Melody Smith, Social Studies teacher at Algood Middle School, coordinated a service learning grant to use towards helping homeless animals right here in the Upper Cumberland.  Melody and a group of 6th grade students arrived today at Petco and purchased $500 worth of merchandise to help A.A.R.F. efforts to house, feed and rehabilitate homeless animals.  While Melody and A.A.R.F. director, Jennifer Farley shopped for supplies, the young students volunteered their time socializing, walking and playing with the dogs currently available for adoption.  The girls also created a beautiful poster board for A.A.R.F. to use at events.  A.A.R.F. Thanks Melody and the students for thinking of A.A.R.F. and the homeless animals.

Purchases include new pet huts, cat litter, cat food, much needed medications, puppy pens, beds, etc.  All supplies were purchased here locally at PETCO!

Pictured from left to right, Jennifer Farley-A.A.R.F., Anita Jesser-PETCO, Linda Randall-A.A.R.F., Mikaela Scantland-Student, Abigail Brown-Student, Melody Smith-Teacher, and Calista Boyd-Student.  Linda is holding Muffin.  Abigail is holding Sam.  Calista is holding Shadow on a leash.    Next photo – some of the girls enjoy playing with the dogs at PETCO!

If you would like to donate any of these items, please call 931-260-8018 (voicemail only) or email [email protected] to make arrangements for us to pick them up. Items can be dropped off at the Cookeville PETCO store in the A.A.R.F. Donation Bin.

• MONEY: No amount is too small to purchase vaccines, food, medical supplies, dewormers, flea treatments, cleaning supplies, vet bills & more…
• VOLUNTEERS: We always need volunteers to help with Adoption Events and other duties.
• Foster homes: Fostering a dog or cat in your home allows us to save more lives. All supplies are provided for your fostered pets. We need your help to save more lives!
• Dog & Cat food: Both dry and canned food needed for cats, dogs, kittens & pups
• Kitten & Puppy milk replacer: For bottle feeding kittens and puppies
• Wire dog crates: For our rescued dogs & puppies.
• Wire cat condos: For our rescued cats & kittens
• Clumping cat litter: Any kind of clumping cat litter
• Fresh step litter paw points: Donate your “Paw Points” codes
• Cleaning supplies: Bleach, laundry detergent, paper towel, gloves
• Bedding: Clean new or used blankets, towels, sheets, rugs (frayed/stains ok!) Used, clean waterproof bed pads (used in nursing homes, hospitals, etc.)
• Office Supplies: Printer paper, 74/75 HP ink cartridges, labels, postage, copies
• Dog & cat supplies: Collars, leashes, food bowls, plastic carriers, cat trees, toys

This is Raider (Formerly known as Nutters) who was abandoned at PETCO on Monday October 4. Luckily we were able to find a foster home for him and he’s safe! We wouldn’t be able to help without our wonderful foster volunteers and donor.

This sweet puppy has a sad past, but a great future ahead of him. We got an urgent call from the Cookeville PETCO store; bright and early one Monday morning, someone had driven up and dropped off this puppy in front of the store. They drove off, leaving the puppy (in a tiny cat carrier) with a note. ‘I’m a lab / chihuahua mix. My family had to move and couldn’t take me. Please find me a good home.’ Of course we had to take him in… he’s been treated for fleas, ticks and worms and will soon be neutered and up to date on shots. His foster mom says he’s a snuggle bug! The whole first day he was in foster care, he whined and looked for his family who had left him. Now he’s adjusting well to foster care, knows how to Sit and also appears to be house trained. He would be best with a family who is home a lot, as he prefers to hang out with people. He’s about 4 and a half months old and will be ready to go home with you soon.

Please click here to donate for Raider’s veterinary care:

COOKEVILLE – RABIES CLINIC on Monday September 27th.  To help make rabies history and to participate in World Rabies Day bring your dog or cat to one of the following clinics.  From 1pm – 5pm at Animal Medical Clinic, Boyd Veterinary Clinic, Flatt Veterinary Clinic.  From 1pm – 6pm at Copeland Veterinary Hospital or HSPC Spay Neuter Clinic.  From 2pm – 4pm at the Animal Shelter with the House Call Veterinarian, Dr. Tyler Verble.  Rabies vaccinations are $8 at all locations.

Dog Days of Summer Special ending soon.  Male dog neuters for $15 at the Humane Society Spay Neuter Clinic will end September 1st.  Call 931-372-2728 for an appointment, MUST MENTION “DOG DAYS OF SUMMER” for special pricing.

The PETCO Foundation (http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_pc_petcofoundationhome_Nov_11.aspx) recently approved a grant request and donated $800 worth of kitten food to A.A.R.F.  We want to thank them once again for their generosity and their willingness to help!  The kittens in our care are not eating very high quality food and thriving because of it. 

Sharon Langford of Sparta recently wrote a book entitled “LIVING THE RESCUES:  Life Lessons and Inspirations”.   Not only is the book wonderful (my personal opinion, of course), but ALL proceeds from the book are going to help homeless animals in need.  Ms. Langford will donate all of HER profits to her own, private foundation, while some retailers are donating THEIR profits to local animal rescue organizations! 

VINTAGE ROSE ANTIQUES, located at 221 Broad Street, will be donating ALL PROFITS MADE on the sale of these books to A.A.R.F. to assist with rescue efforts.  I had a lovely meeting with mother and daughter team Sharon and Sarah Hawlick last week, who each have rescue dogs of their own.  They are passionate for this cause and want to help in any way possible!  The more books they sell, the more funding AARF will receive – which will help more homeless pets right here in the Upper Cumberland. 

Living with the Rescues sells for $19.95 and copies are selling quick!  Please visit Vintage Rose Antiques at 221 Broad Street in Cookeville (From Willow Avenue heading north towards TN Tech, take a right on Broad Street and it is on your left hand side) and tell them that AARF sent you!  While there, be sure to browse through their wonderful selection of beautiful decor and antiques! 

The July Fairfield Glade Craft Show was a success!  We raised over $300 to help homeless animals in need throughout the Upper Cumberland, and adopted 1 dog and 3 kittens!  We also took in 1 tiny kitten after it was dumped in a person’s truck nearby in Crossville.  This kitten has been bottle fed and is well on it’s way to becoming a WONDERFUL cat!  Our Junior volunteers were in full swing, working hard to save lives!!!

On behalf of A.A.R.F., we once again want to thank PETCO and Kelly Darty for the tremendous donation that was made to our organization.  Please see our “Thank You” Sign inside of the store, and thank Kelly for taking the initiative to help A.A.R.F.  This has always been, and will continue to be a wonderful partnership!  Thank you Kelly and PETCO Foundation!!!