Ark Animal Sanctuary

by Lorraine Monfils & Mary Peabody    The Ark Animal Sanctuary in not run by any one individual person, it is run by a group of volunteers working together with one goal in mind. No more homeless animals. Probably one of the most important parts of this organization are our foster homes. They open their hearts and their homes to animals in need and take care of them as if they were their own. The Ark supplies the simple things like food and medical attention, the foster homes supply the single most important ingredient which is love. Our foster homes are amazing. They take frightened animals who have never known what it is like to be a part of a family or for that fact even live in a home environment and bring them out of their shells to help them become happy, energetic, and loving pets.  They bring the animals from timid and untrusting to outgoing happy pets.  They give their time, patience and love willingly, there are no paychecks, their only reward is knowing they are making a difference in the life of an animal and to them that is priceless.
    For instance, Joey’s foster parents, Joey is a brindle lab mix, very timid and as we like to say a nervous pee-ER. Joey wouldn’t walk down a busy street on a leash, didn’t go up or downstairs and would hide from everyone. Joey came to visit me last week, he strutted his stuff down Main Street, tail just a wagging and came running in the door to greet me. He has made such great strides, he is still a nervous pee-ER, but they are working on that. I would get phone calls asking if it was all right to bathe him or they would tell me he had mastered the stairs and how smart he was. Each time I would smile and think all animals should be so fortunate to have such wonderful people in their lives. They were truly in love with him and very proud of what they had helped him to achieve. Joey was adopted by one of his or her family members, which worked out for everyone especially Joey.
    Then there is Emmy the shepherd terrier mix the day her foster mom came to pick her up she came in with a bag full of toys she had purchased especially for Emmy, she also had an outside run installed for her so she could go outside.  Some nights when I leave work I see Emmy and her foster parents out for their daily walk,  Emmy looks so happy!  Emmy is still waiting for her fur-ever home but in the meantime life is pretty good with her foster parents.
    Jafar, Hack and Jerry all had the same foster parents. Their foster dad is a dog trainer, so he helps them with their manners and helps them learn all kinds of things. Both their foster mom and foster dad have an incredible amount of patience and treat each one of them as if they were their own.
    This past summer, eight of our FIV cats were taken into a home environment for the first time in their lives. Their foster mom actually had an outdoor cat pen made so they could enjoy the fresh air and sunlight. Six of our other cats went to a foster home for the summer, They also had the luxury of an outdoor cat pen, for fresh air and sunshine.
    When we had our state inspection. The foster home they inspected brought a smile to their face. The cats had their own room with a big window so they could lounge in the sunlight. They also have their own television. That they can watch cat videos and some of the cats actually sit on top of the television and look down at the screen and try to play with it. They have laser toys, music and the best of everything.
    All of these people have a special place in our hearts. They are what help make the Ark a success. Each and everyone of them inspire us to keep going, they make us stronger and better, they are our silent heroes who expect no recognition just plenty of tail wags and kisses. They are proof that “Happy tails can come true and it can start with you.”
    For the month of October, the Ark took in $1,701 in donations and fundraisers. Our expenses were $3,179.61. We took in 14 dogs and adopted seven. We currently have six dogs. We took in eight cats and adopted four. We currently have 57 cats.
    Please join us on Nov. 10 and 17 for a bake sale outside Hollywood Pet Salon from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. On Dec. 8, we will be doing Miracle on Mechanic Street, including the 12 dogs of Christmas outside Hollywood Pet Salon from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. If you would like to have your dog star in the 12 dogs of Christmas please call the Hollywood Pet Salon 532-7387. There will also be a bake sale Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Hollywood Pet Salon. Thank you for your continued support and as always thank you for reading our column.