Spring 2009

A non-profit, tax-exempt organization
SPRING 2009
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 1
CHICAGO OR BUST
by Martha Hovers
O
n March 17, my cousin, Crystal Hall, and I set out for
Chicago in Jody O’Donnell’s Cadillac Escalade with 17
ARFhouse dogs. Jody was kind enough to loan the Caddie to
us for this transport. (He’s always on-board for finding loving
homes for the dogs.) After driving almost 17 hours we arrived
at the doorstep of Mutt Hutt, the boarding facility in downtown
Chicago that houses our dogs until they’re adopted. It was 3:00
am; we were tired, but Tex, Linda Widmer Cairo, and Linda’s
husband, Joe Cairo, met us on the front steps of Mutt Hutt and
began unloading our precious cargo immediately. They got the
dogs situated and we were off to Tex’s fabulous downtown penthouse to get some rest. He was the perfect host and actually
the trip would have been worth the trouble just to get to see his
place. But that’s a different story altogether.
The next morning we went directly to Mutt Hutt where Linda and Joe had already been working to get our dogs fed and
walked and acclimated to being at the kennel and doggie daycare facility until they’re adopted. Then at noon we set off for
the return trip to Texas. We’ll be reporting
the news of adoptions
in our summer newsletter.
For more information on ARFhouse
Chicago, see next
page.
Corey (Day Manager of Mutt Hutt), Linda Widmer Cairo
(tall one), Donna (owner of Mutt Hutt), and Martha Hovers
(behind Donna).
(Left) “Peg” (brown & white
chi) and “Boots” (black
chi) are enjoying a little
attention on the road. They
like Cadillacs.
(Right) “Lefty” is on the
road to the big city.
ARFhouse & ARFhouse Chicago
ARFhouse Visits the
Seniors
Many of you have asked us why we must rely on another
group to find homes for our animals. I want to answer that
question and expand on our relationship with these great
people:
First of all, caring for the 330+ dogs at ARFhouse is a
full-time job for 8 employees and at least 6 volunteers at any
given time. The 45 acres requires maintenance, and the dogs
demand care and attention 24/7. We do list our “adoptables” on
PetFinder, but it would seem that because of our rural location,
the larger number of folks who would adopt aren’t willing to
drive to our place. This means that our local adoption numbers
are small. Also, to run an aggressive adoption program takes
enormous energy and time. The ARFhouse Chicago group,
led by Linda, takes great pains to find the perfect home for
each and every dog. Linda makes home visits, she qualifies the
prospective adopter through a stringent application process,
she checks references, and interviews the family at length that
is applying for one of our dogs.
When ARFhouse Chicago set up their non-profit they
asked to use our name and we were pleased to have them as
our “affiliate” group, even though they’re a separate entity
with their own tax ID. It’s been a positive move for them as
well as for our animals. They found homes for 78 of our dogs
last year and we believe that number will top 100 in 2009.
We don’t want to be just a “warehouse” for the discarded and
abandoned dogs. We strive to be a “way station” on their way
to a better life, and our Chicago friends make this possible for
many of them.
Stonebrook Assisted Living Center in Denison, Texas
invited us to bring one of our dogs for a visit. “Teddy,”
the pomeranian, dropped in on many of the residents,
bringing smiles and pats from all, along with lots of
oooo’s and aaaah’s. Here’s a picture of Teddy with
Charles Ingram and Swannie Stanzyk. Teddy has been
adopted, but we’ll have another “ambassador” from
ARFhouse who will be just as eager for the attention and
will visit the seniors at Stonebrook in late February.
Charles Ingram
Swannie Stanzyk
MATCHING
GIFTS
Have you asked your supervisor if your
company makes matching gifts? Here are a
few companies who have matched employee
gifts for ARFhouse:
IBM
American Airlines
Hewlett-Packard
Bank of America
Black & Decker
Illinois Tool Works Foundation
(This company matches
3 for 1!)
