Author Archives: fetchmin

1. FETCH Feature: Bear (a Pen Pals Dog)

   July 19, 2019 5:40 pm Comments Off on FETCH Feature: Bear (a Pen Pals Dog)

   At FETCH a Cure, we encounter quite a few dogs and cats. Through our Companions in Crisis (CIC) and Pixie’s Pen Pals programs, we have helped hundreds of animals. What many people don’t think about, however, is that when an animal becomes a CIC Recipient or a Pen Pals participant, they become part of the FETCH a Cure family. That doesn’t end when they leave our programs. We have built a community in which families stay connected with us long after their original participation. We love seeing pictures of their new lives and keeping up with how they are doing, and we want to share that with everyone. So, we will be posting weekly FETCH Features about our animals. These will include Pen Pals dog alumni, past CIC recipients, and dogs that are currently up for adoption through the Pen Pals program.

   Meet Bear, a Pen Pals dog!

   

   Bear, a Pen Pals dog, is currently receiving training at a Virginia Correctional Facility, and he’s ready for adoption! He is 70 pounds of pure love, and he’s looking for a forever home that will love him and shower him with attention!

   FETCH received Bear from a vet’s office that rescued him from a less than ideal situation– he was kept in a pen for his first 9 years of life. Despite that, he has never met a stranger and is fantastic with older kids and anyone else he meets.

   Bear is disinterested in dogs of his own size, but he LOVES small dogs. We don’t know what it is, but he’s all about them. He would do well in a home with a small dog with a big personality! Bear is interested in cats, but he doesn’t chase them. He has no interest in chickens (according to the family who fostered him when we first got him into our program!).

   Bear’s Day Out

   This past Wednesday, our Programs Manager, Sarah and our Marketing Coordinator, Allie took Bear out of the prison for a photoshoot. As soon as they got to the FETCH van, Bear jumped up into the high-riding seats with ease. “You wouldn’t guess he was an older dog based on his physical abilities,” says Allie. “I’m 23, and I have to use the handle to hoist myself into the seats. Bear is 63 [in dog years], and he didn’t even hesitate.” Once inside, Bear laid down on Allie’s lap while Sarah drove to a grassy area to take pictures.

   Bear is grateful for every moment in life where he is being shown attention. He loves going new places, meeting new people, and smelling new smells! Once they got to the photoshoot area– a residential development next to a large pond– he was ready to go explore. Before getting out the camera, Sarah and Allie walked him around so he could get comfortable with his surroundings. It’s important to remember that Bear has been in a pen his whole life, followed by his time in our prison program, so he needs a bit of time to adjust to newer, larger, more stimulating environments. He gets comfortable quickly though, as you can clearly see in the photos and videos Allie took of him!

   It’s also worth mentioning that Bear was excited to go back into the prison, too. His tail started wagging the second he saw his handlers again, and he was excited to see his pal Ollie, a beagle that’s also in the prison program.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrCOChkn19Q&feature=youtu.be

   Are you looking for a loving dog to give lots of TLC to? If so, Bear is the dog for you! You can fill out an application here. Please contact spavilack@fetchacure.com with any questions.

   

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   

   
   

   

   

   

   
   

2. FETCH Feature: Zoe (Companions in Crisis)

   July 12, 2019 2:51 pm Comments Off on FETCH Feature: Zoe (Companions in Crisis)

   At FETCH a Cure, we encounter quite a few dogs and cats. Through our Companions in Crisis (CIC) and Pixie’s Pen Pals programs, we have helped hundreds of animals. What many people don’t think about, however, is that when an animal becomes a CIC Recipient or a Pen Pals participant, they become part of the FETCH a Cure family. That doesn’t end when they leave our programs. We have built a community in which families stay connected with us long after their original participation. We love seeing pictures of their new lives and keeping up with how they are doing, and we want to share that with everyone. So, we will be posting weekly FETCH Features about our animals. These will include Pen Pals dog alumni, past CIC recipients, and dogs that are currently up for adoption through the Pen Pals program.

   Meet Zoe, a Companions in Crisis recipient!

   Zoe, a pitbull mix, was adopted by her family back in December of 2011. On a routine trip to drop off food donations at their local animal control, the Petty family heard that Zoe, then 5 1/2 months old, was scheduled to be euthanized at 6 months. They knew immediately that she was their dog, and they rescued her.

   Fast forward to 2018, and Zoe has been part of the family through the birth of two kids (including one born prematurely) and a big move from California to Richmond. The family describes her as friendly and social, and extremely patient with kids. When they noticed her limping, they thought she had sprained her leg, so they took her to the vet. Unfortunately, they discovered that Zoe had osteosarcoma. Without hesitation, they knew they wanted to fight. In the words of her mom, “We did not want to give up on Zoe. We had to save her again, just like we did 7 years ago.”

   In order to remove the cancer, Zoe’s front right leg was amputated. With the help of FETCH a Cure, Zoe’s family put her through chemotherapy after the amputation to treat the affected areas. As a tripawd, Zoe has not lost any of her speed and love for life.

   July 10, 2019

   “Zoe celebrated her 8th birthday on July 10,” says her mom. “We couldn’t stop thinking that if it wasn’t for FETCH a Cure – this would not happen. She enjoyed being spoiled for the day with her favorite food and at the end of the day went to the store with her whole family to pick a special treat – doggy cookie.

