Helping at adoption stands
This involves any number of things. SAFE runs adoption stands every Saturday at the Colonial Height Petsmart. WECR runs adoption stands every Saturday at the Short Pump Petsmart. We need people to help take care of the animals up for adoption, set up and take down cages, make sure food and water is available, talk to potential adopters, and learn about the procedure an adopter must go through to adopt an animal. Although we are there from 10-3, you can choose to come for just a couple of hours or just once/month. Contact us today at savinganimals@hotmail.com with questions or complete a volunteer form and send it to us at that address.
Fostering in your home
Foster homes are important because they provide a better environment for socializing the animal than a kennel or shelter would. In a foster home, the animals are exposed to all of the experiences they are likely to encounter in an adopter's home. We are always in need of more foster homes to help us smooth the transition from abandoned, unwanted animal to well-adjusted companion.
If this is something you might be interested in, we would welcome your application to be a foster parent. You can send the completed application to savinganimals@hotmail.com and we will get back to you to get your new career as foster parent under way.
Are foster homes important to rescue groups?
Foster homes are the backbone of any rescue organization and the number
of animals a rescue can help is completely dependent upon the number of
good foster homes available.
What can you expect if you become a foster parent for SAFE-WECR?
Once you complete a volunteer application, you will talk with one of
our volunteer coordinators to discuss how you want to help and how to
get started. Depending on how you'd like to help, here are some of the
things we may discuss with you, along with any questions you may have:
How long you wish to foster. Sometimes adoptions happen within weeks, sometimes it takes longer, so we'll want to be sure you understand what this may mean.
Home environment. Our goal is for our foster homes to provide the type of environment that will create a positive, good-tempered companion animal. We can discuss ways of doing that.
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Medical treatment. SAFE and WECR will pay for the medical care of the foster animal during the time it is being fostered, to include routine check-ups, vaccinations and treatment of emergencies should they arise. In order to control our expenses, however, foster parents can only use a veterinarian pre-approved by SAFE-WECR and will notify appropriate board members prior to any medical treatment for the pet to ensure finances and treatment options are appropriately aligned.
Food supplies. SAFE-WECR will provide or pay for food for your foster during the period of fostering as well. Fosters should work with appropriate SAFE-WECR personnel to secure pet food.
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Adoption events. SAFE-WECR will have events and other activities which promote the adoption of your animal. These may include adoption days where pets are brought out for public viewing, displays on Web sites, fund raisers, etc. It really helps if foster parents are available to have the pet at such events, provide the appropriate information for Web sites, including pictures and descriptions or any other activities designed to promote the adoption of the animal.
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The adoption process. We regularly receive applications on animals in our foster homes, so we will discuss how much or how little you'd like to be involved in the whole process.
What benefits does a foster parent get?
We hope that you are looking for no other benefit than the personal
satisfaction that results from helping an animal in need, because that
is pretty much the main benefit you�ll receive. By being a foster
parent and spending your time with these animals, you know that you are
directly helping save a life, or two, or more. Every foster home equals
an animal that would likely be fated to die in a shelter. As the vast
majority of our rescues are pulled from kill shelters, each foster home
offers the possibility for an animal to wind up in a lifelong home with
a caring family. For our foster parents, that�s worth more than money.
Will I get attached?
You probably will get attached and in fact, you should. That�s the sign
of good ownership. We�ve had many fosters in the past that actually
ended up adopting their foster and that�s certainly a happy ending that
we would welcome. Fosters should take comfort knowing that for each
animal they foster and find a good home for, another dog or cat gets a
chance to be rescued from a bad circumstance. So, yes, you�re going to
get attached and that�s ok. Just remember, there�s nothing but upside
to a foster animal finding a permanent home, and that should take a lot
of the sting of the loss away. And that�s what it will feel like at
first: a loss. That means you�ve done the best job possible.
What are you looking for in a foster parent?
Our foster parents come in all forms and types. We�re looking for
someone who is responsible, mature, and dependable. We need people who
love animals and have the patience to deal with situations that may
arise, the willingness to work to find their foster a home, the
responsibility to support the adoption process and the heart and
compassion to provide the best possible home to an animal that may only
be in their life temporarily. We generally want people who are over 21
years old and who have experience with animals. For dog fosters, you
must have a fenced-in yard or some other secure area, live in a safe
environment, and have the time to devote to their foster.
What do I do if I am interested?
If you feel like you want to be a foster parent for SAFE-WECR, please complete the foster application and e-mail it to us at savinganimals@hotmail.com. Once we receive it, we will review it and be in touch for next steps in the foster
application process. The process will include a phone interview and a home visit, at a minimum.
Communications Volunteer
This role includes manning our phone line on a rotating basis with other volunteers or responding to e-mails we receive in our e-mail box. We have training and instructions available for each, and both can be done from the comfort of your home. We just need someone committed to checking the e-mail and phone messages multiple times per day, as we do not want to miss any opportunities to find a forever home for one of our adoptable animals.
Fundraising
Are you good a raising funds? We sure can use you. Rescuing and caring for animals does cost money, and the fees we charge for our adoptable pets doesn�t really cover everything. So we rely on donations to help us cover routine maintenance costs as well as medical expenses. If you have any ideas for raising money that will help to sustain us in this work, we really want to talk to you. Please call us a (804) 751-4501 or e-mail us at savinganimals@hotmail.com.
Raisin's Story
Raisin was found dehydrated and near death when she was about 5 weeks old. One of our volunteers rushed her to the vet for intravenous fluids. Raisin was so malnourished, she could not even meow. When she tried, she sounded like a squawking baby bird. Once on a steady diet, she began to perk up, but then had to return to the vet for an infection and runny eye. When cats get off to such a bad start, their immune systems are very weak.
