Spring/Summer 2004
Notes from the Board of Directors
Greetings!
During this year, the Board of Directors plans to send regular newsletters to keep friends and adoptive families of Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue updated on our work and needs. We hope this communication increases your awareness of what we are accomplishing and provides a way for you to stay connected with us. Watch your mail for the other upcoming editions. If you want to unsubscribe, please let us know and we will remove your address from our distribution list.
Willing Hearts has a New Logo
The Board of Directors selected a new logo for Willing Hearts. We’ve introduced it at the top of this page. Check the
website to see the new items available with the new logo.
Patrick Memorial Fund: A special way you can Honor Your Pet
Join other friends and honor your pet/s on their birthday, adoption anniversary, or “just because we love you,” by giving a tax-deductible donation to Willing Hearts. Send your check, payable to Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue, your pet’s name and the special occasion you want to honor, to: WHDR, PO Box 11, Royersford, PA 19468. Future editions of the newsletter will list the honored pets and their special occasions. Willing Hearts will use the money in this fund for special needs as we continue our outreach to the dogs that come into our care.
FYI: 2004 Rescues and Adoptions
Since January we have placed 75 Dalmatians or Dalmatian mixes in loving, caring homes. Other adoptions are pending as we write this newsletter. 35 dogs are currently in foster homes or kennels.
Things to Consider and How to Become a Willing Hearts Foster Home
Willing Hearts is always looking for new foster homes. Perhaps you have wondered if fostering is a volunteer opportunity you and your family would like to undertake. If you are interested, contact ; phone: 610-948-5898.
What does a foster home provide and do?
Y A safe environment for the dog until it is adopted.
Y Love and attention
Y Food
Y A yard/place to run and play
Y Socialization for the foster dog with people and other pets
Y Vet visits for any needed shots or care
Y Handles the adoption process; i.e., check applications, select a favorable one, make arrangements to meet forever family, including a home visit whenever possible; and making final adoption arrangements with the forever family.
Things to consider while making your fostering decision:
Y How will your pets accept/react to a new visitor?
Y Do I have the time to provide the daily care? Handle the adoption process?
Y Financial aspects such as food, toys/treats, housing. Willing Hearts pays for vet expenses for foster dogs.
Y Who in the family will be the contact person?
Y Where will I/we keep the foster dog?
Y How will I feel if/when the dog has an accident inside?
Y Are we interested, could we manage a special needs dog?
How to Become
a Foster Home
Contact Robbie Lark, or phone: 610-948-5898.
Y Robbie will send you the application form
Y Once you complete the form and return it to Robbie, she will submit it to the Board of Directors for their approval.
Y Robbie will contact you with the approval and again when she has a foster opportunity for you.
Reasons I/We’ve Been a Foster Home – Quotes from Willing Hearts Volunteers who have Fostered Dogs
“The thought of fostering seemed like a great way to help puppies and dogs while they were waiting for their forever homes. We have three dogs of our own, and while we can't permanently get another dog, we could provide the temporary home each animal needed. Each time we have fostered I have received much more in return from each dog. Watching the puppies grow and learn or, helping an adult dog learn to trust and love another human, has brought more rewards then we can write in this space.
“Our own dogs benefit, too, from mothering the puppies to playful romps in the yard with the more mature dogs. While it can be tough to see each one go, it is so encouraging to know that we have helped that dog find a loving home of his/her very own. Through fostering we have not only seen the positive changes in that dog’s life, we have seen the same changes in the families that have adopted through Willing Hearts.” Liz and Lydia
“When my first foster puppies left they were 11-weeks-old “boys" and we all cried. When we brought Angel to meet her new parents it was incredibly hard. I handed over the leash and as it left my hands I cried, like I was giving up my own child. Angel looked back as to say, "Where are you going? What about me?” That look nearly broke my heart, and as we drove away crying, I knew that it was for the best. My heart was hurting but, Angel’s was singing and that's why we do what we do.
“We are caregivers from God, here to give these wonderful animals love, and understanding, something many of them have never had. If we are good at that, then it will hurt as we finish our part, and give them to their rightful, loving and forever homes.
“As one leaves, another is waiting, for your hugs, kisses, walks, and most of all love. As much as I miss my fosters, a part of them remains with me.” Jacqueline
Cleo –
In the Dalmatian Spotlight
Cleo Update
Thank you to all of you who have contributed to the front leg wheelchair and vet expenses for Cleo. She has made a remarkable recovery from her injury. Her wheelchair will enable her to get around freely. The wheelchair cost is $630. To date, we have received $250 towards this purchase. Please consider adding to this amount so we can provide this vehicle for Cleo. Send your contribution to: WHDR, PO Box 11, Royersford, PA 19468. Please indicate that this money is for Cleo. If we receive more than the needed amount, we will use the balance for other special needs.
