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2008
Rockin’ RiverFest Dog
Parade
Dogs love the French
Broad River too!
Show off your pooch in
the Rockin’ RiverFest Dog Parade, organized by Animal
Compassion Network, with the opportunity to win a prize
for cutest, smaller or biggest dog as voted by our
celebrity judges. Costume is optional.
When: Saturday August
2, 2008
Registration begins at 11am with parade beginning at
11:30am.
Where: French Broad River Park located off Amboy Rd.
Questions? Please contact Animal
Compassion Network at 828-674-9722
Other Rockin’ RiverFest events
include:
- 10am - Raft race on the French
Broad River with awards for Fastest, Most creative,
That floats?, Green Machine, Ugliest, Best Theme,
Funniest, Rubber Racer and People's Choice
- 11am - Kids parade where kids
bike, rollerskate, skateboard or walk (any nonmotor
means of transportation) dressed in costume to
compete for prizes in the categories of most
creative, funniest and green machine award
- Noon till 5pm - Music Showcase
Competition featuring 5 live bands
- Kids area including face
painting, petting zoo and other fun activities
- Recreational activities including
corn hole, frisbee golf, volleyball and kayaking
demonstrations
- Dance and music performances
- Food and beer
- Vendors including local artists
For more information,
please go to
http://www.riverlink.org/rockinriverfest.asp
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"Dog Days of Summer"
Vegetarian BBQ @ EarthFare West
66 Westgate Pkwy,
Asheville,
NC August 9, 2008
12n - 3pm
* 5% of all the sales for
the day will go to ACN.
* There will be a vegetarian BBQ with $1.00 veggie hot
dogs with all proceeds going to ACN.
* Music will be provided by Sherri Lynn and Mountain
Friends Band.
* EarthFare will be giving ACN a gift bag to raffle off.
* An ice cream social will be held in the Community Room
with all the proceeds going to ACN.
* Also in the CR, kids will be able to get their face
painted and decorate a dog bone made out of a sugar
cookie.
* Prior to the event pet owners will be able to drop off
a picture of their pets at EF along with their name,
address pet name phone number and email address. They
will be judged on the Pet Guardian look-alike and the
best dressed pet. Winners will receive a plaque and a
gift bag from EF. ACN will be the judge.
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Happy Paws Productions is currently in production on a
feature-length documentary on animal rescue and
adoption. They are hosting a "work in progress"
fundraiser October 16, 2008, at the
Diana Wortham Theatre. Animal Compassion Network, as
well as many other local animal welfare organizations
are featured in the film.
The event will feature a silent auction, screening, and
local animal organizations will be on hand to answer
questions and provide information. 10% of all proceeds
will benefit local animal welfare groups.
To purchase tickets or for information on how you can
become a sponsor, visit
www.happypawsmovie.com or contact Andrea Thompson at
828-335-6001.
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The demand on Animal Compassion Network’s Subsidized
Voucher and Betty Fund Spay/Neuter Assistance Programs
has almost tripled since January 2008. To ensure that
the remainder of the available spay/neuter funding
reaches the families and animals in greatest need, the
ACN Board of Directors has decided to discontinue the
Subsidized Voucher Program and funnel all spay/neuter
resources into the Betty Fund Low-Income Spay/Neuter
Assistance Program.
When ACN created the $35 Subsidized Voucher Program
several years ago, the goal was to encourage more people
to spay/neuter by giving them a significant discount on
the cost of surgery, with ACN paying the difference in
cost for them. For many years, this program, available
to anyone in the public and requiring no proof of need,
served as an effective incentive for all pet guardians
to alter their pets.
However, since the passing of the local mandatory
spay/neuter ordinances, the new laws have become an
effective incentive for the public to alter their pets
and the $35 Subsidized Voucher Program, while still a
nice benefit for the public, is no longer a crucial
program. With the demand for our financial assistance
increasing at such a rapid rate, it is vital that we
help the rapidly expanding low-income sector and their
pets before we help those pet guardians who enjoy, but
do not require, our financial aid.
Anyone needing financial assistance to offset the cost
of surgery at the Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic is
welcome to apply for Betty Fund assistance. They will be
asked for a $25 co-pay, although we will work with them
if they cannot afford the entire co-pay. They may be
asked to show proof of financial need to qualify for the
low-income program.
Low-income pet guardians may apply for the Betty Fund
Low-Income Assistance Program in person at
Pet Harmony
(click for directions) or by printing and completing
the
Betty Fund Application and mailing it to ACN’s Betty
Fund, 803 Fairview Street, Asheville, NC 28803. You will
need to include a check or money order for the $25
co-pay if you are mailing in your application.
