SmallDog Rescue & Humane recently joined forces with Furkids, Georgia’s largest no-kill cage free cat shelter.

Together both groups care for more than 500 animals daily. Please visit www.furkids.org to learn more about ways you can help.

Do you have pets?
I started with exotics young and moved my way down to domestics later in life.  I grew up in a farm life environment and was exposed to a variety of animals all through childhood.  I now have a Black Lab, three rescue tabbies, and six budgies, all of who are very much a part of my life.  Sadie, my Lab, comes to work with me every night and makes sure to do her part helping around the rescue as well.

Zen is best suited for an active person or family. If she has someone who can work with her consistently, she will blossom before they know it. She seems to like everyone. She would be good around young children as long as a parent supervises.  She has a lot of energy.  Zen needs a fenced yard where she can play daily.  She would do well living with another dog, but her size and playfulness wouldn’t be a good match for some cats.

Her history with SDR began when she showed up one day on a FurKids volunteer’s yard with a broken leg. The injury was treated and her leg was put in a cast. For a young dog, she did amazingly well being confined for the time it took her leg to heal. We don’t have any idea where she came from or how long she had been loose, but she had a happy personality.  She is well liked by everyone who interacts with her.

Recently she has been attending doggy daycare weekly at Atlanta Dog Trainer‘s facility in Alpharetta and they absolutely adore her there!

Fill out an application today.

Like any leaders of successful organizations, the current SDR Society board members – executive director Anne Stockton, secretary Pat Bittinger and treasurer Linda Gill – have wanted the organization to evolve and grow beyond their tenure.  The acquisition by Furkids represents the next step in the evolution of SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society, ensuring that its work to rescue homeless dogs will continue to flourish when Pat, Linda and Anne retire from active daily involvement in the organization.  The acquisition also will strengthen Furkids, representing the next step in the evolution of the organization.

Doesn’t Furkids already rescue dogs?

Since its inception, Furkids has rescued and enfolded a handful of abandoned dogs at a time in its program, but the organization hasn’t had the resources available to care for a large number of dogs.  SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society makes this capability possible for Furkids.

How do the philosophies and missions of Furkids and SmallDog rescue dovetail?

Furkids, Inc., founded in 2002, operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter for homeless cats in Georgia.  SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society (SDR), founded in 1995, is dedicated to finding loving families for homeless dogs in Georgia.  During the past several years, SDR and Furkids have had a loose affiliation in which they have exchanged selected animals, each helping the other rescue or place cats or dogs into adoptive homes.  Culturally, both organizations are well-matched.  Both have passionate leaders, exacting adoption and animal care processes and a commitment to the highest level of care, including shelter and foster home care, for homeless animals in their programs.

What is the significance of the SDR acquisition by Furkids?

It represents the evolution of both organizations, making the union of two strong, fully-functioning operations virtually seamless.  The combined forces of Furkids and SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society are vastly stronger and with a greater reach than either organization alone, making Furkids one of the largest, most successful and respected animal welfare organizations in the Southeast.

When are the terms of the acquisition effective?

As of November 14, Furkids will take over management and operation of SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society, assuming total responsibility for the organization. The acquisition allows the SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society board members – executive director Anne Stockton, secretary Pat Bittinger and treasurer Linda Gill, to retire from active daily involvement.

Who will the new leaders be?

Furkids founder and executive director Samantha Shelton will continue to head the organization.  A new board of advisors will be named in the coming weeks. Anne Stockton, Pat Bittinger and Linda Gill already have agreed to serve on the board of advisors.

What will happen to current staff members of both organizations?

Furkids will merge staff members, medical practitioners, volunteers and foster caregivers into one organization.  They will continue their current assignments at both shelters.  Dr. Melvin Gordon will continue his services as the Furkids veterinarian, as will Forsyth County Animal Hospital.

Furkids has a cat shelter and SDR has a dog shelter.  Will both shelters still operate?

Ultimately, the Furkids goal is to operate one consolidated shelter that efficiently houses cats, dogs, medical services and administrative offices.

