February/March News & Updates

NEWS & UPDATES FROM HOME VAN PET CARE PROJECT, February/March 2012
From Elizabeth Howard, Coordinator

“No one said it would be easy, but no one said it would be this hard …
No one said it would be easy, No one thought we’d come this far…
Oh, and look we’ve come this far!” (Sheryl Crow 1993)

Home Van Pet Care Project has its Fifth Anniversary in April. “Oh and look we’ve come this far!’ I thought it would be simple, just a few bags of pet food and that would help both the homeless people and their pets. Instead, it’s been hard and hot and worrisome, mosquito ridden sometimes and often no solutions to animal problems.

Nevertheless, I would not trade a minute for the last five years of Home Van Pet Care Project. We have our 501c3, a wonderful Board of Directors, volunteers and many food and money donors who continue to help us. Our sincere thanks go to all of you.

Last month’s Happy Dog Story has continued and those dogs are doing well after loads of help from St. Francis Vet Clinic. Their owner has gotten a job and a special mentor-type friend who helps her and supports her. We wish her the next step to a home for herself and her pets.

Another dog we’re helping is Bruiser, 12 years old. Bruiser is the longtime companion of Emma and her husband. Bruiser is getting along in years and is tenderly cared for by his family. We’re helping out with food needs and emotional support for the family as Bruiser ages in place with some aches and pains. Bruiser may need transport to clinic. He’s a big guy and Emma would accompany him. If you can help with this, let me know please.

We’re continuing to work to relocate our Tent City Tribe of Cats. These are special need kitties of course, as they are semi-feral and like most other cats, don’t like to move! All will need a lot of attention and some of them really must go together. There are six adults, all longtime spayed and neutered. There are also two little ones, Silver and Gold, who are in a foster home. We still need feeders and helpers for the Tribe as well as suggestions and offers for adoption.

We have a food drive pending at Howard Bishop Middle School and just had donations from a local “book club.” If you can help with events and/or fund raisers or if you have time to seek out groups who will do food drives that would be very helpful. Just let us know.

Our Project is in need of a storage shed for keeping non-perishable items like canned foods, traps, crates, carriers, blankets and tarps. If you can donate one (maybe 8x8) we can manage transport.

Home Van Pet Care Project needs any size bags of dry dog food and cat food, tarps and bungee cords, flea combs for dogs and cats, financial support and your good wishes. Checks can be made payable to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc. and mailed c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville, FL 32604. You can also donate through PayPal on our blog, http://homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com. You can Like us on Facebook, and call for more information and drop-off locations to Elizabeth at 352-473-9423 email holisticliz@hotmail.com.



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