The general public is encouraged to contact the Humane
Alliance directly at (828) 252-2079 to take advantage of
their regular low-cost spay/neuter rates, as follows:
|
Surgical Fees |
Public |
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Female Dog
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55
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Male Dog
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55
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Female Cat
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50
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Male Cat
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35
|
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Umbilical hernia repair
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15
|
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Nail trim
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5
|
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Pain medication
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No Charge
|
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Cryptorchid
|
No Charge
|
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Pregnant
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No Charge
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In heat
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No Charge
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Ear tip (feral cats only)
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No Charge
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They also offer low-cost vaccines and testing
administered at the time of surgery.
Please note: As of August 1, 2008, residents of Buncombe
County may have their cat spayed or neutered and
vaccinated for Rabies at the Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter
Clinic for a flat rate of $35 per cat. A special grant
is funding the program. Appointments may be made by
contacting the Humane Alliance directly at (828)
252-2079.
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Hi Animal Compassion Networkers,
What a tremendous weekend we had for the
Subaru Pet Adoptathon! Despite the rain storm on
Saturday, we found terrific homes for so many deserving
animals. Final adoption numbers are still coming in from
the dozen rescue groups in attendance, but we know it
will be somewhere around 65. You've probably noticed
that the number falls short of our usual 100-plus
placements for the Spring Subaru Adoptathon, but we are
in the midst of a pet adoption slowdown across the
nation - most experts agree because of the hard economic
times, so we are just thrilled that we still saved so
many.
A huge thanks to Prestige Subaru for
sponsoring the Pet Adoptathon! When you are in the
market for an Earth-friendly and animal-friendly vehicle
- you can't beat a Subaru.
As you know, we were fortunate to have
volunteers from the Haywood County Animal Shelter attend
the Subaru Pet Adoptathon with their 17 shelter dogs. As
a last-minute surprise, Madison County Animal Shelter
volunteers also were able to bring 14 of their shelter
dogs. And the biggest news of the weekend is that both
animal shelters went home empty-handed! First, because
they had found homes for so many at the event, and then,
thanks to you beautiful, compassionate ACN volunteers,
we transferred every last one of the unadopted ones from
Haywood and Madison County Shelters into ACN Emergency
Foster Homes!! In fact, even though the cats and dogs in
attendance from Asheville Humane Society had come from
the safety of their adoption room, we managed to pull
several of them also, so other animals could move up
from the back into the adoption room.
We heard many amazing stories over the
weekend, but my favorite moment came at 3 pm on Sunday
when Haywood County was loading up the dogs who hadn't
been adopted. They were so happy that they had adopted
out so many, but when we gave them the news that the
rest had homes with ACN, there wasn't a dry eye to be
found. Thank you to each of you who said yes this
weekend to fostering one of these shelter animals. What
a precious gift you gave to these selfless volunteers -
a Monday morning at the shelter where none of the
animals they work so hard for were euthanized. Here are
excerpts from the email I just got from Donna from the
Haywood County Animal Shelter:
Hi
Eileen,
What
a weekend! I can't tell you what it meant to me to see
all of these little ones (and some not so little) make
it out of our shelter safely! Most would not have
survived this morning otherwise, as you well know. It
was an emotional weekend for me - seeing how you and
your volunteers were so committed to saving everyone!
I
guess you can see how I feel about the hounds - we often
are left with them on D-Day as they are so easily
discarded over here and rarely adopted. I really did not
expect that Lenny would go into rescue if not adopted;
he has his own unique personality but also comes with
the dings and scars of a working dog. It really just
blew me away when your vet techs and foster volunteers
gathered around him making every effort to find his
adoptable qualities. Including the puppies and Lenny,
we had 11 hounds adopted/rescued. It really overwhelms
me..... Your determination to make this happen for us is
appreciated so much and may just be the light at the end
of our tunnel.
Sincerely,
Donna
Each of you receiving this email already know how I feel
about you. I am so proud to be associated with the most
compassionate, giving people imaginable. But you've done
something extraordinary this weekend. Not only did you
give hope to the animals who didn't seem to have any,
but you also gave it to those people who give so much of
themselves trying to save them. Thank you.
Don't forget - Pet Harmony, ACN's Pet Store for Rescued
Pets, needs your pet supply business! Every dollar we
make at Pet Harmony funds our lifesaving work.
Please shop for all of your all-natural, American-made,
human-grade pet food and other quality supplies at Pet
Harmony today. Less than 1/2 mile south of I-40, behind
Province 620 on Hendersonville Rd. (828) 274-DOGS. And
ACN members now get a 10% discount when you show your
membership card!
