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Our first cat was named AC (short for Amazing Cat!). Since that very first day our focus has been to visit Animal Care and Control as often as possible, rescuing as many as possible from certain death. At the time of our first adoption, the PETsMART Luv-A-Pet Center in Tempe, Arizona was our only home and we only could keep our cats there Monday through Friday each week. Every one of our cats went into foster care on Friday night and returned again to the Luv-a-Pet Center on Sunday evening. This need to move cats in and out of PETsMART each week led to the birth of our phenomenal foster care program. These dedicated volunteers take our orphans into their homes and provide the loving care and shelter they need. Some of our original foster parents are still with us today! In that first year, our volunteer base grew to nearly 50 people and more importantly we found loving homes for 300 cats that had been scheduled to die.
As we rescued each cat and worked to secure each his loving and permanent home, we couldn't help but realize we were letting the dogs down. We heard their barks as we did our work in the cat wing of Animal Care and Control, and when we ventured into the dog wings, their eyes followed us, wondering when we would come for them. In 1996 we rescued our first dog, Hyena. With one of our cat foster parents willing to take on the challenge of fostering a dog, we began our mission to save the dogs, too! This effort was not without its challenges, but the community and our volunteers embraced our expansion. RESCUE reached out and established some wonderful veterinary partners that have resulted in lasting business relationships that assist us with not only medical services but also much needed boarding space for our dogs. By the end of 1997 our volunteer resources had grown to just over 75 people. During this time, we also expanded our adoptions hours to include the weekends, allowing both our mission and our animals more exposure resulting in over 1,700 total adoptions by the end of that year!
In February of 1999, we were presented with the opportunity to expand beyond the Tempe PETsMART to facilitate adoptions at the PETsMART in Chandler, Arizona. It was a huge question. Could we do this? Did we have enough volunteers? We wanted to make it work, but could we? Our volunteer base, now at about 150, stepped up to the challenge and worked long and hard to make sure our Chandler expansion was a success. Our cat and dog adoptions soared and we placed over 1,200 cats and dogs during 1999. Our work reached more people and animals than ever before as the spirit and focus of the RESCUE volunteers pushed this organization forward. More than any other factor, our success is directly attributable to the dedication and passion of our amazing volunteers.
Another great chance to expand our operation came in August of 2000 when we were asked if we would staff the PETsMART Luv-A-Pet Center at the Colonnade Mall in Phoenix. This was a pilot store with a brand new boutique look, and the Adoption center was smaller than we were used to. But again, we jumped at the chance to save more lives. Thanks to PETsMART Charities, we recruited the funds and the volunteer resources necessary to move in. Now with about 300 volunteers, we dedicated ourselves to facilitating adoptions at our three locations and placed over 1,500 animals during the year 2000. Our cats and dogs love being in the Central corridor!
In May of 2001, we had to temporarily move out of the Tempe PETsMART because of a remodeling project and we were devastated. This was our first home and still our single largest adoption outlet. Where would our cats and dogs go? The PETsMART in Scottsdale heard about the great work we were doing in the East Valley and invited us to their neck of the woods. We enjoyed matching our dogs and cats with the great people in Scottsdale so much that we decided to stay even after the remodel was over and we had moved back in to the Tempe store.
During those years, RESCUE grew up. Our volunteer base grew tremendously, adoptions continued to increase, we put policies and procedures in place, we received grants from Scratch and Sniff and The Jonathan Drier Foundation, and we began to promote RESCUE's vision locally through the television, radio, and newspaper. We went live with our website in 1997 which brought RESCUE to a whole new level. In 1999, we saw the publication of our very first newsletter, "RESCUE Reflections" which shares important news and animal success stories keeping us in touch with our community. In 2000, with the support of a local fundraising group called The Rescuers, we published our very first book, "Love Stories - Of Pets and Their People", which raised tens of thousands of dollars for our animals. Although the organization was changing and growing rapidly, one philosophy remained consistent: Our commitment to the animals was our highest priority.
In 2002, RESCUE kicked off its MatchMaker Adoption Service . Our newest endeavor directly serves each part of our Vision Statement as we work to identify perfectly matched homes for each and every one of our cats and dogs. The glowing feedback from our adopters and volunteers has confirmed the success of this new program.
As of December 31, 2003 the RESCUE cats and dogs no longer reside in PETsMART's Luv-A-Pet Adoption Centers. Over the years, as RESCUE has grown, we have enhanced and refined our non-profit culture, and PETsMART has done the same with its corporate culture. RESCUE is more focused on the quality of adoption homes than ever before, and the RESCUE of today is committed to knowing each animal as an individual, learning each animal's needs and wants and finding a home where those needs and wants will be met for a lifetime. The life-honoring environment that is RESCUE discourages the impulse purchase and fosters thought and consideration before adopting.
As one door closes another one opens, as we venture onto new territory and continue the path we've been on for ten years - doing what is in the best interest of our animals at every turn. You will now be able to find RESCUE participating in special events around the Valley. Plese check out our RESCUE events link to see a schedule of upcoming activities.
Our primary focus continues to be the adult cats and dogs who are scheduled to be euthanized. We operate with the philosophy that for every animal placed, we are back at Animal Care and Control to rescue another. The passion that began RESCUE has resulted in a volunteer-driven non-profit corporation with over 300 dedicated volunteers who have helped us care for and place over 8,000 wonderful cats and dogs. Our animals are featured weekly in the Arizona Republic, bi-monthly in the East Valley Tribune, and on a weekly radio spot on KMLE.
With no facility of our own, our greatest irony is that we're as homeless as the animals that we are helping! Instead of limiting us, that fact has driven us to create the model of a 21st Century "virtual shelter". We are mobile, flexible, customer service-oriented, and most importantly, focused on doing what is in the best interest of our animals. Once freed from the threat of death, our animals are evaluated, examined by a veterinarian, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ultimately placed in a loving and permanent home.
You can see all of our animals by visiting our On-line Cat Adoption Center and On-line Dog Adoption Center . Our Volunteer Program offers everyone an opportunity to fully demonstrate his or her passion for animals. We also offer a variety of ways for the community to show its support through our innovative Donation Programs . RESCUE offers a way for everyone to get involved. The needless euthanasia of cats and dogs is a community problem, and the ultimate solution for the animals is inextricably linked to human commitment. Please find a way to participate in our vision!
- Registered as a 501(c)3 organization: September 2, 1997
- Articles of Incorporation: February 27, 1997
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