Why doesn't anyone want them?! There are so many spectacular benefits when it comes to adopting a senior dog that it amazes us that so few get adopted! I know, I know, many people want a little puppy that can grow with them, and because they are so little and adorable, but senior dogs are just as adorable too! Some of the top few benefits of adopting a senior dog include:

• No teething - They have passed their teething stage! Shoes, furniture, your childs math homework are in the clear! Senior dogs have no intrest in that stuff like younger puppies do.

• Mellowed out - Senior dogs are more focused because they have passed that hyper active, never can have a chilled out moment stage. Now don't get me wrong, many senior dogs still have plenty of energy, just don't be expecting them to charge around your house for hours at a time!

• Easy to train - more mellowed, more focused, makes sense

• Settle in easier- older dogs have been around the block a couple of times, literaly, they know what it's like to be around people and other dogs. However, puppymill dogs will still take lots of TLC because for the most part, all they have ever known is a kennel. Nevertheless, puppymill dogs tend to know they are rescued and will bond to their new people beautifully.

• Attached - older dogs tend to attach more quickly to their people and are appeiciative of their new home where as puppies don't know how life in a shelter really is because they are not very old.

• The whole picture - What you see is generally what you get. Senior dogs are done growing, so you know exactly what your going to be looking at both size wise and their "personality".

•  Good nights sleep and time to yourself - puppies can whine and cry throughout the night, and become very demanding when it comes to training and exercise. Older dogs don't generally need midnight potty breaks or late night comforting, nor do they need a constant feed of entertainment like most puppies.

2ND ANNUAL APPLEBEE'S BREAKFAST WITH SANTA CLAWS COMING SOON!

Under Applebee’s “Community Connections,” a community outreach program sponsored by Applebee’s® International, Inc., Furry Kids’ Refuge is pleased to announce its 2nd Annual Holiday “Flapjack Fundraiser – Breakfast with Santa Claws” on Saturday, December 13, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar: 205 Melody Lane, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Santa will be there along with other suprise visitors! We will have GREAT raffle prizes and all kinds of other goodies for all! You'll enjoy a GREAT Applebee's breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausage and a beverage of your choice and you're sure to have a GREAT time!

The funds raised by Breakfast with Santa Claws helps Furry Kids get through th slow winter months. Adoptions tend to slow down but we still have a lot of vet bills to pay! Your participation is so appreciated, we love seeing all our adopters and supporters at our fundraising events!

In recognition of the generosity of this community to Furry Kids Refuge, tickets purchased in advance of the event will be offered at a special early bird rate of $5 each and will be available for online purchase at www.furrykidsrefuge.org, or at Furry Kids’ Refuge adoption events, held each Saturday at Lee’s Summit Petco (1860 N.W. Chipman Road, Lee’s Summit, Missouri).   Tickets will be available at the door the morning of the event for $10 each.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKET ONLINE!
Early bird rate of just $5 each!
Date: Saturday, December 13th
Time: 8am-10am
Location: 701 SE Melody Lane (Hwy 291 North and SE Bayberry Ln) in Lee's Summit
Contact: email admin@furrykidsrefuge.org for more information
Visit our website for more information.

While Furry Kids takes in so many very adoptable, well adjusted, young dogs and cats, we still do not shy away from taking in those who so desperately need our help.

Three months ago, Carla and I visited the Lee's Summit Shelter to take in young Puggle and a young Border Collie mix when we saw this poor little red chow who was in terrible condition. Being a chow lover, I sent her picture to my husband who promptly dropped everything and rushed over to see her. According to the woman who works at the shelter, he sat on the floor and she walked right up to him and nuzzled in to his chest. He then stood up and said, "And her name shall be Phyllis". And so, Phyllis became a Furry Kid.

I took her right to the vet's office to have her thoroughly examined. The results of the visit showed rotten teeth, degenerative joint disease in her hips and knees and severe flea allergy dermatitis (she had no hair on the rear half of her). We had quite a few teeth pulled, had her shaved down to start a fresh coat and took her home. My husband cooked her eggs and ham every night and mixed in a little flax seed oil. Her fresh coat came in so thick and beautiful we were amazed. She was sweet and funny, just a joy to be around.

