Dear Friends,

Let me explain why ARF is a reality and what we are about. If all humans practiced responsible pet guardianship, if all humans respected all living creatures, if all humans wanting a companion animal rescued through adoption rather than adding to overpopulation through breeder and pet store purchases, if all pet guardians spayed and neutered their animals, if all pet guardians worked hard to find solutions to keep their animals rather than easily surrendering them, if there were enough homes for every animal in every shelter, if there were no animals suffering on the streets, if no animals were either euthanized or kept long term in cages, there would not be a need for ARF but, unfortunately, there IS a need.

Every organization starts by writing a mission statement. This explains WHAT the organization is and it's purpose. ARF's mission statement is as follows: The corporation is to be a non-profit, publicly supported, non-facility, humane organization founded to prevent the over breeding of cats and dogs by providing educational materials and programs, and financial assistance to pet guardians/owners for the purpose of spaying or neutering their pets in order to prevent the births of unwanted animals and their eventual suffering.

ARF is an all-volunteer organization which receives no pay from city, state or government. We have no assets such as a facility, land, oil wells or a large bank account nor do we have any paid employees. We do this from the heart. We work tirelessly, endlessly, often thanklessly for the work we do to rescue, love, care for, and advocate for the animals that some members of our community neglect, abuse, abandon and throw away.

Building a successful organization is a means of creating a sense of community in which people work together to accomplish collective goals. These goals and objectives are necessary to set to attain the mission statement. ARF's goals are: conduct an aggressive spay and neuter campaign which includes providing FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES hence "The Brandy Fund"; HUMANE EDUCATION which teaches compassion and respect for all living beings including the important benefits of the human/animal bond entitled "The Paws Cause"; and a PET REFERRAL SERVICE- which first offers assistance in "How can we help you keep your pet?" ARF networks with humane organizations and breed rescue programs. ARF also helps facilitate the adoption of stray, abandoned, neglected, abused and surrendered cats and dogs into stable, loving homes.

ARF fulfills these three goals to 100% of our ability! To accomplish our agenda, our progressive organization emphasizes a willingness to network together with our community, its leaders and other animal welfare organizations including nationally known societies for societal change. We stay abreast of current laws, ethics and animal welfare information.

I believe ARF's impact of success goes far beyond the members of our group. It is not simply achieving a better future for our animal friends that counts, but getting there in a way that is empowering to our human friends. Respectful listening to the opinions of others and broad participation in decision making lead to more effective actions. As the President and Founder of ARF, I believe the animal groups in this county should have a respectful collaboration - setting aside differences in politics, financial status, conflicts of interest, population quotas, etc. if we could focus on a common cause - helping to end the suffering of animals in our county. To date, we have been unsuccessful in creating cooperation and alliance despite our efforts but we won't stop there. In sum, there is much to be done in Wayne County. As more and more animals are euthanized or are in anguish, the need is increasingly urgent. We know the way - let us continue our proud march!

By viewing and reading our webpages, seeing and hearing of the generous work we do and the knowing of the enormous impact we have made for our animal friends, we hope you now have a better understanding of who we are, what we do and where our money raised through donations, memberships, and/or fundraisers is spent. We also invite you to attend one or more of our meetings, the second Thursday of the months of January, April, July and October at 6:00 p.m., C.P. Church in Fairfield, IL.

We are always in need of helpers and believe volunteers are unpaid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless! Won't you join us today?

There are few words to describe how one feels to share their lives with animals and even more so to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome those less fortunate and in need. Advocating for those who have no voice is a huge responsibility but the rewards are truly priceless. I am doing what I love to do... it gives me meaning, it gives me purpose, my life is full and my heart is even fuller.

Sincerely,

Teresa Bullard, BSW
Founder and President
Animals Requesting Friends Benevolent Society

I leave you with the following quotes and poem:

You never soar so high as when you stoop down to help a child or an animal.
- Anonymous

If what you're working for really matters, you'll give it all you've got.
- Nido Qubein

Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.
- Albert Schweitzer

A Sense of Goose
This fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter flying in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered about why they fly that way. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V " formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone - and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are headed the same way we are. When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying south.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

- Author Unknown