Remember “Solomon?” The sweet (and beautiful) Aussie who came
from North Texas Aussie Rescue? Here he is with his new friend,
“Asta,” and Juanita and Richard, who have taken him into their home
after their Aussie passed away. Richard has written a story about
Solomon and how they came to ARFhouse to adopt him. Watch for
that story in our summer newsletter.
-2-
THANKS
Thanks go out to Grayson
Appraisal District. They “passed
the plate” at Christmas and their
employees gave our dogs $250.
“Bertie” arrived the 3rd week of February, along with her 6 puppies. She was
found in the middle of a nearby highway by an ARFhouse friend. As you can see,
she’s emaciated and sad. Hopefully she’ll look much improved in our summer
newsletter picture. She’s eating enough for 3 dogs.
These are “The Rats”....
“Lucy” and “Daisy.”
They were found in a
box next to a dumpster
at the lake. They went to
new Chicago homes on
March 17th.
Special Thank You
Thanks
TO THE PEOPLE WHO
HELP OUR DOGS
Louis & Fay Elrod
Tom Thumb Distribution Center
IESI
Sherman Wal-Mart
Texas Manufacturing in
Whitesboro
Danny & Dr. John Brakebill
Stacey & Dr. Clay Morris
Brakebill Veterinary Clinic Staff
Jennifer Hillary
Niemann Publications
Linda Widmer
Bo Kershaw
PetCo
PetSmart
Thank You
A SPECIAL THANKS goes out to Texas Manufacturing
in Whitesboro, Texas. They donated all the pipe for the
new shade/shelter canopies.
These donations reduced
the price of each canopy
considerably. We appreciate
the friendship and generosity
of these good folks who love
the dogs and are community
service minded.
If you would like to see our newsletter in color, go to
the homepage of our website and click on the little
page in the left corner.
This beautiful young lady is Kaitlyn Windlow. She’s 9
years old and in the 3rd grade. Her dad says Kaitlyn has
always loved animals and decided that on her birthday she
wanted her friends at school to bring gifts for ARFhouse
rather than for her. Thus, we were presented with a cash
gift as well as lots of food for our dogs.
ARFhouse’s newsletter is published by the Animal Refuge Foundation,
3377 Spalding Rd., Sherman, TX 75092. Phone (903) 564-7056. Martha
Hovers, Editor. ARFhouse Directors: Danny Brakebill, Martha Hovers,
LuRuth Taylor.
-3-
Dear Martha:
I think from gifts by others that
you know we had to let Sammy go
on December 16. He was over 15,
remarkable for a Golden Retriever
with a hard beginning.
He was with Kathy and me for
almost 10 years after his rescue and
this donation is to remember him
and to help others like him. From the
beginning, even with the heartworms
we had to cure and the later loss of
his tail by an encounter with a car, he
was independent and did it his way.
“Sammy”
His spirit was indomitable regardless
beloved dog of Lynn & Kathy Surls
of severe adversity.
He loved his family of us and our other dogs and lived a great life,
with good quality, almost to the very end. I doubt that in my lifetime I will ever
stop missing him.
But this gift is also to honor the ones who gave Sammy that great life
in his last 2 years. He would want to thank both of them and have them
remembered in this gift.
First, Dr. Fred Williams worked miracles with Sammy’s heart disease
through continuous attention and a delicate ever changing balance of
medications. He more than treated, he cared. Fred never gave up and neither
did Sammy. But when the strokes came and no more could be done and they both
knew it, Fred helped Sammy out again by handling the end with professionalism,
grace and sympathy. Throughout, he also showed amazing patience and
compassion for Sammy’s owners and at the end, he cried with us.
But also, Kathy, my bride of almost 27 years and best friend, enabled
Sammy to do so well by her dedicated delivery of Fred’s “white man’s medicine.”
Without complaint, she sacrificed many things in her own days to stay with the
exact timing of Sammy’s multiple daily medications to insure his comfort and to
enable him to enjoy his life. Sammy absolutely knew she was taking care of him.
Sammy and I could never fully express our appreciation to both of them.
