he was at ARF for a year and nobody wanted him! But I am so glad he was there for us because he really is the perfect companion. He can talk your ear off, he loves to chase balls, or rolled up socks, crumpled up paper…anything that he can chase! I just wanted to say thank you so much to ARF and the great volunteers who helped us add our little addition to our family.

Thank you so much!
Nicole

You can help other animals like Rocky and Smooshy find their special homes by making an online donation on our secure server today!

I Love Mommy
and
Everyone's Best Friend
Doggie Cargo Tanks

100% cotton with cargo pocket on the back, perfect for
dog treats! Available in a variety of sizes, so there's one that's sure to fit your dog. Order yours today!
ON SALE $13.99

Lots of other memorabilia and ARF Wear are available too. Check out the ARF store online and place your order today!

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