Donate via Paypal !! Our medical expenses for our foster pets far outweigh our adoption fee! Consider donating to help with medical costs and together, we can continue to save these wonderful animals!!
Following is a list of local businesses that support our efforts. Some help by hosting our adoption days, some help by allowing us to have donation boxes at their place of business, while others help Us present You with a healthy, clean dog or cat (and then some!).
ABC Clinic
www.petrefugeabcclinice.com
Animal Care Center
www.accforpets.com
Ark Upholstery
www.arkupholstery.com
Arrow Pet Clinic
Bloomies
www.bloomiesflower
studio.com
Cassava Restaraunt
Chalet On The Lake
www.chaletonthelake.com
Corvette Central
www.corvettecentral.com
Edgewater Gifts
Elephants Breath Antiques
Family Farm & Home
FuzzyButz Pet Bakery
www.fuzzybutzpet
bakery.com
G & M Variety Store
Hair Of The Dog
Herald Palladium
Independent Copier Service
www.IndependentCopier.net
Liquor Cabinet
Moose Lodge, Benton Harbor, MI
Pater True Value
www.truevalue.com
Paw Mart
Paws To Wash
www.pawstowash.com
PetSmart
www.PetSmart.com
Pet Supplies Plus
Ready Web Solutions
www.readyweb
solutions.com
Shear Affection
St. Joseph Animal Wellness
www.sjvet.com
Stay And Obey
www.stayandobey.com
South Haven
Animal Hospital
Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council
www.swmichigan.org
The Natural Gem
TradeLines
Wild Bird Center
Wil-O-Paw Animal
Hospital
www.wil-o-paw.com
Please note this is NOT a complete list. Many more to come!
"We must become the change we want to see."
Ghandi
IMPORTANT: You must indicate "Save A Stray" in the message section during check out process.
Become A Member
Click here to download our wishlist!
Items can be dropped off at Pater True Value, Martin's Pawmart and Harding's Market in Bridgman
Become a Fan on Facebook
Why would I want to be a foster?
Obviously, it is an opportunity to save a life. But more than that you help ensure that the animal does not need to be rescued again because you will help us understand the animal's needs so it can be placed in the correct home. Cost of food and medical for foster pets is covered by Save A Stray and you will be matched with a foster animal that meets your lifestyle, experience, etc.
What else can I do?
Maybe you'd like to volunteer at one of our fundraising events. Maybe you have neat, original fundraising ideas and you'd like to be involved in brainstorming and planning events.
You could volunteer to help at an adoption day. Sometimes we actually have opportunity to have more pets than we have volunteers at adoption days. You could come hold a cat, kitten, puppy or dog!
You could transport pets from Animal Control to adoption days.
Remember, volunteering is just that, it's on a "volunteer" basis and we understand that. We know people have family and lives and things to do. We hold adoption days every two weeks and if you can make one a month, that's great! We won't try to talk you in to fostering if you're not available for that, don't worry! Everyone has something they are good at, maybe you are good with graphics or computer work, maybe you take great pictures or can make fliers.
These are just a few things, a few ideas. It's not all about fostering and having too many pets in your house! But I assure you, at the end of the day, with us...it is all about the pets!
Helping a living creature in need is one of the most rewarding things we can do. It is what connects us to each other and brings us closer to our purpose.
We'd love to welcome you into our family of volunteers!
Contact us at Volunteer@save-a-stray.org
This wonderful dog is Pac who came to Save A Stray as an unclaimed, unwanted stray. Pac is a purebred American Bulldog who is roughly middle aged. It was discovered early on that Pac could not breath out of one of his nostrils and he was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his sinus cavity. The location of this tumor made it life threatening for Pac because as it continued to grow it would apply pressure on his brain causing great discomfort and other physical symptoms . The medical recommendation was to allow Pac a few enjoyable months then euthanize him before he became too ill. This diagnosis simply would not be accepted by Pacs foster mom and a dedicated Save A Stray volunteer.Joyce Williams, Pac's foster mom adopted Pac and she and Save A Stray volunteer Vicki Dunlop, set out for another opinion. Their journey, along with Pac led them to Michigan State University where they found that Pac could be treated with radiation therapy. These two ladies hit the ground fundraising! They have combined money from their own personal savings, along with what donations they have been able to raise and Pac has completed his radation therapy. A joyful phone call just a few days ago annouced "Pac can breath out of both nostrils!!". This wasn't the only change for Pac. He no longer feels like he has a headache 24/7 due to the pressure of the growing tumor but this treatment gave Pac another 12 to 18 months of the best life this boy has ever known.
Pac is a wonderful dog, he did deserve time to enjoy life. This is one of those times were a non-profit rescue didn't have a large some of money to medically help a pet. This is one of those times that a few people came together for one purpose, for one animal, for one life.
If you would like more information on Pac or to find out how to donate to his medical bills, visit pac.birdbite.com
To watch a wonderful video starring Pac and his mom, Joyce, click on
http://youtu.be/-Msxu_MjXoI
Thank you to Joyce Williams and Vicki Dunlop on behalf of Save A Stray for committing your time, resources and hearts to Pac.
Meet Black Jack, as we first met him, a fun loving little pup. Black Jack was found as a stray and placed in a foster home in our rescue. A happy ending was in store for Black Jack, it wasn't long and he was adopted and lived happily ever after!
Well, that's not exactly right. Not long after he was adopted, Ohana (as he was renamed by his family) was diagnosed with a liver shunt (please check back later, I'll try to post a link to this medical condition. Til then you can try googling it if you like). The bottom line was although he didn't seem it really, Black Jack was one sick little dog. It was determined that his life would be cut very short if he didn't have a very costly surgery. This poor guy was returned to Save A Stray due to his medical condition and other concerns on the part of his adoptive family.
You should know that a local non-profit organization doesn't have thousands of dollars to spend on a single foster pet. There was little our group could do for this sweet little guy. Apparently, however, very few can do very much! Black Jack's foster mom, Marcia Dinges went to work fund-raising as much as she could...$2800, all donated specifically to this one little dog. A private donor stepped forward and covered the remainder of Black Jackk's medical expenses.
As it turns out also needed an operation to remove a large growth from his neck as well. In all honesty, this little guy was a mess! He first had surgery at Michigan State to remove the growth. After recovery from that operation, Black Jack under went surgery for his liver shunts...yes, more than one. Michigan State worked hard to get "coils" donated for Black Jack in an effort to cut costs. Seems they fell in love with this little guy on his many visits to them.
Black Jack aka Ohana is on the mend. He even attended this years Reindog Parade in downtown St. Joe! Again, one hard working volunteer and one concerned and capable friend save an animals life. It's amazing what we can do when we care and work together.
If you would like to donate to Black Jack's medical, please email marciadinges@aol.com
