ARF in need of donations, fosters

This summer alone, the Jennings-based Animal Relief Foundation (ARF) has spent over $2,000 helping pups abandoned locally, but the group is in desperate need of about $1,500 to save two more dogs.

ARF volunteer Rebecca Chaisson said saving animals is an expensive task; too often, the cheapest solution is to euthanize a dog who just wants to love, and be loved.

“These dogs are so bad off that shelters won’t take them because they can’t be adopted out in this condition,” she said. “So your options are to vet that animal or have it euthanized. Someone’s already given up on them once. These pups don’t deserve to have it happen to them again.”

The success stories ARF sees are priceless thanks to donations from the community that are used to help stray or neglected pups, Chaisson said.

“There are some cruel people in this world, but time and time again, this community rallies around these pups to prove that the good people outnumber the bad ones,” Chaisson said.

This summer, ARF rescue Harmony was boarded at Crowley Veterinary Hospital for about two months as she slowly recovered from near death. She was discovered on the side of a rural road without any food, water or shelter. By the time she was discovered, most of Harmony’s fur was gone and she had stopped eating her diet of insects and grass, and she was hardly able to lift her head.

Still, she tried to lick the hand of the woman who pulled her car to the side of the road to check on the sickly dog.

Thanks to donations, the $2,000-plus bill for Harmony’s round-the-clock care was covered. Better yet, she even found a “fur-ever” home. Then Gem, who has been fostered by ARF for about three years, developed an infection that required emergency treatment that tallied up to about $250. After this came Chance and Shadow, who were discovered dumped on a dirt road.

“Chance’s leg was broken about three weeks ago, we think, from either being tossed from a vehicle or being hit by a passing vehicle,” Chaisson said. “Both were found dehydrated, hungry and left for dead.”

A broken leg meant Chance needed corrective surgery or amputation.

“Dr. Lindsey Fruge, who has been taking care of our dogs, encouraged us to save his leg quickly because of how long the break seemed to be there,” Chaisson added. “His surgery alone will cost us about $2,500. We were able to raise almost half of that and the rest was actually put on a volunteer’s credit card so Chance could be cared for right away.”

Chance is currently being fostered at a home in Roanoke. His buddy Shadow, meanwhile, is looking for a foster home, or even permanent home of his own. Estimated to be about two years old, Shadow is heartworm negative, neutered, up to date on vaccinations and has been dewormed.

“Shadow is great with dogs, cats and kids and he’s so playful and goofy,” Chaisson said. “He would be an awesome family pet.”

Being able to help the pups currently in its care means ARF can help even more dogs in the future.

“We have to have fosters and funds to save these dogs and find them good homes,” Chaisson said. “Without money, we cannot give them the medical attention they need, and there are food and monthly preventative costs for each dog, too. We have to have homes where these dogs can stay until they find a permanent family. Without any of these things, we can’t help more dogs.”

Because of such circumstances, ARF is not accepting additional rescues at this time.

There are several ways to assist ARF and/or Chance and Shadow, and ARF is a 501(C)(3) non-profit. Donations can be made through Go Fund Me at www.gofundme.com/3gttpk-homeward-bound or via PayPal to rebeccachaisson24@yahoo.com. Donations can also be called in directly to Crowley Veterinary Hospital at

(337) 788-0614. To possibly become an ARF foster parent, email Chaisson or message her via Facebook.