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Annual Cookie Walk & Howliday Bazaar

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  We will be participating in the Cookie Walk & Howliday Bazaar again this holiday season! Twelve animal welfare non-profit organizations will have booth space at this event to showcase the excellent work they do and sell handcrafted items to fund their programs. These programs allow them to make a difference in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of animals every year. For only $8 a pound, you get to choose from more than 500 dozen homemade cookies, candies, and bars ...
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$50 Cat Adoptions, now thru November 6th!!

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  We have super exciting news! Thanks to a generous donor, each cat at our shelter can be brought home for only $50 now thru November 6. There's no better time to FALL in love with a new furry family member. Stop in to our shelter during open hours (Tuesday-Saturday, noon-6:30pm), or view our available cats online. We can help you find the right match for your home!
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Young local volunteer makes & sells handmade goat milk soaps to support our shelter!

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Meet 9-year-old Bella Frasher from Cascade! After Bella and her mom Mandi began volunteering at the shelter, Bella decided she wanted to do more to help. Bella and her mom came up with the idea to make and sell their home made soap in support of our shelter! Making goat milk soaps has become a family project, with Bella’s love for animals as the driving force. This amazing family has decided to sell them with 100% of the proceeds going to our shelter to provide for cats and dogs waiting f...
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Charlie Jo is Home After Over TWO YEARS with AWF

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Many happy tears were shed at our shelter today as we say goodbye to one of our longest residents - Charlie Jo!! This sweetheart had been with us for over TWO YEARS after she was surrendered to us by her owner. She struggled at our shelter, where she was stressed and anxious. As a result, she did not show well to potential families who visited. The stress also caused her health issues. Charlie Jo was recently able to be fostered by one of our amazing foster moms at her calm and loving home...
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Animal Welfare Friends is a 2019 Top-Rated Non-Profit!

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Thanks to our amazing community, we have been honored with one of the first Top-Rated Awards of 2019 from GreatNonprofits!! We appreciate all of your contributions - thank you so much!! We will continue to do our best, and can't wait to see what we can do together in the months and years ahead. 🐶♥️🐱 https://greatnonprofits.org/org/animal-welfare-friends
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(Update: ADOPTED!) Thelma Lou has a reduced adoption fee, thanks to a sponsor!!

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UPDATE: Thelma Lou has been adopted!!!!     An anonymous sponsor has donated toward Thelma Lou's adoption, so she is now available at a reduced adoption fee to the right home!! 🐶💕 This lovable older female lab/shepherd mix was adopted out to a good home in 2011, but unfortunately her mom became very ill and could not take care of her any more. She has been back at our shelter for over a YEAR now, and we would love to see her with a loving family!! Thelma...
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2020 Animal Welfare Friends Calendar Contest

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Want your pet to be featured in the 2020 Animal Welfare Friends calendar? This year, we are accepting submissions for our calendar of any former AWF animal! And if your pet makes it in the calendar, you will get a free copy of the calendar as well!    To submit your pet, we need: Your pet's name Your pet's name when you adopted it from us (if different) 2-5 high resolution photos of your pet 100-150 words about your pet (what makes them a perfect addition to your family,...
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Our shelter got a deep clean thanks to a flurry of wonderful volunteers!

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On July 7, our call for volunteers to help deep clean the shelter was met - and our hopes exceeded!! Dozens of volunteers came to help us make our shelter spotless inside and out. People were everywhere offering their time and love to help us give our Fur Babies a beautiful home. We are so grateful for your help! We CANNOT keep Animal Welfare Friends going without our Volunteers. Thank you all!  
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Fundraiser Raffle – 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible

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We're so excited for our latest fundraiser  – a raffle drawing for a 2003 Ford Mustang Convertible!! This Mustang is in top notch condition, with a list value of $12,000 and only 56,000 miles on it. Tickets are $50 each, and can be purchased at: Animal Welfare Friends shelter, Monticello Sports, REM Electric, and Superior Appliance. Only 600 tickets will be sold, so get your tickets soon!! The drawing will take place at the Monticello 4th of July fireworks (need not be present to win).
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Limited Time AWF Merch for our Second Anniversary!

