Friends of Powell County's Pets

Raffle Winner!

2012-03-04T11:21:00.000-05:00

And the winner is.....Shirley Bowen! Shirley is the winner of our latest fund-raising raffle. The drawing was for a lady's gift basket, which included a really nice purse. Value of the prize was $250, and we thank everyone who donated items for this raffle. Another raffle will be coming soon, and we will announce it right here on our blog and Facebook.

Congrats to Shirley!

You Can Help Us Help Them!

2012-02-20T13:01:00.001-05:00

One of the most heart-wrenching aspects of animal rescue is witnessing animals in desperate need of medical attention. For homeless animals, it can truly become a life-or-death situation. Depending on the illness, vet bills can become overwhelming. Being a non-profit rescue, FOPCP does not make any profit on any animal we adopt. In most cases, we spend hundreds of dollars on vetting animals to ensure that they leave our care in tip-top shape. We keep our adoption fees low, and depend on fundraisers, donations, and community support for to help pay for vetting.

Right now, there are animals in desperate need of medical attention in Powell County, and we are asking for your support. You can help by donating through our PayPal account by clicking on the donate button below.

Bacall is a very sweet-natured beagle mix. She has a very serious eye injury, and it is very urgent that she receives vetting soon. Bacall is going to make someone a wonderful family pet, and she deserves a chance to make it happen.

Shay is a Shepherd/Retriever mix. He is very active, and loves to explore. But he was diagnosed with heartworm. A heartworm is a parasite that when left untreated will eventually kill its canine host. Shay is in foster care right now, and is undergoing treatments to cure him of heartworm. These treatments are very expensive.

We are also nursing a few pups back to health after they were diagnosed with Parvo. For puppies, Parvo is deadly. And treatments for this disease can really add up. We're doing everything we can to ensure these pups pull through!

These sweet animals are depending on us, and we appreciate any donation. Click the donate button to access our PayPal site, and any donation you give is tax deductible on both the state and federal level. We cannot do what we do without support from you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T18:15:00.002-05:00

Gonzo is gaining confidence!

2012-02-08T20:30:00.000-05:00

You might remember Gonzo from a video we posted a few weeks back... Gonzo came to us from the pound. He had been separated from his mother at a very early age, and had not been properly socialized. Gonzo was very smart, and very handsome. However, he was also very fearful of people and new situations. Gonzo was definitely a special needs dog, and he had to be placed with the perfect family that would have the patience to help build his confidence.

Well, Gonzo was adopted by a wonderful couple in Louisville! And in an attempt to build his confidence, they decided to enroll him in obedience and agility classes. In Gonzo's case, the goal of obedience training is not just to understand the commands, but to also establish a means of trusted
communication with the dog. Mutual respect and trust is the foundation of a good master/dog
relationship. Gonzo has already learned basic commands, and his trust in his owners is growing each day.

Being scared is very stressful. One of the most beneficial way to relieve this type of stress is through exercise. This is where the agility course helps! Gonzo is now learning to trust his new owners, plus he's relieving that tension that is built up in his anxieties. And to top it off, he is having a blast the whole time! This may be one of the best therapies that you can give a shy dog.

We are proud to report that Gonzo is progressing, and we are so happy to see his new family working so hard to help him become a healthy, happy dog. Gonzo is a sweetie, and he deserves it! You've GOTTA check out this video of him taking on the obstacle course challenge. It's awesome!

Off To A Roaring Start in 2012!!

2012-01-20T12:20:00.001-05:00

We are off to a roaring start in 2012! This is the 20th day of the year, and so far, we have an average of more than one dog per day in rescue, adopted, or scheduled for transport. While this is a fantastic statistic, we are getting a little too big for our britches, so to speak. We are in need of more volunteers in order to keep up with the pace.

How can you help??

First, we need fosters! When dogs in the pound are spoken for, we have to pull them to foster homes to get them vetted and quarantined before transport. If you can do this, we have a sponsor who will provide a kennel. We have experienced fosters ready to assist when any questions arise. All your expenses will be tax-deductible because we are a 501(c)(3) corporation. Your fosters will usually have a definite date of transport, so you can avoid having the indefinite fosters that might be around for months. Some of our transports require a two-week quarantine period, some less, but usually we will have your fosters moved out within a month. Fostering is a very rewarding experience. You get to experience the love of many animals and then follow their progress as they find their forever spoil-em-rotten homes!

Second, if you can't foster but love road trips, we have some fun for you! Driving transports! Sometimes we rent a cargo van, but if we don't have too many dogs, we send groups in SUV's. Common destinations are Hagerstown, MD, and Hershey, PA, but we've gone other places, too. Again, your expenses are tax-deductible, including half your food and lodging if you choose to make it an overnight trip. One of our transporters took the opportunity to visit Snowshoe Resort for some snowboarding on the way home! Ever heard of "voluntourism?" It's a new trend in this economy -- do some volunteering on a vacation and earn some tax deductions, plus have the satisfaction of helping others!

These are two of our biggest needs. Please email fopcpky@gmail.com if you think you can help in either way. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!

What a way to start the new year!

2011-12-31T09:38:00.002-05:00

You may remember Sydney Henderson from an earlier blog post. She had the honor of naming one of our foster kittens at our Independence Day fundraiser. She named him "Firecracker," and Firecracker found a forever home a few weeks later.

Well, Sydney is such a big animal lover, she has adopted a dog from FOPCP! Dot, now Molly, will be running around on Sydney's family's farm. We are really appreciative of her family's support, and are excited to see more young people in our community taking an interest in becoming responsible pet owners.

Lovely Katie is also having an exciting start to the new year. She was found by the drop box of the pound by one of our volunteers who couldn't stand to let Katie spend Christmas in the hoosegow. Here she is with her new forever mom, Theah Hall. Katie is going to a brand new life on the farm!

We are so happy for Dot and Katie and their new families.

Goodbye, 2011. Hello 2012!

2011-12-31T08:46:00.000-05:00

This time of the year is for reflection of things wethankful for. The officers, members, and other volunteers of FOPCP are THANKFUL for YOU! Because of support from our community, FOPCP is able to make adifference in the lives of cats and dogs in and around Powell County.

We have helped thousandsof man’s best friends since 2007. We are so glad to still be going strong into2012. FOPCP is run solely by volunteers and 100% of donations and grant moniesreceived goes towards the cats and dogs we help – vaccinations, transporting tono-kill shelters, emergency vet visits, well-care vet visits, food for fosterand pound animals, spay/neuter clinic supplies, spay/neuter scholarships,dewormer, heart worm, and other medicines, and much more.

Over the past year, we have been able to help 202 cats anddogs escape a life (and death) in the Pound – 116 of those went to no-kill shelters in the US or Canada, 55 were pulled as foster animals, and we intercepted 31animals to find homes or foster families so they wouldn’t have to go to thePound at all.

At our spay/neuter clinics this year, 162 catsand dogs were altered. This means for each pet altered, for the remainder oftheir lives having only 1 litter a year, we prevented the unwanted birth ofapproximately 1,000 kittens and puppies eachyear. These puppies and kittens have been spared a life (and death) fromthe Pound or on the streets. We would like to especially acknowledge ourpartners for these clinics: Woodstock Animal Foundation (Lexington), theStanton Fire Department, and Clay City Elementary School. Without them, theseclinics would not be possible in our county.

Plus we started a financial assistance program to help low-income families spay/neuter their pets! Our PAL program has given our community the power to control the animal population. And funds are still available for 2012!

Together, we have made a difference in Powell County. Welook forward to continuing to make our county a safer and healthier place tolive by promoting responsible pet ownership through spay/neuter, vaccinations,and rescuing animals from the Pound. It has been an amazing year. We cannot wait to see what 2012 will bring!

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

Christmas Dessert Sale

2011-12-18T18:00:00.003-05:00

This is some dog-gone good pie!

Oh, you are in for a treat! We are now taking orders for our big Christmas Dessert Sale!

Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Banana Cream Pie
Coconut Cream Pie
Apple Pie w/crumble toping
Peanut Butter Pie
Chocolate Pie
Chocolate Lovers Cheesecake
Peanut Butter Squares
Oreo Cheesecake
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Pie
Cranberry Pear Pie
Jam Cake
Sweet Potato Rolls

$15 for Pies. $25 for Jam Cake. And all proceeds help us with our Christmas wish...to unite the homeless animals of Powell County with their forever families.

Our expert bakers are standing by for your orders!

So, let us do dessert! Spend less time in the kitchen this Holiday, and more time with your family!

Order by emailing us at fopcpky@gmail.com, or call (606) 481-9430.

Don't miss the "Deck the Paws" Open House

2011-12-08T12:34:00.001-05:00

Tickets are available at Shabby Chic, or you can purchase tickets at the door.

Christmas Dessert Sale

2011-12-07T03:55:00.001-05:00

Pie chart. tee hee.

With all of the hectic holiday craziness, wouldn't be wonderful to have one less thing to stress about??? Well, let us do dessert! Our Thanksgiving Dessert Sale was a sweet success, so we are doing it again for Christmas! In a few days, we will post a list of desserts to choose from. Pick your favorite, and we will deliver yummy goodness to your holiday celebration. All donations will help fund a better life for all the homeless animals of our community!

Pictures with Santa was a BLAST!

2011-12-03T17:34:00.001-05:00

"Okay, Santa. I made it easy for you.
I brought pictures!"

We had a blast doing the pictures with Santa at the Senior Citizen's Christmas Bazaar! Our very own Kyle Lucas was perfect as Jolly Old St. Nick. AND HE WAS AWESOME!!! He even grew a real Santa beard just for the occasion. Now THAT'S dedication! There were kids, LOTS of kids! Even some newborns getting their very first photos with Santa. And it was a honor to be a part of that.

And there were dogs! We were surprised to see so many fuzzy faces. It was a long, tiring day. But it was worth it! A big thanks to Suzy Fig for her decorating skills, and everyone who donated to the FOPCP. And a huge thanks to Santa!

Gonzo is Available for Adoption

2011-11-23T05:11:00.001-05:00

Gonzo has come a long way. He was dropped off at the pound with a horrible case of ringworm on his nose. He was eaten up with parasites, and he was not at all social with people. He would just stand in the corner of his cage, with his head down avoiding all eye contact. To overcome his shyness, we had to take him into foster care. He slowly learned to trust his foster family, and now is coming out of his shell. He is still shy, but he is gaining confidence with each new day. His ringworm has been cured, and his doubled in size in just a few weeks. He's going to make a very loyal companion!

Thanksgiving Dessert Sale

2011-11-16T22:50:00.001-05:00

Nothing beats homemade pie!
Except maybe bacon.

Take a break from cooking this Thanksgiving, and let FOPCP do dessert! On Tuesday, November 22nd, we will be having a Thanksgiving Dessert Sale at the Clay City Family Dollar store from 4pm to 8pm. We will have plenty of homemade pies, cakes, and desserts to choose from. And all of the proceeds will benefit our rescue efforts, helping us fund vetting and transports so that the homeless animals of Powell County can find new forever families.

And if you have any special requests, let us know! Email us at info@fopcp.com and tell us what kind of pie your family loves, and we will be sure to have some on hand.

We are very thankful for our community support, and the animals are thankful as well!

Pictures with Santa!

2011-11-15T20:57:00.001-05:00

Our own Kyle Lucas will be Santa.
He grew this beard just for the part!

