Home Van Pet Care Project News - Holidays 2017

Holiday Thoughts Holidays can be difficult for anyone, but they are especially hard when you are homeless. Many homeless people can recall when times were better – or worse. If left unattended these feelings can lead to increased anxiety or deep depression.  At Home Van Pet Care Project we try to help by taking extra good care of the pets of our homeless friends during the holidays. Each year we have two "parties for the pets", okeep it simple but heartfelt. We fill little bags for both dogs and cats and include canned foods, treats, and toys. There are also cookies for the people. Wish List for Pet Parties:  Fancy Feast chicken or fish, Mighty Dog all flavors. Both these items come in small cans which can be used at one meal and don't require refrigeration. We have kitty treats but need treats for the dogs. They like all the Milk Bone types and probably plenty of others. We also need safe toys.  We like interactive types for the dogs and those little laser lights to chase for the kitties, but anything is fine except feathers. The Running Line Project at Dignity Village We provided some extra safety for the dogs recently when we were able to install "running lines" for dogs at several campsites. We've done this before so our "installation crew" is experienced. This never fails to cheer up both dogs and people. KZ hangs a line. A Dignity Village resident with happy dogs. These running lines give the dogs a lot more mobility when they are tethered. They work better if the dog wears a harness rather than just collar, so we also contributed some harnesses. Snaggletooth being fitted for a harness. Legend in his harness.  He also got a running line installed at his campsite. Best Wishes from Pancake Pancake got his Christmas gift early -- a home to live in with his mama after a year of being homeless!  Pancake hopes that everyone will have a home very soon.  He also wants to thank everybody who donated Friskies Seafood Sensations (his favorite) during the year, or donated money so that HVPCP could buy it.  He wants to remind you that we can always use bags of Seafood Sensations for the kitties and Purina Dog Chow in the green bag for the pups. Every day we continue with feeding, and also we join in to provide a monthly veterinary clinic at Dignity Village for vaccinations. We provide transport for  spay/neuter that is carried out by the Veterinary Community Outreach Program at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. Once the dogs and cats have received their veterinary attention, we provide county tags and microchips. Special thanks go to Thrifty Critter, whose donation provided folding fabric water bowls, contributed to the cost of running lines, and more. We also thank Art Stockwell and the Grace Marketplace Charity Foundation for their contribution to the Running Line Project. We provide a lot of leashes and like to replenish those as well as all sizes of collars and harnesses. Thank you for all the donations and for supporting us with your good wishes. Financial donations can be made by check payable to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc., and mailed c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville FL 32604; or by PayPal from this site.  Money, food, and new or clean leashes, harnesses, collars, bowls, blankets and towels can be dropped off at Sisset's....A Fun Twist on Home & Patio, 3429 W University Ave., 352-224-5192.  For more information or to volunteer, call or text 352-246-2727. Also, don't forget our Amazon Wish List!  Or designate Home Van Pet Care Projectas your beneficiary on Amazon Smile.