space, the new center provides a healthier, cleaner environment for the animals.  Windows are  in each room, providing natural light and entertainment for the cats.  Air exchange systems provide constant fresh air to the cat and dog areas which minimizes disease and odor.

  The new center will significantly improve life for shelter animals who are waiting for their forever home.  An open house is scheduled for April 16 and 17.  Stop by to tour the new facility.  Adoption hours at

the new

facility are

the same

as before.

 

 

What an exciting time for the animals and people of Furry Friends!  We have moved our adoption center to our new location at 1211 Grand.  The move means great things for the organization.  Through the generosity of Ronald Kenyon Construction Co., Rhonda Hill, and KCI Holdings, Furry Friends has been able to purchase both the adoption center

 and the

 building

next door

(the future

 site of the

 

 community outreach building). 

  The new adoption center  is significantly larger at 2500 square feet.  The community

 

 

 

 

 

outreach building provides Furry Friends with an additional 2400 sq. feet of space.

   More than additional

While the dogs are enjoying their new, roomier runs at the new adoption center, Furry Friends is looking forward to continuing to improve the lives of our shelter animals.   As the weather becomes warmer, the next step for our dogs is to create a courtyard directly

outside their room.  This will allow volunteers to spend time with our canines in a safe, fenced-in area. 

“We are excited to provide this new amenity to our dogs and our volunteers,” says director, Britt Gagne. “This new addition will not only allow our

dogs engage in activities they cannot do in our current leash-walking program, such as playing fetch, but it will also allow those who have medical issues preventing them from walking our dogs long distances a chance to still interact with our dogs and give them love. “   The courtyard will also serve as a place for adopters to  become familiar with their potential new pet!

FURRY FRIENDS OPENS NEW ADOPTION CENTER

FOR THE DOGS: COURTYARD WILL IMPOVE LIVES OF SHELTER DOGS

ADOPTION CENTER

THE SCOOP

SPRING 2011

Orientation Dates

 

1st Saturday of every month 9am-10:30am

 

3rd Sunday of every month 1pm-2:30pm

 

Open House

 

April 16 1pm-5pm

and April 17 11am-5pm

Page 2

Volunteers Jesse Day and Chad Thoreson finish the sign for the adoption center

ADOPTION SUCCESS STORY: AUSSIE

ADOPTABLE CATS SPOTLIGHTED AT SMITTEN KITTEN

VOLUNTEERS ARE FOUNDATION OF ORGANIZATION

Furry Friends prides itself on using our resources efficiently.  Part of this efficiency includes having only one paid full-time staff member.  With just one employee, however, Furry Friends is able to do amazing things.  This is because of our dedicated volunteers.  It takes a large number of committed people to care for the average 120-140 animals

Furry Friends cares for each day.

  Additionally, our volunteers  spend their weekends out in the community spreading the word about animals available for adoption, coming in late at night to make sure our dogs are let out, and plan events.

When the opportunity came to build a better

shelter for our animals, volunteers came out with hammers, nails, and paint brushes in tow to see the project through.  Our volunteers saved the organization tens of thousands of dollars through their handiwork. 

 We are grateful to have such wonderful volunteers!

 

 

Volunteer —>

Kevin Redig

mixes mortar

to tile the

floor

  Smitten Kitten is located at 549 28th St in Des Moines and offers cat products and accessories.   Smitten Kitten also offers cat grooming and has provided a number of kitty hair cuts for the Furry Friends cats (including

Our fantastic adoptable felines now have a new place to attract attention.  The last Saturday of every month our volunteers bring some of our adoptable cats and kittens to the Smitten Kitten cat boutique to find new homes. 

Alley’s lion cut).

Text Box: Sharon adopted Aussie (formerly Liam), a blue heeler mix pup: “We adopted Aussie from Furry Friends Refuge March 6 and he made himself immediately at home! He has grown quite a bit and every day he reveals more and more of his fantastic personality! Found out today that he loves the lake, although he hates taking a bath. He puts his ears back when he runs, like he's just THAT fast. We need to shorten his lead in the backyard because he climbs over, under and around the patio furniture, tangling himself ridiculously! Aussie (previously Liam) is very smart and loves to play. We're so glad we found him!”