You don't have to drive to Lexington to get pictures of your kids with Santa. You can get them done right in Stanton! FOPCP is having our first "Pictures with Santa" at the 14th Annual Christmas Bazaar at the Senior Citizens' Center. It's Saturday, December 3rd from 9 am to 5 pm. 5"x 7"pics will be printed and available at the Bazaar for $8 each. We will also provide an internet link to download your photos after the event is over. All proceeds will be used for vetting and transporting so that our animals can find new forever homes. Plus, the Christmas Bazaar will have arts, crafts, jewelry, treats, Avon products, primitive decor items and much, much more! It's gonna be a blast! Come on out! Its for a good cause!

Looks like a Norman Rockwell painting, doesn't it?

Spay & Neuter Financial Assistance

2011-11-12T19:08:00.001-05:00

WOW, we have had a lot of inquiries about our new Spay & Neuter financial assistance program! And we want to make it easy for anyone to apply. There are applications available at The Powell County Library and The Powell County Animal Shelter. We can also email you an application. Just email us at info@fopcp.com and we will respond.

We are proud to be able to offer those animal lovers in financial need help, and encourage EVERYONE that needs help to apply.

Happy Tails!

2011-11-09T17:20:00.002-05:00

We have a couple of happy tails to pass along.

Do you remember Reese? Well, she just celebrated her 1st birthday. Her new owners said they may have gone over the top!

Reese celebrates her 1st birthday.

We also heard back from Unity (now named Layla). To our surprise, Layla is believed to be a rare breed of dog called a Carolina Dog. How on Earth a rare breed ends up in our pound is beyond us! Layla now lives on a horse farm that specializes in dressage training. She is very happy, and she is a bit spoiled. After a hard day of horse training, she gets to snuggle with her new owner in bed.

Layla on the farm!

We always love to hear where our animals are! So if you have a story, let us know!

October was an AMAZING month!

2011-11-01T09:40:00.000-04:00

Oakley's new parents have really fallen for him!

Wow, this month has been just amazing for FOPCP. First, we received two grants which has allowed us to start PALS, a Spay & Neuter program for low-income families. We encourage ANYONE who needs their pets altered but cannot because they are in financial need...PLEASE apply for PALS financial assistance. We need to get the animal over-population under control in Powell County.

Second, we have broken our own rescue record in one month! In October, FOPCP has intercepted 51 animals! This success is partly due to the fact that we have a new foster family helping us (AND WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE FOSTER FAMILIES!). Plus, our transports have increased dramatically. During our last transport, we moved 32 dogs to no-kill shelters in the northeastern United States! It's a great start, but there is still much more that we need to do.

I'm raking in the love from my new forever family!

And on top of all that, we have had quite a few adoptions! Oakley was adopted, and as you can see by his cute photos, he's really enjoying the fall weather.

ADOPTED!

Rio was just adopted! How can you resist that face??? Rio is such a sweetie, and his new family is thrilled to welcome him into their home.

ADOPTED!

Adelle, the perfect dog, was adopted by a rescue foster family in New Jersey. Adelle has been renamed "Wink," because she only has one eye. She's got a wonderful new family, and we couldn't be happier for her!

ADOPTED!

Beautiful Renelle has a new home in North Carolina! Autumn Chandler transported her this weekend! Thank you so much for your help!

ADOPTED!

LT was adopted! LT's owner passed away, and he had been searching for a family for quite some time. A relative of his owner fell in love with him, and now he's got a forever family!

JACEY-ADOPTED!

JAZZY- ADOPTED!

Siblings Jacey and Jazzy found new homes! What a couple of cuties!!!

ADOPTED!

Scarlett was also adopted. What a precious face!

ADOPTED!

And Crystal, one of the kitties fostered at Dr. Brammel's office, has found a forever home. These are just a few adoptions. But as long as there are still homeless animals, we're gonna keep finding them homes. We thank everyone for your support! We could not have had this much success without the support from our beloved community and friends!

Introducing The PALS Program!

2011-10-17T12:53:00.004-04:00

We are proud to announce this!!!!

As we just announced, The Friends of Powell County's Pets are the proud recipients of two amazing grants! With these grants, FOPCP is initiating a new Spay and Neuter campaign called "The PALS Program." PALS stands for “Prevent A Litter, Save some lives” and these grants will assist low-income families with the cost of spay and neuter surgeries in Powell County. We believe that spaying and neutering is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. It allows pets to continue to live longer, healthier lives.

If more people would spay and neuter,

we would have less animals in shelters.

Think about this...In six years, ONE dog and her puppies can be the source of 67,000 puppies. In seven years, ONE cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens. If we can prevent a litter, we will be reducing the numbers of homeless animals and needless suffering. This is why we conduct our Spay & Neuter Clinics. And to date, we have altered over 800 animals. Can you imagine the impact on our community if those 800 animals had not been treated???

Our pound is over-run with homeless animals.

Please do not add to the animal population.

We are deeply honored to be chosen by these two amazing organizations, and we hope that the people of Powell County will join us in our PAL program. When you prevent a litter, you will save lives.

To apply for this financial assistance, contact the Friends of Powell County’s Pets at (606) 481-9430. These grants made possible by the ASPCA and PetSmart Charities®.

FOPCP receives GRANT from ASPCA

2011-10-16T17:08:00.000-04:00

We have even MORE big news to report! FOPCP just received another grant for spay and neuter surgeries!

The grant is made possible by ASPCA. And it will be used to assist low-income families with the cost of spay and neuter surgeries in Powell County. We are deeply honored to receive this grant, and we know it will make a huge impact on the animal over-population problems that we face in our community.

To apply for this financial assistance, contact the Friends of Powell County’s Pets at (606) 481-9430. And hurry! This is for a limited time! Spaying and neutering is an essential element to control the animal population of Powell County.

A huge thanks goes out to ASPCA for their support!

FOPCP receives GRANT from PetSmart Charities!!!

2011-10-16T17:07:00.002-04:00

We have some amazing news for the people of Powell County! The Friends of Powell County's Pets have just been awarded a grant from PetSmart Charities®! This grant will be used to assist low-income families with the cost of spay and neuter surgeries in Powell County.

Aside from animal rescue, The Friends of Powell County’s Pets (FOPCP) avidly promotes spaying and neutering to help control the animal population. And to date, FOPCP’s spay-and-neuter clinics have altered over 800 animals. The impact these clinics have had on our community is exponential.

This offer is for a limited time. To apply for this financial assistance, contact the Friends of Powell County’s Pets at (606) 481-9430. This is made possible by a grant from PetSmart Charities®.

About PetSmart Charities®

Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North Americas, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $134 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and has helped save the lives of more than 4.7 million pets through its in-store adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working towards its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).

EXCITING NEWS TO COME!

2011-09-23T17:18:00.000-04:00

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

We haven't posted in a few days, but we haven't fallen asleep at the computer! We have been BUSY!!!! And we have some exciting news to share with the community, so check back here soon for the announcement!

I can't wait! Let me tell them!!! How do ya work this thing?

NEW CHILDREN'S SHIRTS AVAILABLE!

2011-09-05T20:47:00.001-04:00

We have some fun new children's t-shirts available!!! Designed for kids, by kids! Young Boone Chaney seems to have a talent for creating t-shirt illustrations. At only 8 years old, he has already designed a popular shirt for a bicycling company in Colorado. Now he is using his creative vision to help the homeless animals of our community! His grandmother is very proud (and just happens to be FOPCP treasurer, Laurie DeFlippo).

The tie-dyed shirt is $15, and the royal blue shirt is $12. Both versions are available in various children's sizes. All proceeds help us on our quest to find homes for homeless pets. To place an order, contact us at (606) 481-5721.

A HUGE thanks goes out to Boone
and his family for their support!

Cats and Kittens are in URGENT need of adoption!

2011-09-05T16:40:00.000-04:00

We are just getting through kitten season, and our animal shelter is PACKED full of kitties. Shelter cats seem to have a tough time finding forever homes, especially in rural areas. And unfortunately, cats do not do as well as dogs in shelter environments. They become very susceptible to respiratory infections, seem to wither when held in small cages.

This is why it is so important to spay and neuter cats in our area. They are very prolific, and in a matter of months, cats can reproduce to alarming numbers. Commonly, these beautiful creatures end up in a shelter. And sadly, many do not make it out.

If you are considering adding a pet to your family, PLEASE visit our pound to view the kitties. There are cats and kittens of all shapes, colors, and sizes available. They are wonderful companions, and they will be forever grateful that you rescued them.

I'm waiting!

Black Coats are in Fashion this Summer!

2011-08-28T17:35:00.001-04:00

We love, love, love our dogs that are our current "open-ended" fosters. Open-ended means that they were pulled out of the pound for some reason besides quarantine for a rescue. They are in foster care until they get their forever homes. They are all wonderful companions, but we need them to move along into their forever homes so that our fosters have room to save more dogs from the pound. (We can always use more fosters, nudge nudge!)

We are still lovable. And we will love you!

Our fear is that some of these fosters are victims of black dog syndrome. Black dog syndrome is a real phenomenon of black dogs being the hardest to place. Black labs are consistently euthanized more than their yellow cousins. Several factors might be to blame, including the diminished photogenic qualities of a black dog and the fact that humans are naturally drawn to color. Whatever the case, black dogs make just as sweet companions as their brown, red, yellow, and white counterparts. We think you should meet our dogs (black and otherwise), so we're featuring them in this blog entry.

Adele

Adele, a black lab mix, has been described by her foster mom as "perfect." She was born with only one eye, but she gets along just fine. She is playful without being a jumper. She is good-natured, both with two-legged and four-legged friends. She loves to snuggle and appears to be HOUSE-BROKEN! Adele already does well on a leash. She deserves the chance to be someone's devoted companion.

Thea

Thea, also a black lab mix, was supposed to be on the big transport in June. However, she had a mild illness (all better now!) and wasn't able to go. Thea's foster mom describes her as being playful but not hyper. She loves being in water. She is a clean girl -- never potties in her kennel. Her coat is beautiful -- wavy and shiny (and black!). Thea loves to play with her best buddy Unity. However, Unity will be going to a forever home soon. Let Thea come to your house so you can be her new best forever buddy!

Matilda and Lefty

Matilda and Lefty are the daughters of Charm. Their litter-mates have all gone to forever homes, and it appears that Charm will be leaving before too long, too.

HEY! Stop drinking my foot water!

Matilda, like Thea, is another little water bug. Her foster mom says that she will even lie in a bucket of water if given the opportunity! She adores her mom, sister, and any other animal she meets. She is a content girl, whether she is running in the grass or chewing a rawhide in her crate.

You cannot resist this cute face! Don't even try!

Lefty is a cutie with one ear that points up and one ear that points down. She is very affectionate -- following her foster parents around. Lefty loves all other dogs. Her coat is very soft, and she loves to have her belly rubbed before snuggling up to her sister for a nap.

Plus our animal shelter has a never ending supply of black dogs. Right now, we have Aussie mixes...

A shepherd/bloodhound mix named THE DUDE...

A border collie named Trey...

A rottie mix named Pippa...

And a black lab named Sunflower...

As you can see, black coats are very much in fashion at our shelter. Please consider giving these wonderful dogs a chance at a better life.

New Adoptions!

2011-08-28T17:01:00.000-04:00

We had a few adoptions this week!

Li'l Gene and his new family!

Li'l Gene was adopted by a couple from Chapel Hill, NC! They drove up to meet him and instantly fell in love! Who wouldn't? Li'l Gene is quite the charmer. Congrats to this fuzzy guy, who we have been crazy about since he was a tiny pup.

