Home Van Pet Care News -- September 2014

From Elizabeth Howard, Coordinator

NEWS FROM GRACE MARKETPLACE: Our new homeless shelter, on NW 39th Ave near Waldo Road, is now home to 10 dogs and 3 cats. We go there once a week, just as we go to Civic Media Center Courtyard, downtown, and distribute pet food for these dogs and cats.

Everyone at GRACE is still a camper, as the dorms aren’t ready. Pets are not allowed inside the fence. Our initial effort was to set up a dog tie out area for brief day use. When campers were evicted unexpectedly from the west side of the property, their tents sprouted up among the running lines and dog houses.

What we need to help at GRACE: Always, dog food and cat food. Good quality harnesses, leashes and collars. Mostly medium and large are needed. Most dogs can’t ride the bus with their people, so sometimes transport is needed for dogs on leashes and possibly cats, who would be in carriers.

GRACE is looking ahead to cold night shelter. They are setting aside a dorm area for dogs and cats with their people. The animals will be required to be in crates. Several have been donated, but crates are a good thing to have, so we can always use more, large for the dogs and smaller ones can be used for the kitties. We would also like to have some of the disposable cat litter pans, with some bags of scoopable litter and scoopers.

Downtown at Civic Media Center Courtyard, we have come to know a lot of the pet owners and also their pets. Of course we have a continuing need for pet food, collars, leashes and harnesses there also.

We are fortunate to have St. Francis Pet Care Clinic in our community, as well as Operation Catnip and Operation PetSnip. Transportation to these clinics is sometimes needed and can make a spay/neuter or treatment possible.

If you can donate financially, we have PayPal on our blog at http://homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com; checks can be made to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc. and mailed c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville, FL 32604. Call 352-473-9423 to donate pet food or other items or to volunteer your time.

News July/August 2014

From Elizabeth Howard, Coordinator

“… This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no foolin around.” (Talking Heads 2004)

Dog days are here again … a hot July bringing with another Tent City eviction. Home Van Pet Care Project started up seven years ago on an eviction that sent homeless people over “across the pipe,” the upper part of the well known area called “Tent City.” Gradually everyone was removed from that area which has been turned into a transit facility. Now everyone has been evicted from Tent City, along with the companion animals that were left, only dogs were transported this time.

OUR DEAR FRIEND SPARTAN, TAKEN FROM TENT CITY AHEAD OF THE EVICTIONS. SPARTAN NEEDS A HOME RIGHT NOW. HE IS AT ALACHUA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES, 352-264-6870, #A491973.

The prior eviction was seven years ago and this year’s eviction, while carried out with much more kindness from GPD, still left the area looking like a disaster area. This time there was somewhere to go … the new Grace Marketplace One Stop Center. At last count, there are nine dogs and two cats with their people, along with a good many other campers.

Pets are not allowed within the fenced facility yet, so we set up a tie-out area where pet owners can leave their dog for brief periods while they go inside to take a shower, eat a meal or see a social worker. We brought along our dog houses to this area to provide more comfort for the dogs. Long term campers keep their pets at their campsite and we hope to provide more running lines for them.

Some dogs, like Ginger and her person Samantha are old friends. Kitty Yoda also made the move with Richard and Vickie and new dog Pasquale. New friends are Ashley and Paul along with their precious little dog Bella.

We’re at Grace a couple days a week as things come together. We still do our major pet food distribution in the Courtyard behind Civic Media Center on Wednesdays at 2pm and supply pet food at Grace on an as needed basis.

In the time before the eviction, Melodie’s kitties, Jackie and Max were adopted from ACAS. The other three kitties were co-opted by the mean neighbor. We mourn their absence and hope that they are somehow safe and loved.

Ahead of the evictions and out of the campsites, our dear little Munchie was taken to Humane Society Rescue Group. He is in a permanent home now and life is looking good for him.

We are need of harnesses in size medium and large and also good quality running lines so that dogs can be left at campsites for brief periods of time. Please donate for these needs financially or call ahead to determine types. We also need cat carriers in good condition. We always need more dog food and cat food, dry type in bags needed at this time. Please call for drop-off information or pickup to Elizabeth at 352-473-9423. Financial donations are always appreciated, sent by check to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc., c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville FL 32604 or by PayPal at our blog, http://homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com.

HOME VAN PET CARE PROJECT NEWS – May 1, 2014

Providing Food for Pets of the Homeless

Our primary mission is to provide food for pets of homeless and very low income people in our community. Our supporters are generous, and we are sometimes able to provide for other needs: shelter, collars and leashes, county licenses and veterinary attention.

FOOD FIRST: Our primary distribution is on Wednesdays in the Courtyard of the Civic Media Center. We try to make this a peaceful time and give as much as we can. We also sometimes visit campsites to distribute food, water and treats. If you would like to visit, call for information (see below).

Recently we started a DOG HOUSE PROJECT and have now installed four dog houses at various campsites. Each house is made individually by a carpenter friend. In the house pictured, all materials except the nails and screws were obtained recycled. If you would like to contribute to our Dog House Project, please indicate this on your Donation (see below).