For the foreseeable future, Furkids will continue to operate both facilities.  SDR has had its 4,375 square-foot facility, located on .8 acre in Forsyth County, on the market for sale.  Furkids will keep it for sale, taking over its operation with a new shelter manager and the current volunteer staff, until it is sold.  Furkids also will continue to operate its 4,800 square-foot shelter in Gwinnett County.

What does this mean for Furkids or SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society volunteers?

You’ve already demonstrated that you’re a passionate defender of homeless animals.  The only thing that will change is that, instead of volunteering for an organization that supports homeless cats or dogs, you will be volunteering for a more comprehensive organization that rescues and cares for homeless cats and dogs.  You may volunteer in whatever capacity best serves your interests and abilities – and your own heart.

In every case, as a volunteer with Furkids, you now are part of one of the most successful and respected animal rights organizations in the Southeast.

As a volunteer, will I continue in my same capacity?

We certainly hope so!  Our homeless animals need your help today more than ever.  While we consolidate the operations of both organizations, you should continue to work with your volunteer coordinator.

As we bring the volunteer teams together, you will have the opportunity to meet all of your fellow volunteers, especially those who will be new to you.  For example, the Furkids 2011 holiday party, scheduled for Saturday, December 17 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Garden Hills Recreation Center, will be a happy occasion for all of us to get together and meet one another.  The Center is located at 335 Peachtree Drive, Atlanta, 30305.

What does this mean for me as a Furkids or SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society foster?

You, as a foster caregiver, provide a priceless service to our animals. While our shelters provide safety, security and a healthy environment, we all know that animals need socialization with people, and the constant of routines and rules of living in an actual home.  We hope you will continue to maintain the animals in your care until we reach our goal of placing them in loving permanent homes.

What does this mean for me as a Furkids or SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society supplier?

In the short term, we will continue to use our current suppliers.  However, as we consolidate the organizations, we may find overlap in suppliers.  Our shelter management teams will evaluate how we can best support our animals while supporting the suppliers who have supported our organizations throughout the years of our history.

What will happen to the adoption programs at PetSmart and PETCO?

Furkids now operates adoption center programs to include cats and dogs at a total of 12 retail pet supply centers:  eight PetSmart locations (Alpharetta, Mall of Georgia, Midtown, Milton, Northlake, Perimeter, Sandy Springs and Smyrna) and four PETCO locations (Alpharetta, Edgewood, Holcomb Bridge and Sandy Springs) in metro Atlanta.

The logistics for showing cats and dogs to potential adopters are different; Furkids will maintain the dog adoption model designed and carried out by SDR, and continue the cat adoption model it has successfully implemented.

How will fundraising change?

Now that Furkids is responsible for the SDR operations, fundraising is more important than ever.  It takes a lot of money to pay for the rescue, veterinary treatment, care and maintenance of cats and dogs and vetting of potential adopters.  (As you know, our adoption process is very detailed and stringent because we want to match homeless animals with the right adopters in the right environments).

Furkids will be responsible for maintaining two separate shelters and staff as we raise money for a new, consolidated shelter.  In addition to our current fundraising activities, we hope to develop new sources of revenue.  The only difference is that we are raising money for an organization that now serves homeless cats and dogs.  Ultimately, the Furkids goal is to operate one consolidated shelter that efficiently houses cats, dogs, medical services and administrative offices.  We are planning a capital campaign to help us raise the funds needed to establish this shelter.

Furkids will maintain its thrift store (www.furkids.org/store) at 4015 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross.  If you’ve been a SDR volunteer and you’re not familiar with the store, go the Website and Facebook pages and see how you can donate your used clothing, furniture, appliances, household items and other things to the thrift store for a tax deduction.  And don’t miss shopping at the store.  You’ll find terrific buys to replace all of those things you’ve just donated!  All proceeds of the thrift store support Furkids programs.

Major fundraising events include:

• Birthday party
• Holiday party
• Open house
• Paws for Cocktails
• Summer picnic
• Shows and special events

How will marketing change?