Zelda and Firecracker with their new family!

Also, Zelda AND Firecracker were adopted! They are going to the same home!!! That's perfect, because they have been big buddies since they were fostered in the same home. They will have a great place to play and romp. Congrats to them both!

Unity is ready for her new family!

And Unity will be leaving for her new home in just a few short days. Unity had a rough start, but now she is as healthy as she can be. She's gonna make her new family very happy.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ADOPTING!!!

LT lost his loved ones.

2011-08-27T06:09:00.000-04:00

This is LT. LT stands for "Little Terror," a title that his owner jokingly gave him for his spunkiness. He's a mix between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund...or a chi-weenie. And he is a sweetheart.

LT has a very heart-breaking story. About three years ago, his owner passed away. He has no family to welcome home...no one's lap to lay in...and no one to snuggle with on cold nights. He still lives at his late-owner's residence. Relatives come daily to feed him, and to give him as much attention as they can. They are wonderful people for continuing to do this day after day for 3 years, but what LT really needs is constant companionship. He needs a new home. He loved his owner, and gave her much joy in her final days. Now he needs someone to give him the joy he deserves.

He is housebroken. He's about 6 years old, and weighs 15-18 lbs. He loves people and other dogs. He is still active, and loves to play with his toys. However he is used to a very calm environment, and may not do well with very small children.

Please help LT. He's a special guy, and he needs our help to live happily ever after.

Golden Pyrenees Pups Rescued!

2011-08-27T05:22:00.001-04:00

It's a pillow! It's a pet! It's a pillow pet!

We found these six siblings up at the pound, huddled in a corner, and absolutely scared to death. We believe they are Golden Retrievers mixed with Great Pyrenees. They are gorgeous! And so playful! And judging by their size at such an early age, they are gonna be HUGE.

I'm not huge. I'm just big-boned!

This is my best side!

We were contacted by a rescue that specializes in Pyrenees and Pyrenees mixes. HOW LUCKY IS THAT?! They asked if we could foster these pups, and transport them to their rescue! Without hesitation, we sprung these sweeties from the pound, got a clean bill of health from the vet, and sent them on their way. It's exciting to see these pups on the road to a better life! It makes it all worth it!

Even though they are out of the pound and in a happy home now, we suspect that they are still snuggle bugs with each other!

Hey, did someone take my wallet?

A plea to the community

2011-08-04T12:36:00.000-04:00

We post positive news as much as we can. We love having good news to share. We appreciate when you rejoice in our good news with us. So, it's only fair that we share our bad news with you, too. Just as every adoption is a victory, every euthanization is a defeat.

The situation at the pound has become desperate. Forty-five dogs were taken in last week. Twenty newcomers arrived the week before that. All cats were new this weekend, and it isn't because the ones who were there before were adopted. Yesterday seven perfectly good dogs were killed because of the overcrowding.

Here's what you can do to help us:

We have rescues waiting to adopt some of our animals. Our foster homes are at or above capacity. The animals usually cannot be transported until they have been vetted and quarantined. We NEED foster homes!

There are other ways to help us, but this is pressing. As long as there is overcrowding, there will be more euthanizations. We only have a limited amount of space. It's the stark reality of the situation. It won't change until people stop letting their dogs and cats breed, which we understand will take time, and that is another blog entry. In the meantime, a very small number of volunteers are trying to alleviate the suffering. Again, we have a limited amount of space. The dogs and cats need more.

Please help. Thanks.

ADOPTION EVENT AT TRACTOR SUPPLY!

2011-08-03T05:13:00.001-04:00

Nothing runs like a deer. Trust me, I have chased them.

The Winchester Tractor Supply is hosting an adoption event for The Friends of Powell County's Pets

this Saturday!!!

Come on out! We'll have cats and dogs for adoption, tickets for raffle prizes, and more! And if your pet needs its shots up to date, the Clark County Vet Clinic will be offering rabies shots for only $5.

Check us out this Saturday, August 6, from 10 am until 5 pm.

TSC is located at 1500 Bypass Road.

Hope to see you there!

RECENT ADOPTIONS!!!

2011-08-03T04:52:00.000-04:00

We are always excited to announce our recent adoptions! As foster parents, we do get attached to these cuties. But we are so happy when they finally find a forever home. Here's some of July's success stories...

ADOPTED

How can you not fall in love with Hattie? She is a beautiful beagle, with gorgeous coloring and a killer smile. She was a bit shy with strangers, so she had to find the right family willing to work with her shyness. Well, she found that forever home! We'll miss her smile, but we know she's smiling a lot with her new family.

ADOPTED

Frances was a senior beagle mix with a wonderful temperament. She was chosen for transport by a rescue up north. Well, her foster mom bonded with her instantly, and decided to adopt her! Frances was another sweet soul, and we are thrilled that she's found her forever (and retirement) home.

ADOPTED

This is Isabell. Well, we THOUGHT she was an "Isabell." Upon closer inspection, we realized Isabell is a boy! With all that fur, it was hard to tell! So we changed his name to "Iza-boy." Iza-boy was very sick, but we were able to get him vetted and healthy. His fuzzy face wasn't on the internet very long before someone HAD to adopt him.

ADOPTED

Indio found a forever home! Indio was one of the kitties that Dr. Brammel has for adoption in his clinic. We are so grateful for Dr. Brammel's support, and so happy that his staff is helping us place pound cats with families. Indio is a lucky kitty, as are all the kitties that end up in Dr. Brammel's office.

ADOPTED

Rascal also found a home! Wow, how beautiful is this little guy! Rascal was in foster care, and he truly earned his name. He loved to play with the other foster dogs, and was very active. He never met a stranger, and always welcomed new people. He's gonna be so happy with his new home.

ADOPTED

Bizzy found a home! She is an extremely active pup, and needs lots of attention and discipline. We think we found the perfect family for her, and hope she gets all of her energy out so she can be a healthy, happy pup. She's a character!

RESCUED

And last but not least, long-time FOPCP foster Teva was accepted into a rescue! We know her foster parents are gonna miss her, but she's embarking on a new life up north. We know she's in good hands.

We are gonna miss ALL of these sweet creatures, but this allows us to focus on finding homes for more dogs from the pound! Thanks to everyone who has supported us, and thanks to everyone willing to give these dogs a chance!

Adopt-a-Kitty Month!

2011-07-14T12:22:00.000-04:00

July as Adopt-a-Kitty Month to help raise awareness for the plight of homeless cats. The summer months are known as "kitten season," and shelters and rescue groups are overflowing with cute, adorable kittens who are joining the millions of older cats. There’s something for everyone, and all of these cats are deserving of a loving home.

Right now in foster care, we have Crystal, Firecraker, and Iza-boy! All are sweet, lovable, and ready for a new home. Plus there are many, many more kitties at the pound. Please consider giving these fuzzy little lovebugs a chance!

Crystal

Firecracker

Iza-boy

Update on Unity!

2011-07-04T22:04:00.000-04:00

This is Unity now! Healthy and happy!

Wow, what a difference a few days can make! Believe it or not, this is Unity. She was on the brink of death. She was nothing but skin and bones.

This was Unity before.

When she was taken into our care, she could barely walk. She would try to bark but was so weak, she could barely make a whimper. She had no energy, and would just lay on the concrete.

That's all a thing of the past now. Her foster mom nursed her back to health. Unity is now a healthy pup, and plays with her foster siblings. She is so happy now. She loves to get snuggles, and she is very affectionate. She's gonna make someone a great dog! So happy to see her transformation. And to think, it's only been a couple weeks! Animals can be resilient with the right care and attention. To see Unity bounce back like she has is so inspiring! And the best part...Unity has people wanting to meet her already! How awesome is that??? Thank you to everyone who donated the time and resources to get Unity back on track!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

2011-07-04T13:53:00.000-04:00

Just wishing everyone a HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! Hope y'all have a good 'un.

Yard Sale was a Success!!!!

2011-07-02T20:34:00.000-04:00

State Rep. Richard Henderson and family show their support!

We did GREAT on our yard sale! And what a wonderful day for it! We were excited that Richard Henderson, our State Representative, stopped by to show his support by donating to our cause! He spoke with us about our new animal shelter project, and really encouraged us in our endeavors. It was very inspiring to speak with him, and we are so appreciative of his support. His children are animal lovers, too. In fact, his daughter named our latest foster kitty!

She named him "Firecracker."

We received some wonderful donations, which is going to help fund our upcoming transports. Thank you to EVERYONE who donated money and yard sale items! We couldn't do it without YOUR support. These fund-raisers are truly life-savers!

YARD SALE THIS WEEKEND!

2011-06-30T22:47:00.000-04:00

Our fundraisers are life-savers! Thank you for your support!

It's time for a YARD SALE!!! This weekend, we will be set up at the Pizza Place in Clay City. Come on out, check out our bargains! All proceeds will benefit the homeless animals in our community, which includes funding transports, food, medicine, vetting, and everything else incurred while rescuing these cuties.

A big thanks goes out to Mary Coffey for letting us set up on her property! And thanks to EVERYONE who has donated to FOPCP! You are all awesome!!!

On the Road to a Better Life

2011-06-29T21:40:00.000-04:00

Vince and Emily embark on an Adoption Adventure!

At 3:45 a.m. on a Sunday morning, my alarm sounds. Usually on a Saturday night, I'm in bed sleeping by this hour. However, today is a Transport Day! See, states in the northeast have enacted and enforced very effective spay and neuter laws. The laws are so effective that if you go to a shelter in Connecticut, for example, you will be placed on a waiting list. In Kentucky, we euthanize abandoned animals from shelters frequently. Fortunately, some good folks up north put Connecticut and Kentucky together and realized that they could save animals while filling a need. As it turns out, it is even cheaper for them to get the critters vetted (vaccinated and altered) in Kentucky and reimburse us than in their area. So, it's a win/win for everyone -- mostly our sweet shelter dogs!

Sweet shelter dogs like this one! He was on transport!

Here's how it works: the rescues in the north see the photos of our dogs online. They contact us, and a member of our group will pull the selected dogs from the pound for vetting and quarantine. They get vaccines, wormers, alterations, and heartworm tests. When Transport Day rolls around, off we go with a vehicle full of dogs! Usually we drive to Hagerstown, Maryland, and meet up with a whole network of people who are coming from and going to different places. Sometimes, though, we just meet up with one or two people. That's what this transport is going to be in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

On Saturday, my husband, Vince, and I picked up a rental cargo van, and one of our group members and her partner brought us a truckload of crates, which we assembled and loaded into the van that is now waiting. We have double-checked that our transport kit is loaded with paper towels, bottles of bleach and water, paper towels, garbage bags, slip leads, and other supplies. Vince's phone is loaded with podcasts. The coffee pot timer is set, and the coffee brews while we shower and dress.

This guy is ready to start his new life!

We gather up the GPS and FM transmitter. I have the address of the meeting place in Pennsylvania and phone numbers of the people we will be meeting. I text the folks with the dogs that we are running a few minutes behind, and we get on the interstate. At 5:30, we arrive at the truck stop in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Foster parents with 21 dogs await us!

You HAVE to be good at Tetris to do this.

We jump out of the van and start loading up dogs. Our founding member Shannon has provided a floor plan of how the crates will fit and which dogs go in the crates. We got them all loaded without much difficulty. Some of the dogs have been in foster care for several months, and their foster parents are sad to see them go. However, we all know that with this group of dogs going to rescue, that means we will be able to help more dogs who are in the pound. The dogs who are traveling today have no idea that they have hit pay dirt. I always wish that I could explain it to them because the travel is stressful. Transport day is one of the best days of their lives, though they don't comprehend it!