So take this gift and keep on doing what you can through ARF to comfort,
care for and find homes for all the guys like Sammy.
Warmest regards, Lynn O. Surls
This is Tex and me (Martha Hovers) with
“Snowball.” You may not be able to tell from
these photos how her condition has changed.
The picture on the left was taken the day she
arrived. She was almost bald, bleeding all
over from sores, and looked like a little pink
and white pig. We bathed and dipped her
immediately. She had suffered terribly with
mange before coming to ARFhouse. She is
improving, but it will take quite a while for
all of her hair to grow back. We took her to
Chicago, and Tex is fostering her until she has
all her hair and can be placed for adoption.
-4-
“Soldier” was seen by several people,
lying in the road alongside his running
buddy, a female dog that had been killed
by a car. Several people tried to move
her out of the road, but he wouldn’t let
anyone near her. Finally, someone was
able to move her over to the ditch. But
“Soldier” stayed by her side through an
ice storm. A kind lady coaxed “Soldier”
to come to her. He was emaciated, wet,
cold and shivering; so he allowed her to
put him in her car. She took him home
with her and when he regained strength,
she had him neutered and given routine
vaccines. Unfortunately she was unable
to keep him. He likes the ladies, but
doesn’t get along with other male dogs.
So ARFhouse had just the yard with a
lonely gal. “Soldier” seems quite happy
with his new friend.
Photos With Santa
W
Appeal from
Martha Hovers
e anticipated this year’s donations would be less
than ever before, and unfortunately income for the
first two months of 2009 has been a quarter of what’s
needed to pay the bills. More animals are coming to us
than ever before; either strays that we find, or dogs who
mysteriously “appear” at our gate. With so many people
losing their jobs and homes, it’s no wonder. It has always
been our policy that if a dog finds his way to us, we
will make a place for him. With the help of ARFhouse
Chicago, many of these dogs have been adopted, but the
intake is overwhelming the number that can be re-homed.
The more animals we have, the more staffing needs are
required. We’re also having to buy some of our feed this
year, and that hasn’t happened in a very long time. Food
donations cannot keep up with the number of dogs who
need to eat.
We are very grateful to those of you who shared so
generously with the dogs during the Christmas season.
These extra gifts will pay for our first quarter shortfall in
revenue. To those of you who cannot write a big check,
please know that any amount adds up when enough
people give those modest checks. Thank you for caring.
Please remember that we cannot save the dogs without
your support.
On December 13th Santa Claus (a.k.a. Roger George)
arrived at PetCo ready to sit for “photos with Santa.”
Roger’s wife, Lynette, helped with setup and photographs
all afternoon. Roger had 50 dogs and cats sit on his lap
for these shots. ARFhouse received $5 for every photo
taken which meant a $250 check! We want to thank
Roger and Lynette for their enthusiasm and willingness
to always help the animals. They never say “no.”
My name is “Bomber,”
and for 2 years of my
life I sniffed out bombs
in some faraway place
called
Afghanistan.
Most of the time I was in
a cage or on a harness. I
didn’t work for the U.S.
military, but for some
independent contractor.
When I was too old
(7 is old???) to work
anymore, I was returned
to my trainer who didn’t
have a place for me.
He brought me to the
ARFhouse and they said
I should have a good
retirement after serving
my country. (Would that
have been the U.S. or
Afghanistan?) Anyway, I have a yard now, but I’m hoping to
find my own family soon.
My name’s “Frank.” I’m not like the rest of the crew
here. I like night work (just like a cat). I sleep all day
and roam the acreage at night. When some ARFhouse
friends found me roaming the streets of Dallas they sent
me here. The gals at the joint were scared I’d be vicious
because I’ve got a big head, but HEY! I’ve got a big
brain in there! I was smart enough to get along with
everyone from the get-go because I figured if I didn’t
I’d be back on the streets. Not so good eating bugs and
rats. I heard these women say I’m the only dog they’ve
ever seen who wags his tail in a 360 degree circle when
someone calls my name. I like being unique, and I am!
