Vet Visit
Impacted teeth, broken legs, skin allergies, a displaced hip and a cherry eye are some examples of the ailments shelter animals receive treatment for through ASF's "Vet Visit" program. ASF works with Shelter staff to identify animals in need and secures veterinary treatment - often at a reduced cost - with local vets. The assistance ASF provides gets shelter pets healthy and readies them for adoption into permanent homes.

Heartworm Help
Many of the Shelter’s adoptable dogs arrive at the shelter with heartworms. Although these dogs are often happy and behaviorally adjusted, the cost of heartworm treatments is a deterrent for potential adopters, and sadly, only a small percentage of these dogs find a forever home. ASF administers a “Heartworm Help” program which boosts the chance of adoption for these extra special shelter dogs. Following the dog’s adoption, ASF pays a portion of the treatment costs directly to a partner veterinarian, reducing the expenses the adopter pays to have the dog treated. The program ensures every homeless heartworm positive dog gets a second chance and has resulted in a 35-40% increase in heartworm dog adoptions.

Animal Birth Control (Spay/Neuter Vouchers)
The Shelter took in more than 11,000 animals in 2009, with more than half of them puppies and kittens. ASF’s “Animal Birth Control” program focuses on preventing unwanted births and reducing the number of infant animals surrendered to the Shelter. The program provides vouchers good for a no-cost spay or neuter surgery to needy citizens. The vouchers are distributed primarily through the Shelter and through city and county animal control officers.

Low Cost Micro-chipping and Rabies Clinics
The ASF partners with the Shelter annually to provide low cost vaccination and micro-chipping assistance to the community. Providing vaccinations at a reduced cost to area residents keeps pets healthy and minimizes the possibility that the pet will be relinquished to the Shelter for financial reasons. Delivering low cost micro-chipping increases the number of pets in the community that are implanted with this important identification tool. This ensures that if the pet should wander or become lost, the Shelter can readily identify the owner and return the pet home.

Doggie Manners Classes
Each year thousands of dogs are relinquished to shelters across the country due to behavioral or training concerns. Many of behavioral issues could have been easily remedied with basic education and instruction to the pet owners. The ASF works to keep adopted dogs in their homes by offering all adoptive families a low cost basic dog training class. The eight-week class helps teach the basic doggie manners needed to help keep shelter pups – and their owners – living happily together in their new homes.