Help us Cheer for Marianne!

We are thrilled to have amateur golfer Marianne Towersey representing Animal Friends Rescue Project in the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Birdies for Charity Shoot-Out Qualifier on Saturday, January 23. Marianne has won many amateur championships over the years, and with her skill and a little luck, we're hoping AFRP will qualify for the Charity Shoot-Out on February 9.

We'd love to have you come out and help us cheer Marianne on! She will be competing against representatives from 59 local nonprofit organizations in a closest-to-the pin contest at Peter Hay Golf Course in Pebble Beach, between 9:00 - 9:15 am on Saturday January 23.

When entering Pebble Beach, tell the gate attendant you are attending the Birdies for Charity Shoot-Out Qualifier, and your gate fee will be waived. Follow the signs to the Lodge at Pebble Beach, and parking will be available at designated areas near Peter Hay Golf Course.

Can't make it? You can also support AFRP by making a donation to Birdies for Charity. 100% of all collected pledges will go directly to AFRP, with a 10% match from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.

Your Gift to AFRP -Matched Dollar for Dollar!

There's still a few days left to make your year-end gift to AFRP through the Monterey County Weekly Community Fund. Thanks to their matching grant, your donation will make double the difference for homeless animals. Send in $10, $25, $50, $100, $1,000 or more, and it will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 total! Simply print out a donation form and mail on or before December 31 to be eligible for the matching grant.

As a bonus, The Monterey County Community Fund is also donating $1,000 to the group that receives donations from the largest number of readers, and $1,000 to the organization that has the most contributions from readers under the age of 35.

What a great time to make a charitable contribution to AFRP, knowing that it will make a big difference in the lives of animals, and lower your tax bill come April 15. Click here to print out a donation form, and remember to mail it on or before December 31!

Help Win $10,000 for Homeless Animals!

In November, Care 2, the largest online community of people passionate about animal welfare and Adopt-a-Pet, one of the country's largest pet adoption charities joined together to create America's Favorite Animal Shelter Contest.

The animal shelter or rescue organization that receives the most online votes will win a grand prize of $10,000! In addition, each week a shelter is chosen at random to win $500. What a wonderful holiday gift for the homeless dogs and cats counting on AFRP for medical care, food, shelter and adoptive homes.

It's easy to help AFRP win! Just cast your vote for Animal Friends Rescue Project at Care2.com - you only need to vote one time and it only takes a minute of your time. You can help AFRP get even more votes by telling everyone you know about the contest. Feel free to forward this information to your friends, family and coworkers.

Currently the Saint John Animal Rescue League of Nebraska is in first place with 5038 votes. Let’s see if we can give them a run for the money!

Please cast your vote today at Care2.com, the contest ends December 16!

Goin' 2 Da Dogs (and Cats) Benefit Concert

Join us Saturday December 5 for a very special Christmas concert to benefit Animal Friends Rescue Project. The Jon Rubin Group with Deanna Lynn will be playing their original acoustic fusion sound combining folk, rock, blues, celtic, bluegrass, jazz and classical influences to support a cause very close to their hearts.

This accomplished string trio (guitar, bass, viola) has been performing regularly from Monterey to San Francisco since May. Don't miss this very special evening of great music for a great cause!

Time: 7:30 pm, Saturday December 5

Place: The Works, 667 Lighthouse Ave in Pacific Grove

Info: All ages welcome, $10 cover charge. 100% of the artists' after-expense proceeds will benefit AFRP.

AFRP Howliday Party - Please Join Us!

Kick up your paws and enjoy a purr-fect evening, Sunday December 6 at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey. Our Annual Howliday Party is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and now more than ever we are counting on the proceeds to help us save the lives of the dogs and cats that need a helping hand.

Join us at the Hyatt Regency Main Ballroom December 6 from 5-9 pm. You can dance to the sounds of the C Monkeys, enjoy comedian Collin Moulton, and sample a delicious selection of wine, hors d' oeuvres and decadent dessert buffet. Bid on silent auction items or join our exciting live auction! All proceeds benefit AFRP dogs and cats waiting for homes of their own.

Tickets are $40 in advance, $55 at the door, $400 for a table for ten. To make a reservation, please call 831-333-0722 or purchase your tickets online.

Can't make it to the party but still want to support AFRP? Why not purchase some Howliday Raffle Tickets (need not be present to win) or get an early start on your holiday shopping with our exciting online auction, open through December 3.

We appreciate your support so much!

Joey the Flying Aussie: A Successful Rescue!

He was an old dog, and needed some medical care.  His family left him at an overcrowded shelter in Southern California when they could no longer care for him. His chances of making it out of the shelter alive were not very good. But Joey the Australian Shepherd had a network of angels looking over his shoulder.

 When a plea from Southern California Aussie Rescue was sent to AFRP’s Sue Trapp, it set into motion a series of actions that led to Joey’s salvation. AFRP volunteers Polaris and Taven felt an instant connection when they saw Joey’s photo and read his story. They felt compelled to help, and forwarded Joey’s story to their friends and coworkers. If nobody stepped forward, they committed to fostering him themselves--not an easy decision for a busy working couple with a small house and four cats to care for. But then Taven’s coworker Delinda, who had recently lost her canine companion of many years, stepped forward. After reading his story, she knew that Joey was somehow destined to be her dog.

 Joey now had a place to go, but would help come in time? Delinda lived in Monterey and Joey was far away in Riverside. The clock was ticking. That’s when another piece of the rescue puzzle fell into place. National Brittany Spaniel Rescue and Japanese Chin Rescue had transport plans in place for three of their dogs to go to Northern California with Pilots N Paws, a nonprofit organization connecting private pilots all over the country with shelter animals in need of transportation. There was room on the plane for Joey to go too!

 Sunday afternoon, September 27, pilot Dave landed his small plane at Monterey Airport with his four canine passengers. There to meet him were AFRP volunteers Polaris and Taven, Santa Cruz Adoptions Manager Sue Trapp, and Joey’s adopter, Delinda. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful homecoming.

 Joey arrived with a case of kennel cough and is desperately in need of some dental work and blood work. He also needs to have a suspicious mass tested and possibly removed. To donate to Joey’s medical fund or to help another dog or cat in need, please visit the AFRP Medical Donation page. 

AFRP Photos Honored by American Humane Association!

AFRP was recently honored by the American Humane Association with two winners in the 2009 Pets & Pals Photo Contest. Out of over 1,800 entries in the Shelter Life Category, the photo of Nolan the Terrier/Dachshund wearing the e-collar was a finalist, and the photo of Gizmo the senior Yorkshire Terrier was the Grand Prize Winner, earning a whopping $1,000  for AFRP! 

Congratulations to AFRP Adoptions Manager Linda Wilsey for taking the winning photos!

You can view all the contest winners on the American Humane Association website.