Help Make the Holidays Happy In Early December the MCFA fundraising

team gathered to stuff envelopes for the

annual Holiday donation mailing.

The envelopes were mailed to our donors’

list. Their contents are shown below. The

proceeds we receive from the mailer will have

a direct impact on the work we are able to do

to support the Monroe County Animal Shelter

and spay/neuter in Monroe County.

Special thanks to the fundraising committee

for all they do.

Nov/Dec 2017 Vol 1

Above is the donor card that accompanied the MCFA annual fundraising mailing. If you didn’t

receive a mailing and want to donate to Monroe County Friends of Animals please use this and

mail it to the address shown above, or visit our website at http://www.friendsofanimalsmc.org/

In this issue:

• Point of View: TY

Volunteers

• Help Make the

Holidays Happy!

• A special Xmas Story.

• Hard at work in

Monroe County

• Bits and Pieces

• Pick of Pics

Monroe County Friends of Animals Newsletter

Point of View: Thank you volunteers and staff!

Because of the dedication and thousands of

hours of work by the volunteers of Monroe County

Friends of Animals and by the staff of Monroe

County Animal Shelter, thousands of cats and

dogs have forever homes and happier lives.

Thank you on behalf of each one of the precious

lives that your hard work and dedication has

helped touch. Monroe County Friends of Animals

wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year.

“Your donations to

MCFA are vital to

saving Monroe

County Cats and

Dogs.”

Pam Crays, Chair

MCFA Fundraising.

MCFA is a not-for-profit volunteer organization with 501(c) (3) status

Pawsitive News: Nov/Dec 2017 Page 2

A Christmas Story by

T’was the night before Christmas Eve, And all through the animal shelter

Volunteers were scurrying And running in circles all helter skelter

They were grooming the cats and dogs With the most deliberate of care

In hopes that many adopters Would soon be there.

The puppies and the kittens Were all snuggled in their beds With Visions of forever homes

Dancing in their heads.

When suddenly from the parking lot, There arose such a clatter

I sprang from my desk To see what was the matter

Away to the door I moved like a flash

And ran down the hall And tripped over the trash!

When what to my wondering eyes Should appear

But a white van followed by trucks, All in high gear!

With a driver so lively and Quick I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick

Faster than racers his drivers came And he whistled and shouted and called

them by name!

Now Donnie, Now Connie, Now Ronnie and Kitty

On Kimberly, on Cornelius, On Andrea and Smitty

From the cats and dogs I heard with awe

The prancing of each feline And canine paw.

As I drew in my head And Turned around

He came through the door With a bound.

His eyes how they twinkled As he found a kitten for Mary.

He smiled with glee as he Found the dog for Larry.

His eyebrow was archedI In a lovely curved bow

he read from his list Where each animal would go

The data came from a tablet Held in his hand

As he fulfilled the wish list How grand!

The list had forever homes For each cat and dog, he told.

No matter how young, or how very old.

He was so sincere And Caring

I smiled knowing how well Our charges would be faring.

A wink of his eye And a twist of his head Led me to know they Had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word But went straight to his work

Fulfilling all the wishes He then turned with a jerk.

Making sure all the animals Were loaded at last

Giving a nod, He made sure all the doors

To the trucks were made fast.

When they loaded the cats and dogs They did save

He sprang to his vehicle to the drivers He gave a wave.

I heard him exclaim as he Drove out of sight

We’ll save them all, save them all, And to all a good night.

Copywrite Keith Sanderson 2017

The first version of this poem was written in 2014. It was recited on the popular Pet

Life Radio Show, “Max A Pooch’s Awesome Animal Advocates in December of that

year. Max A Pooch hopes that humans will remember all the cats and dogs who are

in shelters this Holiday Season. He says, “If you are thinking of bringing a cat or dog

into your family, visit the Monroe County Animal Shelter, or some other shelter. I

don’t mean to brag, but some really good animals come from shelters. Look at me!

I’m a shelter rescue dog!”

Max A Pooch

Pawsitive News: Nov/Dec 2017 Page 3

This $40,000 van is a result of a grant from Pet Smart Charities. It’s used to transport dogs and cats to adoption events, rehoming transport, and for veterinarian care. At no cost to the county it enhances the ability to rehome more animals and to improve their welfare.

