We often talk about numbers at the Animal Rescue Foundation, or ARF. There are 62 cats available for adoption; we need six puppy fosters. But all of these numbers started with just one.
In 1990, a stray tortoiseshell cat sprinted onto the Oakland Coliseum field during a nationally televised baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees. As she dashed across the outfield, she suddenly realized she was surrounded by thousands of spectators and players. Terrified by the roar of the crowd, she tore across the baseball diamond, leaping at any means of escape and eluding the players and umpires who desperately tried to capture her. Exhausted and scared, she slinked to the Aʼs dugout where Tony La Russa, then-manager of the Aʼs, corralled her into the dugout bathroom. After the game, La Russa learned that no animal shelters in the area could take her in and promise she wouldnʼt be euthanized.
The experience awakened La Russa and his wife, Elaine, to the realization of the desperate circumstance s in public animal shelters and the plight of homeless dogs and cats. It also inspired them to take action. Less than a year later, because of this one cat, the Animal Rescue Foundation, ARF, was co-founded. And since its founding, because of more than 600 active volunteers and community support, ARF has now re-homed more than 32,000 cats and dogs.
Matching veterans with pets is a natural development to our core mission, and Iʼm proud that ARFʼs Pets for Vets program has placed more than 300 pets with military families in the past three years. We have heard heart-wrenching stories from veterans of anxious perimeter checks during the middle of the night, of emotional numbness, and many who sleep with guns under their pillows. Veterans have then shared with us incredible stories of the positive changes brought on by adopting a pet.
The love of a pet can draw out even the most isolated personality and help traumatized veterans overcome emotional numbness, and training a dog can improve a veteranʼs ability to communicate and bond. Some participants report they are finally able to sleep, knowing a naturally alert ally is standing watch. Others have told us their dogs have all but erased their night terrors. We are especially appreciative for the Pets for Vets program because it saves two lives. Not only does a pet heal and find a loving home, but a veteran in need discovers an antidote to isolation, a gateway to trust, and a catalyst for physical and emotional healing.
At ARF, we never stop looking for ways to improve what we can do for the animals and communities, and the prevention of pet overpopulation is important. ARF was fortunate to acquire a mobile spay/neuter clinic recently. It will be used to target low-income areas. Our spay/neuter clinic at our Walnut Creek headquarters is one of only two low-cost animal clinics in the county, and our highly-sought sterilization services book up weeks in advance, delaying surgery and potentially resulting in unexpected, unwanted litters. With the purchase of the mobile spay/neuter clinic, we aim to fill those gaps in service, both by having extra space to perform surgeries here at ARF and bringing the clinic to those who need it. By taking the mobile clinic into the community, we can target regions with high surrender rates, and aid low-income residents who want to do the right thing but lack access to services. The mobile spay/neuter clinic will provide health and wellness checks for pets of veterans, deepening our commitment to supporting these transformative relationships.
As ARFʼs abilities, skills, and program scope have grown, the challenges of our work have increased as well. Too many pets are still in shelters and suffering because their communities lack resources. That is why ARFʼs 25th anniversary is not only a cause for celebration, but a call for action.
People Rescuing Animals … Animals Rescuing People isnʼt just ARFʼs tagline; itʼs a direct reflection of our daily commitment to pets and people. Whether the day brings a crisis requiring deployment of our disaster response or rescue runs to public animal shelters to save more precious lives, our incredible team of more than 600 adult volunteers are invigorated to say “yes” and do our part to improve our community for pets and people alike.
If weʼre still discussing numbers, imagine what one single individual can do to change the outcomes for thousands of lives. Adopt, donate, volunteer. You can be the one who makes a difference.
Elena Bicker is executive director of the Animal Rescue Foundation, ARF, and a predominant member of the animal welfare community, developing long-term collaborative shelter relationships with national and local agencies. In 2007, she joined the Lindsay Wildlife advisory board and received special Congressional recognition for community service as a graduate of Contra Costa Leadership, where she remains active. Additionally, Bicker served on the board of the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce &Visitors Bureau. Prior to following her dream into animal welfare, she spent 11 years with GE Capital after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Mary’s College. She lives with her husband in Danville with a Labrador and golden retriever.
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