TAILS FROM WAGS & WHISKERS
FALL 2023
MEET LUNA AND HER PUPPIES
PAGE 5
ONE AGENCY THREE LOCATIONS
SANFORD LOCATION
2800 County Home Road
Sanford, FL 32773
ALAFAYA CLINIC
12050 E. Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32826
DOWNTOWN CAT SHELTER
777 W. Central Blvd. Orlando, FL 32805
(407) 351-7722
PetAllianceOrlando.org
LEADERSHIP STAFF
STEVE BARDY
Executive Director
CATHY RODGERS
Director of Development
KATHY BURNS
Director of Operations
KELLY LUDWIG
Director of Clinic Services
BARBARA MUZENI
Director of Finance
LINDSAY FRAMSTEAD
Director of HR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JOSH POWERS
Chair
CHRISTINE O’NEAL
Vice Chair
BRIAN DAVIS
Treasurer
JULIE AXELROD
Secretary
JOHN COX
KERRI FARRELL
SUZANNE MAGEE-FLEMING
PADGETT MCCORMICK
LINDY MOORE
LUKE PARTRIDGE
LOUISE PHILP
JASON WATKINS
A Letter From Steve
Autumn has always been my favorite season. Although in Florida, the only way to tell that fall has arrived is college football and “pumpkin spice” everything. While we may not get the majestic landscape color change, we still appreciate all that fall has to offer. What I like most about this time of year is the sense of gratitude and giving that people seem to carry more outwardly.
Shelters, like Pet Alliance, have always relied on people to help them achieve their mission. Many of those people help by fostering kittens and puppies or older, medically needy animals. So it's a perfect time to take a moment to be thankful for those who foster our pets in need.
In the fall of 2017, I wanted to better understand fostering, so I fostered Molly and her eight puppies, knowing that I would adopt Molly (my sweet girl). I learned so much those first eight weeks. And I continue to learn with every litter of pups that I foster. Each stage of development brings so many new twists. The first few weeks, if the mom is available, she does all the work and you just make sure she is well-fed. Of course, you lose some sleep as you worry if your house is too warm or too cold or drafty. These can be among the many thoughts on your mind at 2:30 a.m. as you get up to check on them several times each night.
My most recent fosters were a litter of husky pups. My former house was perfectly designed to foster puppies, especially bigger breeds. Unfortunately, my current home is not ideal for a marauding group of young canines. Oh — the energy! They played nonstop for hours at a time. When two of them developed a cough, I stayed awake all night simply trying to comfort them. The next morning, they had boundless energy, and I was exhausted from lack of sleep.
Having fostered more than 50 puppies, I now feel I am well-versed in the rhythm and flow that each stage brings. Yet I always seem to forget how quick and messy puppies can be. They move in a pack and your toes seem to fascinate them the most.
I would love to say fostering is all rainbows and Instagram moments. And yes, there are plenty of fun times, but puppies are messy — really messy. Then they look at you with “those eyes” and your heart skips a beat.
Fostering has many rewards. Yet, it is not easy work. It truly helps Pet Alliance rescue more kittens and puppies when there are great foster homes to lend a hand. Thank you to all of the amazing people who have fostered our kittens, puppies, and pets that needed some extra medical care. We are grateful for your love and support every season.
Stephen Bardy Executive Director
2
PAWS IN THE PARK 2024
30th Anniversary Celebration
Get ready for the most dog-gone fun event of the year! Central Florida’s favorite pet festival returns to Lake Eola Park on February 10. It will be another fun-filled day that celebrates our furry friends and supports Pet Alliance. We hope you will join us as we celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Paws in the Park!
Sign up now to sponsor, fundraise, or become a vendor. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary, we have something special in store for our fundraisers who raise $100 or more. This will be in addition to the exclusive 2024 Paws in the Park t-shirt and bandana. Stay tuned for more details!
Returning for the fifth year is the ever-popular Pet Costume Contest. Choose from one of the designated themes, design your costume/float, and WOW our judges for a chance to win great prizes!
To learn more, visit pawsinthepark.org.
3
"WE'RE THE THREE BEST FRIENDS THAT ANYONE COULD HAVE!"