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Celebrate the shelter's Second Anniversary through the purchase of AWF logo gear. ONLY available NOW through October 28th. Items include: Adult T-shirt, crew sweatshirt and hooded sweatshirt  Youth T-shirt 20 ounce tumbler with laser engraved AWF logo 11 ounce coffee cup with laser engraved AWF logo AWF car sticker.  Prices range from $7 to $25. Choose from SEVERAL colors on all clothing items! Order items at: https://animalwelfarefriends.itemorder.com Items...
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Liam’s Story – From facing death in Tennessee to healthy in Iowa

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In June of 2018, Animal Welfare Friends learned about a dog named Liam. A pitbull terrier mix from Memphis, TN, Liam had been found as a stray in pretty bad shape - he had an embedded collar in his neck and multiple wounds on his body. Rescuers think he may have been used as a bait dog. Instead of being euthanized, Liam was pulled by Brittany Rescue and underwent surgery where they treated his injuries and found a bullet in his chest. Despite his trauma and pain, Liam remained a sweet, lo...
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The New Beginnings Shelter Challenge has begun!

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The Animal Rescue Site and GreaterGood.org are giving away thousands in grants to eligible shelters across the country in a new Shelter Challenge contest, and Animal Welfare Friends is eligible to win! The New Beginnings Shelter challenge is a major contest that will give $100,00 in cash grants to eligible shelters that win the most votes in a variety of categories and photo contests. You can help AWF win some of the grant prizes by voting every day on our shelter challenge page, starting now...
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We received over 8,000 pounds of litter thanks to your nominations!

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Recently, we asked for our supporters to nominate us  to receive some free Cat's Pride Cat Litter through their Litter for Good program. And WOW, did you ever nominate us!! We've received an astonishing 8,000+ pounds of litter! Or, 840 jugs, which is worth over $6,000!! We had it freighted to the shelter, and we are so happy to not have to worry about litter for QUITE a while. We're so grateful to everyone involved who made this possible. Thank you from everyone at AWF, and especia...
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AWF Coffee Fundraiser

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We have a new easy way to support us by doing something you most likely already do every day... drinking coffee!! We have a brand new fundraiser happening from now until the end of March where you can support our shelter & our life-saving work by purchasing delicious Premium & Exotic Coffees and Specialty Beverages. We have over a dozen coffee flavors, such a a traditional French Roast, a scrumptious Blueberry Cinnamon Crumble, or an exotic Jamaican Me Crazy flavor! All flavors ar...
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Our Seniors for Seniors Program

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Announcing a new way to find love at AWF... our Seniors for Seniors program! If you're over 50 and want a companion who is less work than a kitten, we can help you find your match! With a reduced adoption fee of $50, our 7 years and older cats still have lots of love to give, and are eager to share it with you.
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Shoe Drive Goal Met!!

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With your incredible support, we met our goal of 100 bags of shoes for our shoe drive! That's over 2500 pairs of shoes that all came from our community. WOW! We cannot thank those who donated enough. The shoes were picked up on January 29, and filled a 26' truck full, with 111 huge bags of shoes holding 25 pairs in each! Funds2Orgs wil now distribute the shoes to developing nations. There, the shoes will be given to individuals or small groups who sell the shoes as a "micro-business". The...
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Looking for Cat Fosters!!

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We are in need of foster homes for many of the 27 cats we rescued from a residence earlier this summer. They are working towards recovery from their previous living situation, but it has been a slow process. Most need to gain weight, and many are on medications still. And because we are over capacity, they are not able to move around and socialize as much as we'd like. It is our hope that they will recover more quickly in a foster home environment with some one-on-one care! Think you can help...
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Our Goal: Kuranda Beds for Every Dog at our Shelter!

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We are on a mission to get Kuranda beds for every dog at our shelter! Kuranda beds are elevated, cot-style beds that offer orthopedic support to dogs, while still being resistant to wear & chewing. They can also be easily cleaned, which is extra important in a shelter environment. And, the beds help prevent pressure sores that form when dogs lay on hard surfaces for long periods of time. We are fortunate to have received some newly donated Kuranda beds this week, and the dogs abs...
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We would ♥ your support!

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Doing some Valentine's Day shopping online? Shop through Amazon Smile and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase to Animal Welfare Friends! Just be sure to select us as the recipient for your donation. Shop through this link to support AWF! Have a little bit extra in your Valentine's Day budget? Spread some love directly to the AWF animals by buying them a gift from our Amazon Wishlist!
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Shelter Grand Opening!

