Welcome to Treasured Friends Rescue!
Treasured Friends is a no-kill, non-profit animal rescue group dedicated to care and placement of abandoned/unwanted pets. Strictly foster based, our volunteers provide food, shelter, care, and compassion to our furry friends until they find a loving home. Our mission is to educate the public on the importance of spaying/neutering pets to avoid pet overpopulation, and find a warm, safe place for every adoptable dog or cat to call their forever home.
Treasured Friends will be at Petsmart the first Friday of every month from 4-7PM. Please Come Down and Adopt your New Best Friend!
Treasured Friends is at Griffith Central Market Every Friday 3PM - 9PM.
Every Friday 3PM - 9PM
Griffith Central Park
600 N. Broad St.
Griffith, IN 46319
Visit Griffith Central Market for more info.
Purchase a Pet-Friendly Licence Plate to help all Shelters Become No-Kill in the State of Indiana. Click on the Image Below:
How to Plan for Pet Ownership in your Senior Years
Below is a great article on planning for pet ownership as you grow older. Please read the article here.
Thank You to all our Supporters! We Couldn't Do it Without YOU!
Last year we adopted out over 300 cats and dogs! We also helped over 200 people get their pets spayed and neutered. We couldn’t help as many pets without the support from our volunteers and donors!
FIV Myths Dispelled
FIV positive cats can live long, healthy and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all, yet there is so much misinformation circling about this disease that some veterinarians still recommend euthanizing cats who test positive.
FIV, or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, is a cat-only disease which cannot be transferred to humans or other animals. It is a slow virus that affects the cat’s immune system over a period of years. The infected cat can fight off the infection and become totally immune, can become a carrier that never gets sick, or worst, end up with a compromised immune system.
FIV is not easily passed between cats as it cannot be spread casually through litter boxes, food and water bowls, or snuggling and playing. This disease is transferred when an infected cat bites another cat and breaks the other cat’s skin. This means that a neutered cat in a home is highly unlikely to infect any other cats as long as they are properly introduced or are not particularly aggressive in nature. FIV is much more difficultly transmitted than people are led to believe, and there is often confusion between FIV and FeLV.
FIV is shrouded in rumor and prejudice, and as a result too many cats are deemed unadoptable and end up being euthanized. We have three beautiful FIV positive kitties listed below. We have our animals up at the Schererville Petsmart from noon until 4 on the weekends, or contact us if you'd like to meet one of them.
Kitten Season is in Full Swing!!
We have many available for adoption or fostering. Please call or email us if you can help!!
Dangerous Winter Holiday Plants for Pets
Animals will often chew plants to get some roughage. Animals also eat leaves for reasons we do not always understand. There are some types of decorative plants that are toxic to dogs and cats. In some cases, only mild indigestion and discomfort will result, in other cases, the toxicity can lead to more severe health problems, and even fatalities. If you are planning to bring holiday foliage into your home this year this season, you will need to know which plants are safe, which should be kept out of your pet’s reach, and which should be avoided entirely.
- Pointsettia - People have been led to believe that the poinsettia plant is deadly for pets and children, but this is actually an unlikely occurrence. The poinsettia plant’s brightly colored leaves contain a sap that is irritating to the tissues of the mouth and esophagus. If the leaves are ingested, they will often cause nausea and vomiting, but it would take a large amount of the plant’s material to cause poisoning, and most animals and children will not eat such a large enough amount because of the irritating taste and feel from the sap. Kittens and puppies are at a higher risk of poisoning.
- Holly and Mistletoe - Holly and mistletoe, along with their berries, have a greater toxicity level than the poinsettia. Symptoms of illness form ingesting these plants include intestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea, excessive drooling, and abdominal pain. Mistletoe is well known for causing severe intestinal upset, as well as a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure, breathing problems, and even hallucinations (unusual behavior). If a large enough amount of these plants are ingested, seizures and death may follow. The leaves and berries of holly and mistletoe plants, even the dried plants, should be kept well out of your pet's reach, or kept out of the home altogether.