   “Zoe is now 8 months post-osteosarcoma diagnosis and amputation. She is doing well. We have recently learned that she has a single nodule on her lungs which may mean that the cancer has spread or we are dealing with another primary tumor, so we have started oral chemotherapy. She is asymptomatic and her quality of life is great. It seems like she doesn’t realize that she is sick or on only 3 legs. We hope we get to celebrate many more birthdays with Zoe and that she continues to live a happy life.”

3. FETCH Feature: Rockford (a Pen Pals alum)

   July 3, 2019 4:17 pm Comments Off on FETCH Feature: Rockford (a Pen Pals alum)

   At FETCH a Cure, we encounter quite a few dogs and cats. Through our Companions in Crisis (CIC) and Pixie’s Pen Pals programs, we have helped hundreds of animals. What many people don’t think about, however, is that when an animal becomes a CIC Recipient or a Pen Pals participant, they become part of the FETCH a Cure family. That doesn’t end when they leave our programs. We have built a community in which families stay connected with us long after their original participation. We love seeing pictures of their new lives and keeping up with how they are doing, and we want to share that with everyone. So, we will be posting weekly FETCH Features about our animals. These will include Pen Pals dog alumni, past CIC recipients, and dogs that are currently up for adoption through the Pen Pals program.

   Meet Rockford, a Pen Pals alum!

   This past Saturday, we hosted a trivia night at Blue Bee Cider‘s Dog Days of Summer event. Lots of humans and dogs came out to participate and try to win prizes. Among the participants was a familiar face: Rockford.

   Rockford was in our Pen Pals program in 2018, and was adopted in May 2018. Coincidentally, the adoption event actually happened at Blue Bee Cider! He and his owners were all smiles throughout trivia, despite the heat. We bet he was helpful during the “All About Dogs” category, especially when the question, “How long is the training program for Pixie’s Pen Pals?” came up!

   Thanks to Blue Bee Cider for being an awesome community partner!

4. FETCH Feature: Honey (Companions in Crisis)

   June 26, 2019 6:49 pm Comments Off on FETCH Feature: Honey (Companions in Crisis)

   At FETCH a Cure, we encounter quite a few dogs and cats. Through our Companions in Crisis (CIC) and Pixie’s Pen Pals programs, we have helped hundreds of animals. What many people don’t think about, however, is that when an animal becomes a CIC Recipient or a Pen Pals participant, they become part of the FETCH a Cure family. That doesn’t end when they leave our programs. We have built a community in which families stay connected with us long after their original participation. We love seeing pictures of their new lives and keeping up with how they are doing, and we want to share that with everyone. So, we will be posting weekly FETCH Features about our animals. These will include Pen Pals dog alumni, past CIC recipients, and dogs that are currently up for adoption through the Pen Pals program.

   Meet Honey, a Companions in Crisis recipient!

   Honey, a 9 year old Belgian Malinois, became a Companions in Crisis recipient in 2018 after being diagnosed with fibrous sarcoma. She is currently undergoing cancer treatments every 8 weeks. She is also receiving cold laser therapy every week to strengthen her hips, knees and shoulders on the legs not affected by the cancer. She’s taking two walks a day, and her moms says her progress has been “slow and steady, but remarkable.”

   Here she is sporting her protective eye gear for the cold laser sessions, and looking like a WWI pilot. We are so happy she is doing well!

    

    

    

    

    

5. Canine Blood Donations: Lend a Paw, Save a Life

   June 24, 2019 2:41 pm Comments Off on Canine Blood Donations: Lend a Paw, Save a Life

   

   When it comes to canine medicine, most people don’t immediately think of blood donations– but it’s a vital part of veterinary practice. Like humans, animals experience injuries and illnesses that require blood transfusions, like trauma, surgery, infections, and cancer. As the number of pet owners grow, the need for pet blood donors grows as well.

   FETCH a Cure is excited to hear that the North American Veterinary Blood Bank is expanding to the greater Richmond area, particularly because of our Companions in Crisis program. We believe that no pet owner should be denied a choice for their pet’s health based on lack of resources, and that includes blood availability. There is a shortage of canine blood across the country, and the NAVBB is calling on our community to get involved. Your dog can help save lives.

   How do blood donations work?

   

   The NAVBB is looking for healthy adult dogs who are willing to lay still for 5-10 minutes and meet the following requirements:

   • Between 1-7 years old
   • Friendly and Sociable
   • Not on any medications for chronic illness
   • Greater than 50lbs
   • On heartworm, flea and tick preventatives
   • Up to date on Rabies and DHLPP vaccines
   • Has never received a blood transfusion

   If your dog meets this preliminary requirements, the NAVBB will schedule a pre-evaluation. A veterinarian will perform a physical exam and take a small blood sample, which they will use to determine your dog’s blood type and completely screen for any infectious blood diseases. Provided the screening is successful, your dog will be a donor and will be eligible to give blood donations every 4-5 weeks.

   While the donation process begins with the owner’s willingness to register your pet, the NAVBB will never force a pet to be a donor if they display dissatisfaction with the donation procedure. Their goal is “to save animal lives and make the process as positive an experience for everyone as possible!”

   How do I register?

   The North American Veterinary Blood Bank will be holding pre-evaluations this Friday, June 27th at Stonehenge Veterinary Hospital at 906 Southlake Boulevard in Richmond. The eligibility form can be found here. If your dog is eligible, you will be contacted to schedule the 30 minute pre-evaluation appointment.

    

   Thank you to the North American Veterinary Blood Bank for reaching out to us, and to our partners at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts for providing more information.