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After a decade of fundraising and planning, Animal Welfare Friends is proud to present Jones County’s very first animal shelter. Built on land purchased by AWF in 2012, the shelter sits just north of Monticello off Highway 151. Construction on the shelter began in March 2016, and is now complete! We're proud to invite everyone to our Grand Opening event on Saturday, October 15th from 10 am–4 pm & Sunday, October 16th from 1 pm–4 pm. The shelter is located at 22407 Business HWY 151, Mont...
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Volunteer Opportunity: The Great Jones County Fair

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AWF will need at least two people to volunteer to work each shift at our booth at the Great Jones County Fair July 19th through July 24th.  The responsibilities include opening and closing the booth at the beginning and end of each day, selling merchandise, handing out information, and collecting donations. If you are interested in being an AWF volunteer and have never done it before, come join us at the fair and hang out.  It will give you the opportunity to see what we do, talk to other vol...
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Shelter Construction Has Begun!

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Construction has started on the Animal Shelter! See the latest construction photos here, and keep an eye on our Facebook page for photos as well! We still need donations to complete the project. If you would like to contribute, please use the Donate link in the menu above. 9/4/16: The shelter is nearing completion! New cement is being poured in preparation for the Grand Opening on October 15 & 16th 6/18/16: New pictures of the construction of the shelter! 5/5/16: The...
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Help Pave the New Shelter!

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Animal Welfare Friends is offering a great way to become a permanent part of the Animal Shelter in Jones County! We've partnered with That'sMyBrick.com to offer custom messaging on bricks that will be used to pave the walkways of our new shelter. These bricks are a great way to honor a loved one, lost pet, or just share a message of your choice! Bricks are $250 a piece, and make a huge difference in our fundraising goals for the shelter. You can also purchase a replica brick for $125. ...
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Linda Reicks

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Secretary - Linda began her association with AWF in 2010 by helping transport dogs to 'no kill' shelters and by stepping in and acting as Secretary to the Board in a temporary position. She is now serving that position on a permanent basis. Linda says, "Animals have been in my life since a youngster. I love the unconditional love they offer and I want to return it to them." Linda recently lost her beloved cat Barbra, but has found two new furbabies to join her family. Linda is a licensed Massage...
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Preparing for a Shelter

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One of the goals of the AWF Board is to visit other Animal Shelters in Iowa. Our intention for the visits is to learn how to better proceed with the building of the AWF Animal Rescue Facility. We feel the other shelters that have been through the process can offer us a wealth of information on what works the best as far as the construction goes. Animal Rescue League in Des Moines Iowa AWF Board Members Kelly Day, Ruth Carlson, Annie Locher and her dog Jenni along with Vicki Kelchen, and Dave ...
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AWF Purchases Land

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In the December 2012 edition of the Fetch Newsletter it was announced that AWF purchased land. Yes you got that right; AWF owns land in Jones County for a future animal shelter!! It is located on the west side of Highway 151 at the north end of Monticello where Highway 151 and Business 151 intersect. It consists of 8.68 acres and has great potential for many uses. This has been news in the making since 2006.
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Cat Adoption Center Open for Business

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UPDATE: The cats at the Cat Adoption Shelter were moved to our new shelter in Monticello upon completion of its construction in October 2016. We continue to provide care for cats awaiting adoption at the Monticello location, and the Olin Cat Adoption Center has closed. The new Cat Adoption Center, located at 301 Jackson Street in Olin, houses 12 cats who are neutered or spayed (as age appropriate), vaccinated (as required by the State of Iowa) and ready to be adopted. Best of all, the ava...
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Our History

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In the Beginning, There Were Two Stray Dogs... In the summer of 2002, two stray dogs wandered onto the property of an Oxford Mills couple. New to the area, the couple asked the neighbors if Jones County had an animal shelter. One neighbor said they should shoot the dogs and another suggested they call the sheriff’s office. They were so disgusted at the suggestion of shooting a dog they called the sheriff’s office only to learn that the nearest animal shelter was in Jackson County. They loaded...
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Our Philosophy