We are marketing an organization that now serves homeless cats and dogs.  In the near term, Furkids and SmallDog Rescue will maintain separate but closely linked Websites and social media presences.  Over time, the sites will be merged into one, singular site, and we will establish Furkids with a new logo that reflects our new purpose of serving cats and dogs.

Why are you keeping the Furkids name and not the SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society name?

SDR has a strong infrastructure and powerful presence in the community.  Changing its name was a difficult decision, and we know it will disappoint the people who have worked so hard to establish the SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society brand and reputation.

After considerable thought and discussion with our marketing team, we felt that the name SmallDog Rescue could not accurately embody the mission of the organization. A name incorporating both SmallDog Rescue and Furkids is a long one – and the name Furkids encompasses both cats and dogs. We will develop a new logo, however, that also will reflect our new mission.

Certainly, the unfaltering work of the SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society board of directors Anne Stockton, Pat Bittinger and Linda Gill, who devotedly carry on the work of the late founder, Brenda Kyle, has allowed both organizations to expand their work to serve more homeless animals today.

Will the mission change in any way?

Both Furkids and SDR are focused on the terrible problem of pet overpopulation, which contributes to producing homeless cats and dogs.  Every year, in Metro Atlanta alone, some 100,000 dogs and cats are euthanized because they have no place to live and be safe.  These animals shouldn’t be condemned to die simply because they are homeless.  Therefore, the Furkids mission remains to help end pet overpopulation in Georgia through sterilization, high-quality adoption and by providing valuable spay/neuter services and pet care education to people in the community.

Neutering remains a keystone of the organization’s program because pet overpopulation in the United States is a very real problem.  Furkids sterilizes all of the unaltered animals in its programs before placing them in adoptive homes.  Since its inception, Furkids has rescued and altered more than 6,000 animals.  SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society has rescued and altered approximately 5,000 animals since it was founded.

Furkids cares for more animals on a daily basis than any other local organization, including the Atlanta Humane Society.  Today, Furkids is responsible for approximately 600 cats and dogs at the organization’s two shelters, in 10 retail adoption centers and numerous foster homes.

History

Furkids was founded in 2002 when then-Equifax executive assistant Samantha Shelton found a mother cat depositing three newborn kittens in her backyard.  What began simply as a quest to find shelter for four cats in a place where they wouldn’t be euthanized has grown into a nonprofit organization that today operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter in Georgia.

SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society was founded in 1995 by the late Brenda (Bren) Kyle, who rescued homeless dogs and cared for them in her home.  She also convinced her friends to serve as foster caregivers. Bren took a few dogs at a time and sat in front of a willing merchant’s store, interviewing and screening people who were interested in adopting her rescued charges, matching people and pets.  When she died in 2004, she willed the organization to Anne Stockton, who, with a new board of directors and volunteers, continued to build the organization.

Furkids acquired SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society in November 2011.

Today

Furkids is a 501(c)3, charitable, non-profit organization that operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter for homeless cats in Georgia and a no-kill shelter for dogs where they can experience the best care in a loving environment until they are adopted. Each year, Furkids rescues, shelters, sterilizes, rehabilitates, and places hundreds of animals in permanent, loving homes.  The organization has been confirmed as one of the top charities in America by Independent Charities of America.  Of the top six animal rescue organizations in metro Atlanta, Furkids has the lowest percentage of its budget dedicated to administrative expenses.  And for every $1,000 Furkids accepts in donations, the organization places more pets into permanent homes than virtually every other organization.

Atlanta, Ga. (November 14, 2011) – Furkids, Inc. (www.furkids.org), one of the most successful nonprofit animal rescue organizations in the southeast, announced today that it is joining forces with a respected leader in the Atlanta rescue community, SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society (SDR, www.smalldoghumane.org).

Effective immediately, Furkids will acquire SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society, assuming total responsibility for the management and operation of the organization. This acquisition allows the SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society board members – executive director Anne Stockton, secretary Pat Bittinger and treasurer Linda Gill, to retire from daily, active business management. They will, however, continue to volunteer and support Furkids. Furkids founder and executive director Samantha Shelton will continue to head the organization.

