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Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends

Featured animal rescue organization, September 2009.

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Dogtime salutes Georgia's Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends.

How did your organization get started?
AARF was started in 2002 by two local animal rescuers who wanted to create an official and legitimate organization to help animals. Two dogs who were abandoned when their owners moved away and left them were the inspiration to organize.

What is your mission?
The mission of Atlanta Animal Rescue Friends is to end pet overpopulation. We strive to accomplish our mission through three main goals:

1. Promote informed, responsible, and humane companion animal ownership;
2. Eliminate euthanasia of healthy adoptable animals and animal homelessness; and
3. Achieve total sterilization of all companion animals.

How do most of your animals find their way to you?
Most of our pets are pulled from animal control "kill" shelters.

What happens to the animals once they are in your care?
AARF works with all breeds of dogs and cats. We utilize a network of foster care providers to house the rescued animals, provide them complete medical care, (including spaying or neutering and microchipping), as well as training and socialization, and then place them into loving permanent homes.

Tell us about a particularly compelling animal or inspiring rescue.

Douglas was a dog who was turned in to the shelter with another canine companion. His companion was adopted, but when it was discovered that he had heartworm, no one wanted Douglas. He used to cry in his kennel constantly, and was severely depressed. When AARF rescued him, it took weeks before he came out of his depression. He didn't even wag his tail for the first month. After heartworm treatment and months of TLC, Douglas is now a happy and healthy boy. Without AARF's foster program, Douglas would have never made it out of the shelter or be ready for a new forever home.

Blue's is another insprirational story. He's a four-year-old Beagle who was rescued from Paulding Animal Control. He had been living outside in a small pen all the time, with no toys and very little human interaction. Blue was always so bored that eventually he became a master at escaping his pen, which angered his family. Instead of providing him with some mental stimulation and exercise, they decided to take him to the shelter, which actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Blue. He now is living in an AARF foster home where he gets lots of love and attention. Despite his isolation early in life, he's a very social little guy who loves people and other dogs. He has started a basic obedience class to build on what his foster mom has already taught him. He is hoping to find his forever home very soon!

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