SPONSOR A SENIOR SMILE! Many of our senior animals need a pre-surgical blood screening (PSS) and dental done. Gum and teeth problems are just as unhealthy for our companion animals as they are for us. Our seniors need the PSS to see if the liver and kidneys are functioning normally. Experience has taught us that, if caught early on, kidney function can absolutely be treated with diet, which can improve the animal's quality of life, plus add months to more than a year to the animal's life. If bloodwork is normal, then the dental procedure can be done. Tartar and plaque, which will cause gingivitis if allowed to build up, is scraped from the teeth during a dental, and any bad teeth are removed. Our veterinarians have agreed to do the PSS and complete Dental for a reduced cost of $150 per animal. If you'd like to sponsor a senior for a PSS/dental procedure, please send your contribution to the address at the bottom of our page here and note that it is for a PSS/Dental. All contributions are tax-deductible. You'll receive a picture of one of our seniors with their new "smile"! For the continuing good health of our seniors, we thank you for your help!
HISTORY AND GENERAL INFO Friends for Life began in 1996 and incorporated in January 2000. FFL received its non-profit status (501c3) from the IRS in November 2007. We are a care-for-life (or no-kill) sanctuary; there is no time limit for any animal. Friends for Life, Inc. is not affiliated with any other organization or shelter, or any other Friends for Life organization. We receive NO local, state, or federal funding and rely solely on contributions from individuals (please see our Sponsor Program below). Each animal that we accept is wormed, vaccinated, neutered/spayed if unaltered, and any needed veterinary care, including tests, treatment, and/or surgery, is provided during the time the animal is with us.
THANKS AND APPRECIATION We are very grateful to work with extremely kind and generous veterinarians, without whom we would not be able to give our animals the care they need. Sincere thanks go to the doctors and staff of Greenbrier Veterinary Hospital here in Lewisburg; FFL has worked with GVH for a long time and they are very good to us. Thanks also to Patrick McHale, DVM of Seneca Trail Animal Hospital, also in Lewisburg, whose generosity enabled FFL to have all of our dogs (and one cat) vaccinated for rabies in June of 2008. Sabrina Dowdy, DVM, also of Seneca Trail Animal Hospital, came out and spent two hours giving all those rabies shots-- Thanks, Dr. Dowdy! Thanks also go to Edith McKinley, owner of Edith's Health and Specialty Store in Lewisburg. Edith is a wealth of information on herbs and homeopathy, and is extremely generous to FFL.
SPONSOR PROGRAM Seventy per cent (70%) of our dogs are seniors -- at least eight years old-- and many are ten years old and above, and even in their 'teens. Their chances of adoption are slim to non-existent. If you are not able to fit an older dog into your life but are drawn to a particular face here, perhaps you'd like to sponsor that animal. Sponsoring requires a commitment of $25 per month. This can be paid by the month, every six months, one amount sent for the entire year, etc.-- whatever is easiest for the sponsor. If a person wishes to sponsor a particular animal, we will send a 5x7 photo of that animal and its history. We are extremely grateful for our faithful (and new!) sponsors- they keep us going from month to month!
Friends for Life is thankful for the kindness and generosity of people like you who enable us to continue to help our companions. Below are some things we REALLY REALLY NEED:
DONATIONS TO HELP WITH VETERINARY CARE: Even with the generosity of our vets, FFL's bill is still over $5100 at this time (June 14, 2009); DOG WALKERS! We have had no dog walkers for a looong time now. You don't have to be a trainer-- the dogs just need exercise and one-on-one time. We can provide "slow, medium, or fast" dogs to suit the walker. You don't have to commit to a regular schedule-- we'll be glad for any time you can spare, so once in awhile is fine! Please call when you're available and we'll arrange a time; DOG BRUSHERS Again, you don't have to be a professional. We've got the tools needed to get those coats brushed and shiny; CANNED MACKEREL or SALMON: This is part of the diet we like to feed the cats (when we can afford it); DOG FOOD: We really like the natural foods with chicken, lamb, or other specific meat as the first ingredient, but they're expensive, so here are the other brands we use (we try to use the dry foods that contain the least amount of "added color"): Purina One (prefer Sensitive Systems and Senior Diet but the others are fine) and Pedigree Adult Crunchy Bites; CAT FOOD: Purina One; also any dry food that has NO added color; KONG TOYS with the hollow center that can be filled with kibble or other small treats; TOWELS FISH OIL We use 50 fish oil gelcaps every day on the dogs' food; GIFT CERTIFICATES to Edith's Store in Lewisburg, CVS Pharmacy or GNC to purchase the vitamins and supplements we use; LOWE'S GIFT CERTIFICATES for materials to cover the outside dog runs and to build shelves inside for storing bedding and other supplies; KITTY BEDS or SMALL DOG BEDS CRATES AND CARRIERS-- Medium and Large; HEAVY-DUTY SCREEN DOORS We need three of these. They must be made of wood because we'll have to add hardware cloth to one or both sides. If you've got an old, heavy screen door you no longer need, please call us with the dimensions. If you'd like to make a donation and you're local, please call for directions (304 667-1387) or we'd be happy to pick up. Thank you!
"I know there can no Heaven be if my pets aren't there to welcome me..." (Anonymous) We sadly said goodbye to the following companions who have left us and taken a little bit of our hearts with them: 2008 Jewel, golden retriever mix female, 13 years, on January 5th Candy, Chow mix female, 15 years, on January 18th Tigger Two, orange striped male Domestic Shorthair, 8 years, on April 27th Boose-Boose, orange-stripe-with-white male Domestic Shorthair (Tigger Two's littermate), 8 years, on June 12th Punkin, Jack Russel/Beagle mix female, 15 years plus, on July 23rd Brownie, Dachsie/Chihuahua mix female, 14 years, on July 25th Marley, Aussie mix male, 14 years, on August 8th Big Mac, the Halloween Cat, black male Domestic Shorthair, 8 years plus, on August 8th Sara Beth, Black Lab mix female, 16 years plus, on August 22nd Eightball, Corgi mix female, 12 years plus, on September 10th Sam(antha), Schnauzer mix female, 14 years, on September 29th Sandy Sue, female mix, 11 years, on November 3rd Freckles, Walker hound mix, almost 15 years, on December 30th 2009 Keiffer, yellow Lab mix male, 15 years plus, on January 5th Jake, bird dog/hound mix male, 15 years, on January 25th Too Big, Chihuahua mix male, 16 years, on February 4th Smokey, black DSH male cat, 8 years, on April 10th Ebony, black DSH female, 10 years, on June 1st Tux, Lab/Chow mix male, 12 years, on July 2nd You are all missed.
Adopting a friend
If you're interested in adopting one of our companions, please email us at the address at the bottom of this page, or call us at 304 667-1387.
Come Visit Us!
Friends for Life is located in Greenbrier County in southeastern WV. We are not a public shelter and welcome visits by appointment only. Interested persons may view dogs for adoption only AFTER being approved for adoption. This process includes a telephone interview, or possible home visit and interview if the interested party is close enough, and veterinary reference check. Please email us or call us at 304 667-1387 to inquire about adopting. FFL's mailing address is P.O. Box 1351, Lewisburg, WV 24901.
Friends for Life Inc.