-5-
M
any of you know that the love of my life was a mini-sheltie named “Daffy
Duck.” She came from a local shelter almost 4 years ago with a brain
injury. The breeder had taken her there to be euthanized. When I brought her
to ARFhouse she was about a month old. Dr. Brakebill told me she probably
wouldn’t live a long life. She had multiple “issues,” including a hair trigger
temper, especially if I called her a name
she didn’t like...like “porcupine.” Her
eyes were constantly going back and
forth because of whatever injury she
suffered before coming to us. She
lived in my house and brought me
more joy and laughter than any animal
ever has. She was absolutely hilarious
in her temper tantrums, but also in her
sweetness. She behaved like a cat when
she wanted to be loved. She would
rub up against my legs repeatedly.
But she never wanted to be held. That
would earn me a bite! While I was
driving back from Chicago, Sammie
and Roxanne called to tell me that she
had died next to her favorite toy, the
gator. She just lay down and stopped
breathing. We are all devastated, but Martha’s beloved “Daffy Duck” with
comforted by the knowledge that she her gator.
was at home where she felt loved and
safe. We always knew she was a visitor and now she’s left us. I am so sad.
AstroPups
There’s a new book by Lucille Callard....“AstroPups,” listed on Amazon.com
recently. Lucille is going to make a donation to ARFhouse with each sale
of this book. But that’s not the only reason we mention it. The author has
written this book to help people choose a dog they will keep for its entire
lifespan. Astrological personality profiles of people are matched with breed
traits and temperaments of over 80 dogs. The purpose is to help people read
about themselves as dog owners, and learn about the breeds suggested for them
before they choose a dog. It’s not only a fun read, but quite interesting.
Crystal Hall and Steve (a.k.a.
“Tex”) Stewart, with “Juno.” Our
“Juno” was returned to us after
having been adopted 9 years ago.
His guardians had divorced and
neither could keep him. We thought
he would spend the rest of his
time here at ARFhouse Texas, but
Linda wanted him in their adoption
program. When she took him back
to Chicago, Tex was going to foster
him. However, it was a mutual
decision by Tex and Juno that Juno
would stay with Tex permanently.
It’s a good life.
Donations In
Honor of
Beloved Pets
“Ginger”
“Our new adopted dog –
She is so special.”
John & Barbara Marsh
In Honor of a Special Dog Who’s
Now at ARFhouse
“Achilles”
Nancy Dibrell
“Sassy”
by: Charlotte & Marlin Cobb
“Chicago Cinnamon”
by: Marlin & Charlotte Cobb
“Britney” & “Chloe”
“parents: Bobbye Doak &
Jonathan Ryan”
by: Donna Ryan
“Maddie”
Jerry & Gerda Huffman’s beloved dog
by: Andy Williams
“Corky”
Andy Williams’ dog
by: Andy
“Buddy” & “Patches”
beloved pets of Julie Morawek
by: Vivia & Archie
“Achilles”
by: Nancy Norwood
“Chloe”
“Our newly adopted dog”
by: Holly Thomen & Gretchen Knauff
“Ruby”
Cathy & Ricky Holt
**WISH LIST**
Dry Purina brand dog food
Canned Pedigree dog food
Postage Stamps
Late model Suburban or SUV
(We have to have dreams!)
