Fundraising Committee: 

Fundraising was headed by Althea Turner who has recently resigned and is no longer on island. Her report was presented by Jackie Pascher  …. “Good evening, 

Althea Turner was our Fund Raising Chairman for 2006 and along with her many volunteers did a fantastic job with our fund raising events.  In 2006 we had 3 major fund raisers which were 2 Bingo nights, one in January and one in June and then of course our Annual Yard Sale held in March. 

We are pleased to report the following profit realized from each of these events: 

Jan ‘06 Bingo               US $5908

June ‘06 Bingo             US $4037 

March Yard Sale          US $4613 

Total                            US $ 14,558 

I believe you will agree that this is a significant amount of money raised for our animals and it could not be done without the assistance of the many volunteers who helped at these events.   

In addition to the 3 events we have donation boxes in many stores and outlets around the island and the money deposited in 2006 amounted to close to $3000 USD.  That•s• a lot of coins!  The Airport, Albert Lake, Christine Flemings Grocery store in Long Bay and Barrel Stay Restaurant continue to be the leaders in money collected. 

The revenue from these events funded our spaying/neutering program which helps to decrease the over population of unwanted dogs/cats on the island.  The funds are also used to take care of unwanted animals while AARF finds them new homes. 

Thanks again to Althea Turner and to all of you who volunteered and made it possible for us to help our animals.”

Membership Committee:  

Gayle Gurvey reported that AARF currently has 147 members with a total of 167 the difference being those that still owe dues. Gayle set up an online computerized membership listing this year that automatically reminds people when there dues are due. Gayle has also been working on a new AARF brochure that is being produced by Jo-Anne Mason and should be ready by end of October.

 As the new Fundraising cochairman for 2007 - 08 Gayle also reminded everyone that the next bingo will be on Nov 24^th Bingo at Roy•s•, as although no date has been set we will be having our annual garage sale in the Spring.  

Spay & Neuter Committee:  

Suzie Donahue chairman of the Spay & Neuter Committee gave the following information on this project. “In early 2003 I was asked by our then, President Mr. Norris Payne to assist in the development and to manage a spay/neuter program here on Anguilla. Our first clinic was in July of 2003 and included veterinarians and technicians from the United States who joined AARF members in an exhaustive 3 day clinic held at Morlens Veterinary Hospital. This first attempt was successful in many ways, but most importantly in educating the public to the need and the positive results of sterilizing their dogs and cats. We continued the specific time and place clinic another year and then realized that we could do a better job if we offered this free clinic as an ongoing project instead of a once a year event. Dr Vanterpool readily agreed to continue to assist us and in 2005 we began our ongoing clinics.

Our continued concern about our adoptions found us developing an adoption contract and charging a small fee to those that adopted in hopes that the owner - by paying for his new pet would have a bigger stake in his welfare. This new program began in November of 2005 and included the first set of vaccinations and the sterilization surgery and although the $20 fee we charge helps to pay for the vaccinations, AARF pays all the expenses for the actual surgery. We also have many animals that come for surgery that are based on need and our Lehigh Fund – established in memory of David Johnson and the monies from our collection boxes throughout the island contribute to those surgeries. Almost 28% of the surgeries performed so far this year have been need based. You may question how a decision is made if an animal•s• surgery should be based on need and we usually defer to Dr. Vanterpool or Amy to make those decisions, although if you are aware of an animal that you feel needs the surgery and know the owner isn’t able or willing to bring the animal in AARF will certainly entertain any requests – our purpose is after all stopping the births of unwanted puppies and kittens here in Anguilla. 

This year has been another successful one! Since January Dr. Vanterpool assisted by Dr. Valerie Thomas of the Agriculture Department and Veterinary Technician, Amy Williams has performed 166 surgeries including 72 dog spays, 33 dog neuters, 39 cat spays and 22 cat neuters for a total spent of $8415.00. Of those numbers 18 dog spays, 7 dog neuters, 15 cat spays and 9 cat neuters were need based. My job is keeping up with the adoptions and providing an updated list to Morlens of those adoptions and need based animals, contact information and surgery dates, as well as the monies spent on this project and the number of completed surgeries follow up calls to the owners after surgery and other costs at the clinic.