Prior to the founding of Monroe County Friends of Animals, Monroe County’s

animal shelter could be best described as a primitive containment center. The cats

were housed in one room with no provisions for quarantine. The dogs were housed

in open wire cages exposed to the rain, hot sun and inclement weather.

Today, that reputation has greatly improved due to the funding and the volunteer

hours MCFA contributes to the Monroe County Animal Shelter. It is doubtful the

shelter would be able to operate at the level it currently operates without MCFA sup-

port.

Specifically, MCFA funds shelter supplies, animal medications and 100 percent of

the cost of food. It provides on-site medical service through a contract with a local

veterinarian. The contribution of thousands of volunteer man hours each year also

means Monroe County can run the shelter with only two full time and two part time

shelter employees and trustees from the county jail.

MCFA also provides successful rehoming, adoption, and supports spay/neutering

programs. These efforts have

helped humanely reduce the pop-

ulation of unwanted cats and dogs

in Monroe County to a level far

below of what was before MCFA

was founded. Volunteer-staffed

programs help the two full-time

county personnel with day-to day-

care of the animals, including pro-

cessing, bathing, grooming, social-

izing, transporting sick animals to

the veterinarian for treatment and

more.

In addition to hands-on animal

care and training at the shelter,

MCFA provides spay and neuter

vouchers to local low-income pet

owners (through its partnership

with Spay Neuter Assistance for

Pets [SNAP]). It also promotes

public awareness throughout the

community, runs a thrift shop, and manages other activities such as Pets for Patri-

ots. Money from grants is another benefit the organization brings to Monroe County.

Through the grants it receives from corporations, and philanthropic organizations

MCFA gains funding from outside the county for capital costs such as a state-of-the

-art puppy house and a new van used to transport animals.

It is only through the continued efforts of the volunteers of Monroe County Friends

of Animals that the strays, homeless, and abandoned cats and dogs will continue to

have chances for better lives and more humane treatment.

Our Business is Saving

Monroe County Cats and Dogs!

Thanks to MCFA puppies and their mothers

have not only a place of safety, but an oppor-

tunity to find forever homes.

Pawsitive News Nov/Dec 2017 Page 4

Bits and Pieces: Monroe County Friends of Animals news and updates.

A Dog Training Program conducted by dog trainer Shirley Bierkamp. began in Novem-ber. Here are the details. Shirley Says, “No experience in dog training is necessary. You do need to be somewhat stable on your feet. Each training team consists of 4-5 volunteers and one dog. Six weeks per dog. Each week you will have a training session (as a team) with me and the dog. Then at a time convenient for you, scheduled with your teammates, you go to the Monroe Animal Shelter for your 45 minute train-ing session with the dog. If you are interested in joining a volunteer dog training group.“ Contact :Shirley Bierkamp, CPDT-KA, Caribbean Canines LLC 865-850-0370

Did you know? MCFA has a thrift store, and its proceeds

help Monroe County Friends of Animals do its work in helping the

homeless cats and dogs of Monroe County.

The MCFA Thrift Store is a great place to shop for that special

item you have been looking for and don’t want to pay big bucks to

purchase. It carries a long line of merchandise from clothing, to

furniture, to eccentric Knick knacks and more.

Our hours are 10 AM-4 PM Weds-Saturday, and our address is

884 Englewood Street, Madisonville TN, For more Information

call us at 423-420-3423

Congratulations to the

Cat Team.

The Cat Team reports it has spent

20 days at cat adoption events.105

cats and kittens have been adopted

at those events. Congratulations cat

team on all your hard work helping

the homeless cats of Monroe Coun-

ty.

Intake down, invento-ry up, along with food costs. Monroe County Animal Shelter intakes are lower at this point this year than 2016 by 3.3%. The rehome rate is 75.1%; up from last year. The ending inventory as of October 31

st is 205; 43

higher than it was in 2016. The increase in invento-ry means program ex-penses such as Animal

Food, Animal Health – Dogs and Animal Health – Shelter are higher than last year. Also larger inventory of cats and dogs puts greater demand on staff, volunteers, and wear on facilities.

Puppy House Fencing:

Dogs escaping from the puppy house when it is being

cleaned is a reoccurring problem. To remedy the situation of

escaping dogs it was recommended that a five foot fence

whose base is concreted in the ground be built. The fence will

will prevent any dogs that escape from the puppy house from

escaping the animal shelter grounds. The recommendation

was approved.

