Become a Foster Home...

We simply can never have too many of these, and as we often have more dogs and cats in rescue, than we do open foster homes. Each time we have a new foster home sign up, we increase the size of the rescue and it literally means - one more life was saved! We are always taking animals from pounds in Brandon and surrounding areas when we don't have space for them as they are on borrowed time - and these dogs are placed in boarding until we have a space open up that can take them. While pound animals are our top priority, we also have dogs that need to come in urgently for a variety of reasons - such as owners passing away. It seems we are always in overflow - it's a never ending cycle!  We also have a waiting list for dogs to come in on a constant basis. Our foster families, are individuals that sign up to babysit our pets until they find a forever home. We supply everything our foster families need; the kennel, food, blankets, toys, and all vetting is taken care of by of the rescue. The role of our foster families is to babysit - providing love, care, exercise, and time. Our foster families are asked to work with us to provide us with updated information and photos of the dog or cat in their care, and they are also asked to show their foster pet to interested familes directed after pre-screening by the rescue. Our foster homes are part of our adoption process, and are a very critical part of our program. All adoptions take place through the rescue directors, so you would never be asked to handle adoptions.  Foster families may also be asked to attend vet appointments if booster shots or other veterinary care is needed, and vet vists are booked around the foster family's schedule - to the very best of our ability. Our rescue spans Southwestern Manitoba, and we are looking for foster homes located within reasonable driving distance of Brandon. We desperately need more foster homes and urge you to check out our page on fostering if you are interested in signing up! If you are interested in fostering or have questions about it, please contact 204-573-8333 or email adoptions@fundsfurfriends.com.

For those who would like to foster, but are unable to do so, we do have a Virtual Fostering Program. This program offers a means of sponsoring a dog or cat that is without a foster home, during his or her stay in the boarding kennel. For more information about virtual fostering, click here.

Become a Temporary Foster Home...

While our greatest need is to have individuals sign on to foster on an on-going basis, we also would like to get some temporary foster families set-up. When our foster families go away for a weekend, on a short business trip for their jobs or have a week vacation the rescue arranges for their foster dogs to spend time at a boarding facility. While we can't say enough good things about the boarding kennels we work with, boarding is an added expense for the rescue. We would love to have a few individuals on hand that are willing to babysit over weekends, during holidays and on the odd occassion while someone is away for a few days or even a week. This would save us those extra short term costs, and allow us the opportunity to put our funds towards medical needs, supplies and other such expenses. We still do require our temporary foster families to sign up the same way our foster homes do, but this would be for short term care only. If you are interested in signing up for temporary fostering or have questions about it, please contact 204-573-8333 or email adoptions@fundsfurfriends.com.

Become a Volunteer...

Funds for Furry Friends has various events throughout the year which we need volunteers to help with. Some events require more man power than others. Our regular annual events include:

• Meet Your Match held in February near Valentine's Day. This is a meet and greet event done in the style of a fashion show - it's been such a hit which we have decided to make an annual event.
• Caged for Critters is held the last weekend in May, and is our largest annual event. The event is centered around participants that raise bail (pledges) to achieve a target amount, or spend time caged in support of the rescue. We also have a giant silent auction and barbeque!
• The Travellers Day Parade is an event we participate in each year in June. We are always looking for people to walk their own dogs in the parade with us in support of animal rescue, and also volunteers to walk some of our dogs that don't have foster homes!
• The Red Carpet Event is a new event we are planning to hold in July. It is another meet and greet, but this one is done outdoors.
• Funds for Furry Friends Legacy Dinner is planned for September 2011 to mark our 10 year anniversary. Event planning is underway - details will be posted soon.
• Pet Photos with Santa are held every year during the last weekend of November. The big man in red comes out to join us for a weekend of snuggling with all kinds of furry friends, to help raise funds for a great cause!

If you are interested in helping, please call 204-573-8333 or email adoptions@fundsfurfriends.com. Note that these are not the only events we hold. They are the ones held annually only!

Help out by Donating...

The rescue supplies all items used by our foster homes for the dogs in our care, and with the numbers we are dealing with they disappear quickly.  We also fund all vetting expenses, which in some cases are more extensive.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ALL THINGS THAT CAN BE DONATED TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THAT WE NEED ON AN ONGOING BASIS:

• Monetary Donations (direct inquiries to financial@fundsfurfriends.com)
• Canadian Tire Money - used to purchase supplies
• Dog, Cat, Kitten and Puppy Food wet or dry any brand will do!
• Dog & Cat toys especially useful when we have puppies & kittens!
• Dog treats like raw hide bones for the young chewers we get in or Kongs, Biscuits and Chews!
• Cat Food and litter (prefer a clumping type if possible)
• Old or New Collars and Leashes (this is a big one as when we continually have to buy leashes and collars for the dogs coming into rescue the costs mount extensively. We try to keep them low by buying second hand at garage sales and pet traders in Winnipeg but still run out sometimes and have to buy new)
• Old or New Dog crates/kennels any size
• Dog Beds, Old Blankets - no pillows please - we prefer washable re-useable items
• Cat Trees and Condos, Scratching Posts
• Cleaning Supplies such as Pet Stain Removers, Enzyme Cleaners, Odour Removers, and other Pet Cleaning Products

Many of our volunteers pick-up these items at yard sales, dollar stores and second-hand pet traders.  Items like collars, leashes, and pet toys, are inexpensive items which can be accumulated from these kind of places.  Some of the larger items, like kennels/crates, cat trees/condos, dog beds and scratching posts are items we have managed to collect from garage sales, flea markets and second-hand pet traders for decent prices.

Things that run out, like food, are constantly needed.  And if you ask the dogs, bones, biscuits and chews are right up there at the top of the priority list, they'd really tell you, there's never enough.  Donations of perishable items are on-going and we have never been in a position where we had more food or treat items than we could use!

The owners of Escape Day Spa and Escape Tanning Studio in Brandon are actively involved in the rescue. Donated items can be dropped off at Escape, located at 801 10th Street, Brandon. This is a quick and easy central location where donated items can be dropped off during business hours Monday - Saturday.

One of our other foster parents also works at Poulin's in Brandon, and the company has given their permission for us to have donated items dropped off at the store. Poulins is located at 707 on 10th Street in Brandon and donations are welcomed here as well.

Alternatively, you can contact us regarding items to donate at 204-573-8333 or feel free to send an email to us at adoptions@fundsfurfriends.com.

Tell People About Us...

You can tell them on a train, you can tell them on a plane.  You can tell them in the park, you can tell them in the dark.  You can tell them on a boat, you can tell them with a goat.  You can tell them here or there, you  can tell them everywhere!

The more people can get our name out there, the more animals we can find homes for.  The more homes we find for our cats and dogs, the more foster homes we can open up!  And the more foster homes we can open up, the more animals we can save.  It's an on-going cycle and the way we can make this happen is by simply getting our name out there, and letting people know we exist.  With just a few more people helping spread the word about Funds for Furry Friends animal rescue, we can do something truly amazing! 

We can find places that animals, who were once facing death, can call home.