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Our Philosophy and Programs From our beginning, we've been driven to establish an organization that balances rescuing and caring for animals with educating the humans on whom these animals rely for a peaceful, safe and healthy life. The decisions we make daily, and the programs we offer, reflect this philosophy. Rescue After years of fundraising and planning, we've completed Jones County's first animal shelter. We've built relationships with officials in Jones County and its cities that a...
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AWF Shelter Campaign

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Update: The Shelter construction was completed in October of 2016! The shelter is now open, and serving the animals of Jones County, IA. Read about our journey to shelter completion below. In May 2006, AWF embarked on a campaign to raise funds to build an animal shelter in Jones County. Over the past 10 years, the organization has raised $246,544 towards this goal. In 2012 AWF was able to make the first step to attaining the goal of building a shelter in Jones County. The organization ...
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Business Partners

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Partners in Hope Since our first year, AWF has partnered with businesses that support our life-saving work through donations of time, resources and talent. We refer to these businesses as our “Partners in Hope,” a name that truly reflects their contribution—providing hope to the many homeless dogs and cats who come into our care each year. If your business would like to find out how it can support the work of AWF, a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, please contact us at (319) 462-5683 ...
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Adoption 101

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Adopting a dog or cat is a big decision. It’s important to carefully think through the time and money commitment that a new pet will require. And while it is understandable that many people are attracted to the physical characteristics of a pet, it is much more important to focus on the pet’s personality. Our pet descriptions, input from our foster families, plus your interaction with the dog or cat, will provide you with the information you need to make a match that will last for the life of th...
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Pet Lost & Found

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All of us at AWF would love to see more stray dogs and cats in Jones County returned to their families. But we need your help to do so. The #1 thing you can do is to make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an I.D. tag attached. This tag should include your last name, address and phone number. If room on the tag permits, also include your pet’s name. But the most important information is your phone number. If you change your number, be sure and change your pet’s tag! It is also important t...
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Guide for Re-Homing Your Pet

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Guidelines for Finding a Responsible Home for Your Pet The following information is provided by the Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org. Do you feel you can no longer keep your pet and want to find a new home for him or her? Perhaps you are frustrated with a behavior problem. Or your child has pet allergies. Or you are having trouble finding rental housing that accepts your pet. Many pet-related problems can be frustrating, and you may feel that relinquishing your pet is the onl...
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Dog Behavior Tips

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If you are dealing with a pet behavior problem, consider first consulting with your veterinarian. Many problems may be due to a treatable medical condition. Dog Trainers: Alpha House K9s Bark Busters Stone Hollow Dog Training, Inc. Dog Behavior Issues: Diamonds in the Ruff Pet Expertise Pet Care & Behavior Issues: Humane Society of the United States American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Pet Expertise
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Cat Behavior Tips

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If you are dealing with a pet behavior problem, consider first consulting with your veterinarian. Many problems may be due to a treatable medical condition. For example, a housetrained pet may begin urinating in the house due to a urinary tract infection rather than a behavior problem. Your veterinarian will be able to rule out any physical cause of the problem. There are also many local animal behaviorists and trainers who have the experience and expertise to help address your pet’s behavior pr...
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Courtesy Listings

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At Animal Welfare Friends, we believe it is your responsibility to work to resolve behavior or other problems before deciding to give up your pet. Millions of dogs and cats are homeless in the United States each day and many of them are euthanized annually because there are not enough homes; you owe it to your family pet to help him or her stay with you. If you are experiencing problems with your cat or dog or small animal, please visit our section on Pet Behavior Tips under "Resources" on this ...
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Candy Roberg

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Board Member - Candy began volunteering for AWF in 2004 after AWF reached out to the community for volunteers. Candy has been AWF's top fundraiser for most of those years. Her efforts include the annual summer bake sales at the Anamosa Walmart, selling left over baked goods at work, and Tupperware parties. Candy is pictured here with her dog Bailey. Candy also has numerous outdoor cats on her farm. Profession: Retired Reprographics Coordinator Contact: robergcandy@hotmail.com
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Mark Denniston

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Honorary Board Member - Mark has 33 years experience in law enforcement in Jones County (15 as Jones County Sheriff) and has always been a big AWF supporter. When contacted by the AWF co-founders back in 2003, he was very pleased to support the group since there had never been anything in place in the county to help the stray dogs. Early in his career as sheriff, Mark was responsible for helping draft the county ordinance regarding stray animals. Whenever AWF has asked for his help or an opinion...
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