We're already ready already. Let's go!

Vince and I get on the road with the dogs. We started off with some episodes of This American Life. The dogs are quiet. They are like colicky babies -- once the vehicle is moving, they are fine! Vince and I miss the window for fast food breakfast and decide to just keep going. We don't want to taunt the dogs with the smell of food, and we don't feel comfortable leaving them unattended while we go into a place to eat.

On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again.

We drive through West Virginia without much incident. One of the dogs near the back door throws up, but it isn't a bad mess. We clean it up and get back on the road. Then, right after we get on Interstate 81 in Maryland, we hear a couple of yips. Vince shushes the puppy, and then the smell hits. We have a pooper! We take the first possible exit and have to go several miles before there is a spot to turn off. Of course, the mess is in a crate that is not accessible, so we have to move four crates outside the van. Two puppies are in the crate with the mess, so I put them on slip leads. Vince holds them while I clean the crate. We get the mess handled, put all the pups back, and continue down the road.

The Poopers. Don't they look guilty?

I am excited to cross the Mason-Dixon line. I have been in places north of it but never actually crossed it in a car. We drive through miles of Pennsylvania farmland. The area is beautiful. There are barns built of stone. The farms and yards are very tidy. We are still listening to podcasts, and by this time, we are starving! We arrive at the truck stop just outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (the capital!). It is 2:30 in the afternoon, and we are excited to see that the people from Vermont are already there.

We jump out of the van and start unloading dogs. We walk them and give them water. Eighteen of them still have six more hours to travel to their destination in Vermont. They are happy to stretch their legs and get some petting. Anna and Dawn, the ladies from Vermont, are excited to meet our dogs. They pet the dogs and load them into their waiting crates.

Laura from Safe Haven Rescue

Then Laura, the lady from another rescue in the Poconos, arrives. She is taking the other three of our dogs. They are all Australian Shepherd mixes. Laura puts all three on slip leads and walks them at once. They will only have to ride about two more hours to their destination.

Emily says goodbye to Flirt.

As the dogs are walked and loaded, we begin breaking down and cleaning the crates. As I get them cleaned, Vince loads them in the van. Soon, Anna and Laura drive away with the dogs, and we are at a truck stop in a windowless van full of dismantled crates. We get back on the road, deciding to see how far we can get before we have to stop for the night. We end up deciding to just push through since we theoretically can do it. Besides, if we turn in the van on Monday, then we will save a day's rental.

Several diet Dr. Peppers, podcasts, and hours later, I pull the van into our condo parking lot. It is 12:45 on Monday morning. It is 20 hours since we left. We are exhausted but full of adrenaline. Our mission is complete; twenty-one dogs are saved.

Some of us are already adopted!

In the week since the transport, we know that one puppy has been spoken for. A senior beagle and one of the Australian Shepherds have home visits scheduled. This is the best part of the process -- when the dogs make it to their forever homes.

We want to emphasize that we are very very fortunate to be networked with the people in the northeast who rescue our abandoned animals. However, we still have many left behind. We are grateful to run transports, but they are not the solution to our over-crowded pound. The answer is responsible ownership -- spay, neuter, and adopt!

PS If you would like to assist with transports financially, we can always use donations toward the cost of a rental van and fuel. You can do so without parting with any of your own money by using our Kroger cards. Spend money that you spend anyway, and let Kroger's dough roll in!

Unity

2011-06-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

This is Unity. She is in foster care.

This weekend our members met Unity at the pound. She was a puppy on the brink of starvation. It seems that she may have just overcome the Parvo virus, and is in the beginning stages of recuperation. She was so sick. And so skinny. It was absolutely devastating. She really needed special attention. Even though our foster families were full, we decided to take her in. She is already eating, and wagging her tail. We think she will make a full recovery. Later that evening, Jerri Lucas (our president and one of our foster mommas) sent the group a very inspiring email. It touched a lot of us, and we decided to share it on the blog. From Jerri, as she decided on the pup's name:

Hey folks, I've been thinking about today's pull and just had some thoughts I wanted to share. I immediately came up with Unity. For it's our unity as a group that makes these pulls and rescues possible. Without the rest of you, without all of us working together, I would never have the courage or the means to keep bringing these poor dogs home. I would just have to go home and cry and have nightmares of skeletal dogs with pleading eyes or ignore them all together knowing there was nothing I could do about their plight. We do not all do the same things, but with everyone combining talents and abilities, time and just plain hard work, together we make up a fantastic team that has done and is still doing a good work, truly friends of Powell County's pets. So, on behalf of myself and Unity, I thank each of you for being a part of this group, for your compassion, diligence and sacrifices you make for these pets, and encourage all of you to keep up the great work!

Very inspiring words! One of the hardest things about being an animal lover is seeing an animal in need, but not having the means of providing for it. Luckily, everyone in our group works together so that we can help even the sickest of animals. Thank you everyone for everything you do! And thank you, Jerri, for the words of encouragement!

Relaxing on Caturday!

2011-06-18T10:56:00.000-04:00

Ah, it's Caturday. I'm taking the day off. Can you bring me a saucer of milk? And put one of those tiny umbrellas in it, too.

Khristie Everman sent us a pic of one of the kitties she adopted from us. She's enjoying life on the farm. Khristie said she gets up in the hammock all by herself, and naps the day away. She's so comfortable with in the hammock, she even lets Khristie rock her to sleep. So cute! Thank you, Khristie, for giving this sweetheart a home (and a hammock)!

We have two super-sweet kitties at Dr. Brammel's office for adoption right now. Crystal and Indio. Both are fully-vetted and spayed. We aren't sure if they like hammocks, though. Contact us if you would like to meet them!

Riley's Family Sends an Update!

2011-06-16T15:47:00.000-04:00

Riley at his new home!

We just got an email from Riley's forever family! Sounds like he was a perfect fit! Here's what his new owners said about him....

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Best buds!

We picked Riley from Petfinder.com because his description said he was good with cats. This was important to us because we had an 18-year-old cat at home. Riley lived up to his description and was very nice to our cat Eddie, who soon learned that he could trust Riley. Eddie could sit on my lap and jump down, landing right in front of Riley's nose; Riley wouldn't chase him. Sadly, Eddie died in January of kidney failure, so he and Riley didn't have very much time for their friendship to blossom. Recently, a feral cat has been making friends with us and Riley. She even rubs her head against Riley!

Riley doing his ferret impression.

Riley is also gentle towards our ferrets and likes to play with them. Riley is such an affectionate dog. A neighbor who hadn't met Riley said she heard he was "the sweetest, friendliest dog in the whole world." Sometimes Riley wants to cross the street to greet total strangers. It is amazing to me that there was someone who didn't want Riley.

---Clare

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That's why we do what we do! There's always people willing to open their hearts and their homes to these wonderful animals. We're so happy that Riley found that forever home! Thank you SO MUCH for adopting!!!

RECENT ADOPTIONS!!!

2011-06-16T10:03:00.000-04:00

Whew! We have been BUSY! But we have a quite a few adoptions to report!!!

ADOPTED!

Little snugglebug Ross was adopted yesterday! You might remember that Ross was the dog that was abandoned in the Gorge, and waited for 3 days in the same spot for his owners to come get him. We are so glad he found a home!

ADOPTED!

Both Tripp and Milo were adopted this week! Tripp is deaf, and he is one of our Calendar Dogs. He found a wonderful home, and we couldn't be happier. His buddy, Milo, also got a new home. Milo is a sweeeeeet little guy that we have been fostering since he was a pup (as you can see in the pic), so we are thrilled that he's finally with a forever family.

Greta, Poncho, Biggs, and Sundae all found new homes! They are super sweeties, and you might remember seeing them in their video a few weeks back.

ADOPTED!

Dottie also got adopted. And so did Emma!

ADOPTED!

But the most exciting news is coming this weekend...

WE ARE TRANSPORTING 23 DOGS

TO OUT OF STATE RESCUES!!!

As some of you know, we network with rescues in other states where spay and neuter laws are enforced. These states do not have the overpopulation problems that Kentucky faces, so people are actually on waiting lists to adopt dogs! We have some going to Vermont, and some going to Pennsylvania. We've actually transported animals all the way to Canada in the past. We are excited to work with these rescues, and hope to transport many, many more in the next few months.

Thank you everyone for your support and donations! We couldn't do this without YOU! Finding homes for these lovable guys makes all the hard work worth it!

Barn Kitties to the Rescue!

2011-06-15T00:53:00.000-04:00

Barn kitties are the best!

Remember our Barn Cat post a few weeks back? We were contacted by the city of Georgetown, TX. They were trying to get kitties out of the pound, and into barns. So they asked if they could use our photos for their advertising. We agreed, and their town responded! Here's a what they had to say:

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Good morning!
Recently you gave us permission to use a couple of your barn cat photos to promote our barn cat program in Georgetown. I wanted to give you an update to let you know what a difference you've made all the way down in Texas :) I received a message from Animal Services asking me to take down the barn cats promotion because we've had 20 people sign up, most of whom want more than 1 cat, and about eight cats have already left! With help from your pictures we've saved a lot of kitty lives. Thank you!!!
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We are SO GLAD that we could help! If you have a barn, why not adopt a kitty from the pound? They will keep your barn free of pests, and they will be forever grateful that you gave them a new home. Contact us for more info!

Cat Diaries: The First Ever Movie Filmed by Cats!

2011-06-15T00:38:00.000-04:00

Okay, this is pretty cool, so we just had to share it. This is the first film SHOT ENTIRELY BY CATS! That's right! Cats! The owners hooked up video cameras to the cats' collars, and let their little fuzzy Speilbergs direct this motion picture (or maybe a meow-tion picture?). It's really fun and interesting to see the world from a cat's perspective. You can find these video collars at pet specialty stores, and on websites like Amazon. Maybe your kitty is going to be the next Oscar contender!

Captain Jack is missing!

2011-06-05T13:26:00.000-04:00

Help me find my way home!

Captain Jack was adopted last week. Unfortunately, he has already disappeared from his new home. We are so saddened to hear that Captain Jack is lost, but we are trying our best to find him. This sometimes happens when an animal moves into a new home. They may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with their new surroundings. Then their anxiety gets the best of them. When an opportunity to bolt arises, they may take it. Captain Jack darted out the front door, and hasn't been back to his new home since.

If you see me, call
606-663-9802 or 859-948-0371

If anyone sees this boy in the George Drake Road-Morris Creek area, please call 606-663-9802 or 859-948-0371. He needs our help. He is very distinctive. He has one-eye (he had recent surgery). He has a tri-colored coat (white, brown, and black). He's very friendly and sweet. Please help us find him and bring him home! Thanks for your help.

Bark at the Park

2011-06-05T13:06:00.000-04:00

Make Adoption the Option in Kentucky!

Yesterday, FOPCP went to Garrard County for "Bark at the Park." Hosted by the Central Kentucky Regional Humane Society, Bark at the Park is an outdoor animal expo and adoption event.

Zelda's having fun!

Internationally-recognized agility trainer Melissa Heeter was there, demonstrating dog obedience training. And the kind people at Purina donated a lot of food to our group! Thank you so much, Purina!!!

Plus a lot of our fosters got to meet a new faces. Ross is a bit shy, but this event seemed to help him become comfortable with strangers.

Ross was eager to meet new people!