Yours in rescue,
Eileen
PS. I will be writing again soon with updates on Pet
Harmony and some volunteer opportunities at both Pet
Harmony and ACN. We are currently seeking an Assistant
Dog Coordinator to help orchestrate the dog program and
an Adoption Marketing Volunteer to keep our animals in
the public eye for ACN. At Pet Harmony, we need more
volunteers in our cat habitats socializing and loving on
our cat rescues for all shifts. Please feel free to
email Krista Luck at
lovescotties3@yahoo.com if
you want immediate info on one of these positions, but
I'll send out a complete list with job descriptions
soon.
Please donate today at
http://www.animalcompassionnetwork.org/petharmony.htm.
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Thanks to all the Participating Restaurants:
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I'm thrilled to report that we raised $10,800 at
November's Taste of Compassion! Our gratitude
goes out to each of you for attending, bidding on those
wonderful silent auction items and ordering wine. I'd
like to send out a special word of thanks to those of
you who volunteered, donated to the silent auction or
sponsored the event. This was our most successful Taste
of Compassion to date, and the hundreds of cats and dogs
in need who will come through our Foster/Adoption
Program this year will be the beneficiaries of your
tremendous compassion and generosity.
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ACN Mourns Maggie Howard's Passing
Help needed for foster/adoption of her dogs!
Dear ACN and friends,
I am so sorry to pass along the news that we lost our
good friend Maggie Howard on Sunday night, 10/22/06. She only just
learned at the end of September that she had cancer, and it consumed her
so quickly. Most of you know Maggie from her quick smile and dry wit at
our dog adoption days. She was dedicated to ACN as our Public Outreach
Coordinator, PETsMART Grant Coordinator and, most recently, as our
Adoption Day Set-Up Coordinator. She could also always be relied on to
foster any dog who needed a safe, loving home. I actually just wrote
about Maggie in the newsletter many of you are receiving today. At the
time of writing, I had no idea that she would no longer be a part of us,
but you will read for yourself how committed to animal welfare she was.
Maggie left behind Tanner, a 6-year-old pit mix (let's
just call him "pretty plus" - he likes his snacks) and Kamikaze, a
6-year-old lab mix (who is the size of a Newfie!) Maggie's family can't
give them a home, so ACN is taking them in and has established a fund
for their care until we can find them a new home. I'm sure any of you
who know Maggie know that she would want her dogs to be safe, cared for
and loved, now that she can't do it herself. To make a donation in
memory of Maggie for the care of her dogs, please visit our
homepage and click on the
"Make A Donation" button under
the Site Index to contribute online via PayPal. You may also donate by
sending a check to ACN, P.O. Box 1704, Skyland, NC 28776. Please make
sure you enter "Maggie Howard Memorial" on your donation so we
know you want your donation directed to Tanner and Kamikaze's care.
Kamikaze or "Kazi" as Maggie called him, is a big,
joyful lug of a dog who will do anything for attention. We already have
a bite on a potential foster home for him, but we haven't given up hope
for a foster home where they can stay together. With all of their recent
sadness and confusion, we want them to at least have each other for
comfort. UPDATE 5/1/07: "Kazi" has been
adopted! Keep reading to learn about Tanner...
Tanner is taking Maggie's  death very hard and won't leave his spot curled up on Maggie's
pillow. He has always been very in-tune with Maggie and started mourning
her last week as she went in and out of the hospital. He knew even then.
Now he has stopped eating and just doesn't know what to do with himself.
He is seriously grieving and we are especially worried about him.
Both boys are gentle, obedient, housebroken and
loving, but Tanner cannot go to a home with cats.
Please
email me
if you are interested in fostering (or adopting) these
orphans. And please send this message to anyone you know who may be able
to help - both for their sake and for our good friend Maggie, who will
be missed more than words can say.
~ Eileen
Eileen Bouressa
Executive Director
Animal Compassion Network
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The City of Asheville has just joined Buncombe County in
requiring owners to spay/neuter their pets or pay for an unaltered
animal permit. ACN has options for sterilizing your pets. Come to one of our
adoption events on the first and third Saturday of each month, contact
us by email, or call 828-258-4820.
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Are you in the market for a
ShopSmith Mark V? This high-quality, all-in-one, 10”
table saw, complete with horizontal boring machine, 12” disc
sander, 16-1/2” vertical drill press and 34” lathe is valued
at $3,500. It is brand new, never used or even taken out of
its box and could be yours for a reasonable donation. |
ShopSmith Mark V
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If you're interested,
contact
Laura Uzzell with ACN at 828-582-1168 or email:
luzzell@hotmail.com
for more information. All proceeds go to help
local animals in need. |
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