-6-
Brakebill Veterinary Hospital Made The Following “In Memory” Donations
“Simon”
Mr. & Mrs. Gene Shaw
“Lucy”
Mr. & Mrs. Don Thompson
“Ruby”
Nicole Holt
“Lucky”
Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Brewer
“Cinder”
Richard Davis
“Sable”
The Kelley’s
“Tucker”
Griselda Padron
“Blaze” & “Gizmo”
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Reynolds
“Skye”
The Cunningham’s
“Somby”
Leona Noe
“Skye”
Nan Downing
“Libby”
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Noltensmeyer
“Katie”
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Murphy
“Joey”
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Reynolds
“Kopper”
Dr. & Mrs. Brett Ringger
“Winston”
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Scriven
“Raine”
Whitney Walsh
“Vino”
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Magers
“Grizwald”
Dr. & Mrs. Kent Schrank
“Maggie”
Mr. & Mrs. David Stone
“Tabitha”
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Ferguson
“Flash”
Mr. & Mrs. Art Payne
“Maya”
Ed & Amanda Richardson
“Bear”
Mr. & Mrs. Al Morris
“Dafney”
Loren Haislip
“Mrs. Freckles”
Linda Amonette
“Taz”
Bret Buckman
“Fluffy”
Mr. & Mrs. John Decker
“Wild Thing”
Kandi Mata
“Lacy J. Dalton”
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Gross
“Christy”
Mr. & Mrs. Ronnie Brown
“Sophie”
Theresa Coffey
“Commodore”
Clifton Spencer
“Binkley”
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Caraway
“Zurot”
Mr. & Mrs. Rickey Coursey
“Patches”
Marylou Cushman
“Baby”
Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Crow
“Buddy Boy”
The Wallace’s
“Cow Kitty”
Sylvia Luymes Garcia
“Lucky”
Laurie Nix & family
“Snappy”
Mr. & Mrs. David Stone
“Harley”
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Ping
“Taylor”
Mr. & Mrs. Greg Barber
“Sassy”
Dalaine Devine
“Kilroy”
John Lamb & Gordon Green
“Bogie”
Jennifer Omohundro &
Bobby Wilson
“Buddy”
Marcus Snidow
“Brie”
Bob Gentry
“Minnie”
Debbie Roberts
“Oscar”
Mr. & Mrs. Bob Floyd
“Mabel”
Deborah Tyree
“Oscar”
Barbara Smith
“Gavin”
Mr. & Mrs. James Bock & family
“Gizmo”
Mr. & Mrs. Russell May
“Luna”
Leta Koch
“Lally”
Susan Knapp
“Pearl”
Mr. & Mrs. Bill McCoy
“Sissy” & “Binky”
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Brinlee
“Toby”
Mr. & Mrs. Ron Ruppel
“Hank”
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Holt
“Ernie”
Echo Jackson
“Maggie”
Debra McGregory
“Miss Priss”
Betty Julien
“Sampson”
Amber Kirby
“Bailey”
Kammie McCoy & family
“Cowboy”
Jana Henderson
“Fitch”
Mr. & Mrs. Brent Thetford
“Emily”
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Becker
“Mandy”
Andrea Reid
“Candy Jo”
Karen Bounds
“Pepper”
Ken Brooks
“Pepper”
Michelle Brooks
“Sadie”
Donna Francis
“Dinah”
Mr. & Mrs. David Smith
“Rodney”
Dan Hayden
-7-
Donations to Honor Animal Lovers
In Honor of Dog Lover on His Birthday
Roger Platizky
by: Martha Chisum &
Katherine Samples
Peg Bourke
for Christmas from her grandchildren
Ellie Molloy
“tribute to my good friend”
by: Ginny Hatfield
Rick Rehder
by: Ronda Krauss Rehder
Pam Plunkett
by: Bill & Amy Plunkett
Mike & Cyndi Plunkett
D. Plunkett & John Sasso
Pete & Shirley Scardino
Linda & Mike Tarzis made the following
