Focus on Cumberland County Animal Safety

The FOCCAS Distress Animal Fund fills a prevalent need in our community. Many pets are abandoned on the roadside by their owners and strays are often left to fend for themselves for long periods of time. Kind-hearted citizens often rescue these animals and find they are serious injuries or illnesses that need to be addressed right away. The county animal shelter does not have the funding required to help such animals and there is a risk of euthanization if they are taken there.This program allows us to save these abandoned pets by covering the expenses of their medical needs. FOCCAS members provide foster homes until they can be adopted into loving permanent home. Each one is altered, wormed, heart worm tested (and treated, if necessary) and vaccinated. In 2023, FOCCAS served 13 dogs, 2 cats, and 1 rabbit for a total of cost of $31,642.57.

FOCCAS launched CORD in the winter of 2018-19 in order to address the suffering and neglect we witness in our community on a regular basis. Much of the neglect we see is due to lack of understanding and/or lack of resources. CORD seeks to address these issues by providing education and the needed resources to allow dogs who are forced to live outside, better and safer lives. We offer free dog houses for those who have none or have substandard shelter as well as straw for houses in the winter time. We offer kennels for small dog being housed outside in order for them to be allowed to come inside at night to keep them safe. Our volunteers have made 60 pound tip-proof water and food bowls with a removable 5 qt stainless steel bowl in a poured concrete base. FOCCAS on Breaking the Chains is an important aspect of CORD as well as offering spay and neuter options for dogs tethered outside.

Many homeless, lost and injured cats are
rescued by our volunteers. They specialize in helping community
cats through the national TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and
Return) program. Stray cats living in colonies are trapped,
neutered, inoculated, and fostered until they can be adopted; truly feral cats are treated and returned to their colony. When possible, we take in pets being surrendered by their owners and more often, stray kittens and adult cats. Once healthy and fully vetted, they are adopted into loving homes. In 2023, FOCCAS took in 10 cats and placed 19 cats into new homes.

Abandoned, stray and homeless dogs & puppies are a constant occurance in our rural county. There are hundreds unwanted litters born every year. Although we have a county-run animal shelter, they are often full and the waiting list for owners surrendering their pets in months long. FOCCAS is the only resuce opperating in Cumberland County . We accept a large population of dogs and puppies. Each one is fostered in a home environment, fully vetted and placed for adoption on Petfinder and AdoptAPet. We frequently rescue "unadoptable" pets such as hospice dogs and unsocialized dogs. They remain in foster care until the end of their lives. In 2023, FOCCAS took in 287 dogs and placed 246 dogs into new homes.