In fact, Ross eventually was comfortable enough to just walk right up to people and say hello! That is a huge step for this guy! Zelda had a blast. Crystal and Indio were total snugglebugs the whole day. And everyone seemed to want to meet Adele. She's such a sweetheart!

Adele is a super sweetie!

It was a hot day, but our little guys got some attention and interaction with the public. It was also great to connect with the Central Kentucky Regional Humane Society, and we hope to be a part of the future adoption events. A big thanks goes out to everyone who donated to our group!

Crystal was super friendly with everyone she met!

SHHHH! Hattie is trying to sleep!

Fund-Raisers that are Life-Savers!

2011-05-24T06:07:00.000-04:00

Emily poses with Avery at a Fund-Raiser

The Friends of Powell County's Pets is a non-profit organization (a 501(c)(3) to be exact). This means that we rely on donations and fund-raisers to help pay for veterinarian care, medicines, food, transports, and various other costs incurred while fostering and rescuing animals. We do not make any money off of our adoptions. In fact, our adoption fee only covers the cost of the spay or neuter surgery plus vaccinations (and even that is deal!). Right now, we have two amazing fund-raisers that truly have helped us in our rescue efforts. And these fund-raisers won’t cost you a dime!

Ask us about our Kroger Fund-Raising Cards!!!

The Kroger Fundraising Program

Our local Kroger has been an amazing supporter of our cause! And Kroger’s fund-raising cards have truly been a blessing. These cards work just like a normal gift card except each time you use it, Kroger donates 4% of the total to FOPCP! It costs you NOTHING, and it’s simple to use. Here’s how it works…

All donations benefit homeless animals!

We will issue you a special fund-raising card that can be used at any Kroger location. The next time you go shopping, you can load up to $500 on the card at the service center. When your shopping is done and you are ready to check out, just swipe your fund-raising card to pay. That’s it! Each time you use the card, Kroger donates to FOPCP. And you can recharge the card over and over again. You can even use the card when paying for prescriptions or when filling up the tank with Kroger gas. It is quick, convenient, and it will help the animals in need. The more donations we get, the more animals we can help! And if you shop at Kroger regularly, you are already going to spend that money. Why not help some homeless animals, too?

iGive.com

Do you shop online? At Amazon, Best Buy, iTunes, or Ebay? Well, join iGive.com and each time you buy online, iGive will donate a portion of what you spend to FOPCP. It’s easy to do! Just log on to iGive.com, and specify “Friends of Powell County’s Pets” for you charitable donations. Then browse through their list of online stores. Click on the store when you decide to shop, and when you check out, iGive will be notified to make the donation. Simple, easy, and quick. iGive.com is totally free. Plus, you get access to free shipping deals and exclusive coupons, on top of the great deals you'll find every day through our network of 800+ stores.

If you would like to know more, email us! Or call (606) 481-5721. We will get you set up on a Kroger Fund-Raising Card, and we thank you for your support! These fund-raisers are truly life-savers when it benefits homeless, abandoned, and neglected animals.

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic

2011-05-23T22:41:00.000-04:00

Volunteers helping with Dog Recovery

This past Saturday, we held our low-cost Spay & Neuter Clinic. We had 37 animals come in for surgeries, and many more for their vaccinations. We had pets of all shapes and sizes, from itty-bitty kitties to droopy-faced bloodhounds. A big thanks goes out to Woodstock Animal Foundation for their co-sponsoring our clinic! Their support allows us to offer the residents of Powell County affordable vet services, and these clinics have made a dramatic impact on the animal population in our community.

Wake up, Sleepy-head!

To date, our spay-and-neuter clinics have allowed us to alter over 800 animals. Spaying and neutering is an essential element to control the animal population. Think about this....In six years, ONE dog and her puppies can be the source of 67,000 puppies. In seven years, ONE cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens. Powell County has a population of only approximately 13,000 PEOPLE. Spaying and neutering not only allows our pets to continue to live a happy, healthy life. It also eliminates unwanted litters, thus reducing the numbers of homeless animals. Together we are making a positive impact in our community!

During our clinics, we have volunteers that attend to all of the animals as they are in recovery. Each animal gets specialized attention as they come out of anesthesia. For some dogs, waking up can be VERY disorienting, but our volunteers are there to comfort them through this process. We have actually had pet owners drop their dogs off in tears, fearful that their dog might have a rough time after surgery. But we assure them that our pet patients get all the love and care that we would give our own. After all, we are animal lovers!

Sometimes they make funny faces when they wake up. Tee hee.

Foster Failure?

2011-05-23T04:17:00.000-04:00

For those of us that foster animals for our rescues, it is not uncommon to take on a dog that truly steals your heart. When an animal is in our care, we really see to it that all of their needs are met. Food, water, shelter, medicine, basic training, and love. They look to us for comfort and safety, especially when they come from a scary place like a shelter. All of our foster animals are special, and sometimes it is heartbreaking to let the animals go even if you are assured that the animal is being adopted into a wonderful home.

Sometimes, we fall in love and decide to adopt the animal ourselves! Everyone in rescue eventually has a "foster failure." That sounds like a negative term, but it actually is not. It just means that there was such a wonderful connection with the foster parent and the animal, that the foster couldn't imagine their family without it. The foster animal has found it's forever home!

We recently sent a group of animals on transport to Rogers' Rescue, and Micah was fostered at Isis Negron's home. Needless to say, Isis fell in love and Micah has now a part of Isis' family. She sent a photo of Micah and his adopted siblings. SO CUTE! Isis said, "He is an absolute perfect fit! Our dogs LOVE him and so do we. He's such a sweet guy and so well-behaved!!!"

We're so excited to see Micah in his new family, and so happy that we have a strong network of rescues to work with, like Rogers' Rescue! We know that regardless if our dogs are fostered or adopted, they will always have a safe home.

Ross is up for adoption

2011-05-13T16:50:00.000-04:00

Ross was abandoned in the Red River Gorge. He sat in the same spot for 3 days, waiting for his owners to come back and pick him up. He even sat in the rain. We were alerted to his situation by a couple from out of town, and we quickly took him into foster care. Ross was shy at first, but he has really come out of his shell. He likes to run and play, and would be a great family dog. We suspect he is part Jack Russell, and part beagle. He is less than a year old. He's looking for a new forever home, and a family to love. If you are interested in adopting this lovable guy, contact The Friends of Powell County's Pets at 606 481 5721.

Surprise Guests from Chicago!

2011-05-11T21:46:00.000-04:00

Casey, Vikki, and Pepper. Pepper is being shy!

We had a surprise guest show up at our Bake Sale a few weeks back. Vikki and Casey Morris stopped by on their way home to Chicago to say hi, and they brought Pepper! Pepper was adopted through FOPCP, and Shannon Wyatt coordinated a transport to Chicago so that Pepper could be with her new family. Vikki sent us some photos, and told us a little more about Pepper's new family life. Here's what she said...

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We knew from the picture she would be perfect. Pepper started out a little timid, but there is little sign of that now! She immediately took to the two sisters she has come to be inseparable from. As for the humans in her life, we could not have known how sweet this “pound dog” would turn out to be. This is the only way we will ever get another dog; shelter dogs really are one of the best things in life.

Pepper and her sisters!

The past year with Pepper has been full of firsts for her; we try and take her and her sisters everywhere and she has become quite a self-taught hunter! Every day starts with a burst of energy and ends with her exhausted and curled up in bed with us. We cannot thank FOPCP enough for helping us come together with our little mutt. Your help in not only facilitating us getting her, but with her long transport to us made it all possible. All along we thought we were saving this little dog, but our great times over the past year has us wondering exactly who was really helping who.

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It is AWESOME to hear success stories like this, and we feel very honored that Vikki and Casey took time out of their vacation just to say hi. Seeing this happy family together is very inspiring. We hope more people like the Morris family will adopt from overcrowded shelters rather than buy a pet from a breeder. Rescue pets make the best pets! Thank you, Vikki and Casey, for giving Pepper such a wonderful home!

Now THOSE are happy dogs!

Animals in Our Foster Care

2011-05-10T00:14:00.000-04:00

One of the most rewarding aspects of working with FOPCP is placing the right animal with the right family. Though we have limited space, we provide foster homes for a few animals when we can. Through fostering, we are able to learn about the animal's personality and behaviors. Then we can make a better decision when finding them the perfect family. Fostering also gives us a chance to socialize, doctor, and train our animals as needed. Currently, we have a whole new crew of fosters eager to find a new home.

Ross is a lovable guy!

Ross is a sweet little guy who had been abandoned. He was terrified, and hid from the very people who were trying to help him. After he realized he was in no danger, he slowly came out of his shell. Now that he is in foster care, he is learning to interact with other dogs. He's doing great, and now the only thing that is abandoned about him is his shyness.

Hattie is just looking for a lap!

Hattie is an adorable beagle mix. She's playful, and would make a great family pet. She aspires to be the perfect lapdog! Weighing only 15 pounds, this full-grown female has kept her playful puppy looks.

Teva has a killer smile!

Teva always has a smile on her face! She's about a year old, but she's very active and loves to play. She is a beagle mix, but her coloring makes her unique. She has pale browns and yellows in her coat, and she's absolutely beautiful!

Cap'n Jack! You know, like Jack Sparrow.
But without the eye shadow.

Brave little Cap'n Jack lost his eye in a dramatic pirate duel. Naw, just kidding. He had an infection that went untreated. After his surgery, we took him into foster care so that he could recover. He is unique, with beautiful chocolate brown fur swirled with white. He's still a kitten, but he has learned to use the litter box and is great with dogs and cats. He's a sweet little guy, and he's searching for the ultimate treasure....a new loving family!

Adele is a super sweetie!

Speaking of one-eyed animals....we have one more! Adele is an amazingly sweet lab mix that also has one functioning eye. The vet suspects her other eye was blinded at birth. She already walks perfectly on a leash, and really loves to spend time with people. She is calm and happy, and would make a great pet for an older couple.

These are just a few of the new animals in foster care. We will post more about them in the next few days, including videos! If you think you might want to meet any of these guys, let us know! They are all sweeties, and would love to be a part of your family!

Click here to see all animals available for adoption!

Overcoming Fear of Mean Ole Men

2011-05-01T00:39:00.000-04:00

Eve and Jessie at their new home in North Carolina

Autumn Chandler traveled from North Carolina just to adopt Eve and Jessie from Powell County! These sweet girls were eager to start their new life with the Chandler family. But as they settled into their new home, it was discovered that Jessie was struggling with an odd fear; Jessie had a of men.

"As soon as my husband walked through the door the first day she came home, she started growling at him," Autumn explained. Autumn hoped that Jessie would eventually warm up to her new adopted dad. Unfortunately, she continued to show signs of fear when approached. It became clear that Jessie needed a psychological intervention.

Jessie (the man hater) has a sweet smile!

A dog's fear of men doesn't necessarily stem from past episodes of abuse. This fear can also develop from the lack of proper socialization during puppyhood. To a dog's perspective, a man's physical presence can be quite intimidating. But with the right approach (and a little patience), the dog can easily conquer this fear.

First, Autumn and her children had to ignore Jessie. This is a difficult task for a dog-lover, but it forces the dog to depend on the very person they are fearful of to provide for them. Autumn said, "A dog won't be able to continue to have those fearful feelings if they have to totally depend on that individual for their livelihood."

Eve is telling to Jessie not to be a scaredy-cat.