holiday donations for friends:
Charles & Darlene Schweizer, “Annie,”
“Britches,” “Callie” & “Ellie”
Ralph & Jeri Waterloo, “Sammy,” “Lucy”
& “Tag,” and in memory of “Max”
Lou & Martha Vaughn, “Harley” & “Penny”
and in memory of “Buster” & “Sam”
Mike & Linda Tarzis, and in honor of
“Lucky” & “Peanut”
Andy Williams
by: Gerda & Jerry Huffman, “Corky,”
and “Maddie”
Carolyn Potter
by: Ed & Carolyn Lenahan
Gerda & Jerry Huffman & Thomas
by: Andy Williams
Tom Heeney & Diane Bielman
by: Diane’s mom, Barbara Bielman
Larry & Diana Pryor
by: Lawrence Pryor
Charles & Darlene Schweizer made the
following holiday donations for friends:
Mike & Linda Tarzis, “Lucky” & “Peanut”
Marilyn Pickens & “Amy”
Art & Bobbye Stoolfire
Jim & Jacque Mchaffey
Nancy Volpe
by: Cari Harrington
Jane Wilson
by: Paul & Courtney Wunderlick
Dave Burbee
founder of Texas Aussie Rescue Dogs
by: Joann Starks
Jean Eber
“my sister”
by: Nancy Deering
Darlene Schweizer & “Annie”
by: Marilyn Pickens
To Honor Andy Williams
on his birthday
by: Gerda & Jerry Huffman
Fred Schweizer
by: Charles & Darlene Schweizer
Carolyn Potter
“a true animal lover”
by: her sister, Joan Potter
LuRuth Crawford Taylor
Meredith Overholt
LuRuth & Ted Taylor made the following
holiday donations for family members:
Jacque & John Stromnes
Christine & Mark Taylor
Lisa & Bryan Lancelot
Renee & Rob Senft
Margaret Graham
“a wonderful lady who loved animals”
by: Frances & Kenneth Neely
Roger Platizky
by: The Chisum’s
Nancy Pease
for her birthday
by: Paula Pease
LuRuth Taylor
by: her husband, Ted
In Memory of
Animal Lovers
Nancy & Frank Goesslings
by: Jan Dalton
Cyndi Taber
by: Regina Johnson
Cynthia Taber
by: Saundra Wright
Carolyn Potter
by: Judith & James Gallagher
David Davis
“one of the last gentlemen ‘cowboys’ ”
by: Marilynn, Alicia & Richard Barren
Jake Michel
“our dear friend”
by: John & Barbara Marsh
Captain Bill Case
“a true CAPTAIN - loved & respected by
both 4-legged & 2-legged friends”
by: Richard, Marilynn & Alicia Barren
Margaret Graham
by: Charlotte & Marlin Cobb
Gary Lynn Rodgers
by: Marlin & Charlotte Cobb
Suzette Clark
“animal lover extraordinaire”
by: Gabrielle Ethington
Carol Schranhorst
by: Rebecca Sebastian
Sandy & Rusty Wright
by: Cynthia Taber
Catherine (Kiki) Chiappone
by: Rebecca Sebastian
Regina Johnson
by: Cynthia Taber
-8-
Donations In Memory of Beloved Pets
Thank you to those of you who thought of ARFhouse and our animals in your time of sorrow.
“Fae” & “Allie”
by: Jane Crout
“Toni”
Ron & Terry Cullen
“Elvis” & “Lucky”
by: Steve & LaTressa Melton
“Badger Pluto”
Steven Crist’s “rescue greyhound”
by: Scott Goddard
“Lucky” & “Shadow”
“my mom’s dogs”
by: Lynda Uphouse
“Chocolate”
Susan Sloan’s cat
by: Scott & Suzanne Buchanan
“Buddy”
for the Chisum Family
by: Roger Platizky
“Ratzie”
“my beloved cat”
by: Esther Goodson
“Barney”
by: Gary Jameson
“Ruby” Holt
Red heeler belonging to Nicole Holt
by: Ricky & Cathy Holt
“Butterscotch”
“Our angel, who left us 12/24/08”
by: E.F. & D. M. Oden
“Rita”
by: Judy & Ray Parker
“Rusty” & “Elvis”
by: Phyllis Hiles
“Sammy”
Lynn & Kathy Surls’ dog
by: Scott & Verna Six
“Sammy T. Surls”
“The ‘T’ Stands for Trouble.”
