ARFS - Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant Co., Wa

12 hours ago

More emergency vet bills… and another tiny life depending on us.

This past Wednesday, we received a heartbreaking call from a pet owner in Mattawa. They had just returned from an emergency trip to the Tri-Cities with a very sick 3 lb puppy they feared had parvo. Sadly, they were turned away because they didn’t have the funds for treatment. They drove home, and that puppy died in their arms.

The next day, their second puppy, Chakita (also 3 lbs) began showing similar symptoms. The family was frantic, calling everyone they could, terrified they would have to watch another puppy die. We received the note from ACPR, called the family, and immediately began making phone calls. It was already 8 p.m., so options were limited, but Cascade Veterinary Clinic in Wenatchee answered and told us to bring her in.

The family drove as quickly as they could. On arrival, Chakita tested negative for parvo, which left us perplexed but relieved. Bloodwork and other testing were done, and she was treated for possible parasites.

Fast forward to today, and Chakita’s symptoms worsened. We asked our foster in the area to meet the family and test her again. This time, the parvo test was a strong positive.

We acted quickly. Pioneer in Moses Lake was the closest option, but they would be closed by the time the family could arrive from Mattawa. Cascade gave us the green light, and the family immediately started driving back to Wenatchee.

Chakita’s estimated parvo treatment and hospital stay will be between $2,000 and $3,000. We are hoping it will be less, but we have to prepare for the worst.

This is the part of rescue that keeps us awake at night. These emergency bills add up fast, and there are moments we truly worry about breaking the bank and having to shut down. But our grit, our passion, and our commitment to helping the next one — and the next one after that — keeps us going.

Chakita deserves the chance her sibling didn’t get. If you can help us cover her emergency care, we would be so grateful. Every dollar helps us keep fighting for these innocent animals.
#immunizeyourpets ... See MoreSee Less

ARFS - Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant Co., Wa

3 days ago

Last week we shared Buttercup’s story and the difficult situation she faced after becoming pregnant by a very large Maine Coon. She is still very young, but she has proven to be a loving and devoted momma. Yes, this pregnancy created serious risks for her, and we are incredibly grateful that her family became concerned and turned both cats over to us when they did.

We strongly believe that if Buttercup had remained in the home in Grand Coulee with a full-term pregnancy and no veterinary intervention, it could have cost her life. We had her examined by a veterinarian, with X-rays done to assess the number of kittens and their approximate size. At that time, everything appeared manageable, but we stayed in close contact with vets because we were worried for her.

When it became clear she needed immediate help, the lack of available veterinary care in Grant County left us with only one option: getting her to Wenatchee for an emergency C-section. That decision saved Buttercup and most of her babies.

There have been comments suggesting we should have aborted her full-term kittens. We want to be clear: we know when a spay-abort procedure is an option, and that is not at full term with viable kittens ready to be born. At that stage, our priority was saving the life of the mother and delivering the kittens safely. We will choose a C-section to save a momma cat and her viable kittens every single time.

We understand not everyone will agree, but this rescue will always act from a place of compassion and doing what we believe is humane and right for the animals in our care. Comments advocating for the killing of viable kittens will be removed. Please keep those opinions for your own page—not here.

That all being said… 2 days ago we worked with Tina at Dave Buster Rescues to help facilitate a transfer of 4 of her new born kittens to Buttercup. We were looking for 3 to replace her lost ones and ended up with 4. Kittens do best with a mom instead of a bottle. We were cautious and watched very carefully as Buttercup checked them over thoroughly and once she started cleaning them and they recognized immediately a momma in their vicinity… they latched right on. If you listen in the video, you can hear her loud purr of approval. Losing 3 of hers was devastating to us, but seeing her save 4 others is so heartfelt! It’s the “why” in what we do ❤️🙌❤️ ... See MoreSee Less

ARFS - Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant Co., Wa

3 days ago

Yesterday, a post was made about 5 tiny kittens, approximately 3–4 weeks old. We immediately reached out to ask about their momma and were told she was still hanging around. We asked if we could come set a trap using the kittens as bait, and thankfully they agreed. Laurie Criscillo went out and set the trap—and just a few hours later, momma was safely inside. Best-case scenario.

We met up to pick up both momma and her babies, and now they are safe and settled into two XL wire crates where they’ll stay for the next several weeks while the kittens continue to grow. Once they’re older, the kittens will move into foster care for a few more weeks. Momma will then be spayed, and we’ll evaluate whether she is a stray or truly feral.

If she’s a stray, we’ll do everything we can to help save her and find her a future indoors. If she’s feral, we’ll return her after spay so she can continue life safely without adding to the cycle.

This is why acting quickly matters—for the kittens, for momma, and for breaking the cycle one family at a time.

#spayandneuteryourpets
#theymatter
#kittensneedtheirmom ... See MoreSee Less

ARFS - Animal Rescue Friends Society of Grant Co., Wa

4 days ago

Update: Momma is in a temporary foster for the night. She’s scared and uncertain of what’s going on, very quiet, but not aggressive. We are reviewing some foster applications to see where we can move her and her pups for the next 6-7 weeks, depending on when she weens them.

🚨🚨Another abandoned momma dog has been found in Mattawa after giving birth underneath a shed. It’s heartbreaking and shameful that some pet owners show so little care or responsibility for the animals who depend on them. Education can help, but compassion and basic values have to come first.

This sweet momma, approximately 30 pounds, and her four newborn puppies (their eyes are not open yet) urgently need a safe, secure place to stay for the next 8 weeks. We can provide a whelping box, food, and potty pads.

If we cannot find a foster quickly, we will need to locate another rescue that can take them in. Please consider opening your home or sharing this post so this little family can get the chance they deserve. ... See MoreSee Less