Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, Inc.

With temperatures in our area reaching record highs, we need to be mindful of the need to keep our pets comfortable in the hot weather… even if they’re indoors.

Make sure your pets have plenty of water, and be on the lookout for signs of overheating such as excessive panting or staggering. If you notice a marked change in your pet’s behavior, contact your veterinarian at once.

Also, never leave a pet alone in a parked car! Even on relatively cool days, temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach as high as 160 degrees F… and an animal can die from heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes. Leaving animals unattended in closed vehicles is also illegal in many areas. If you see an animal in a parked car and believe it is in danger, call 911.

For more information on keeping pets cool in the hot weather, visit this page from the ASPCA, and MyDogIsCool.com, which includes printable flyers and other educational materials.  The Weather Channel also features a “PetCast” tool customizable by pet type, characteristics and location.

Lorraine Pino, Elementary School Teacher by day/Cat Rescuer by night, vowed to sell 1000 soft pretzels as a fundraiser to help homeless animals under the care of Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, Inc. With the help of staff, and the hungry tummies of elementary students, a $1000 check was presented from the Dr.Williams Mennies School to Furrever Friends just before school closed for the summer.

For three weeks, Lorraine delivered fresh soft pretzels to the Dr. William Mennies School where fellow animal loving teachers gave up their lunch breaks to sell the treats in the lunchroom. For just $1, students eagerly enjoyed their pretzel and mustard with the knowledge that the money was going to help homeless cats.

Furrever Friends is a non-profit, all-volunteer animal rescue group that helps animals in the Delaware Valley find homes. The organization survives on the kindness of donations from the public.

Lorraine, her husband Bennie, and her daughter Melanie, have saved the lives of dozens of cats and kittens by fostering them in her home while they awaited adoption. Lorraine also contributes homemade gourmet desserts and balloon animal creations at various rescue fundraisers.

After the three week long project, Lorraine had one comment: “I can’t wait for that pretzel smell to get out of my car!”

Third Grade Class “3N” at Samuel Mickle School of East Greenwich Township donated 100 bags of homemade dog treats and 30 handmade cat toys to Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers. The children made and packaged the items themselves, which Furrever Friends will sell to raise money for veterinary bills.

Student Baker “Abby” with the class creations!

Furrever Friends volunteer Sharon Bolt was surprised at the many questions that were asked by the students, including one little boy who wanted to volunteer.

Furrever Friends Rescue is run entirely by volunteers. They help abandoned, abused and unwanted cats to find responsible homes. Some of the cats available for adoption are showcased at the *new* Deptford Petsmart (near Sam’s Club) and can be viewed online at www.furreverfriends.org

In the early morning hours of Feb. 27, Furrever Friends volunteers came across a lost pug while working to rescue a stray kitten. The little dog, severely underweight and very hungry, got itself caught in one of the team’s humane traps. One of the volunteers recalled seeing notices for “Sasha,” a lost pug in the area, posted on the online bulletin board Craigslist. Sure enough, when comparing the photos posted with the pug they had caught, the team realized it had a match!

The next morning, Sasha and her owners had an emotional family reunion at Delaware Valley Veterinary Hospital in Mullica Hill, NJ. Sasha had been missing since December 1, 2009… meaning that in addition to surviving traffic, bitter-cold temperatures, a lack of food and assorted other hazards, Sasha held on through three record-breaking blizzards during the harshest winter in the region’s history. Sasha’s fighting spirit helped her make it home… with a little help from Furrever Friends.

Rescued Pug