Lynn & Kathy Surls’ dog
by: Todd Tuggle & Ashley Duncan
“Sammy”
Lynn & Kathy Surls’ dog
by: Morton Rudberg
“Scarlett”
“14 yr old companion of two very good
friends: Tony Braswell & Jay Werner”
by: Paul & Ginny Hatfield
“Booker”
by: Mr. & Mrs. B. J. Gibbs
“Lassie”
Collie belonging to Lily Shrader & girls
by: Suzanne Schultz (Lily is Suzanne’s
daughter)
“Nikki,” “Shadow” & “Waif”
by: Lynda Uphouse
“Nikki”
“My forever dog”
by: Lynca Uphouse
“Gretchen”
by: Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Cox
“Maris” (cat) & “Emma” (dog)
beloved pets of Richard & Louise White
by: Renee Cole
“Murphy”
by: Rocky & Alma Thomas
“Bri” Chapman
beloved 18 yr old Bichon of
Susie & Jerry Chapman
by: Beverly Nelson
“Sadie” Pryor
by: Christine Justus
“Sadie”
beloved dog of Joyce Kurtz
by: Emily Momary
“In loving memory of the sweetest little
border collie who ever lived”
“Jack”
precious pet of Jake Anderson & family
by: Nannie & Poppy (Drew Anderson)
“Dora Blue”
by: Ellen Quinn
“Buddy”
Beloved pet of the Chisum Family
by: Roger Platizky
“Murphy”
Alma & Rocky Thomas
“Jethro” & “Buddy”
special dogs that Rick Rehder
loved so much
by: Ronda Krauss Rehder
“Jethro” was a huge black dog who lived
here at ARFhouse and was supported by
Rick for many years.
“Mac” Barton
John & Danny Brakebill
Sadie
“Sadie”
“our beloved dog”
by: Larry & Diana Pryor
“Wildman”
“a BIG cat with a BIG personality”
by: Heather Burk
“Penney”
“the wonderful little dog who shared the
hearts & lives of
Bruce & Kathy Butler”
by: Charles & Darlene Schweizer
“Tramp”
“In loving memory”
by: Virginia Deering
“Sadie”
“Larry & Diana Pryor’s beloved pet”
by: Judy & Homer Kissel
-9-
“Mac” Barton
Sarah Stevens
“Mac” belonged to Susannah & Kevin
Barton. He was adopted from ARFhouse in
1999 by Susannah when she worked for Dr.
Brakebill. He was a beautiful husky and I
think it was love at first sight when we took
him for routine medical care to Dr. B. Mac
passed away on February 11 from a bout
with cancer. Susannah wrote the following
about him: “Kevin and I are very sad right
now, but we know how lucky we were. It
was 10 great years we had with a kind,
wonderful dog. He was so much more than
a dog, he really was a family member, a
friend and a companion.”
“Mix”
Beverly Nelson’s beloved pet
by: Suzanne Chapman
“Daffy Duck”
Martha Hovers’ beloved mini-shelti
by: her dear friends, Danny &
John Brakebill
We appreciate your continued
support of ARFhouse.
Be an ARFhouse Supporter!
ARFhouse needs and welcomes your donation in
any denomination. Every dollar counts and is used
for day-to-day operations, care of our animals, and
assistance to animals in the community. Your donation is tax deductible. Please send your gift in the
enclosed envelope to ARFhouse, 3377 Spalding Rd.,
Sherman, TX 75092.
Name: _____________________________________
Address:_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________
Amount:$____________________________________
Animal Refuge Foundation
3377 Spalding Rd.
Sherman, TX 75092
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Mission Statement
Animal Refuge Foundation (ARFhouse) is a care-for-life,
no-kill sanctuary in a rural setting and is home to 340+ dogs.
Dedicated to improving the lives of animals through rescue and
rehabilitation, spay/neuter and placing animals into homes with
loving guardians, ARFhouse also assists animals whose owners
are unable to pay for the sterilization of their animals, particularly elderly people who are on fixed incomes. The Foundation
will also provide financial assistance for any stray animal found
who requires emergency medical attention. One of our major
goals is to relieve suffering and to provide contentment and
happiness to any dog who crosses our threshold.
3377 Spalding Rd.  Sherman, TX 75092
Phone (903) 564-7056
Website address: www.arfhouse.org
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #10
SADLER, TX 76264