Shadow Pardee loves his house And went right in.

CATS IN NEED OF HOME:

Jackie: A#499,500 (left)
Max: A#499,499 (right)

Jackie and Max are sweet and lovable kitties about a year old. They lived peacefully as a small colony tended and loved by a homeless woman for over a year. We helped with spay/neuter and supplied their food and all was well until a neighbor suddenly decided she wanted them out! Jackie and Max were taken to ACAS, but the other three, sadly, are still missing. If you can give these kitties a home, they would make good pets and they surely need your help. You can call Alachua County Animal Services to visit these kitties and for more information.

WHAT’S COMING UP: A new homeless shelter finally. The energy is good, and basic day services will begin on June 1. We’re working with the Homeless Coalition so that dogs and cats can be accommodated. The not so good news is that Tent City will be evicted. Please stand by with us on this as we will be vigilant to see that no dogs or cats are abandoned. HOME VAN PET CARE NEEDS: Volunteers to help with pickup and sorting of food donations; to get our County license tag records up to date; to prepare for fund raisers coming up. We always need bags of dog food and cat food, canned cat food, tarps, collars and harnesses and financial donations.

For more information, to volunteer or to donate, contact Elizabeth Howard, 352-473-9423, holisticliz@hotmail.com. You can contribute financially by PayPal on our blog, http://homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com or by check made to Home Van pet Care Project, Inc. and mailed to Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville FL 32604. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!

Project News - Spring 2014

SEVEN YEARS AND NINE LIVES

Home Van Pet Care Project celebrates its Seventh Birthday in April. With a lot of help from our friends and supporters we are able to carry out our primary mission, to feed the pets of homeless and low income people in our community. Because you are generous we can often do more.

We started with the Tent City Tribe of Cats. We took them out of Tent City a couple years ago and they now live in a rural area and they are BIG.

We have other cat news and it is somber. WE HAVE TWO WEEKS TO REMOVE A SMALL CAT COLONY FROM THE PREMISES WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED FOR OVER A YEAR. WE NEED A PLACE OR PLACES TO TAKE THEM.

A year or so ago we began to supply food to a homeless woman who was sent to us by Operation Catnip. We will call her MD. A mother cat and kittens had come to MD in her very minimal shelter. We began to help her with food and also helped with the spay/neuter. MD has been entirely faithful for a year in feeding these cats on a daily basis even though it has been arduous for her at times.

A neighbor nearby the little colony became angry lately and although she had been kind to the cats in the past she now wants them out. We have two weeks to relocate these beautiful year old cats. As you may know, relocation of colonies is difficult. MD needs a home herself. She has nothing, is medically disabled and is waiting for disability.

It is hard to know how to ask you to help. Perhaps you have that ideal “barn cat” situation or maybe you could adopt one or two of the more tame kitties … or even the shy one who would want to hide for a long time. If you have ideas, suggestions or possible solutions please call Elizabeth Howard at 352-473-9423 right away.

We have two special projects that continue: One is the dog houses, and so far we have delivered four of those. The dogs love them and we will send some photos with news soon. The other ongoing project is County licenses for dogs that we obtain after they have their rabies shots and are spayed. These are $20 if you would like to contribute.

Home Van Pet Care Project needs canned cat food (“fishy” types), bags of dog food and cat food. Please call for current needs if you can donate food. If you can contribute financially, please send checks made to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc.,c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville FL 32604 or PayPal at our blog, homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com. For more info, call Elizabeth Howard at 352-473-9423 or email holisticliz@hotmail.com.

Project News, January/February: Providing food for pets of the homeless

“All I want is all there is and then some. All I want is all there is and more …” (long forgotten song fragment)

That’s how much pet food we want for our Project. We received what I would call “a gracious plenty,” through the past year, and especially at Christmas. Even though these thanks are coming to you a bit delayed, please know that is because we had so much to give, a welcome predicament.

Many donations are anonymous, especially those that are dropped off quietly at a friend’s house. Results of a food drive that is a contest between two departments at UF are kind of mind-boggling. And our very quiet financial donors are very much appreciated.

Because of all this generosity we are able to do more. In 2013 we provided three dozen county license tags for dogs, also running lines that provide more freedom at campsites, several dog or cat shelters, and were able to help with relocation of several animals.

Kitty Tiffany who was abandoned when her family was evicted was relocated to a small local sanctuary. We placed a kitty there once before and can see she is doing well. Several dogs and puppies were taken in to rescue groups or foster homes, on their way to a permanent home.

A word about the rescue groups. We have about 20 of these groups in our area and we are very lucky to have them. These groups take animals from Animal Services, place them in foster homes and take responsibility for finding each animal a permanent home. If you want to know more about these groups, there is a very good monthly publication called “Critter Magazine” that is available free at Civic Media Center, Earth Origins and Earth Pets, or call Critter at 352-486-1705 for many other locations.

We ask you to support the rescue groups by volunteering and donating, and to support spay/neuter. This will help insure that all companion animals are born to loving homes, we won’t see skinny mama kitties rooting in dumpsters and precious pups abandoned in the woods.

