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Recent Events
First Federated Church Advent
Program
Every
Advent, First Federated Church of Peoria invites local charity
organizations to be included in their Christmas Gift Catalog. The
following was presented by Claire Crone, and resulted in a donation from
the congregation of almost $1,700.
Thank you
for inviting us. We're from Foster Pet Outreach, a local animal rescue
organization dedicated to helping the homeless and abandoned cats and
dogs in Central Illinois. Sheba is one of our foster dogs who came to us
when her owner realized she could no longer care for her. We have been a
licensed animal shelter for almost 20 years, run exclusively by
volunteers. What makes our group unique is that we foster the animals in
our own private homes. By doing this, we can evaluate their
personalities and provide them good socialization in a home environment.
It also allows us to better match families with pets. We can tell you
that Sheba is very shy, and timid around men, so if you area family with
little boys, this would not be a good match.
Most of
the animals in our care are strays, who have no one but you to champion
for them. We also try to serve the elderly in our community by helping
them with their pets in cases when the owners face serious illnesses or
nursing home confinement, and families call us when their loved ones
have passed and left behind a beloved pet. And sadly, we receive far too
many pets due to divorce, or when finances force a housing change.
All of
the animals go directly to our vets, where they get a complete health
check, are fully immunized, and spayed or neutered as needed. As any of
you with pets know - vet prices have significantly raised in the past
few years. We spend a minimum of $350 on each [et to get them to our
quality of care, and that can increase as we address any additional
health needs. That can be as minor as a bladder infection, or
significant like the time foster dog Lance tripped and fell face first
onto a coffee table and cut his eye. Our adoption fee is kept at $175.
This is possible because of generous donations we receive from people
like you. Because we are 100% volunteer, all money donated goes directly
to helping the dogs and cats. It pays for vet bills, food and toys.
In 2009,
we were able to help over 60 pets find quality homes. Like Angelica, who
was found cold, injured and starving in a junkyard last winter.
This sweet dog had been attacked by something, and was found bleeding in
the back seat of a junked car. We got her to the vet, who cared for her
wounds, and then to a loving foster family, who began healing her soul.
Today, she is happy, healthy and a much loved pet in a great family. We
were able to rescue Amos, an adorable puppy whose callous owner had too
many dogs and planned to shoot him. Bopper was a kitten found by
children. With their big hearts, they took him to one of our members to
see if she could help him. What a wonderful lesson in compassion for
these great kids! He was adopted just last week. We took in a dog whose
home fell apart because of domestic abuse. The woman didn't want to
leave because she was afraid the rage would be turned on the dog. She's
safe now, and so is the dog.
With so
many people in need, why should you donate to animals in this tight
economy? Every cat, every dog has a person attached to it. The person
who relinquishes it, the person who rescues it, the person who comes to
love it. When we care for God's creatures, we care for each other.
My
feelings are pretty much summed up in this poem by Wendy Francisco: (Be
sure to go to YouTube to see the video!)
God & Dog
I look up
and I see God
I look
down and see my dog
Simple
Spelling G-O-D
Same word
backwards D-O-G
They
would stay with me all day
I'm the
one who walks away
But both
of them just wait for me
Divine
God and canine mutt
I take it
hard each time I fail
But God
forgives - dog wags his tail
God
thought up & made the dog
Dog
reflects a part of God
I've seen
love from both sides now
It's
everywhere - Amen - Bowwow
I look up
& I see God
I look
down & see my dog
And in my
human frailty
I can't
match their love for me.
Thank
you!
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The Bow Wow Fundraiser
tree is once again a big success!
Thank you for all your donations!
December 2009 |
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EGG HUNT 2009 |
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It was cold and rainy, but oh, what fun!
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