Text Box: Jessica McClure

THE SCOOP

BUNNIES IN THE WILD MAY NOT NEED YOUR HELP

Page 3

As the weather gets warmer, there are many new litters of young bunnies and many people who become frantic when they find that       

             their dog, cat, or child has

             disturbed the nest.  While

             many of us want to rush to

             help these little creatures,

             unless the babies are cold or

             obviously injured the best

             thing to do is to leave them

             alone.  Mother bunnies only

             nurse their babies for about

             five minutes a day and usually come around at night or very early in the morning.  Even if you don’t see the mother, most of these

babies are not abandoned.  Never assume that the mother has been killed or has orphaned her babies.  Put a piece of string over the nest or make a pattern out of grass on top of the nest and check back in 24 hours to see if it has been disturbed.  If it has, the mother has come back to the nest.  Though humans should avoid touching wild animals to avoid causing stress, the myth that a mother rabbit will reject any baby touched by a human is untrue. If a baby rabbit has ears that are standing straight up and does not have a white mark on top of its head it is old enough to survive without mom.

While it is out of caring and concern that most people take in baby rabbits, their chance of survival when raised by an experienced wildlife rehabilitator is often less than 10%.  Leaving them to be raised by mom is the kindest thing to do.  Only remove babies that are cold to the touch or have visible injuries find your nearest wildlife rehabilitator at www.iowadnr.gov/cs/files/wildliferehab.pdf or call the small animal hospital at Iowa State University.

Candy had a number of other very special needs.  When we tested Candy for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus she tested  positive for not just one but both diseases.  Because of her rare condition, no other specialized rescue was able to assist.

Candy Ann came to the shelter after a concerned citizen saw her going in and out of the sewer—and very pregnant.  Upon arriving, Furry Friends began giving her the medical attention that she needed.  After treating her fleas and giving her medication for worms, Furry Friends found

Although feline leukemia is generally a terminal illness that significantly reduces a cat’s lifespan, Candy appears healthy and happy at this point.  She is exceptionally cuddly and loving and is looking for a home without other cats to care for her for as long as her life may be.

 Future medical assistance may be available for an appropriate adopter.  Please call at 222-0009 if you would like to meet Candy or sponsor her!

number of these kitties such as Kit ,who required tube feeding for 2 months, or Honey, a three legged cat with socialization needs.  When we built the new facility, however, we wanted to also have an area where these cats

 can have a

 comfortable

 space at the

 

  This

At Furry Friends, we are dedicated to helping ALL animals who come into our adoption center.  This means that we often times find ourselves caring for cats and other animals that may have special needs.  Because of the large number of cats we assist, Furry Friends generally always  has a some cats needing special accommodations.  We use foster homes to house  a

NEW AREA FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KITTIES GETS 2 PAWS UP

LONELY HEARTS CLUB MEMBER: CANDY ANN

adoption center where there chances of adoption will be greater.  

 Our new adoption center now

 includes a special needs area! 

The area  provides a roomy,

home-like  environment that is

 currently home to four FIV+

kitties (after two others recently

found a forever home!)  These

special  needs felines think their

new digs are the cat’s meow!

 

Kit-currently in foster care

Kitties relax in new large special needs condo

· Construction Co.

· Smitten Kitten

· Rhonda Hill

· Prairie Meadows

· Miccio Foundation

· Daltile

· Doug Applegate and Junkyard Kids

· Bill and Kris Duvall

· Kevin Redig

· Wellmark

· Family Pet Vet

· University West Pet Clinic

· Starch Animal Hospital

· Iowa Countertops

· Sherwin Williams

· Cheri Brichetto Designs

· American Mechanical

· Ronald Kenyon

· Iowa Pet Foods

· Oaks Veterinary

· The Shelton family

· The Day family

· Ruth and Chad Thoreson

· Kim Greth

· Pam Levine

· ING volunteers

· The many other volunteers who helped make our new adoption center a reality and those who help care for our animals every day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1211 Grand Ave

West Des Moines, IA 50265

515-222-0009

adoptions@furryfriendsrefuge.org

www..furryfriendsrefuge.org

Adoption hours:

Mon 6pm-8:30pm

Tues/Thurs 12pm-4pm

Wed./Fri. 4pm-8:30pm

Sat/Sun 11am-5pm

WISH LIST

· Paper Towels

· Cat Litter

· Kitten and Cat Food

· Greens for bunnies (green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, cilantro, and parsley)

· Ceramic or stainless food and water bowls

· Dog bones (i.e. rawhides)

· Sturdy dog collars and leashes

· Cat litter boxes

· Cleaning supplies

· Copy paper

Furry Friends is also looking for secure locations for donation canisters.  Please contact the shelter to help!

ADOPTION CENTER

A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

SERVING CENTRAL IOWA’S HOMELESS ANIMALS