We always need volunteers for our Project. There are limits to what people can carry on a bike or on foot, so sometimes help is needed to transport pet food and so on. Transporting the animals from one place to another is also sometimes needed.

We have an ongoing need for pet food, of course (“all there is and more”). If you can donate pet food, call 352-473-9423 for current needs. Financial donations can be made by check to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc., c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville, FL 32604 or Pay Pal at our blog, homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com. General information #is 352-473-9423.

Project News, November - December 2013

From: Elizabeth Howard, Coordinator

The primary mission of Home Van Pet Care Project is to provide pet food for pets of the homeless and very low income people in our community. We do a great deal of other supportive work, including helping with access to spay/neuter at clinics, providing education about pet care, and giving many supplies to help people provide a better life for their pets.

We’re presently working on campsites to make these areas as comfortable as possible for the dogs and cats that live in these areas. We gave out large water bowls and also some tarps where needed. We installed several running lines and continued our project to supply County license tags. We’re taking out some hay this week to supply more comfort in preparation for colder weather. This is ongoing work for which we always need volunteers, supplies and donations.

CHRISTMAS FOR THE ANIMALS: We’ll have a small celebration with some cookies for people, cats and dogs and we’ll give extra food supplies. Christmas Wishes: The dogs always want more treats and the kitties like them also. Both dogs and cats like those warm fuzzy blankets, the kitties love catnip mice, and the dogs like those strongly woven chew toys. Canvas folding water bowls are great and we can always use collars and leashes of all sizes. We will give as much extra dry food as possible at this time and also canned foods, the fishy types for the kitties and chicken flavors for the dogs. If you can contribute wish-gifts or money for us to buy them, please let us know.

CHRISTMAS FOR TIFFANY: Tiffany’s family was evicted on very short notice due to code violations of the property owner. Tiffany was left behind and we are helping them to visit and feed her. Tiffany is a sweet and pretty 2-3 year old kitty who is spayed and up to date on vaccinations. She is very afraid of dogs, and would make a good inside kitty. We really need to get her out of her present situation as quickly as possible. Please call as soon as possible: 352-473-9423.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Like Tiffany, our pets are sometimes in danger of abandonment when their caretaker faces eviction, or goes to hospital or even jail. We are need of foster parents who will stand by to care for a dog or cat, long or short term and sometimes on short notice. These animals will be frightened and missing their humans so you must be very kind and patient. We will supply all food and other material needs and will contact rescue groups and potential adopters for long term housing and permanent homes. For more information or to volunteer contact Elizabeth at 352-473-9423.

PET FOOD DRIVES: If you are part of a school, social or religious group who can put together a Christmas pet food drive for us, we would appreciate that. Please call for information if you can help in this way: 352-473-9423.

We have an ongoing need for bags of dog food and cat food. Please contact us for current needs. Volunteer helpers are also needed and appreciated. If you can contribute financially, please send checks made to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc., c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville, FL 32604 or PayPal at our blog, http://homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com/ . To volunteer, to donate food or for more information contact Elizabeth at 352-473-9423 or holisticliz@hotmail.com.

HOME VAN PET CARE PROJECT NEWS – September/October 2013

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITION

This time of year we’re getting ready for cold weather and cold rain making life even more difficult for our homeless friends and their animals. We look at our progress through the past several months and try to catch up on needed services and items.

DOGS: This week we purchased and distributed a dozen County license tags. These tags cost $20 each for spayed and neutered animals at Alachua County Animal Services and are provided for dogs of people who pick up pet food from our project. We checked our list and would like to buy a dozen more tags.

We also purchased a dozen good quality running lines for dogs. These lines give dogs freedom as well as keeping them safe at their campsites. ACAS accepts running lines to comply with the tethering regulations. We’d like to buy another dozen of these.

To go with the running lines, we also found some heavy duty, gallon size water bowls that won’t be knocked over so easily, also for use at campsites. We’d like to purchase a dozen of these, as well as large, sturdy food bowls.

We always need tarps over the Fall and Winter months, as well as bungee cords and rope to install the tarps. We also pick up hay for bedding several times over the winter months.

CATS: This time last year we relocated our Tent City Cat Tribe to a rural area, where they are doing well. We continue to support their needs along with several other former Tent City cats who were relocated. We frequently need hardware cloth, chicken wire, tarps and new feeding bowls for these relocated cats.

In Tent City there are still several kitties who are fed and supervised by our friends Richard and Vickie. We supply the food, and medical if needed. There are also several cat owners at other campsites as well as in housing. They pick up cat food and we keep in touch with their needs also. We know of several formerly homeless people who help Operation Catnip with spay/neuter work and we really appreciate that they do this.

We have an ongoing need for bags of dog food and cat food, please contact us for current needs (see information below). Volunteer helpers are also needed and appreciated.

If you can contribute financially, please send checks to Home Van Pet Care Project, Inc., c/o Elizabeth Howard, P.O. Box 14305, Gainesville, FL 32604 or Paypal at our blog, http://homevanpetcareproject.blogspot.com. To volunteer, to donate food or for more information contact Elizabeth at 352-473-9423 or holisticliz@hotmail.com.