"Our Poor Shelter"
It wasn't that long ago we can remember arriving at the old ARF Shelter about 1pm on a Saturday or Sunday to walk dogs and spend time with the cats. We'd make sure that all the dogs got walked and special time would be set aside to spend with Bailey, Buddy, or Lucy Rose…our resident dogs. We'd also make sure that the animals got their medication and volunteers would sit on couches or benches in the office calming the fearful baby kittens.
As adopters started to pull into the ARF driveway our dog walkers religiously began walking to Lake Winfield and back; which was exactly one mile, uphill on the way home. One these walks we made friends with both humans and dogs alike. The dogs could even splash in that little river near the lake, which was always the case for Bailey. The volunteers are like the post office, we walk rain or shine; rescue work never stopped because of weather.
All the cats at the shelter would be shown to their future families, while cats purred and cuddled with the volunteers and new guardians. It was the work we did. ARF made a difference.
Our old shelter wasn't much to brag about, except for the beautiful yard maintained by Kenny ARF, but it was our home. Larry ARF, Phil, and Harry were always trying to mend and fix the old cages and windows. We had a fix it list next to the door that was never short of items. The office was crowded and full of life. Marge ARF will always be in our memories with her English accent keeping the adopters entertained and charmed until we got around to them. Dogs would hustle in and out of the office on leashes, while our blackboard kept track of who was walked.
At four o'clock it was feeding time and our animals knew it. Cans of food were opened, litter was filled, and everyone worked as a team. Finally after all the applications where put away and everyone was fed, we relaxed with a dog or cat and just chilled out. That's the way I remember it, and it was good. Then, Novemeber 23rd 2008.
On that fateful November day a fire ripped through the shelter in minutes. All the animals and people were saved due to the quick actions of ARF volunteers, adopters, and the Fire Department. But, our ARF home was destroyed. Our rescue work was over. Our lives had been changed forever. We lost our shelter.
On December 18, 2009 the burned out shell of the Animal Rescue Shelter, 366 Main Street, was bull dozed to the ground…its pieces put in large dumpsters to be hauled to away. What a shame. All those years and all those animals. All those volunteers and all those memories. Our shelter was burned, knocked down, then carted away like rubbish. ARF must go on, we must survive!
Since the day of the fire we have turned ARF into a fundraising and regrouping team and set a goal of rebuilding a state of the art shelter within two years, by November 23, 2010. We will get there. We have no choice. There are too many animals depending on us. The only problem is that we still need more money to fully rebuild. Don't forget, ARF is yours. It's in your local community. We hear people, volunteers, and adopters say all the time that they remember driving by ARF as a kid. When you drive by now our ARF shelter is gone. Wouldn't you want your kids and grandkids to say "I remember driving by here as a kid"? We have a vision at ARF to build a shelter that will stand for decades; to be there to help your kids when they have families…and your grandkids. These future generations will be able to use ARF and save animals their whole lives the same way you have. I think that they and the animals are worth it. Save ARF now! Send us a donation; help us back on our feet. We will be there to help you and future generations if we step up and donate as soon as you read this.
Donations may be sent to:
ARF
Po Box 538
Thomaston, CT 06787
Thank You,
Joe ARF
Chairman of Fundraising
