Please know that AFH takes the Novel Coronavirus pandemic seriously. The safety of our volunteers and adopters is paramount while we continue to save lives. We are not holding in-person adoption events until further notice. Instead we are also doing virtual homechecks and virtual visits with adoptable dogs. Virtual visits and homechecks will be done via Zoom, Facetime, Skype, Google Hangouts, or other telepresence applications. All interviews with potential adopters will be done over the phone and contracts will be signed individually to allow social distancing. To adopt one of our pets, please send an email to info@aforeverhome.org and we will walk you through the process.

As you know, AFH is always in need of donations and foster parents, but the need is even more acute now during the coronavirus pandemic. We are seeing an increase in people who are giving up their dogs due to the crisis and we are experiencing extremely high demand from owner surrenders and over-capacity shelters pleading for help. In addition, we are now dealing with a litter of pups sick with parvo virus (humans can’t contract this illness) which could cost our rescue over $20,000 to treat. Our ability to help is limited by foster homes and finances. This situation will worsen throughout the pandemic and until people can get their lives back together once the virus has run its course.

As always, we appreciate whatever you can do to support our efforts to save lives. Please take care of yourself during this difficult time. We’ll get through this together.

AFH Board of Directors

Here it is, our latest newsletter. In this issue:

• Spotlight On Mississippi
• TJ’s to the Rescue
• Ask the Vet
• How are your Donations Used?
• Saying Goodbye is Never Easy
• Adoptable Dogs
• Volunteer Spotlight: Irene Walsh, Susan Flashman and Dick Bissell

AFH is raffling off a TV! Proceeds will help to pay for heartworm treatment for 29 dogs who we are trying to help in Mississippi. We have already brought in 99 puppies and dogs from Mississippi since January, and there are a lot more who need us (including 14 – so far – who are scheduled to arrive in 2 weeks). These 29 need to start treatment now because the disease is progressing every day that goes by. Once they are well, they will come to AFH to find their forever homes.

You can help by purchasing some raffle tickets and sharing the link with friends and family. Please feel free to post on your social media.

Thank you!

Get your tickets at http://to-afh.org/TV-Raffle

We want to announce the winner of Tiffany’s bracelet Christina Humphrey! Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets, Your support will go a long way to caring for our pups!

Jeanne Taylor Photography is a supporter of A Forever Home. She has been selected Best Pet Photographer in the Best of Mount Pleasant voting for the third year in a row!. She will be back on the Norther Virginia area for those who would like to have natural photos of their pets in April, 2020 (mid-April) . Please see her website http://www.jtpetpics.com/monthpet.htm for more information and be sure to mention A Forever Home Rescue when you schedule your appointment.

It is with great sadness that I write this letter to inform you of Mercedes’ passing.  Mercedes (Buttons/Cede) was adopted with her brother Sarge, in 2010.  After they were returned, I was her foster and we officially began our journey together in March 2011. Mercedes was my bestfriend and sidekick every day since.  We went hiking, swimming, running, biking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating together.  We would even spend the occasional afternoon lounging at a winery after a morning hike.  During the winter months, she would keep active by running on my treadmill, playing frisbee or learning to ride a skateboard.  She was my number one fan as we travelled to Chattanooga, TN so I could compete in my first Ironman.  Even thought it was mostly just the two of us, my entire family loved and cared for her.  She enjoyed spending many weekends with Grandma and Grandpa chasing squirrels, rabbits and skunks (she never learned!).  As she got older, her favorite pastime became cuddling.  She made the best cuddle buddy and I found so much comfort in her soft snores. But as all dog owners know, we will outlive our furbabies, and we must face one of the worst days of our lives.  Mercedes fought cancer, liver disease and Cushings as long as her little body could, but then she let me know it was time for her to rest.  We said good-bye January 3, 2020.  Roughly twenty-four hours later, as she was always such a good girl, she sent me the most beautiful, vivid rainbow across the entire neighborhood to let me know she was finally at peace.  I miss her every day, but find great comfort in knowing she had the best life I could give her.  Thank you for all the wonderful memories, laughs and endless energy Mercedes, I am forever grateful that you chose me to be your human.  – Kimberly

Hello! My name is Shayna, and my husband, Lucas, and I adopted our little Sadie a little over a year ago from A Forever Home. We just adore her. She melted our hearts at the first moment we met, and I just wanted to send a few photos of her over the past year. She loves snuggling and playing with her brother, Winston! Thank you so much for making the Ford Family the “FoUrd” Family! Warmly, Shayna

TJ’s Hair Studio in Alexandria collected $1725.00 in donations from their clients for A Forever Home! These donations will go to helping dogs from our Brownie’s Fund which helps dogs with extraordinary medical costs. Thank you, thank you all so much. We really appreciate it.

Every September, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church participates in a church wide community service day where they work together to help in the community. We are so fortunate that St. Andrew’s organized a collection of dog items for A Forever Home! They collected 71 towels and cleaning supplies. Two dozen toys, leashes and collars were purchased at a pet store. A group of awesome teens made 60 homemade treats for the dogs, too! They even listed ingredients in case the dogs have any allergies. Gwen Ihde, 14 years old, was the team leader for the project called, “All God’s Creatures” which was partially funded by a Thrivent “Live Generously” grant. Thank you to St. Andrew’s and the Ihde and Pawson families who came to drop off the items on September 14th!