Life moved a little slower when spending time with Phyllis. One must move at her slow pace, and boy did we enjoy it. Every moment was cherished with this special dog. Just three weeks ago we could tell she wasn't feeling good. She didn't want to eat and was rather lethargic, had lost the spunk in her step. We visited the vet's office and tried some medication to no avail. Another examination with an xray showed lesions in her stomach. The doctor said there was a chance it was cancer. In researching, we found that stomach cancer is the most common type of cancer in Chows. She declined quickly and another series of xrays did not show any good prognosis. Research shows that stomach cancer treatments are too invasive for such an old dog. An extremely difficult decision had to be made..and had to be made with Phyllis' quality of life in mind. We lost Phyllis on Saturday, November 1. We are angry that she only had 3 months of love and comfort yet we are grateful she had 3 months of love and comfort. There is a hole in our lives and she will be in our hearts forever.

We rescue because we love animals. We know that with all the happiness of seeing dogs and cats get adopted to wonderful familes we still will experience the tragedies of loosing them too. Whether they leave us to find a new family or leave us to cross the bridge, they will all remain in our hearts forever. We care for the young and the old and we will continue on because they need us.

Written by Kim Accurso, President, Furry Kids Refuge

THIS IS THE BEST LAB IN THE WORLD! Hank Junior is a ball of energy and full of people love. Hank Jr. loves to play in the yard with balls or anything he can pick up in his mouth and play keep-away with. He lights up when people come around and just wants his belly scratched. Hank Jr actually sleeps on his back like a person - we think just in case someone would happen to want to scratch his tummy!! He is a loverboy and he is housetrained. The only catch is that Hank Jr. should go to a family who doesn't have any other dogs or cats, he wants to be an only dog. He really needs a 6' privacy fence because this ornry boy can jump a 4' fence. Please don't let these things deter you because he is really a great dog, he just needs a chance to show you that! And, Furry Kids volunteers will spend time with you giving you some pointers on how to walk him without having him pull you around the neighborhood :) Hank Jr was rescued from the Independence shelter quite some time ago where he was out of time. Such a great furry kid could not be lost so we rescued him and he is looking for a family to call his own. Please give Hank Jr a chance in your search for a new companion - you'd be giving a dog a home who has been searching for a very long time....

Read more about Hank Jr. on his Petfinder page!

Talulah is such a sweet heart! She needs a loving home. If you'll notice, both our featured dog and cat have black coats. So many times, black dogs and cats are overlooked because their coats don't stand out. We hope you'll notice these two wonderful animals, though! Talulah will make a wonderful companion - she just needs to be noticed by that special person who will fall in love with her! She's just a few years old, uses her litter box and loves attention! She has gorgeous eyes and a sleek black coat. If you'd like to know more about Talulah, please email us or fill out an application from our website (click on "Adopt A Cat") today!

Call us or come by an adoption event and we would be happy to microchip your pet with a 24PetWatch™ microchip for just $20. 

Registration is free and easy and easy to update from the internet!

For 3 years running, the KaCSFFS has chosen Furry Kids as the charitable organization for their annual Contra Convention. This amazing group of people have saved the lives of many homeless animals by raising money each year for us. We love being able to take a dog to visit them during their auction and closing ceremonies. Maybe we should say the dog loves to visit them during the auction and closing ceremonies! We SO appreciate them and their dedication to homeless animals and Furry Kids!!!

When you go to a party and mention that you foster, more often than not, the person to whom you are talking is very solicitous of you and the effort you are making to make a difference in an animal’s life.  But I am always quick to respond that the real heroes are not George and I but our own pets.  When a new foster comes into our lives, the pets welcome them with open paws and show them the ropes.  There is no arguing over territory or whose toy is whose toy.  They do not show any aggression when the new foster seems to get the lion’s share of the attention.  Our dogs welcome them into the fold graciously and even seem a little sad when the foster finds a new forever home.  I am a great believer that people could learn a lot from their pets.  So here’s to all the pets whose mommy and daddy foster – You’re the real heroes!!!!!!
-Judy Devenport, Furry Kids Foster Mom

Saturdays from noon - 5pm at the Petco in Lee's Summit. Visit our website for up to date information!

Please visit our website and send us your story and pictures if you can and we’ll post them on our Happy Furry Kids Page!

Thank you to all who have sent their stories – it is so heartwarming to see our Furry Kids in their forever homes!

INTERESTED IN ADDING A FURRY KID TO YOUR FAMILY?

What if Furry Kids earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.Just go to goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Furry Kids Refuge as the charity you want to support.