Making a Difference - Rachel's New Family By the Numbers ARF's 2009 Celebrity Pet Calendar Pet Hug Pack Visits Kaiser Pediatrics Ward Pet Food Express Dog Wash Supports ARF Pets for Seniors Blessing of the Animals and Pet Festival Do You Trust Your Will? Planning for Precious Pets Shop as Usual AND Save Animals with eScrip ARF Logo Earrings Celebrate Halloween at ARF Week of Caring Volunteer Help Needed Training Opportunities Adoption Stars New Beginnings ARF Thrift Shop

Making a difference
Rachel's New Family

Rescued from a local shelter, Rachel, a two-year-old little black Terrier mix arrived at ARF in a very pregnant fashion. The following week and after being placed with an ARF foster, Rachel gave birth to two bouncing bundles of black fur. Rachel is the most amazing of all canine mothers. She is the sweetest little dog and any adopter would be lucky to add her to their family.

Five weeks after the birth of Rachel’s puppies, this same ARF foster brought a bottle baby kitten into her home. Sadly, the littermates of this orange kitten aptly named Pumpkin, had passed away and Pumpkin had become an orphan. Being left alone in the world, Pumpkin was a very sad kitten that missed his siblings very much. He cried and cried and cried for attention.

Understanding that Pumpkin needed extra love and attention, the ARF foster placed Pumpkin with Rachel and her puppies. Straight away, Rachel began grooming and playing with Pumpkin, then encouraged him to nurse alongside her puppies! Pumpkin settled right in and instantly became a new member of Rachel’s litter. Be it human, canine or feline, there’s nothing quite like maternal instinct - the inborn tendency to protect and nurture knows no bounds. Thanks to the unselfish mothering provided by Rachel, Pumpkin will go through life knowing the wonderful gift of love.

Won’t you please help other wonderful animals like Rachel and her babies? Just like Rachel, together we can all make a difference – please donate today.

By the Numbers

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ARF's 2009 Celebrity Pet Calendar

This large beautiful full-color calendar features singing sensation Trace Adkins and up and coming country star, Rissi Palmer. From the news and entertainment world are Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams, CSI cast members, Paige Davis from Trading Spaces, George Lopez, Ana Ortiz from Ugly Betty, Kimberly Paisley-Williams of According to Jim, Mission Impossible III’s Maggie Q, and funnymen Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider, along with news correspondent, Barbara Walters. Rounding out the field is NASCAR driver, Kasey Kahne.

This calendar makes a perfect holiday gift for friends, family and co-workers and all proceeds support ARF's programs. A donation of $15 or more designated to ARF's calendar will ensure receipt of a complimentary Celebrity Pet Calendar.

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Pet Hug Pack Visits Kaiser Pediatrics Ward

ARF is very excited about its Pet Hug Pack (PHP) team of therapy dogs and cats and their new visiting schedule with the pediatrics ward at Kaiser Permanente in Walnut Creek, California. The program has been dedicated to Matt's memory, a Kaiser pediatrics patient and champion for the suggested program back in its infancy. September began regularly scheduled visits for ARF to the delight of the children who greeted the dogs with joyful smiles and hugs.

On September 23, Channel 2 featured a film segment on ARF's initial visit on its evening news program. ARF is delighted to be a part of this program and looks forward to bringing many more smiles and hugs into the lives of children receiving treatment at Kaiser Walnut Creek.

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Pet Food Express Dog Wash Supports ARF

For all four-legged holiday gift giving needs, please support ARF with a visit to Pet Food Express. Please join ARF’s mobile and Pet Hug Pack team members at both the Concord and Clayton Pet Food Express on Saturday, November 1 from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Pet Food Express, ARF will be the recipient of 100 percent of all dog wash token sales on this special day! For only $15 per token or four tokens for $45, these tokens may be used year-round and have no expiration date. While the tokens must be purchased at the Concord or Clayton stores to benefit ARF, the tokens may be redeemed at any of the 32 Pet Food Express stores equipped with a dog wash area.

Tokens provide for use of a chest high tub, all-natural shampoo, ambient air blow dryers, towels, 25-minutes bathing session, and clean-up by Pet Food Express. So, if Fido is in need of a holiday freshening or if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your furry family friends, please support ARF with a visit to Pet Food Express.

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Pets for Seniors

ARF and Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Inc. (Purina) have teamed up to help people discover the unconditional love which lasts a lifetime by adopting a shelter dog or cat.