Pawsitive News: Nov/Dec 2017 Page 5

Bits and Pieces Continued

New Cat Condos: A summary of the cost of new stainless

steel cat condos and cages was discussed. The cat condos that

are currently being used are very difficult to clean and keep sani-

tary. Pricing is still needed for shipping, and misc. items. Once

that pricing is obtained, then a grant will be applied for in hopes of

being able to obtain a grant for the cat condos/cages.

Shelter Needs: Cat litter, paper towels, laundry detergent,

copy paper, bleach, q-tips, cotton balls, original blue dawn, any

cleaning and general office supplies are always needed. If you

have questions about specific needs contact: MCFA,

phone: 423.442.1015 or email: MCFA37885@gmail.com

Hours: Tues-Fri 11am to 4:30pm, Sat 11am-2 pm, closed

Sun/Mon.

MCFA is searching for volunteers: Help on various

committees and projects, and of course the shelter can al-

ways use more volunteers to socialize, walk dogs, and more.

If you are interested in helping email

MCFA37885@gmail.com with the words “I want to help.” in

the subject line. In the email describe how you wish to help

Question of the Month: Monroe County Friends of Animals is always col-

lecting money and must have a lot of it stashed

away. Why don’t they spend more money in help-

ing the county fix up the Monroe Animal Shelter?

Answer: The current Monroe County Animal Shelter is old and sadly outdated.

Most reasonable people would agree that sometime in the future the shelter will have

to be replaced. In addition, we must prepare for the very real possibility that in the

not too-distant future the county will no longer be able to rent the structure and the

grounds upon which the shelter is located.

In anticipation to planning for a new shelter, Monroe County Friends of Animals has

already purchased a site which will house the new shelter. The organization is build-

ing its cash reserves in order to help pay for the new structure.

Prudent fiduciary responsibility prevents the board of MCFA from spending its re-

serves on maintenance and capital expenditures of the existing structure. It frankly

would be like spending money on a sinking ship leaving no money for a sorely need-

ed new ship.

MCFA already supplies 100 percent of food, medical supplies and rescue opera-

tions at the shelter, and we apply for grants that recently have paid for the Puppy

House, the new van and other improvements at the shelter. The organization does

this all through the work of volunteers.

Rather than ask, “Why doesn’t MCFA spend more money to fix up the shel-

ter?” Perhaps the question should be, “Can you imagine what the Monroe

County Animal Shelter would be like if it wasn’t for MCFA? Possibly there

would be no shelter at all.”

Roadblocks. Great work and thank you to the volun-

teers who dodged traffic at the road blocks to collect

donations for Monroe County Friends of Animals. This

year we had three road blocks. On July 11 volunteers

collected $730.69 at Tellico Plains. On Sept. 11 they

collected $1511.09 in Sweetwater, and on November

13 the amount off $1266..62 was collected in Madi-

sonville. In all a total of $3538.10. .

Pawsitive News Nov/Dec 2017 Page 6

Pick of the Pics Do you have a fav pick of a MCFA activity, volunteer, or rescue dog or cat? If so send

it to “Pick of the Pics http://www.friendsofanimalsmc.org/.We will select pics that are

sent to us and run them in the next issue of Pawsitive News. Make sure you include

your name email address and details of the pic.

Debra Moore, Claire Moxim, and Sue Kimball discuss

MCFA Gala on TVB’s Pets and Their People

It takes more and more time and money to

maintain the old structure that houses the

Monroe County Animal Shelter

Parting with a foster dog can be tough,

but hopefully a forever home awaits this

dog at her destination in New Jersey.

Kitty and Smokey (Paul

and Tina Wenner at MCFA

Thrift Store

It is hard to resist the charm of a

sweet feline.

Who says cats aren’t social animals?

Three bundles of joy

ready to end their time

with foster parents and

find new forever homes

We wish them good

luck.

Pawsitive News is published bi-monthly by Monroe County Friend of Animals.

For Question of the month, Pick of the Pics, comments or ideas

please contact:

Keith Sanderson, Editor

Pawsitive News

P.O. Box 106, Vonore, TN 37885

Or email: MCFA37885@gmail.com