This month at AFC we're doing things a bit different! For the entire month of February round up your total at checkout and donate to TWO amazing organizations: Rogue Community Cat Rescue and Rogue Valley Street Dogs. 

Rogue Community Cat Rescue is a nonprofit based in Medford, Oregon that aims to advocate for and improve the lives of community cats and kittens through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), rescue, foster care, adoption, and education. Recently, RCCR has been able to shift into larger-scale projects including, but not limited to: 

• The Community Pet Pantry

  • The pantry is free and primarily supports cats, with limited dog food available as resources allow. The goal is to help offset basic care costs so families can keep their pets in their homes, reducing the need for rehoming or surrender to local shelters due to financial hardship. 

  • The pantry will also gratefully accept donations of cat food, litter, flea and tick medication, blankets, and other basic supplies, as well as dog food when available. These donations aid in continuing to support pets and the people who love them!

• Trap-neuter-return (TNR) 

  • "TNR is a major focus for us, and we’re aiming to get significantly more cats spayed and neutered this year than in past years. We plan to accomplish this by partnering with additional clinics and by purchasing a surgical van that would allow us to perform spay and neuter surgeries directly at our clinic. We have a specific vehicle in mind, but we need the funds to purchase it and outfit it with the proper surgical equipment. Donations toward this project are greatly appreciated and will directly support lifesaving care for community cats" (RCCR). 

• Response to large-scale situations

  •  Rogue Community Cat Rescue regularly responds to large-scale hoarding situations, providing care, cleanup, and long-term support in some of the most challenging cases in our community. Each year, the organization takes on at least three major hoarding cases that require extensive time, medical care, and resources. In one such case from last spring, more than 70 cats were rescued from a home that had become unsafe for both the animals and the people living there. Many of the cats required urgent medical attention, including spay and neuter surgery, treatment for ringworm, and care for other serious health conditions. Some animals were humanely euthanized due to severe health concerns, while others continue to receive ongoing care including two cats who remain with us today as they heal and prepare for their next chapter. These cases are emotionally and financially demanding, but they are essential. By stepping in when conditions become unsafe, RCCR helps protect animals, supports public health, and works toward long-term solutions that prevent these situations from happening again.

To learn more, please visit www.roguecats.org 

Rogue Valley Street Dogs, based in Talent, OR, is dedicated to providing essential support services for pets in need. "Our vision is to alleviate the suffering and tragic consequences of pet overpopulation in the Rogue Valley through education and compassionate action" (RVSD). Services include but are not limited to : 

• Free Spay and Neuter Surgeries
  • RVSD is able to offer free services thanks in part to local veterinarians in the area. Often times when the organization receives a phone call, online message, or referrals, volunteers immediately jump into action and work to find a surgery appointment and transportation if needed. "Due to the national veterinary crisis in our country, it is harder to get these appointments as quickly, but we do everything in our power to do so. If guardians are able to help with a copay of any amount, we greatly appreciate it due to the ever-rising costs, but the service is free for those who cannot" (RVSD).

• Limited High Quality Dog and Cat Food 
  • "Thanks in large part to our generous partners at Nature’s Pet, Wellness Pet Supplies, and Red Dog Pet Supply as well as donors, we make a point of providing only high quality food for the pets we serve.  Most of our clients truly do feed their dog or cat before themselves, but eating people food or low quality pet food can lead to complications like pancreatitis and other effects of poor nutrition.  We regularly supply the OHRA Resource Center in Ashland with high quality food as well as making deliveries to food banks, social service organizations, and individuals.  When we do outreach events, we also bring lots of good food" (RVSD).

• Vaccine Vouchers
  • The Jackson County Animal Shelter has a low cost shot clinic the third Saturday of every month. However, for those who cannot afford reduced cost vaccines, RVSD will cover the cost. They may also provide coverage for parvo/distemper puppy vaccines for those who cannot get to the clinic and have unvaccinated puppies at great risk for these deadly diseases. Besides safeguarding the wellness of your pet, vaccinations are often required for those working to obtain housing.

To learn more, please visit www.roguevalleystreetdogs.org