She still weighed less than a pound at this point. The vet gave her a course of antibiotics that really kicked in. She started to put on weight and could even meow properly. Raisin had to visit the vet three times before she was ready to be adopted just so we could be sure she was ready for a family of her own.
Our volunteer took these pictures of Raisin at her first vet visit and then when she was getting her final checkup and testing for feline leukemia and feline AIDS. She came out with a clean bill of health and was adopted shortly thereafter. Her new mom says that Raisin has made herself queen of the house and sleeps on her mom's pillow at night.
Unfortunately Raisin's story is not uncommon. Donations can save the lives of many kittens just like Raisin. Won't you consider making a tax-deductible donation today?
To make a donation in any amount using a credit card, click the donate button below:
This is a secure transaction through PayPal and does not require you to have a PayPal account.
Thinking about adopting a new best friend? When you adopt your new pet from SAFE or WECR, you�re not only getting a great pal but you�re also giving that special animal companion a second chance at life.
Animal Availability
We always have more animals available than we can picture on our Web site, so please send an e-mail to savinganimals@hotmail.com to inquire about a particular type or breed of cat or dog.
Health of Rescued Animals
The shelter environment, transportation to and from adoption events, changes and irregularities in feeding can be very stressful for the animals we rescue. Although we make sure that they get all the medical attention they need and do our very best to ensure that they are healthy, sometimes they do get sick. If this occurs within 10 days of the adoption date, SAFE/WECR will reimburse the medical expenses if notified in advance there is a problem. Often we may be able to direct you to a veterinarian who charges us favorable rates.
Adoption Criteria
The following criteria apply to all SAFE and WECR adoptions. The adopting party must
- Be 21 years of age.
- Have the knowledge and consent of all adults living in the household
- Have a valid ID with current address
- Understand that the completion of an application does not guarantee adoption.
Adoption Applications
If you live in the West End of Richmond or surrounding areas, please download and complete the WECR adoption form.
If you live in Hopewell, Colonial Heights, or Chester, please download or complete the SAFE adoption form.
Kitten Adoption Policy
We require potential adopters to complete an adoption application and be interviewed to assure that our cats and kittens find good and permanent homes. Please see the links above and download the appropriate form.
Kittens must be eight or more weeks old before they can be adopted so they can receive their first Distemper Series vaccine and be tested for FeLV/FIV. They will also need to have a second distemper shot and rabies vaccine and be spayed or neutered.
We require an adoption fee of $90.00 to help defray the costs for vaccination and spay/neuter expenses. This adoption fee must be paid in full at the time of adoption. Because cats do better in pairs, there may be some flexibility in the cost for the second adopted cat if adopted within 30 days of the first.
Adoption Fees
| Cat or kitten | $90 |
| Dog or puppy | $125 |
The adoption fee includes a spay or neuter (or a certificate for same), shots (except for rabies vaccine, which you must get at your own vet), a heartworm test for dogs, a feline leukemia test for cats, check and treatment for intestinal parasites, application of flea control, a free first vet visit (WECR only), and coupons for savings on pet food, toys, and treats.
The adoption fee helps to partially defray the cost incurred in caring for the animals we rescue.
Our rescue group spans a wide area throughout central Virginia. Depending on where you live, you can find a convenient location for adopting a companion animal. We are actually comprised of two related groups, SAFE and WECR.
SAFE is a non-profit rescue group working in the Tri-City area to save cats and dogs from local pounds. We are the only rescue group pulling animals from the Hopewell Pound. We have been working to rescue animals since 2002, and we can always use more help.
West End Cat Rescue is part of SAFE, but is located in the western suburbs of Richmond. WECR specializes in cats pulled from the Hopewell Pound, feral colonies, and other sources. WECR runs adoption events at the Short Pump Petsmart nearly every Saturday from 10:30-3:00. We also have some cats at the Pouncy Tract Veterinary Hospital (located in Short Pump at the corner of Pouncy Tract and Nuckols Road)
We are a 501 (c)(3) charity, which means that the IRS recognizes us as a charitable organization and that donations are tax-deductible. We will be happy to send you a receipt for tax purposes for any donation you would care to make.
Here are links to information and sites you may find helpful.
westendcatrescue.com - provides information on The West End Cat rescue group plus news and events.
AnimalLaw.com - provides access to legislation and legal matters pertaining to the rights and welfare of animals by state. For instance, did you know that it is actually illegal in Virginia to separate kittens from their mother before they are 7 weeks old?
Declawing: The real deal [PDF]
Ten Commandments for Pet Owners [PDF]
Operation Catnip - Learn about Richmond�s non-profit, all volunteer organization committed to humanely reducing feral and stray cat overpopulation through trap-neuter-return (TNR). TNR is a positive, life-affirming, and preventive approach to solving overpopulation among homeless cats.
Like most small, all-volunteer animal rescue groups, we are always in need of cash to cover vet bills, buy food, and purchase all the supplies one needs for taking care of our four-legged friends.
Did you know that donations to our rescue group are tax deductible? That's right. We're a 501c3 charitable organization, recognized by the IRS. SAFE and WECR share finances, so you can make checks out just to SAFE.
Donations are welcome in any amount. If you'd like to send a check or money order to us, please send it to
S.A.F.E.
P.O. Box 35165
Richmond, VA. 23235
We can also use�
- Cat and dog food (wet and dry)
- Crates
- Blankets
- Disinfectant wipes