Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, Inc.

If you like to shop online, you can help the cats of Furrever Friends while doing your shopping, just by clicking your mouse!  Shop at Amazon com simply by going to http://ffrvstore.furreverfriends.org…  and 4% of the purchase price of whatever you buy will be donated to Furrever Friends.

A $200 reward is being offered for the safe return of a lost cat that was adopted from Furrever Friends.  The cat, which answers to “Gertrude” or “Gerti,” is a female tortoiseshell with a beige nose who was last seen in the Lakewood Manor Apartments complex off Lakeland Rd. in Blackwood, NJ, on Saturday, Feb. 12.

If you have seen this cat in this vicinity anytime since Feb 12, please call 856-845-8554, or email info@furreverfriends.org.

UPDATE:  Gertrude was found safe and sound on March 17, and returned to her home.  Thanks to everyone who worked toward Gertrude’s safe recovery!

This year, New Jersey taxpayers have the option of donating a portion of their state tax refunds to a fund that subsidizes low-cost spay and neutering services (full story here).  To select this option, go to Line 63 (“Other Designated Contribution”) on the 2010 NJ Resident 1040, enter fund number “10” (for the “Cat and Dog Spay/Neuter Fund”) and then enter the amount you wish to donate.  For more information, visit the NJ Division of Taxation site, or consult your tax professional.

Each year, over 37,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in New Jersey for lack of loving homes.  Supporting low-cost spay/neuter services — which are available to qualifying pet owners and reimburse veterinarians for performing these surgeries — can greatly reduce this travesty.  More information on New Jersey’s low-cost spay/neuter program can be found here.

When searching for a pet to adopt, “free to good home” may sound like a great deal… but it’s a raw deal for the many animals who fall into the hands of those with bad intentions.

Especially with the proliferation of Internet forums and bulletin board sites, many pets offered for free are at high risk of being taken by dog fighters looking for “bait” to train fighting dogs, people who sell animals to laboratories, and animal abusers.  For these criminals, finding such pets is as effortless as a few web searches and mouse clicks, and distance is no longer a barrier.  These criminals are also experts at deception; they may have excellent vet references, and may even bring children with them to pick up the pet!

The following news video tells the alarming story of a man in Kentucky who adopted cats online, but is now accused of torturing and killing them (viewer discretion advised; the video is not graphic, but is disturbing nonetheless):

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A similar story from Aberdeen Township, NJ, in 2008 is reported here (again, with disturbing details).

When trying to find a home for a pet, never give the pet away for free, and always check vet and personal references carefully.  Avoid posting on online sites such as Craigslist, where there is no accountability or ability to verify identities.  Always request an adoption fee.  Ask for personal contact information, and tell potential adopters you intend to follow up in a couple of weeks to see how the animal is doing.

Furrever Friends charges a $90 adoption fee per cat ($135 for two cats), which helps to cover spay/neutering, rabies and other vaccinations, testing for FIV and FELV, flea and tick treatments, and other necessary vet care.  “Free” animals rarely receive this level of care, which would cost an adopter hundreds of dollars at a private vet — and potentially thousands if the animal turns out to be unhealthy.  In addition, our adoption team checks references (including vet references) of all applicants, and conducts a phone interview before approving any application.

For more information, see our page on how to find a home for a cat.