Recently, something pretty cute happened in one of our free roam cat rooms at the Sanford shelter. Shadow (black), Buster (gray), and Draco Meowfoy (black & white) are three very friendly FIV+ kitties who happened to be in our care at the same time. Our team decided to introduce them to each other to see if they could coexist in a room together, and the rest is history. Not only did they cohabitate well, they seemed to form their own little fraternity!
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) causes a weakened immune system in cats. Many of those diagnosed are able to live long, healthy lives. However, we recommend they be adopted into a household as the only cat or one with other FIV+ kitties since the virus can transfer cat-to-cat. So, as you can imagine, getting to experience a social group like this at the shelter is rare. We're glad this trio found friendship in the shelter, but even happier that they all eventually found their permanent homes.
Geo's story might be a bit difficult to read, but we hope it speaks to the dedication of our staff and the incredible resilience of this special tuxedo cat.
Geo was found on the side of the road and brought to us through our Community Cat Initiative. At only a year old, he had experienced significant trauma to his front right leg. Radiographs performed by our veterinary team revealed a severe fracture and a metal-dense foreign object in the limb, which was later confirmed to be a BB pellet.
Due to the complexity of Geo's injury, our veterinarian, Dr. Andersen, was able to amputate his leg to free him of any future complications. Now on the mend, Geo is looking forward to a much better life than the one he knew before.
Despite all he's been through, Geo is as sweet as can be. He's a bit shy and is still adapting to a life indoors, but he's always happy to receive a scratch behind the ears from his new human friends. Now adopted into his forever home, we're wishing this special cat a comfortable and happy life!
4
GEO'S STORY
MEET LUNA AND HER PUPPIES
Helping dogs and cats in need in our community is a team effort. Whether it is Pet Alliance, a small foster-based rescue, or one of the local government-run animal service agencies, we all have a role to play. In addition to managing all the surrendered dogs and cats that arrive at our shelters, Pet Alliance also works closely with other organizations to transfer animals when we can. Sometimes it’s an animal that needs extra medical attention, and other times it’s a mom and young puppies that need fostering and special care until they're ready for adoption.
Last spring, Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) contacted us about Luna and her five newborn puppies. Their animal service officers had recently picked them up as strays, but OCAS did not have the capacity to care for them. When Pet Alliance received the phone call asking if we could take Luna and her puppies, we knew we could help. Staff went to OCAS and picked up the little family and brought them to our Sanford shelter. From there, one of our foster volunteers agreed to take them in and Luna had the opportunity to raise her pups in the comfort of a home.
Luna was underweight and her puppies were only one week old and still nursing when they arrived. It didn’t take long before Luna started to get healthy, and the puppies got big and strong. After seven weeks with the foster, they were all ready to find a new home. This is just one of many examples of how many people and organizations collaborate to make life better for animals in need in our community. We are grateful for the partnerships we share and the ability we have to help dogs like Luna and her puppies.
5
PET ALLIANCE VETERINARY CLINICS
If your pet needs a microchip, Pet Alliance can assist you! Pet Alliance operates two affordable veterinary clinics that provide annual vaccines, wellness visits, basic sick care, and spay/neuter surgeries for pets. If your dog or cat needs any of these services, you can conveniently book an appointment online at petallianceorlando.org.
SANFORD CLINIC - WELLNESS CARE AND VACCINES
2800 County Home Rd. Sanford, FL 32773
ALAFAYA CLINIC - SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY AND VACCINES*
12050 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32826
*Please note that vaccine appointments do not include a veterinary visit.
MetLife Pet Insurance
While we’ll do anything for our pets, caring for them can be costly. That’s where the financial protection of Pet Insurance comes in. It can cover unplanned vet visits, accidents, illnesses, surgeries, and hospital stays no matter the breed or age. Pet Alliance partners with MetLife Pet Insurance to provide one month of free pet insurance for adopters. You will receive up to $500 in coverage after the $50 deductible is met. Coverage includes accidents, illnesses, exam fees, medications, and more. To activate your free 30 days of pet insurance, call 1-844-229-2062.