Through ARF’s Pets for Seniors adoption program, there is no age limit on love. ARF and Purina are celebrating seniors with a special offer for adults 60 years and older. Thanks to Purina’s innovative PetLover program, seniors who adopt a spayed/neutered dog or cat from a qualified animal shelter, may be eligible to receive one (1) $50 refund per household through ARF’s Pets for Seniors adoption program.

ARF adoptors are automatically provided a $50 discount but to request a refund, senior adopters from other shelters should complete the application on-line once the adoption process is finalized. When the application information is confirmed and should Pets for Seniors still have funds available, a reimbursement will be mailed. It’s that simple and the $50 can be used to spoil your new best friend!

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Blessing of the Animals and Pet Festival

The Peace Lutheran Church in Danville is hosting a Blessing of the Animals and Pet Festival in honor of St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day. Everyone in the community is invited to bring their pets to this non-denominational celebration of animals.

Sunday, October 5
Noon – 3 p.m.
3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville

Along with pet-friendly businesses and vendors, there will be lots of activities for the kids, games and even a few surprises. For the adults, Peace Lutheran Church is hosting a silent auction with all proceeds benefiting ARF.

While you're there, be sure to stop in at ARF’s mobile adoption van to see the adoptable cats and visit with therapy dogs from ARF's Pet Hug Pack.

Come early and enjoy the festivities!

For the safety of all animals, pets should be on leashes or in carriers.

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Do You Trust Your Will?

Be ARF's guest at a Wills & Trusts Seminar at ARF on October 23 at 6 p.m. Featured presenter Sarah S. Nix from the law firm of Gagen McCoy will make wills and trusts understandable, practical, and fun.

Enjoy a relaxed informal setting and learn whether you need a will. Have your questions answered by Sarah S. Nix, attorney-at-law. There is no charge to attend.

Jill Cooney, ARF's development manager, will discuss the Guardian Program and planning for your furry family members when you are no longer here to care for them.

Please RSVP to Jill at 925.296.3103 or jcooney@arf.net.

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Planning for Precious Pets

Have you made plans for your furry family members if you are no longer able to care for them? People often worry about what will happen to their cherished pets when they pass away. With ARF’s Guardian Program, ARF offers peace of mind that beloved companion animals will be well cared for when the need arises.

When a guardian passes away, dogs and cats enrolled in the Guardian Program will be taken in to the ARF Adoption Program. They will receive excellent care while staff works to place them in the best possible home.

Participation in this program requires that guardians specify in their will or trust documents that their pet companions are to be entrusted to ARF at the time of their death, have completed pet biographies on file, and make annual donations to ARF (of any amount) to help defray expenses. The program is available for dogs and cats, with a limit of two (2) pets per person. For more information, please call Lynn Takahashi at 925.296.3156.

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Shop as Usual and Save Animals with eScrip

Signing up for eScrip costs absolutely nothing and it’s so easy that it takes only a few minutes of your time to get started. Once you're signed up, there's nothing left to do but shop as usual.

You can register credit and debit cards as well as choose from thousands of participating stores. Each time you shop at a participating merchant, up to 10 percent of your purchase is donated to ARF in your name.

Here's how to register! Just log onto www.eScrip.com and click on "Sign Up". Designate Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation as the recipient and register your grocery, store, and debit/credit cards. ARF's group ID # is 138214335.

For those who are currently registered with Safeway, remember to renew your registration card annually between August 1 and November 1 by logging on to www.eScrip.com and clicking on "Sign Up". Go to the "Existing Supporters" section and click on "The Section to Renew Your Commitment to Safeway Stores."

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ARF Logo Earrings

Show your connection to ARF with these custom sterling silver logo earrings with kidney ear wires.  Approximately ¾” in overall length, these stylish earrings were created especially for ARF by Shawn Kezar of Shawn Paul Jewelry in St. Louis, Missouri. While supplies last.

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Celebrate Halloween at ARF

Join ARF for a spooky good time at its annual Trick or Treat event. This year’s Halloween children’s bash will be held Sunday, October 26 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at ARF’s shelter.

Young guests will compete for treats in an animal-themed scavenger hunt, play games, participate in a contest for most original costume, and explore their creativity by making ghoulish crafts. Children will also have the opportunity to interact with ARF’s canine Pet Hug Pack members in their very own Halloween outfits. The event is free and open to children of all ages! However, please leave all pets in the comfort of their non-spooky homes.

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Week of Caring

Each year, the "Week of Caring" event connects volunteers from Bay Area businesses to hundreds of projects organized by local non-profits. "Week of Caring" is a longstanding partnership between United Way of the Bay Area and the Volunteer Centers of the Bay Area which facilitates these very beneficial connections and ARF benefited once again!

