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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.

“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.