| Animal Rescue Foundation of Rincon Tele: 787-823-7167 |
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As you know, ARF is a non-profit organization that is run with donations raised through a variety of ways, including fundraisers, community activities and awareness events throughout the year. There are many opportunities to join ARF and show your support for it's mission and the humane treatment of animals.
ARF appreciates your participation in its fundraising events. During these trying times, ARF has been busy with the animal rescue/adoption program. Economic struggles have forced adoption down while irresponsible pet owners continue to discard their pets in Rincon. Regardless of these challenges, these lovable animals desparately need a permanent home. Since they have lived with foster families, ARF is assured of their friendliness with other animals, kids and adults. All of these animals have received basic medical care and, if over 6 months old, have been spayed/neutered. They make perfect pets for any family. Please, if you are looking for a pet to fulfill your life, visit ARF's "Adoption Center" on this website. If you still do not find a pet that you would like to adopt, then contact Villa Michelle Animal Shelter located in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. They have a wide variety of animals arrive every day and a short window for adoption. They can be reached at 787-834-4510.
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IMPORTANT NEWS THAT MUST BE SHARED! On Saturday, Sept 4th, the Pet SOS Foundation held a drive for dog and cat food in Mayaguez as well as in San Juan and Ponce. Pet SOS Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to spread the message of love and compassion towards all pets. Sams Club also sponsored Pet SOS who solicited food donations while celebrities entertained and lent their support to the group. At this event, Pet SOS raised over 5,000 lbs of dog and cat food! Thank you to everyone who participated! The food was later divided among 5 animal rescue/welfare organizations. ARF is honored to be one of the orgnizations to receive this food. Since ARF is not a shelter the food was distributed among ARF's foster families who are temporarily caring for rescues, to individual animal rescuers in Rincon, and to animal groups in adjoining towns. ARF thanks Pet SOS for their tremendous effort in raising public awareness and providing this donation which will help alleviate the financial strains placed on many animal rescuers and provide for the animals. Please visit www.petidpr.com to find out more about Pet SOS Foundation.
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Cat Health Day
(a service for the community of Rincon, Puerto Rico)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
from 9am-12pm at the Public Beach of Rincon
Vaccinations at $20 Vouchers for low-cost spaying/neutering $15
Registration $2 Education Material
For the safety of your cat, all vaccinations will be performed inside ARF's office.
Any questions, call ARF at 787-823-7167 or visit ARF's offices on
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-1pm.
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Dog Health Day was held on July 10, 2010 and was the best so far! Many thanks goes out to Dr. Melani Zurkowsky and the vet tech Elena Rodriguez along with her husband. The team worked diligently to immunize 72 dogs and 28 puppies! ARF volunteers registered 57 and scheduled low-cost spaying/neutering appointments for 45 dogs. How great is that! Thank you, Rinconeans for being responsible pet owners.
At this event ARF also distributed the pamphlet with the abbreviated Welfare and Protection of Animal Law 154 of August 4, 2008. ARF felt this law is just too important not to make it available to the community. After hours condensing the original 11-page booklet and translating it from Spanish to English, ARF produced a pamphlet. To get a copy, click on the link below.
Also, ARF would like to thank the many volunteers who lent their linguistic talents and time to help at this event. This event was the success it was BECAUSE of your help. Thank you all for doing a great job! And stay tuned for the announcement of the Cat Health Day which will take place in September.
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| Auction helper, Kathryn Robinson, also performed as the rescued dog in the play "Sylvia"! |
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| On March 17, 2010, ARF held its 13th Annual St. Patrick's Day Fundraiser at Villa Cofresi Bar and Restaurant. 250 people attended and as you can see by this photo, everyone had a great time especially during the live auction! Howard Stroger served as the auctioneer and as things reved up people bid on various items. One of the handcrafted fleece blankets shown in this picture sold for $100! It just shows what a community that works together can accomplish for the benefit of the animals in Rincon.
It was a grand evening with people dancing to music performed by Roberto Ruiz' group. Villa Cofresi Restaurant served a delicious buffet with the traditional corn beef and cabbage. The Mayor of Rincon, Carlos Lopez Bonilla, joined the merrymakers and even made a generous donation of $2,000 on behalf of the municipality of Rincon. All the proceeds from the St. Patrick's Day Fundraiser will be used towards one of ARF's vital programs: spay and neutering. This program is importance since it reduces animal overpopulation, combats animal abandonment and fights to eradicate animal neglect. ARF is grateful to the businesses and individuals who donated to the event and the volunteers who gave of their precious time to help at the office and at the event. ARF is a small non-profit organization and alone it cannot do all the work or help all of the animals in Rincon. But with each of us working together, we can do alot and help many. Let's continue to strives to do great things for the animals and the community of Rincon. Thank you all!