This approach also requires encouraging the dog to approach the target of their fear. This was achieved during feeding time. Autumn's husband would feed the other dogs first, and then focus on Jessie. He encouraged Jessie to take a step towards him before she would receive her dinner. When she approached him, Jessie would receive praise and her reward. After a couple of feedings, Jessie would run to her new daddy without hesitation. This association of feeding (which is a form of affection) helps the dog associate good experiences with the subject of their fear.

FOOD? Well, maybe this mean ole man ain't so bad.

Walking on a leash is a vital bonding experience for a dog owner. When done correctly, it develops trust and establishes the owner as a pack leader. Jessie was encouraged with treats to walk on a leash, and eventually had no problem letting her adopted daddy lead her on walks.

During these desensitizing exercises, Autumn took a quick trip to allow Jessie to rehabilitate and learn that "big ole mean men" aren't really all that bad. The training was a success, and now they are a big, happy family.

"When we returned, my husband and Jessie were best buds. As a matter of fact, he is her favorite now!!"

All better now!

If you are dealing a dog that is fearful of men, remember to not force the dog beyond their comfort zone. Allow the dog to approach the subject of their fear on their own. And use treats to encourage the dog's progress. If the problem persists, you may need to seek help from a dog trainer or behaviorist.

Izzy's New Family Sends Update!

2011-04-25T23:50:00.000-04:00

Izzy's new adopted family sent us an update with a super cute photo! Here's what the Evan's family of Georgetown has to say...

So cute!

Just wanted to let you know Izzy is doing absolutely wonderful! My daughter was completely shocked and is madly in love with her. She is adjusting great!

Thank You!
Jenny Evans

A big thanks goes out to the Evans family for opening their home to this little pup! Adopting is a wonderful gift....for the family AND for animal!

Help! I'm lost!

2011-04-25T23:40:00.000-04:00

OWNER WAS FOUND! THANKS!

HELP! I am lost!

This little pup seems to have lost it's way. She was found wandering in the vicinity of Railroad Street and Halls Lane. If anyone in this area is missing this little girl, please contact us! Call (606) 481-5721. She is safe with one of our foster parents right now, but we hope we can find her forever family.

New York Brings Attention to Dogs in Need

2011-04-25T11:58:00.000-04:00

So, Kentucky's official state bird is the cardinal. The state's official wild game is the gray squirrel. And our official state horse (of course) is the thoroughbred. But do we have an official state dog?

Is it the Calipari Spaniel?

Currently, we do not. But considering the problem with the overpopulation of homeless animals in our rural areas, perhaps our beloved state could follow the example New York is setting forth.

New York is now introducing legislation to make their official state dog the "rescue dog." Assembly members Micah Kellner, Linda Rosenthal, and Senator Joseph E. Robach are hoping that by naming the rescue dog as an official state symbol, this bill will help raise awareness of the plight of these animals and eventually lead to more adoptions.

New York Assembly Members Linda Rosenthal and Micah Kellner

Kellner explained, "Shelter and rescue animals are unconditionally loving and loyal pets that are eager to become beloved members of a family. It's time for New York State to throw these dogs a bone. New Yorkers are scrappy, just like rescue dogs. We often have a bone to pick. And a lot of us are mutts."

We applaud New York for their efforts, and hope that more people will consider adopting these wonderful creatures.

Everybody needs Somebody to Love! These pups need you!

2011-04-20T19:14:00.000-04:00

We decided that Charm and her cutie-patootie pups were so adorable, that pictures just don't do them justice. You gotta see them in action! So enjoy our second pet video, full of puppy wonder. Charm and all of her puppies will be available for adoption soon. If you are interested in adopting, contact us at (606) 481-5721. Come on! Adopt one of these cuties! Everyone needs someone they can love! These little cuties need you!

Cuteness Unleashed!!!

2011-04-18T02:15:00.000-04:00

Charm and her pups!

Charm's puppies are walking! Check out these cute pics of their first outing. And please view these photos with caution. There is so such a high level of cuteness contained within these pics, you might pass out from saying, "AWWWWW!" too many times. We've warned you!

Charm and her puppies will be available for adoption soon. They are currently in foster care with FOPCP. All of the pups are healthy and happy! And Charm has been a wonderful, nurturing mother. Contact us if you are interested in giving these little guys a good home!

OM NOM NOM NOM

Axel has found a home!!!

2011-04-18T01:08:00.000-04:00

ADOPTED

Wow, there's been a lot of great things to report this week! Remember Axel, the special needs cat? Well, he found a forever home! A young professional was captivated by his story, and she decided to open her home to this snuggle-bug. We know that Axel has found the retirement home he's been searching for! Thanks to everyone who took the time to give this guy a second chance.

ADOPTED

We also heard from Jodi's new home. They even sent us a picture! She seems so content! Jodi had been a long-time resident at the shelter, so we are thrilled she finally found a home. She is a great little girl, and now she's making this family very happy.

ADOPTED

We are also happy to report that Jade
was adopted this week as well! Jade was surrendered by her owner, and we networked with GRRAND to find her a home. GRRAND is a wonderful Golden Retriever Rescue located in Louisville, and they have helped us find homes for Golden Retrievers in the past. Within a few weeks, they placed Jade with a wonderful family in Louisville. She now has a Golden Retriever brother to play with. Thank you GRRAND for all of your help! We are so very grateful to have a strong network of rescues (in and out of state) that are helping alleviate the homeless population in our community.

Plus, we helped a Montgomery County rescue set up their own low-cost clinic! And the clinic was a wonderful success. This will be the first of many, and we're excited to be a part of it.

It's been an encouraging week, but there's still more rescuing to be done. Remember, until there's none...adopt one!

Happy Easter!!!

2011-04-10T22:15:00.000-04:00

With Easter just a hop, skip, and jump away, many parents are planning wonderful surprises for their children’s Easter basket. Aside from candy and toys, live animals (such as chicks, ducklings, and rabbits) occasionally end up as Easter gifts. In too many cases, once the novelty wears off, so does the interest in being a pet-owner. The pet becomes neglected, forgotten, or dumped off at an animal shelter.

Please keep in mind that a super cute baby duckling like this…

Yay! Happy Easter!!!

Grows up to be this…

AFLAAAAAK!

Rabbits do make great pets, as do some domestic fowl. But pets are a lifetime commitment, not a holiday whim. They require thought, planning, and a lot of attention. If you are seriously considering adding these pets to your family, research the best way to care for these animals. Also learn about the animal's behavior, particularly when they reach maturation.

Research potential pets before
you decide to add them to your family!

What kind of care does a chick need? Chicks need warmth from a heating lamp, chick starter ration, and a clean cage. Chicks need fresh water in a special water dispenser so they do not fall in or get wet. As they grow up, they will need to live outside. And depending if you have roosters or hens, there is a chance they might not be as social or as friendly as you would hope.

What kind of care does a rabbit need? Bunnies need a large cage. Even if they are going to be loose in the house, a cage is a good idea for occasional use. They need a litter box, rabbit food, and chew things. They also need proper care and attention, otherwise they may suffer from boredom. You can even have rabbits spayed and neutered! Many Easter rabbits are abandoned, or surrendered to an animal shelter in a few months after being purchased.

I actually have a pair of those bunny slippers.
No joke, I seriously do.

Again, please research these animals’ behaviors and needs, and then decide if this pet is right for your family. You may even visit petting zoos, and see how well they behave with your children.

Raising 'em right!

2011-04-09T14:53:00.000-04:00

Jerri Lucas
FOPCP President

FOPCP President Jerri Lucas has long been an animal lover. Jerri promotes responsible pet ownership, and is the registrar for our spay-and-neuter clincs. Apparently, her grandchildren are following in their footsteps. She recently shared this cute story with us....

Last week while I was babysitting, Anna Kate (age 10) gave Claire (age 2) a hand-me-down toy puppy that moves and whimpers. Claire was thrilled and kept the puppy clasped tightly to her. Then Anna Kate says, "Oh wait, Claire! We have to get him neutered first!" Way to go, girl!!!

Claire loves animals. It runs in the family!

We couldn't be happier that Anna Kate has learned how to be a responsible pet owner at such an early age, and is setting an example for her younger sister! Spaying and neutering is an essential element to control the animal population, especially in rural areas. In six years, ONE dog and her puppies can be the source of 67,000 puppies. In seven years, ONE cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens. Powell County has a population of only approximately 13,000 PEOPLE.

Anna Kate is already
a responsible pet owner!

Please spay and neuter your pets! FOPCP offers a low-cost Spay-and-Neuter clinic every other month. Since our clinics began, we have altered over 800 animals, and the effects of the clinics are exponential! There are less homeless animals wandering the streets, and less animals overburdening the pound. Together we are making a positive impact in our community!

Our clinic's low prices include vaccinations. The same procedure would cost well over $100 at a vet! To register your animal, contact us at (606) 481-5721.

Alvy: The Story of a Rescued Keeshond

2011-04-09T13:59:00.000-04:00

We just found this online. This was Laurie's first rescue with FOPCP. Alvy is happy and healthy today, thanks to support from the Keeshond Sunshine Rescue Fund, the Gidget Fund, and Dr. McCoy of Gainesway Animal Clinic of Lexington.

Axel is Looking for a Forever Home

2011-04-05T14:29:00.000-04:00

Last week, we posted a blog about handicapped pets which featured one of our fosters named Axel. Axel has had a rough life. When we met him, the poor guy was missing some teeth. His ears were closed up. And his tail was bleeding. And sadly, most of his tail was cut off. We accepted him into foster care, and got him to the vet as quick as possible. The vet told us that his leg had been broken, and it did not heal back correctly. This is causing him to have a limp.

Axel just wants to find a retirement home!

Despite it all, Axel is amazingly sweet. He's affectionate, and loves to cuddle. His green eyes are absolutely gorgeous. We can't imagine what his life was like on the streets, but he's ready to be someone's lap-cat.

Axel does well with kids, but would probably be better suited for an older owner. He is not as agile as other cats, but what he lacks in balance he makes up with in snuggles. If you are thinking about getting a calm lap cat, please come meet Axel. He's just looking for a place to call home.

Check out the video of Axel at the top of the page. It's our first video, and we hope to do more in the next few weeks.

They love Reese to Pieces!

2011-04-05T07:19:00.000-04:00

The day they became parents!

We just got an email from Allison and Ryan about Reese, a very shy but sweet puppy that we adopted from Hatton Creek a few months ago. We are so happy to hear that Reese has settled in to her new life! Sounds like this shy little girl is gaining confidence and enjoying her new mom and dad! Here's what Allison said about the furry addition to the family.....

It's actually hard work to look this cute!

The first night we brought Reese home, she was so scared. When I showed her her new kennel, she ran right in and refused to come back out. She didn't cry a peep that night (probably too scared). The second day she refused to come out or eat anything. That night I lured her out of her kennel with a toy (a soccer rope one that Laurie kindly gave us), and the rest is history!

Reese is not your typical puppy. She loooovvves to just lay around and be lazy (just like her owners!). Every time she greets us, she collapses to the ground, limp as can be, showing off her belly for a rub, tail thumping with joy. Reese loves playdates with her "aunt" Magnolia (my moms dog), a very very dominant female westie. They run and wrestle the whole time they're together, and Magnolia definitely keeps Reese in check :)

China can't be that far down!
Just gotta keep digging.

Reese doesn't really like fetch...she'd rather lay around outside chewing on twigs and branches. She'll try to sneak them inside if you're not careful! She also loves dirt and digging holes (good thing she's so cute!). There's not much barking happening at our house, unless her toys get stuck under the couch or coffee table. And after 2 1/2 months, her favorite toy is still the soccer rope toy from Laurie.