6
BEAZER HOMES STEPS UP FOR PETS IN NEED
Pet Alliance welcomed a wonderful group from Beazer Homes to the Sanford Shelter for a volunteer day in May. In addition to helping sort pet food and bathing dogs, they also held an employee donation drive to collect items from Pet Alliance’s Wish List. To top it all off, they presented a check for $5,000 to help support our mission of helping dogs, cats, and pet owners in need.
“The Beazer Charity Foundation looks for ways to impact the neighborhoods that we build in with emphasis to organizations that may not see the same level of support larger charities may
have. Pet Alliance was chosen by the division as they wanted to involve themselves with local pet organizations that had a great reputation for the care they provide to animals in need. Pet Alliance's mission of being a good neighbor by offering pet food and supplies to community members in need aligns with Beazer’s beliefs. We certainly felt the love and care from the volunteers and staff and cannot wait for our next partnership!”
If your company is interested in group volunteer opportunities, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at abajek@petallianceorlando.org.
7
FOSTERFURBALLVOLUNTEER BRINGS THE LOVE
Being a foster volunteer for Pet Alliance is a great way to help a dog or cat that is in need of some extra time and love before it can be adopted. We talk a lot about our kitten foster program, but volunteers also foster some of our puppies and medically sensitive dogs. One longtime dog foster, Megan Oates, shared some of her experiences with us and has some words of encouragement for anyone considering becoming a foster.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FOSTERING DOGS FOR PET ALLIANCE, AND HOW MANY DOGS HAVE YOU FOSTERED?
I have been volunteering and fostering for Pet Alliance for 11 years. I mainly foster dogs and puppies. I take on medical cases, behavioral cases, and lots of puppies. I don’t really keep count, but I know I have fostered over 100 dogs for Pet Alliance. When you foster litters of puppies, or kittens, the numbers can add up quickly.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT FOSTERING DOGS?
I love being a part of their journey to finding a home. Some just need a space to continue to grow and learn the ropes until they are old enough to find a home. Others really need support and TLC to help them heal physically or emotionally to be ready to meet a family. I enjoy being that helping hand or quiet space to recuperate when needed. I don’t have the financial means to donate to the shelter as much as I would like. Opening my home to the animals in need helps me to play an important part in the mission of the organization.
IS THERE ONE PARTICULAR DOG OR FOSTERING EXPERIENCE THAT STICKS OUT TO YOU?
Tucker, my first “stinky” puppy. He came to the shelter as a 6–8-week-old puppy with a horrible case of demodex mange. He had basically no hair and his body was covered in scabs. He looked more like a piglet than a puppy. I was out of town when he came and the staff sent me a picture of him knowing I’m a sucker for the needy ones. I picked him up two days later and fell in love instantly. When the animals have
mange, they stink, their skin is bloody, and it flakes off everywhere! But they don’t realize that they are disgusting and want love and cuddles like any other animal. Tucker taught me to look past the exterior and see him for the loving boy he was. I spent the next three months loving on that boy like he deserved, and we got him healed and ready for adoption. Watching him evolve was so awesome. We had no idea what he would look like as he healed, and his hair started growing it was like a puzzle being put together. I have fostered at least 40 dogs with skin issues, and it is all because of Tucker teaching me that “stinky” puppies need love too! The treatment has evolved, and it is much less work for me. Their healing time is speedier, but the joy of their transformation never goes away.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN FOSTERING BUT NEEDS A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAKE THE DECISION?
Just go for it! It’s hard to let them go sometimes and you will probably cry. I bawled like a baby when Tucker was adopted. He was my first long-term, in-depth medical foster and it was difficult to say farewell. His family still sends me pictures occasionally even though he was adopted 10 years ago. The reward for helping each foster that comes through your home is more than I can describe. People often say, “I couldn’t do that.” My response is often, if not you, then who? If you fall in love and decide to keep a foster pet, then it is still a successful foster experience. I don’t call it a foster failure since the point is to find loving homes for the shelter pets and that is just what happened.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a dog foster, scan the QR Code to fill out an application or contact our Foster Coordinator Susan Angus at sangus@petallianceorlando.org.
8 15-PAOFL-0923-N
