Rhino, a rescued pit bull mix, after recovering under the care of Ashton Animal Clinic and ARC's Emergency Medical Fund

When "McRib" first arrived at Ashton Animal Clinic in late January, he was more than 60 percent underweight, weighing only 37 pounds when he should have weighed 80.  He couldn't walk, and his scrotum was "literally scalded" from being left by his former owners in his own urine, says Leila Cucknell, Ashton's clinic manager.

 

A week later, "Rhino" arrived in nearly the same condition: drastically underweight, with his collar embedded into his neck.

Rhino, a rescued pit bull mix, before his recovery

 

Both pit bull mixes had been rescued by Sarasota County Animal Services from neglectful owners. Both have now been nursed back to health thanks to the staff at Ashton, and to ARC's Emergency Medical Fund (EMF). "They're both totally amazing creatures," Cucknell says. "They are completely forgiving animals. With their loving personalities, you'd never know they had such a rough start on life. They're forever grateful, and you can just see it by the way they are now."

 

The EMF funds medical supplies for stray or abandoned animals, and the fund helped more than 600 animals last year. Dr. Laurie Walmsley, Ashton's owner and ARC's medical director, donates her time and services to save animals like McRib and Rhino.

 

But the support doesn't end there. Ashton and ARC also work to find homes for the animals they save. McRib, for instance, was adopted by Bradenton resident John Baumgarten after Ashton posted a picture of him on CraigsList. "He's happy, and hyper, and just loveable," Baumgarten says. "He's a dog I can go and play fetch with, and just enjoy time with in the yard.  I feel great about adopting him."

 

Rhino is still waiting to be adopted, and the EMF still needs your support to save animals that otherwise would be left to suffer and often die. To inquire about adopting Rhino, call Ashton Animal Clinic at 927-2700. To lend your support to this one-of-a-kind program, click the donation button below.

 

 

Buddy's Feral Cat "Dream Team"

On the third Sunday of every month, 30 to 40 volunteers arrive at Ashton Animal Clinic between 6 and 7:30 a.m.  They toil for four to eight hours on a dozen tasks involved in spaying and neutering up to 120 cats at each monthly clinic.

 

They're all part of what  feral cat program director Caroline Resnick calls the "dream team:"  everyday people who help Resnick run the feral cat clinic that is Buddy's Feral Cat Program.  "These are people who have a real love of animals," Resnick says. "We all want to make a difference in our community, and that's the glue that holds us together."

 

The volunteers' jobs include anesthetizing cats, cleaning cages, prepping cats for surgery, administering medications and vaccinations, monitoring the cats' recovery, and cleaning up. 

 

Davette Shaffer, for example, oversees the cats' recovery after surgery and has been a "dream team" member since 2007. "I volunteer because I want to help the cats out," says Shaffer, who also helps out at other area feral cat clinics. "I feel so bad for them. There's so many of them, and the public in general has this idea about them that says 'so what?' or 'it's just an animal,' or 'I can't afford to feed it' or this and that."

 

Lucy Cowan joined the program as a volunteer in 2010 after Resnick helped her spay and neuter a colony of feral cats that Cowan was feeding near Sarasota High School.  In addition to fulfilling whatever needs arise during the clinic itself, Cowan has built ramps and other structures for the program.  She has also recruited other volunteers to join the effort. "I like the feeling of knowing that the male cats aren't going to be fighting and tearing up each other, and knowing that females won't have to endure getting beat up to protect their kittens.  And I like the people.  There are a lot of friendships made at Feral Cat Day."

 

Joyce Fuller is another volunteer who helps out at other area feral cat clinics. Fuller, who handles vaccinations, began volunteering in 2009 after she was referred to the program by the Cat Depot.  She hasn't missed a clinic since. "It's like a M.A.S.H. unit. You haven't really got time to think.  You just have to do it.  It's am amazing experience to take care of all of these cats, usually upwards of 100.  Most people cannot even imagine what it's like."

 

For those who cannot volunteer their time, financial help is always welcome and needed because the program is provided to the community for free, Resnick emphasizes.  If you'd like to donate to Buddy's Feral Cat Program, click on the donation button below.