We could not imagine our lives without Reese or the love and affection we feel for her. Ryan and I both joke that since she's so so good, we're doomed to have badly behaving children -haha! She will always be our first "child."

Congratulations on your fuzzy bundle of joy, Ryan and Allison!

We are so happy that Reese found parents like you!

Country Dog meets City Boy!

2011-04-03T23:58:00.000-04:00

Chris with his new jogging buddy!

Chris moved to Lexington from Seattle. As an avid runner, he recently realized that he needed to find a jogging partner to keep him motivated. So he searched the internet. That's when he discovered Milla on our PetFinder site. One look at this sweet little pooch, and Chris knew that he found the perfect companion to join him on the road to a healthier lifestyle!

The day this lucky puppy was adopted!

Dogs can be great exercise partners! They yearn for daily exercise, and so you can be assured that they will always be ready for a run! A daily physical workout also helps a dog stay mentally focused, plus it is known to relieve stress, boredom, and hyperactivity. Without a daily outlet, unfocused energy in a dog can build up until it manifests into a nervous or destructive manner (such as digging holes, chewing, or tearing up objects). Dogs need exercise, and so do people! Its great to have that built-in commitment in a pet.

Milla was shy and timid at first, but Chris was very willing and patient with her to gain her trust. Milla has since been renamed Roxy, and she's already very loyal to her new running buddy. We are so glad she found a home with such a responsible and excited owner! We're sure her heart will be healthy and happy for years to come.

Adopt-a-thon and Bake Sale was a sweet success!

2011-04-03T03:59:00.000-04:00

Wow, what an amazing weekend! And what a blast!!!

Everyone had a great time!!!

This month marks our four-year anniversary of assisting the homeless animals in Powell County. To celebrate, the kind folks at Family Dollar in Clay City invited us to have an Adopt-a-thon and Bake Sale at their store! And what a turn-out!

Happy New Dog Owner!

We adopted 4 dogs, including Jodie! Jodie has been a long-time resident at the pound, and her playful spirit always made us smile. She is getting a great home, and we couldn't be happier. Three of the little puppies were adopted! And after the event, two more of the puppies found homes! Plus we have someone interested in Ryder. It was a very exciting day for the animals!!!

We got to see old friends, and were introduced to some new ones! We are so excited that so many people expressed interest in volunteering, and welcome the new faces that want to make a difference in our community.

And the baked goods sold like hot cakes!!! We thank everyone for purchasing our homemade cookies, candies, brownies, breads, cupcakes, and other tasty treats. And we thank everyone who donated baked goods to the event! All of the proceeds go to help the homeless and neglected animals of our community!!!

Hey, you gonna eat that cupcake?

But most of all, we want to thank our beloved community! Your support through the years has helped us get to where we are today! Hundreds and hundreds of animals now have forever homes, and we couldn't have done it without your support! So thank you thank you thank you!

There are some baked goods left, and Mary Coffey has been kind enough to let us sell them at the Pizza Place in Clay City. So please stop in and get a pizza. And get some dessert, too!

We have come a long way, but there is still so much more rescuing to do! Thank you everyone for your support!

Mmmmm. Baked goods. Sooooo good.

Handicapped Pets are still Capable of Love!

2011-04-02T05:34:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, we posted a very cute clip of a “helper dog” that was trained to do ordinary day-to-day activities that many of us may take for granted. These animals are a godsend for handicapped individuals with limited mobility or motor functions. Even though we may view these activities as cute, these wonderful creatures are very special. And their assistance is a very vital element that actually improves the quality of life to those who need them. We applaud everyone involved in training these dogs, and we applaud these amazingly selfless animals!

Trina, the Three-Legged Barn Cat

Even though not all pets have the focus and abilities that these special animals possess, pets can still bring a great deal of comfort and unconditional love to their owners. We have witnessed that in the face of adversity, many handicapped animals can simply amaze us with their resilience and determination.

We met Trina at the pound after she had given birth to a litter of beautiful kittens. And we were surprised to discover that Trina was missing a leg! Though this was a shock to us, Trina was not at all bothered by her handicap. She had adapted. She was still a loving, affectionate kitty. We knew she had to find the right owner that wouldn’t be deterred by her handicap.

Ah, life on the farm! You know I love it!

Amazingly, Trina found those perfect owners. She was adopted by Paul and Kenny Gabbard. She now lives her life as a barn cat. Trina climbs, jumps, plays, and runs just like any other cat. And she still has the speed and agility to catch unwelcome rodents. In fact, Paul proudly brags that Trina is an exceptional hunter, and keeps the barn free of pests. Her disability has not been a disability at all.

Hemi is blind.

We first met Hemi at the pound, and noticed that he would stand in the middle of all the dogs as if he was confused. We later discovered that Hemi had been blind since birth, and probably stood still because he was not confident in his surroundings. We took Hemi into foster care, and we were fascinated by his ability to navigate his surroundings. Once Hemi gets his bearings, he uses sound and memory to find his way about. In fact, he does it so well that many people have met him and had no idea that he was blind! His new owners have joked that they are Hemi’s “seeing-eye people,” but he rarely needs assistance.

Tripp is deaf.

Tripp is deaf. But since he does hail from hunting breeds, his senses of sight and smell are highly developed. Tripp’s foster parent decided to take advantage of those strengths, and successfully trained him using hand signals. Tripp would make a wonderful companion for any avid hunter, and you can be assured that he would never even flinch at the sound of gunshots!

Axel is looking for a place to retire.

Right now, we have a handicapped cat in foster care. His name is Axel. He has one leg that was broken, and did not heal properly. Axel can still run and jump, but he is a bit slower reaching his destination than other cats. The vet told us that this cat has lived a very hard life, but you would never know it by looking into his beautiful green eyes. He still wants to snuggle and curl up in a warm lap. He is just looking to leave the hard life on the streets behind, and find a comforting retirement home.

Animals live in the moment. It’s true that they can learn from their mistakes, but they do not dwell on they cannot change. They accept their handicaps, and adapt to their limitations. But they still offer the same love and affection just as they would if they didn’t live with their handicap. Some people might consider these wonderful creatures as “throw-away” animals, but their determination to survive in the face of adversity is truly inspiring. There are many, many handicapped animals in the world looking for homes. Please consider giving these brave animals a chance, and let one into your heart.

Axel and Tripp are still available for adoption. Contact us if you might want to give these wonderful guys a forever home!

This is too cute to ignore!

2011-04-01T02:15:00.000-04:00

Celebrate Saving Lives!

2011-03-29T15:57:00.000-04:00

Please join us for a celebration of

4 SUCCESSFUL YEARS of aiding homeless pets of our community!

BAKE SALE & ADOPT-A-THON!

SATURDAY

April 2nd

Family Dollar

in Clay City

10 am to 5 pm

We will have foster pets on display and available for adoption. Also available are baked goods, face painting, and items for sale benefiting the homeless animals of Powell County. Come meet our members and our pets. Join us for fun, conversation, meet & greet, and find out what we are up to and how you can help! For more information call 606-663-9802.

DID SOMEONE SAY, "BAKE SALE???"

Puppies living the Charmed Life!

2011-03-27T16:24:00.000-04:00

Charm poses with her new family!

When we first met Charm, we suspected that she might be pregnant. Then as days passed, it became OBVIOUS she was pregnant. Her ever-expanding stomach was literally dragging the ground! Charm is a smaller breed dog. We were concerned that she was getting too big, and may need medical help giving birth to her puppies. So we accepted her into foster care so she would have a safe place to give birth, plus we could monitor the delivery just in case an emergency arose.

The whole charming family!

Smaller breed dogs could face serious birthing issues if the puppies are too large. If you are assisting a mother dog as she gives birth, there are some important things to keep in mind to ensure the safety of both the mother and the puppies.

Shhh! They're sleeping.

After her water breaks, the mother dog should deliver her first puppy within two hours. The rest of the litter may arrive at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. If the mother is straining unproductively for more than half an hour, a vet should be notified. This lack of progress could signify that the mother is not physically able to deliver her puppies. This is called dystocia. Dystocia occurs when the puppies are too large to fit through the mother's birth canal. The puppies can get stuck as she tries to push them out, resulting in the puppy's death. This problem can also prove fatal for the mother. The only treatment is surgical intervention. The vet may recommend a Cesarean section to ensure the safety of the mother and her offspring. Certain breeds, such as large-headed bulldogs, are commonly born with a c-section.

Puppies are born enveloped inside their amniotic sack. If the mother seems confused as to what to do, gently tear the membrane itself and allow the fluid to be released. Give the mother time to take over. If the puppy hasn't started breathing on its own, it may require some assistance. With a small towel or washcloth, firmly rub the puppy. This is to stimulate it so crying will begin. Crying is the natural way to clear the mouth and trachea of amniotic fluid.

Though Charm didn't have any problems while giving birth, her foster parent watched over her to ensure a healthy delivery. The puppies are beautiful and will be adoptable as soon as they are weaned. And Charm will be spayed and ready for adoption as well. Contact us if you are interested in meeting Charm or her family. She's a sweet little girl, and we are happy that she's doing so well!

Ah, motherhood!

Why Not Become a Foster Parent???

2011-03-16T17:02:00.000-04:00

We receive many inquiries from the public asking how they can help the animals in need. One way way is to become a Foster Family!

Kit and Jude were foster animals!

Fostering gives us the opportunity to prepare animals for their forever home. The fosters get much needed exercise and socialization, plus it allows us to learn about the animal's personality so we can match them with their new family.

Laurie DeFlippo is one of our foster parents. Here's what she says about fostering:

Laurie DeFlippo

"I foster animals from the pound. I find this to be the best part of being a member of FOPCP. Sometimes I only have an animal for a day or two. Then there are times that we may have them for weeks or even several months.

People tell me that they could NEVER foster dogs or cats because they would become so attached to these animals that they wouldn't be able to let them go into another home for permanent adoption. I have to say that there have been times when I have cried all the way home after sending a special one off to a rescue. I wouldn't be human if I didn't get emotionally attached to these wonderful and very grateful dogs. I also know that if I didn't get that dog or cat out of the pound,the chances of it being placed in a forever home is anyone's guess. By me taking this animal into my home,getting it the medical attention it needs and finally finding a permanent, loving home for it, then I have made a difference in the life of this animal. If I chose to keep it, I wouldn't be able to go get another one out and save it. This "THING" that we foster parents do is extremely hard on our emotions, but when we get an e-mail and photos from the new parents telling us how loved and wanted their new pet is, we know it was worth it.

Feeding Time!

If I take an animal out of the pound to foster and we can not find a home for it, I know that it will NEVER go back to the pound again. I know that it will NEVER have another litter or help produce another unwanted litter again. I know from the minute I take this homeless, unwanted animal into my life, that it will be loved and treated with dignity and respect.

One person can make the difference in the life of one animal. I have made the difference in the lives of hundreds of animals. The Friends of Powell County's Pets have made the difference in the lives of thousands of animals. I am so proud to belong to this small but mighty group of people. And even though my three dogs sleeping on the bed in the spare room can't talk, I'm pretty sure they are glad that I am a volunteer too. My husband jokingly refers to them as "Failed Fosters." They just know they are loved!"

Contact us if you would like to become a foster family! Info@fopcp.com

Oskar's Adoptive Parents Send Update!