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| Play "Sylvia" as performed by Rincon Play Readers held on Feb 17th |
On February 17, 2010, ARF recently sponsored a staged reading of the play by A.R. Gurney, "Sylvia". The Rincon Play Readers gave a strong performance and was directed by Tom Spontelli. The delicious vegetarian hors d'oeuvre were donated by Mr. Spontelli of Natural High Restaurant. The Clubhouse at Punta Del Mar Condominiums was the perfect setting for the play, as everyone sat before a stage, lightly illuminated, under the bright stars and to the gentle sound of the waves. It was a perfect evening and everyone had a great time!
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| Membership Drive Picnic held on Saturday, January 30, 2010 |
ARF held its Membership Drive Picnic for 2010. It was held in the Public Beach of Rincon, Puerto Rico, and the day was absolutely beautiful! Membeship Drives will be held every January. Members are encouraged to volunteer their time servicing Special Needs Area or participating in Event Committees. This hands-on support is important. ARF is a small non-profit organization run by an Administrator with the hands-on support of its Board Members. Although donations are always needed to support its vital programs, hands-on support is even more valuable since it provides the bodies needed to help organize and manage its many tasks.
Membeship is $15 for singles or $25 for couples and while you're at it, sign up to become a volunteer. Contact ARF at 787-823-7167 to receive a copy of the membership application and/or volunteer application. Or email ARF at arfofrincon@caribe.net.
Special thanks goes out to Dawn Gibson for uncessantly flipping those hamburgers and roasting those hotdogs! Also thanks to Jeanne Sinclair, Abby Cotler, Leo Roubian, Marsha Sheppard, Liz Palmer, Ashley, John Burns, Janet Meyers and Alice Black as well as the High School students Joshua and Kiara. Special thanks to the Board Members. Thank you to all who brought a side dish to share with the group. Remember to renew your membership every January!
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| Dog Health Day held January 23, 2010 |
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What a great success! This is the first ARF-sponsored community service event of the year! The Dog Health Day was first initiated in 2008. The community of Rincon responded so readily and was desparately needed that ARF decided in 2009 to sponsor TWO Dog Health Day a year and initiated its FIRST Cat Health Day. At this one-day event, a veterinarian donates her time while administering low-cost immunizations. ARF volunteers schedule low-cost spaying/neutering appointments and register dogs and puppies. These services are important since it promotes animal health and welfare and responsible ownership. These services are supported by proceeds from ARF fundraisers.
ARF would like to thank Dr. Elena Benson, the veterinarian on site who administered the vaccination, along with her lovely assistant (and daughter). Dr. Benson works at Villa Michelle Animal Shelter in Mayaguez as well as practices in Aguadilla. She immunized 76 dogs and puppies! Its important that your beloved pet is immunized every year! Vaccination reduces your dog from contracting diseases AND TRANSMITTING those diseases to your other pets, children and family members.
At this event, ARF volunteers scheduled 27 dogs to be spayed/neutered. Dogs can be spayed/neutered at 6 months of age. This services is vital since it eliminates unwanted litters, significantly reduces reproductive and testicular cancer, and keeps the dogs from wandering and reduces agressiveness.
Also, ARF volunteers registered 43 dogs and puppies. Every animal registered receives an ID tag and a free collar at a minimum fee. Registration is especially important in the event your dog escapes and decides to wander around town. Or in the event of a natural disaster. Whomever finds the dog can contact ARF directly. ARF will contact the owner and schedule a happy reunion! All owner contact information is kept strictly confidential!
ARF would like to thank the ARF volunteers who gave of their time and energy: Leo Roubian, Juan Valladaris, Ashley and Todd as well as the High School students Alexandria and Paloma. Also, ARF sincerely thanks the Board Members and everyone who participated. We couldn't have done it without your help.
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| Harvest Moon Festival held November 28th! |
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ARF is pleased to announce the success of its annual Harvest Moon Festival on Nov. 28, 2009 held at Mario Jose’s Restaurant in Playa Corsega. Despite economic struggles and personal woes, animal lovers still joined ARF to celebrate. Traditionally in the olden days the farmers celebrated the harvesting of their crop during this time and gave thanks for their bountiful blessings. Although ARF isn’t celebrating a crop, it is celebrating the coming together of a community for the sake of abandoned, neglected and abused animals in Rincon. ARF gives thanks every day for this support.