Ways to Volunteer Your Time and Help
The Board of Directors can use your time and talents. Please select a way that suits you from the list below and get involved!
Y Financial contributions – always needed and welcomed
Y Become a foster home
Y Make copies of adoption packets
Y Do home visits for prospective forever families
Y Visit shelters and take pictures of the dogs
Y Provide transportation from shelters to foster homes
Y Provide transportation from foster homes to forever families
Y Collect towels, blankets from co-workers and get to Willing Hearts
Y Collect used ink cartridges for WHDR recycle program – see WHDR website for details
Y Write an article for the newsletter
Y Send the Board your fund-raising ideas
Y Help coordinate/plan annual picnics and special events
Contact Robbie Lark, or phone: 610-948-5898 and express your interest in volunteering. She will give you the specific details for the items mentioned above as well as answer your questions.
Board of Directors’
Wish List
We wish we had and can really use . . .
Y Crates – large size
Y Dog food – lamb and rice or chicken and rice formulas
Y Towels
Y Blankets
Y Quilts
Y Throw rugs
Y Phone cards
Y Printer paper
Y File folders
Y Carpet remnants
Email or phone: 610-948-5898 for directions on where to deliver your Wish List donations.
Upcoming Events
Y June 12, 2004 - Annual Willing Hearts Picnic at the Norristown Farm Park. Email for directions to: . Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this fun event. Last year families and their Dalmatians traveled from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Virginia, and from across Pennsylvania to enjoy a day with other Dalmatian lovers connected through Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue. See you there!
Y July - Car Show in Hainesport, NJ in memory of Patrick. Look for details on the website.
Y October 2, 2004 –Invite your friends for a Beef and Clam Dinner fundraiser, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at the Limerick Fire Company, Ridge Pike, Limerick, PA. Tickets on sale from WHDR or at the door.
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Why a Senior Dog May Be
Just What You are Looking for For
We all know that puppies demand patience and energy to help them become wonderful family members and companions. Senior dogs, however, come with many wonderful qualities that puppies take years to grow into. For example, senior dogs are
Y Housebroken
Y Good at giving love and are instant companions
Y Won’t chew inappropriate items
Y Learn quickly as they are calmer and stay focused
Y Settle in easily and know how to live and get along
Y Are full-grown
Y Demand less time and energy than puppies so you have more time for yourself.
Right now WHDR has several wonderful seniors waiting for their new home. Go to the website now and select the one for you.
Remember, senior dogs live longer today due to vet care and nutrition so consider adopting one as your special companion.
Books on Senior Dogs:
Y Pinney, Chris C. Caring for your older dog.
Y Wilcox, B and C. Walkowicz. Old dogs, old friends: enjoying your older dog.
Y Fields-Babineau, Miriam. Training older dogs.
Y Berman, Kathleen. Caring for your older dog.
Y Callahan, Jean and Anne Manning. Your older dog: a complete guide to helping your dog live a longer and healthier life. 2001
New Internet Service Available
to WHDR
Dear WHDR Friends,
I am pleased to announce the introduction of a new Internet Service Provider and Online Mall designed and built exclusively
to help charitable organizations raise funds - Innovative Funding
Solutions. IFSnet is the brainchild of Ron Milor, a close friend of mine, and one of the brightest network engineers I have worked with. IFSnet provides thousands of local dial access numbers across the United States with DSL access coming in the near future. If you do not reside in an area with a local access number please drop him a line and he can
see about getting one in your area. WHDR has joined and for every person who signs up to use IFSNet as their ISP, WHDR will receive four dollars a month. 100 subscribers is $400 a month for us!
Ron has also worked closely with many online merchants to create an online shopping mall. Every purchase also generates funds for WHDR.
Please check the online mall for commission rates. There are other online malls, but I think you will find that IFSnet has some of the best commissions for non-profit groups. This network is open to all non-profit organizations.
Please check out Ron's website at http://www.ifsnetwork.com. This is an excellent way to raise funds!
Keith Jonak
Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue
Internet Service Provided by
Innovative Funding Solutions, LLC
Lower fees for your Internet Access plus a Contribution to WHDR
Fee: IFS Network $16.95/month of which $4.00 a month goes directly to WHDR
Special Features include:
Y 5 free email accounts
Y No contracts and No set-up fees
Y Highest quality backbone network
Y Excellent 24/7 customer and technical support (email or live person)
Y Fully customized home page with 10 megs of Personal Web Hosting
Y 100% automatic start-up software
Y Local dial-up access numbers across the country
Y Pop Up blocker, SPAM blocker and filtered web content option for families
Plus, 70% of all commissions generated from online shopping through www.ifsnetwork.com will be contributed to Willing Hearts as well. So, please do your online shopping through IFS even if you do not use the Internet Service.
Contact: www.ifsnetwork.com to sign up or for more information.
Willing Hearts Dalmatian Rescue 2