From September 8-13, Week of Caring volunteers from Chevron, Wells Fargo, Dow Chemical, Fireman’s Fund Insurance, Wachovia and Nordstrom painted walls, organized storage, created Giving Tree decorations, researched animal- related websites, cleaned crates and the rescue transporter and cheerfully sorted/merchandised/organized donated items at the ARF Thrift Store. Judging by their comments THEY received something from ARF too:

I really enjoyed my time at ARF and was glad to assist in a small way. You should be proud of your facility and its special care to all of the critters that pass through its doors. I'd love to help out again in 2009, if not sooner.

~ Scott O., Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company

Thanks to all of the volunteers who worked so tirelessly during this year’s “Week of Caring”. ARF hopes you will be back again for Week of Caring 2009.

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Volunteer Help Needed

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

• Fall Landscaping Project
  What: Plant new plants and spread bark in front yard
  When: Saturday, 10/25/08, 8 a.m. - Noon
  Where: ARF facility
  Prerequisite: Must be at least 18. Completion of ARF’s volunteer orientation
  Note: Shovels and two wheelbarrows are needed for this project.
  Contact: Jenn at jsuzuki@arf.net.

• ARF Thrift Store
  What: Cashier, Customer Support (process donations, stock shelves, straighten, beautify store/merchandise presentation.)
  When: 2-hour shifts. Store hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Saturday
  Where: ARF Thrift Store located at Park and Shop center near Fry’s, 1950 Market Street, Concord
  Prerequisite: Must be at least 18. Completion of ARF’s volunteer orientation.
  Contact: Gaye at gmcduff@arf.net.

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Volunteer Training Opportunities

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 925.977.7900 ext. 452 or email volrsvp@arf.net. Be sure to leave your name and number along with the class you wish to attend.

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Adoption Stars

Beatrice	Beatrice is a shepherd mix who is just over a year old. She is a lovely girl who has learned some basic training commands while she's been at ARF. She would do well in a moderate to active home where she would be a great walking companion and is available to families with children of any age.
Four year old Rosalind Franklin does everything in a big way. This curious and outgoing torti is adventurous and wants to be in the middle of everything. She's also quite affectionate and will win your heart with her deep purrs and silly antics.		Rosalind Franklin

Meet Beatrice and Rosalind Franklin 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.

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New Beginnings

ARF -

Thanks for checking on Eileen (now Lucy) and her new home. Lucy has the loudest purr and loves to be with us wherever we are. She's a very active cat with a very large personality and has no reservations in trying to dominate the other cats in the house. Lucy loves her brother and they play all the time, which is why we picked Lucy. We love ARF and would adopt again!

- Anne

ARF -

Hi you guys. I just wanted give you lots of kisses for helping me out. Living here in Sebastopol is a real kick now that I am feeling better.

I'm getting lots of exercise chasing my brothers around while they chase balls. Mom throws balls for me too and I pick them up for her but it is really more fun to chase the guys. I am not allowed to chase the ducks and I don't anymore but it is really hard not to chase the sheep when we go into the pasture so mom keeps me on a long line for now. Every morning mom puts on my shoe and we all go for a walk and every night I go to sleep with my mom. She really loves me - but I think she should take me for more rides in the car.

I am enclosing a picture my mom took of my brothers and me when we were being especially good because she said we would get cookies.

Thanks you guys - I am really happy now.
- Bella (nee Bolinas)

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ARF Thrift Shop
Spectacular October Specials

It's Halloween Headquarters at the Thrift Shop this month! Lots of decorations, costumes, masks and accessories. Costumes come in all sizes from Teeny Tot to Grandiose Grandpa (XXL) and everything from spooky and scary to sweet and sexy. Lots of tricks, too, but our prices are a real treat!

Another big treat - All VHS tapes will be only $1 during the entire month of October.

And our Year Round Treat - Every Tuesday there's a 20 percent discount on most things in the shop for our senior customers.

Save the Date - Monday, November 3 - It's our big HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA! All of the thrift shop volunteers come in at dawn the Sunday before, roll up their sleeves and by nightfall the entire shop is decorated and filled to the rafters with all kinds of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other decorations and every conceivable holiday gift. Come in early for the best selection and make your shopping easy - REAL EASY on your wallet, too!

We know you all work very hard to help animals, but here's a way to help save animals without working at all and to do something nice for yourself at the same time:

Do your holiday shopping
at the ARF Thrift Shop...
Proceeds benefit ARF Emergency Medical Fund®!

Thrift Shop location:
1950H Market Street, Concord
Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Saturday
Donations gratefully accepted: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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