2011-03-15T17:32:00.000-04:00

Oskar came into our foster care quite by surprise. He was dropped off in our back yard one night. The next morning when it was time to feed the foster dogs, there was one more wagging tail waiting for breakfast.

Oskar was a sweetheart. He had a unique look with his long ears that flop inward towards his forehead. We immediately put him on PetFinder, and he was adopted by the Cotter family from Springfield, Ohio. Here's their update!

Hello! I adopted Oskar 2 months ago from you. I just wanted to give you an update..Oskar went to the vet today to get a parvo booster. He now weighs 36 lbs.. He's adorable, eager to please and getting along with everyone in the house very well. He is our baby. We love him dearly!!! Thanks for what you do, you are very special people..Oskar thanks you too! :),

Dawn Cotter & family

Springfield, Ohio

We are so happy that you gave Oskar a new home!

Barn Cats are a Lofty Idea!

2011-03-14T05:20:00.000-04:00

As any farmer will tell you, it is not uncommon for rodents to take up residence in the comfort of a barn. These pests can absolutely wreak havoc on the farm. They can destroy insulation, contaminate food supplies, and even chew through wiring or expensive leather goods. Rodents can also harbor parasites that can potentially infect barnyard animals and humans. Plus, they can reproduce at an alarming rate. Since using poisons could potentially harm their livestock, some farmers combat these unwelcome tenants with the help of the common feline.

Introducing cats to your barn is an effective solution to eliminate the threat of these rodents. In a rural community like Powell County, there are many barns. Likewise, there are MANY cats looking for homes.

Khristie Everman’s farm is home to many horses, goats, and even a llama! They regularly use the barn as shelter, so Khristie adopted cats from the Powell County Animal Shelter to stand guard of her livestock. The cats get shelter, food, water, interaction, a place to exercise, fresh air, and a full-time job. These barn kitties are thrilled to be out of the pound, and welcome their new life on the farm. And their daily duties as pest control for the farm is greatly appreciated.

If you have a barn on your property, please consider giving a homeless cat from the pound a chance at a better life. But before you adopt, it is important to spay or neuter. Plus, be sure that the cats are up to date on vaccinations. If they are excellent mousers, they may require occasional worming to stay strong and healthy. However, barn cats amazingly adaptable and independent, and usually remain healthy if provided with high quality food and clean water.

How to make a difference

2011-03-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

We started out our blog detailing some of our accomplishments. However, we fight an ongoing battle. Right now, more animals are coming into the pound than are leaving. If too many animals are there, the ones who have been there the longest will be euthanized. How can you help?

1.) Don't breed! Spay and neuter your animals.

2.) Don't buy from breeders! Any pure-bred dog can be rescued, and mixed breeds are often healthier.

3.) Spread the word! A lot of people just don't understand the importance of spaying, neutering, and adopting. Many think that animals in rescue are bad. Shockingly, a lot of people don't think that kill shelters actually kill animals.

4.) Be a foster. A superb endorsement for fostering was left as a comment on our inaugural post:
People tell me that they could NEVER foster dogs or cats because they would become so attached to these animals that they wouldn't be able to let them go into another home for permanent adoption.I have to say that there have been times when I have cried all the way home after sending a special one off to a rescue.I wouldn't be human if I didn't get emotionally attached to these wonderful and very grateful dogs.I also know that if I didn't get that dog or cat out of the pound,the chances of it being placed in a forever home is anyone's guess.By me taking this animal into my home,getting it the medical attention it needs and finally finding a permanent,loving home for it,then I have made a difference in the life of this animal.If I chose to keep it,I wouldn't be able to go get another one out,and save it. This "THING" that we foster parents do is extremely hard on our emotions,but when we get an e-mail and photos from the new parents telling us how loved and wanted their new pet is,we know it was worth it.
If I take an animal out of the pound to foster and we can not find a home for it,I know that it will NEVER go back to the pound again.I know that it will NEVER have another litter or help produce another unwanted litter again. I know from the minute I take this homeless, unwanted animal into my life,that it will be loved and treated with dignity and respect.
One person can make the difference in the life of one animal.I have made the difference in the lives of hundreds of animals.The Friends of Powell County's Pets have made the difference in the lives of thousands of animals.I am so proud to belong to this small but mighty group of people.And even though my three dogs sleeping on the bed in the spare room can't talk,I'm pretty sure they are glad that I am a volunteer too.My husband refers to them as "Failed Fosters" They just know they are loved!

Ask us about our Kroger Fundraiser!

5.) Be a volunteer driver. The lucky animals who go to rescues in other states have to make road trips. Our volunteer drivers make these possible. Occasionally, we also need volunteers to transport animals locally for vetting.

6.) Participate in our Kroger card program! The more money we make, the more animals we can help. Not only will you help the animals, you will simplify your grocery shopping!

7.) Write or talk to your legislators! Kentucky is known as one of the best havens for animal abusers. It's disgraceful. Other states have managed to have shelters with waiting lists. Let's be a leader among our neighbors!

If you want to know more, email us at info@fopcp.com or fopcpky@gmail.com

Pit Bulls - they need love, too!

2011-03-08T09:13:00.000-05:00

Pit bulls are like any other breed of dog -- their behavior is partially based on genetics but mainly results from how they are treated by their human companions. Our Pack, Inc. is a rescue group in California that focuses on working with pit bulls. They have successfully rehabilitated many of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick. Please check out their website. Below is some information they published that clears up some myths about pits:

The Truth About Pit Bulls

Pit Bulls Don’t Feel Head or Neck Pain: This is not true. Pit Bulls feel pain like other breeds do. Being tenacious, they will carry on a task until it's completed and push through the pain but they still experience pain just like other breeds of dogs.

Pit Bulls Are Human Attack Dogs: A Pit Bull with a correct temperament is very human friendly and seeks human affection. Pit Bulls love to be touched and handled by humans. As Pit Bulls are terriers they can be dog intolerant. This can vary as much within the breed as it does among all breeds and is very manageable. Note: Dog intolerance is a very different behavior from human aggression. They are not interchangeable.

Pit Bulls Have Locking Jaws: The jaws of a Pit Bull work in the same way as other canines. A Pit Bull is tenacious and willful and he may hold on as a result of his willfulness and tenacity but not because his jaws are physically “designed” to lock. Other breeds may also be very likely to bite and hold on but there is no evidence that any breed has locking jaws.

Pit Bulls Are Not Safe Around Children: The only thing to be concerned about with a temperamentally correct, well-socialized Pit Bull is that he may become very excited around children and knock them over trying to lick them! This is also very easily resolved through training. Pit Bulls generally love attention from children. Even poking, ear pulling type attention will make most Pit Bulls very happy. Of course, one should never leave their child unattended with any dog of any breed, ever. Also, children should be taught how to properly treat pets in the home. Any dog of any breed should be continually socialized to children, adults, and animals throughout his life, including the Pit Bull.

Pit Bulls Are Taught To Be Dog Aggressive: All canines can become defensive if they feel threatened. This is how dogs have survived for eons. They can also lack confidence in social skills with other dogs when not well-socialized and become defensive and fight. Therefore, they don't need training to fight. They can just be set up to fight in certain environments and then reinforced for it. Additionally, Pit Bulls are Terrier dogs. All Terrier dogs tend be less willing to tolerate another dog's rude gestures. This is a very easily managed trait. We have found that our fight bust dogs are our best dogs ever! All dogs of all breeds must be well-socialized with other dogs from an early age, including Pit Bulls.

Pit Bulls Make Good Guard Dogs: False! Better get a guard dog for your Pit Bull!

Pit Bulls that have scars on the head or leg area have been fought: Not necessarily. Maybe he got into it with a coyote or got caught in a chain link fence. There are many reasons why a Pit Bull or any breed of dog could have scars.

Celebration!

2011-02-25T00:14:00.000-05:00

We are excited about our fourth anniversary, and we want to thank everyone who has helped us along the way.

We became a group early in 2007 as a result of the County Judge Executive and Animal Control Officer's request for community support. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. Our mission is three-fold: 1) Saving the lives of homeless and abandoned pets; 2) Reducing the number of unwanted litters in our community (in turn, reducing the number of animals in the pound; and 3) Educating our community about responsible pet ownership.

Since 2007, we have rescued and placed nearly 1200 animals from Powell County. A large part of this is done by networking with rescue groups in northern states. Unlike Kentucky, the spay and neuter laws in those states are so effective that their shelters have lists of people waiting for pets. Plus, it is actually cost-effective for people in those states to adopt from us, reimbursing us for vetting. This situation has been quite fortuitous for hundreds of animals in our community! Volunteers transport animals to meeting locations where volunteers from the destination rescues pick them up to take them to the next step in finding forever homes. Thank you to Rogers Rescue, Safe Haven, DAWS, Fuzzy Face, and transport volunteers (among others).

As part of our effort to reduce the number of unwanted litters, we conduct six low-cost spay and neuter clinics every year. Since our inception, we have altered approximately 800 animals and are working toward our next clinic. The effects of the clinics are exponential. In six years, ONE dog and her puppies can be the source of 67,000 puppies. In seven years, ONE cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens. Powell County has a population of only approximately 13,000 PEOPLE. The numbers make the importance of spaying and neutering palpably obvious (as well as the reason that we have kill shelters)! Thank you Woodstock Animal Foundation, Susan Miller and Clay City Elementary, the Stanton Volunteer Fire Department, our many volunteers, and especially all the pet owners who have participated!

In order to educate our community, we have been present at community events and have been fortunate to be able to visit our local schools. We want everyone to know the importance of spaying, neutering, and adopting. Many people do not realize that any breed can be rescued! Many pure-bred dogs are abandoned at the pound as a result of over-breeding. Animals in rescue are not there because they are bad -- they are there because of irresponsible pet owners. And their gratitude makes them the best pets. Always adopt -- everyone wins!

Through our fund-raising efforts, including grants that we've applied for and received from various corporations, we have provided the pound with dog houses, medications, vaccinations, Kuranda beds, litter boxes, food, litter, toys, exercise pens, collars, and leashes. We have rented vans for transports and paid for fuel. We thank everyone who has donated money and supplies, fostered, purchased our calendars and other items, and participated in our Kroger card program. We welcome new participants to the Kroger card program. Every time one of the cards is reloaded, Kroger donates 4% to us. This is the only regular "income" that we have because adoption fees only cover the expense of vetting. Ask us about participating! It is "free money" for what you spend anyway! We also always need foster homes for pound animals. Animals who are selected by northern rescues or sponsors or who have special needs (illness, pregnancy, blindness, deafness, injury, etc.) are kept in local foster homes where they are nursed to health and saved from euthanization, which would often be their fate if left in the pound. We are grateful for our fosters and sponsors!

We are very excited that Powell County has been awarded a grant from our state to build a new shelter. Currently, we have a pound. There is a difference. When we have a shelter, it will be required to follow guidelines for hygiene and alterations. It will be subject to oversight from the state (see Kentucky Revised Statute 258.119). Many, many thanks to Darren Farmer, Teresa Stidham, and Susan Lacy. They toiled to achieve this! We are sad that our community needs a facility for homeless animals, but until there is not a need, we are eager for something nicer than what currently exists.

We are proud of our accomplishments of the last four years. We have seen the number of animals in the pound decline. Nonetheless, it is still occupied by homeless animals. Many residents of Powell County still do not prioritize spaying and neutering and allow their dogs and cats to breed, sometimes intentionally. The economy has increased the homeless population, also. We hope that you will help us spread the word about our efforts and the importance of spaying, neutering, and adopting. And, of course, we always welcome new volunteers!