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The Sky is Falling for Us Too
By Faxon Animal Rescue League
In June of 2004 I was in a very sad space. I’d been very sick for over a year and I wanted to get out and do something. I decided to volunteer at Faxon Animal Rescue League in Fall River.
Initially, I volunteered for one hour twice a week. I socialized cats and walked dogs. I especially liked walking the dogs as I wasn’t allowed a pet where I lived. As time went on I realized that cat socializing was actually re-socializing me.
As a non-profit organization, Faxon is always working to raise funds. I began working on the various fund raising events and after a year or two I started doing some of the front desk work. Eventually I moved full-time to the front desk.
As I became more involved with the goings on in the shelter I realized what an amazing place Faxon is. Not only did all the folks who worked and volunteered at Faxon love animals but they tended to be folks who would adopt the most unadoptable animals themselves. Whenever a special case showed up, whether it was a case of unusual illness or an especially sad tale, the folks at Faxon always pulled together to make sure we were able to help ‘fix’ the problem.
If an animal needed special care we would dip into one of our special funds. If we didn’t have a fund to cover the particular need, we worked hard to start a fund that would take care of the problem. There have been times when the staff (underpaid as only staff from a non-profit can be) pooled their own money to get the special care a specific animal needed.
We’ve had ancient, toothless, blind, deaf and three legged animals. We’ve had animals that needed treatment for heartworm, cataracts and crushed limbs and of course, mostly we’ve had wonderful, healthy, darling animals that were deserted by their owners for one reason or another. None of these animals, whether owner surrendered or just deserted, have any idea where they are and what they are doing there. All of them are terrified when they first get here. The staff works very hard to reassure them that they are safe, and to re-socialize them so that they are ready for their new home.
During these hard times pet desertion is epidemic. “The sky is
falling” not just for people but for the animal victims of the financial disaster as well. Some are just dropped off outside shelters; others are left outdoors or locked in their homes, condemned to terrible loneliness and slow starvation.
We have our share of discarded pets here at Faxon. They need to find their “forever” new families. While some of our residents have found their new homes, many others are waiting to be adopted, perhaps by you.
I’ve been volunteering at Faxon for five years and one thing I know is that the people who work, volunteer, donate, and especially the people who adopt from us here at Faxon, are specially blessed. They have opened their lives, hearts, wallets and homes to these very needy animals. Won’t you?
Faxon Animal Rescue League
Visit the League and the Clinic at 474 Durfee Street, Fall River, MA 02720 or view our adoptable animals at www.faxonarl.org. For more information or directions call 508-676-1061. The shelter and the Sylvan Animal Clinic are open Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Thursday from 12:00pm - 7:00pm. Call 508-679-6122 to make an appointment or 508-676-1061 with questions about the shelter.
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