Deep in the woods, nestled above the Fishkill Creek, is ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation), a shelter for homeless dogs and cats from all over this nation. It is a 100% volunteer, non-profit, no-kill shelter that takes in dogs and cats that have been rescued and have nowhere else to go. With the help of the Pilots and Paws program, a program involving pilots who are dedicated to saving a dog or cat from being euthanized at a facility by flying the animal to a shelter, ARF has saved 335 animals to date. Of those, 293 were dogs - some of whom gave birth to a total of 22 puppies shortly after arriving at the shelter. My dog was a pound puppy, born in the pound in Charleston, SC, adopted by me at 12 weeks. Gerdy lived for 17 healthy and happy years with me until this holiday season.


As part of my healing process for my dog, I looked into donating to ARF. They graciously accepted canned and dry food I had just purchased for her, as well as newly purchased supplements to help her arthritis (Dasuquin) and powdered garlic-based flea and tick internal powder, which I can swear by, because my dog never got fleas until the spring I forgot to start back up with the powder regimen. ARF already gives Dasuquin to their dogs in need, and they were on the lookout for a new flea prevention system.

Phoenix has been at ARF for over a year and still needs a home. She and her four newborn puppies had been living on their own in North Carolina, until they were discovered by a county official, who brought them to a local humane society. Then she and her pups were transported by plane from NC to ARF in Beacon, NY.All of her puppies were adopted. Now it's her turn... Will you be the one?

One of the many kitties ready for adoption at ARF.

While driving along 9D, you probably have passed ARF's sign many times - right next to the  Mid Hudson Animal Aid Cat Sanctuary, down a tranquil path called Simmons Lane. While ARF's building is easy to miss as you are driving, let this blog post help you to remember them in your donation plans, or when you start to think about adding a dog or cat to your family. You can see all of the dogs and cats who are ready for adoption right here. Animal lovers watch ARF's active Facebook page with helpful, hopeful eyes every time new cat and dog adoption photos are shared.




ARF has participated in Beacon's City-Wide Yard Sale, and are recurring participants in the annual Beacon Barks Parade. It's easy to donate to the shelter: Bring them food, or  watch their blog for specific requests, like these chew-proof beds, sponsoring a dog, or (especially if funds are tight!) donate your time and  walk a dog.

Adopting a dog from an animal shelter is a very special act of giving that involves a lot of love. Animals who find themselves in shelters are often scared and uncomfortable, yet want to be loved and cared for. When you're ready to adopt a dog from a shelter, you will want as much of their life story as you can get, so that you can understand where they are coming from when you start to build your relationship with them.

Shelter dogs are dear to my heart. When I found my Gerdy, it was after two visits to the shelter. We had been looking for a calm dog that got along well with other dogs, as we sought a friend for a super-smart and high-energy border collie terrier, also adopted from the same shelter. In fact, on Gerdy's note card on her kennel door, her history included being fostered and returned. The reason she had been returned? "Played too much with older dog." WELL. That is exactly what I wanted. We brought the border collie terrier with us to the shelter, and they let us walk with her in private pens to see how the dogs would get along. Which was just about perfectly.