ARF’s guests enjoyed a spread of roasted pork along with other typical Puerto Rican foods, dancing and music. Thanks also goes out to the local businesses and individuals who donated certificates, unusual creations and fabulous jewelries used in the silent auction as well as the items used in ARF’s live auction. Proceeds from this event will be used toward the adoption of rescued animals as well as reducing animal overpopulation through its spaying/neutering program. To see a list of the donors, please visit ARF’s official website arfrincon.org.
The greatest success of the evening was the 2010 Special Edition Calendar put together by ARF’s board members and ARF volunteers. The calendar was designed and printed by Vision D-sign in Rincon. In the calendar, each month has either a story or some helpful tip for your pet. In the back of the calendar are important telephone numbers for veterinarians, emergency animal hospitals, as well as local and municipal police to report animal abuse. You will also see under each month reprints of business cards of local businesses that supported this endeavor. Cut out the business cards and keep them for the next time you need their services!
ARF sends out a heartfelt thank again to everyone. ARF’s success is only possible through your participation. And remember “…saving just one pet won’t change the world…but surely the world will change for that one pet…”
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| Cat Health Day on September 26, 2009 |
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| Dr. Socarras & Briana tending to a patient |
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ARF is pleased with the success of its First Cat Health Day, held on September 26, 2009, in Rincon, Puerto Rico. The community of Rincon was offered low cost immunization, provided by Dr. Socarras, from Animal Medical Clinic in Aguada, and his fabulous team. Of course the vet team worked in the ARF office to prevent an accidental escape of any of the precious 20 cats and 1 kitten! ARF volunteers and students from Escuela Superior Manuel Garcia Perez scheduled 19 appointments for low cost spaying/neutering (while ARF pays for the remainder of the cost) and also registered 20 cats.
This event is made possible with internal funds raised throughout the year by ARF, whose main focus is to reduce the overpopulation of animals in Rincon. The uncontrolled cat colonies scattered throughout the 9 neighborhoods of Rincon produce diseases, death and health hazards. Did you know that female cats go into heat beginning around 5-6 months of age and can reproduce every 2 months! Through a conserted effort to control unwanted birth and through ARF's low cost spaying/neutering program, overpopulation is being addressed one cat at a time. Please be a responsible cat owner and get your cat fixed! Visit ARF's office at the public beach in Rincon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00am-1:00pm or call 787-823-7167 for more information.
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| A responsible owner signing up to immunize his cat |
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ARF is very please to announce that it sponsored its 2nd Dog Health Day in 2009 on July 11th! It is ARF’s goal to serve the community of Rincon by promoting the well being of the animals in Rincon. At these events, ARF offers the community low cost spaying/ neutering, immunization and registration. Thanks go out to Dr. Elena Benson, a veterinarian who also works in the Villa Michelle Animal Shelter, and her assistant, Monica, for immunizing 74 dogs and 11 puppies during the 4 hour event. This is important because vaccination protect animals and people from specific viral and bacterial infections. (Refer to this website’s “the Vet says…” to find out the ages puppies should be vaccinated.) To keep your dog healthy, take him for a full check-up, shots and a heartworm blood test every year. Annual vaccination prevents certain diseases and rabies from being transmitted to you, your family and even to your community.
Also a big thank you to the ARF volunteers who registered 67 dogs. This is important because in the event of a natural disaster or your dog escapes, an ID tag can help secure your dog’s immediate and safe return. The ID tag has ARF’s telephone number so all of the owner’s contact information is kept confidential. Whoever finds the dog will contact ARF directly and then ARF will contact the animal owner.
Finally, 26 dogs were scheduled to be spayed or neutered. Spaying/neutering is so important on so many levels. Did you know that female dogs can produce a litter every 6 months! Besides reducing unwanted litters, spaying females before maturity significantly reduces the risk of cancer. Neutering males prevents diseases and reduces aggression.
ARF also wants to thank the community of Rincon for participating in this event, in spite of the economic challenges. Thank you for providing your beloved pet with basic care for its continued well being.
Until the next event….!
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| Veterinarian Dr. Elena Benson, and assistant tech, Monica |
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| This beloved chihuahua was just immunized! |
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| Volunteers working the registration table |
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