- Lillies and Daffodils - Plants in the lily and daffodil family can be toxic to pets. In cats, Lilium and Hemerocallis genera lilies are the most dangerous. Eating even a small amount of the plant will have a severe impact on a cat's system, causing severe symptoms such as gastrointestinal issues, arrhythmia, and convulsions. Daffodils are also toxic to both dogs and cats, especially the bulbs.
- Amaryllis - The Amaryllis contains Lycorine and other noxious substances, which cause salivation, gastrointestinal abnormalities (vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and abdominal pain), lethargy, and tremors in both cats and dogs. The bulb of the plant is reputed to be even more dangerous than the flowers and stalk. The Amaryllis also goes by other names, including Belladonna, Saint Joseph Lily, Cape Belladonna, and Naked Lady.
- Christmas Cactus - The Christmas Cactus (or its relative, the Easter Cactus) plant is not toxic to dogs in either its parts or flowers. The same lack of toxicity applies for cats. However, fibrous plant material can cause irritation to the stomach and intestine, leading to vomiting or diarrhea.
- The Christmas Tree - There are other dangers to consider with the Christmas tree other than lights and ornaments. The oils produced by fir trees can be irritating to a pet's mouth and stomach, causing excessive vomiting or drooling. The tree needles, meanwhile, may cause gastrointestinal irritation, obstruction and puncture.
Building Winter Shelters for Community Cats
Building a winter shelter for your outdoor cats can be both simple and inexpensive.
Two of the more popular styles are:
- Styrofoam coolers
- Rubbermaid™ plastic storage bins with removable lids. It’s important the brand is Rubbermaid™; otherwise, the plastic walls may crack in cold temperatures.
When constructing a shelter, here are a few basic ideas to keep in mind.
All good shelter designs share two qualities:
- Strong insulation – needed to trap body heat, which turns the cats into little radiators. Use straw, not hay or blankets.
- Minimal air space – a smaller interior area means that less heat is needed to keep the occupants warm.
For complete instructions, download the PDF from Alley Cat Advocates here.
Take Your Dog for a Walk and Support Treasured Friends!
Every time you walk your dog, Wooftrax will donate! It's that simple! Click the link in the banner below to get the app for your Android or IPhone.
Help Treasured Friends by Joining Amazon Smile!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization.
On your first visit to AmazonSmile, you need to select Treasured Friends as your organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. Amazon will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation.
*** Treasured Friends Has Many Nice Barn Cats Available for Adoption! Click here to download an application.
Your Pet May be Eligible for a Low Cost Spay Neuter Assistance Program
Limited income pet owners pay $20 per surgery after meeting eligibility requirements. Please follow this link to see if you qualify.
Scooter Has a Very Important Message for You!! Please Click the Link Below to View.
http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/scooter-neutered/
Looking For Low Cost Spay/Neuter Options?
Download the flyer here.
Treasured Friends Now Has a Wish List at Amazon.com
Please click here to view our wish list.
Treasured Friends is in Need of New Cages
This request is on behalf of thousands of animals in shelters in Northwest Indiana. Treasured Friends is trying to ease the burden on shelters by providing adoptions at the Schererville Petsmart on weekends by showcasing animals that are in local shelters.
Every weekend, excluding holidays, we have volunteers encouraging shelter adoptions and spay and neuter programs at Petsmart. In order for us to promote the advantage of shelter animals and the love that these animals can provide in a forever home, we set up cages to house the animals for view of interested parties. The cages are set up and taken down every weekend, which causes extreme wear and tear on the cages. The cages then become unsafe to use and less animals are able to be transported for adoption.
At this time, we are asking local businesses or any other donors to help out these shelter animals. Treasured Friends is looking to purchase new collapsible cages and condos. These cages run approximately $100 apiece and are going to be purchased at chewy.com. If your business is interested in saving the life of a shelter animal, donations can be made to Treasured Friends Animal Rescue at PO Box 9234, Highland, IN 46322, or you may donate via our Paypal option at left. With your generous donation, we will advertise your business on the cage for everyone to view how your local business supports rescuing animals from shelters and possible euthanasia. Please indicate on the memo of your check, or in the Paypal option that it is for the purchase of cages. Please note that our organization is a 501(c)3 and your donation is tax deductible. Your generosity is very much appreciated.
Featured Pets
Please click on the image to view details.
