ARF turned 27 in 2022
Animal Rescue Foundation was founded and legally incorporated as a non-profit corporation in December of 1995. ARF's purpose was to promote animal rights, to support a spay and neuter program, to rescue abandoned animals and to provide education on animal rights. Madeline Busby, Nancy Gipson, Betsy Hass, Mona Pate and Dianne Robers were all active in the animal welfare community and decided to band together and form a group of their own. They were joined by Doug James and Brad Berg.
ARF has been active in animal rights issues from its beginning. Brad Berg had rescued two dogs from being drowned by their owner in a swimming pool. ARF's newly elected officers attended the judge's hearing about this incident. The man was given a sentence that included fines and the most community service in Mobile County's history. Originally, ARF had no facility to house its rescue animals. Instead, many kind families opened their homes and hearts as foster families until permanent homes could be found. Even though we now have a facility, we still rely heavily on foster families to extend the reach of our rescue and help more animals.
ARF has grown immensely since 1995 but its core foundation still remains the same. We are indebted to ARF's founding members for their efforts and for the great organization they have built. We take pride in our history and strive to always hold true to the vision of this special group of animal champions
ARF has been active in animal rights issues from its beginning. Brad Berg had rescued two dogs from being drowned by their owner in a swimming pool. ARF's newly elected officers attended the judge's hearing about this incident. The man was given a sentence that included fines and the most community service in Mobile County's history. Originally, ARF had no facility to house its rescue animals. Instead, many kind families opened their homes and hearts as foster families until permanent homes could be found. Even though we now have a facility, we still rely heavily on foster families to extend the reach of our rescue and help more animals.
ARF has grown immensely since 1995 but its core foundation still remains the same. We are indebted to ARF's founding members for their efforts and for the great organization they have built. We take pride in our history and strive to always hold true to the vision of this special group of animal champions
Our first shelter on Holcombe Ave.
In 2002, ARF gained a huge asset that greatly changed the way the rescue worked. ARF got its own facility to use as a shelter, our very first ARFanage. The building and property were donated to ARF by Dr. Stuart Dowling, DVM. He had retired from his vet practice in the late 1990's and his old office and kennels were no longer in use. Renovations to this facility were funded by a grant from the Mapp Family Foundation.
With the ARFanage, the number of animals under ARF's care greatly expanded as did our need for volunteers and funding. In 2004, ARF's largest fundraiser was born... Woofstock! This Halloween themed, music festival draws thousands of pet loving Mobilians downtown for our dog costume contest, wiener dog race and much more.
In 2005, ARF took another leap forward when we qualified for acceptance into the Mobile County Maddie's Pet Rescue Project. This partnership brought together ARF, Mobile SPCA, the City of Mobile Animal Shelter and Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter. Maddie's Fund is a nationwide project aimed at creating a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats have a chance for life and adoption. This decade long project transformed each partner and enabled our community to expand our rescue operations.
With the ARFanage, the number of animals under ARF's care greatly expanded as did our need for volunteers and funding. In 2004, ARF's largest fundraiser was born... Woofstock! This Halloween themed, music festival draws thousands of pet loving Mobilians downtown for our dog costume contest, wiener dog race and much more.
In 2005, ARF took another leap forward when we qualified for acceptance into the Mobile County Maddie's Pet Rescue Project. This partnership brought together ARF, Mobile SPCA, the City of Mobile Animal Shelter and Friends of the Mobile Animal Shelter. Maddie's Fund is a nationwide project aimed at creating a no-kill nation where all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats have a chance for life and adoption. This decade long project transformed each partner and enabled our community to expand our rescue operations.
More space to help the community on Rangeline Rd.
In 2009, it was clear that ARF was still growing! Our little vet clinic was beyond full and showing lots of wear and tear. At the first meeting of the year, a new board of directors moved to create a building fund and channeled efforts into fundraising to open a new facility. With monies from Maddie's Fund, the now hugely successful Woofstock and many private donations, the building fund began to grow. In 2011, ARF purchased a property on Rangeline Rd. to serve as our new home. Vice President Lynn Carter took the helm as project manager and worked closely with our contractor, RJ Baggett. They generously donated their services in managing the entire renovation to turn our property into a shelter!
In March 2012, the renovations were finally complete and the dogs and cats were moved from our cramped space on Holcombe Ave. to our more spacious facility on Rangeline Rd. This facility offers dog suites with access to outdoor runs instead of kennels, allowing the rescues to live together. The facility also boasts separate play areas, isolation, intake holding and a medical area, greatly expanding our capacity from our little vet clinic.
For the past 8 years, thousands of animals (including 1 pig) have called this facility their temporary home. Hundreds of volunteers have donated tens of thousands of hours time to care for our animals within these walls. This facility allowed us the space to help take in animals from hoarding cases and other situations where animal control needed capacity to play a lot of animals quickly. We've hosted birthday parties, plant sales, boy and girl scout troop meetings, BBQ's, Santa Pictures and countless other events here too.
As 2020 continues, we are closing the door on this chapter at ARF and moving forward with future plans. We invite you to read about those plans here and join us as we work towards a sustainable future to serve the community for another 25 years and beyond!
In March 2012, the renovations were finally complete and the dogs and cats were moved from our cramped space on Holcombe Ave. to our more spacious facility on Rangeline Rd. This facility offers dog suites with access to outdoor runs instead of kennels, allowing the rescues to live together. The facility also boasts separate play areas, isolation, intake holding and a medical area, greatly expanding our capacity from our little vet clinic.
For the past 8 years, thousands of animals (including 1 pig) have called this facility their temporary home. Hundreds of volunteers have donated tens of thousands of hours time to care for our animals within these walls. This facility allowed us the space to help take in animals from hoarding cases and other situations where animal control needed capacity to play a lot of animals quickly. We've hosted birthday parties, plant sales, boy and girl scout troop meetings, BBQ's, Santa Pictures and countless other events here too.
As 2020 continues, we are closing the door on this chapter at ARF and moving forward with future plans. We invite you to read about those plans here and join us as we work towards a sustainable future to serve the community for another 25 years and beyond!