Furkids, founded in 2002, operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter for homeless cats in Georgia. SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society, founded in 1995, is dedicated to finding loving families for homeless dogs in Georgia. The union of the organizations will greatly extend the reach of Furkids, expanding operations to include the rescue, no-kill care, and adoption of both homeless cats and dogs.

Functionally, Furkids and SmallDog Rescue initially will operate two facilities: the 4,800 square-foot Furkids shelter for cats in Gwinnett County and the 4,375 square-foot SmallDog Rescue shelter in Forsyth County for dogs, where Furkids will place a full-time operations manager. Ultimately, the Furkids goal is to operate one consolidated shelter that efficiently houses cats, dogs, medical services and administrative offices.

Furkids will merge current staff members, medical practitioners, volunteers, foster caregivers and donors and will hold events and fundraisers for people who support cats and dogs. The acquisition also will allow Furkids to expand its adoption center programs to include cats and dogs at a total of 12 retail pet supply centers: seven PetSmart locations (Mall of Georgia, Midtown, Norcross, Northlake, Perimeter, Sandy Springs and Smyrna) and five PETCO locations (Alpharetta, Edgewood, Holcomb Bridge, Milton, and Sandy Springs) in metro Atlanta.

Furkids also will maintain its thrift store (www.furkids.org/store) at 4015 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross. A new board of advisors will be named in the coming weeks.

Furkids cares for more animals on a daily basis than any other local organization, including the Atlanta Humane Society. Approximately 500 animals – mostly cats – reside with Furkids, at the organization’s shelter, adoption centers and in its foster program. SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society currently has approximately 85 animals in its program, either in the shelter or foster homes. During the past several years, the two organizations have had a loose affiliation in which they have exchanged selected animals, each helping the other rescue or place cats or dogs into adoptive homes. Both have exacting adoption processes and a commitment to the highest level of care, including shelter and foster home care, for homeless animals in their programs.

“Cats are only a part of the homeless animal population. Since our inception, Furkids has rescued and enfolded a handful of abandoned dogs at a time into our program, but our organization hasn’t had the resources available to care for a large number of dogs,” said Shelton. “Not only does joining forces with SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society make this capability possible, but the union of two strong, fully-functioning operations is virtually seamless.” According to Shelton, the alliance creates an extremely strong animal rescue organization, with the sum being stronger than the individual parts.

The Furkids mission is to help end pet overpopulation in Georgia through sterilization, high-quality adoption and by providing valuable spay/neuter services and pet care education to people in the community. Every year, in Metro Atlanta alone, up to 100,000 dogs and cats are euthanized, because they have no place to go. “There is no reason why these animals should die simply because they are homeless,” said Shelton and Stockton.

Neutering remains a keystone of the organization’s program because pet overpopulation in the United States is a very real problem. Both Furkids and SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society sterilize all unaltered animals in their programs before placing them in adoptive homes. Since its inception in 2002, Furkids has rescued and altered more than 6,000 animals. SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society has rescued and altered approximately 5,000 animals since it was founded.

“Becoming a part of Furkids represents the next step in the evolution of SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society, ensuring that our work to rescue homeless dogs will not just continue, but continue to flourish,” said Anne Stockton, executive director of SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society. “Furkids will maintain the SDR vision to combat pet overpopulation and provide the ultimate in rescue, no-kill care and adoption services to homeless animals.”

Furkids was founded in 2002 when then-Equifax executive assistant Samantha Shelton found a mother cat depositing three newborn kittens in her backyard. What began simply as a quest to find shelter for four cats in a place where they wouldn’t be euthanized has grown into a nonprofit organization that today operates the largest cage-free, no-kill shelter in Georgia. The organization has been confirmed as one of the top charities in America by Independent Charities of America. Of the top six animal rescue organizations in metro Atlanta, Furkids has the lowest percentage of its budget dedicated to administrative expenses. And for every $1,000 Furkids accepts in donations, the organization places more pets into permanent homes than virtually every other organization. SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society was founded in 1995 by the late Brenda (Bren) Kyle, who rescued homeless dogs and cared for them in her home. She also convinced her friends to serve as foster caregivers. Bren took a few dogs at a time and sat in front of a willing merchant’s store, interviewing and screening people who were interested in adopting her rescued charges, matching people and pets. When she died in 2004, she willed the organization to Anne Stockton, who, with a new board of directors, built SDR into a full-fledged rescue organization: a 501(c)3 with a dog shelter and more than 100 volunteers.

“It is very exciting for Furkids to acquire such a professional, well-run dog rescue organization with a strong infrastructure and powerful presence in the community,” said Shelton. “Philosophically and operationally, our two organizations are well-matched. We are looking forward to continuing the work of SmallDog Rescue & Humane Society, and we welcome its dedicated volunteers and supporters as we all work together to rescue, care for and place homeless cats and dogs into loving homes.”

In the near term, Furkids and SmallDog Rescue will maintain separate but closely linked Websites and social media presences. Over time, the sites will be merged into one, singular presence. More information is available at www.furkids.org and www.smalldoghumane.org.

Small Dog Rescue is happy to announce the arrival of our 2012 calendars! This isn’t just a fundraiser, this is a tribute to all the happy endings and wonderful beginnings that we witness every week.

These would make great Holiday gifts!

They are $15 dollars each. Shipping and handling costs apply if you order online. See below for details.

To get your calendars you can:

1. Come by any of our adoption events and pick them up in person. Every Saturday, from noon to 4pm, we are at Petco: Whole Foods Shopping Ctr, 5938 Roswell Road NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 (on the corner of Hammond Drive and Roswell Road).

2. Order them online. If you would like more than 10 calendars, please e-mail calendar@smalldoghumane.orgfor a total. Calendars will be shipped when your payment clears.

To order, just choose the quantity from the drop down options and click the button below:

Total including shipping

1 Calendar $19.00 2 Calendars $36.00 3 Calendars $53.00 4 Calendars $70.00 5 Calendars $85.00 6 Calendars $100.00 7 Calendars $115.00 8 Calendars $130.00 9 Calendars $150.00 10 Calendars $165.00

3. Or, send a check (and a note specifying the number of calendars you want and don’t forget to include shipping, use the totals from the drop down option above) to:
SmallDog Rescue
PO Box 888570
Atlanta GA 30356

Thank you for your continued support!

2012 Cat Calendar from Furkids

Purchase Your Calendars!

$20 for one calendar; $15 each when you buy more than one (plus $4.95 s/h for your entire order). Take care of everyone on your holiday shopping list while helping the animals at Furkids! For quantities of more than 4, special pricing is available. E-mail sam@furkids.org with your contact information and the quantity you would like to order.

Our calendar features the beautiful work of EstherJulee Photography. 100% of the proceeds goes to Furkids.

Quantity

1 Calendar $20.00 2 Calendars $30.00 3 Calendars $45.00 4 Calendars $60.00

Sam Spade, a three-year-old Bassett Hound/Beagle Mix, lost his home through no fault of his own – he was abandoned when his owner was evicted. Now the blonde-and-white guy is on the lookout – seeking just the right new home to be his forever place. When he came to SmallDog Rescue, his skin was in horrible shape due in part to neglect. He’s bouncng back and looking great these days. This is what his foster mom has to say about him:

Sammy is very easy-going, laid back, doesn’t ask for much. It seems that whatever he gets in life he is content with. Very Zen-like! But he does have another side to him that is starting to emerge – he can be playful with other dogs, enjoys chewing on a nice antler or nylabone, can howl for snacks or dinner when encouraged by his canine brothers. Does he run? Not exactly – but he can get a nice Bassett Hound lope going every now and then. 

He loves to go on walks though probably his favorite activity is napping. He’s very smart and would make a great companion for anyone, including first-timers, families with small children, apartment-dwellers, homes with or without fences, senior citizens, only-dog homes, probably even homes shared with cats (though we don’t know this for a fact). All he needs is a family willing to look past his freckly, superficial exterior to see the gorgeousness within, a glimpse of which can be seen in his soulful, loving eyes.

If you are interested in adopting Sam, please visit here.

Our little fluffy Rascal came to us as a kitten in May of 2006 with his brother, Bonkers.  They were both feral and, therefore, not very warm to humans.  Rascal has weathered the domesticated storm quite well.  It may have taken quite a while, but he is no longer shy or wary of humans.  In fact, he is now the cat to welcome you into Room 10.  He sits by the door and when you come in he wants lots of attention.  He’s come such a long way.  Rascal was also ill for a little while, but he is fully recovered and is doing fantastic.

Please feel free to make an appointment to come by Room 10 at the main shelter to meet him.  Or apply to adopt him today.  Rascal is cat number 6426.

Since we had such great fortune this month in having two all-white boys adopted together (Linus and Victor), we thought we’d highlight one of our absolutely gorgeous all-white girls, Lily.

Cala lilies, water lilies, lilies of the valley — they are all delicate and exquisite-looking white flowers. And so is this little girl. I mean, just look at her! She really embodies her name.

Lily is graceful, beautiful, and smart. She has been with us since 2009 and is 3-years-old. She is an all-white short hair and unique in the sense that her eyes are two different shades. She is very playful and vocal; loves attention and conversation. Lily will find her way next to you and she will make the other cats get out of her way to ensure she gets all your attention. She would love to find her forever home as an only cat.

Little Miss Lily is cat #9160. You can make an appointment to come meet her at the shelter, you can apply now to adopt her, or you can come meet her this weekend at our Open House!

But when they do, it’s a whole different level of happiness!  To wit…

Meet Ansel.  This ambassador from the planet Adorable had never had a home when he came to Furkids.  He had been a stray.  He remained under the care of Furkids for…get ready for it…eight years.  Just this past March (2011), the stars aligned in Ansel’s favor and directed a very nice couple to find his picture on our website.  They adopted him so that their other cat, Snookums (aka Snookies), could have a companion.

His wonderful adopters send regular updates:

At first: Ansel is starting to let his guard down. He did not trust us after we had to give him medicine. But now he sleeps with us and even lets Edward pet him. His nickname is “Squeaky Rat Tail” because he squeaks instead of meows and he’s got a skinny long black tail. Ansel has so many different squeaky sounds when he walks around exploring. He is enjoying having a home very much!

Later: Ansel is making himself right at home. He certainly loves his red and white blanket. And he and Snookums are getting along great. The other day they spent a while zooming back and forth the apartment together. Ansel is very playful. Snookums snuggles with Ansel. Actually, he practically sits on Ansel.  Ansel is very affectionate with Snookums, always rubbing against him. They are really nice to each other. Yay!

Ansel is funny. He will be asleep in another room, but then starts meowing, walks across the living room to Snookies and starts biting at Snookies’ neck or romps on him.  It is strange.  Sometimes I have to intervene, but generally Snookies will swat at Ansel or jump up and walk away.  Snookies does not like it at all. Snookies is infinitely patient, but sometimes leans his weight into Ansel. That usually puts an end to Ansel’s antics. They aren’t aggressive with each other at all. They seem to like each other.  They groom each other and generally stick together when they are awake.  Ansel’s energy makes Snookies more playful.  Ansel is a very nice little kitty. He has a lot of personality. He is starting to get used to kisses. I think he is happy. He sleeps all day and plays all evening and at night goes to bed with his family. It is a happy home.

Most recent update: Ansel loves the sunshine. We have a strip of direct sunlight in our kitchen that’s a favorite of the cats. He also likes to sleep underneath blankets. He has qualities that are similar to our kitty that recently passed away. Last night Ansel came to snuggle against Snookums on the bed. It was so cute.

Ok, everyone.  Tag, you’re it!  Time to find a “less adoptable” cat and get over here and adopt them.  Our Open House is September 24 & 25.  A perfect time to come find your Ansel, or Scooter, or Moses, or Snoop…!