In 2007 AARF estimates we will spend approximately $22,000 dollars on our spay/neuter project plus the daily care of boarding, bathing, feeding and treating the homeless dog/puppies, cat and kittens that are brought to our shelter for adoption.  

We wish to thank Morlens for their continued support of our program and all of our members and advocates for their continued donations to our fundraising events. 

I am pleased to announce that after 4 years AARF has sponsored 809 spay & neuter surgeries for the animals of Anguilla. That total includes 131 Cat Spays, 344 Dog Spays, 114 Cat Neuters and 181 Dog Neuters.

Considering that in 7 years one unspayed female cat and her offspring could produce 420,000 kittens and one unspayed female dog and her offspring could produce 4,372 puppies - we do indeed have much to be proud of!  Thank you. “ 

Adoption /Volunteer Committee: 

Maria Forman as chairman of the Adoption /Volunteer committee presented the  following report. “The Adoption Committee holds an average of 2 adoption days per month, based on the number of animals in AARF•s• care at the time. So far this year, AARF has found homes for 144 animals. 29 male dogs, 68 female dogs, 15 male cats, and 32 female cats, most of whom have also been spayed or neutered. 

Adoption days are usually held in front of supermarkets, and we want to thank Albert Lake•s• Supermarket, Best Buy and Ashley & Sons for their cooperation in letting us use their premises.

Currently we have about 15 active volunteers who help with adoption days, most of whom do a two hour shift about once a month. A BIG thank you to all those who have helped out at adoption days in the past! We are always in need of more volunteers! 

Volunteers are primarily responsible for helping with animal care at the adoption days, and with talking to prospective adopters. We always screen potential adopters, asking questions about where the animal will be kept. We also advise of future shot requirements, mandatory spay/neuter surgery requirements, and proper pet care & nutrition.  

Every new adopter is given a handout detailing proper pet care, and advising of next shot date & contact numbers if they have questions. They are also given a collar & leash (for puppies). 

The second part of our adoption program is Foster care. Since AARF•s• policy is that we will house animals at Morlens Vet Hospital for a maximum of 10 days, we do have situations where a suitable home cannot be found within that time frame. In these cases, we rely on foster parents to care for these animals until the next adoption day, or until a home is found. Foster parents also assist with caring for animals that need special attention, like animals too young for adoption, or needing some extra socialization before they become adoptable.

AARF is ALWAYS in need of more foster care parents. If you are interested in providing temporary care (even if it is only for a few days), please sign up to be a foster parent, and we will call you with more details. I would like to say a special thank you to all those people who have fostered animals within the past year. You have all truly “saved a life”!

We would now like to recognize a special couple who has fostered more animals than we can count. They are always willing to come to the aid of AARF, even taking on Momma dogs with litters, and many special socialization cases. They have gone above & beyond in helping care for these special animals, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts! I would like to present this award for Foster Parents of the Year to Madeline & Reggie. “

Following the Committee Reports President Carty asked if there were any other business. One question was asked in regard to how many animals AARF had to euthanize. Maria responded that it was a very small amount and that only sick or unsocialized animals would be put down and since the success of the fostering program very few healthy adoptable animals had been euthanized.

Volunteer of the Year Award: 

President Carty began the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year award by saying that when thinking of how to describe this person the first word that came to mind was “gracious”. She continued to say that this person never said NO to any requests for help whether it is fostering, adoption days, and yard sale sorting or working at the actual event, bingo nights or any other events that AARF worked.

She presented the award to Michele Morland.

New Officers: 

Finally President Carty announced that as there were no volunteers to run for office this year an election was not necessary. The following agreed to serve on the board of AARF for the 2007 -2008 term.  

President                               Christine Carty                                             

Vice President                      Suzie Donahue

Secretary                               Kim Fleming

Treasurer                               Jackie Pascher                                

Elected Ordinary Member    Linda Gratton                                    

Elected Ordinary Member    Gayle Gurvey

She also recognized and welcomed Simone Connor who will serve on the board with Gayle Gurvey as the Fundraising co chairmen and announced that  Linda Gratton will be the new Education Chairman.

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings

The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate.

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.
-Franklin P. Jones

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise.
-Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret