ARF saves dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters and brings people and animals together to enrich each others lives. ARF strives to create a world where every loving dog and cat has a home, where every lonely person has a companion animal, and where children learn to care.

Description:
Volunteers at ARF remains a cornerstone of the organization. Many volunteers choose to walk, cuddle and care for our shelter guests but we have so many other volunteer opportunities including adoption counseling, event or adoption outreach, animal or pet food transporting,office or retail help. Regular volunteer orientations are held twice monthly and training is offered for all of the jobs.
The vision for ARF is an organization that can, not only, aid abandoned and homeless animals, but also promote the concept that people's lives can be enhanced by strengthening the bonds between humans and animals. With these intertwined goals as the guiding principles, and an intention to become a national as well as local leader, ARF has designed progressive programs for many populations including abused children, the elderly, victims of violence and others who can benefit from the healing contact of animals.

Some of ARF's programs:
ARF's state-of-the-art clinic provides spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations and veterinary care for new arrivals being readied for adoption. In addition, the money generated from the ARF Thrift Store, a second hand store under a different roof, is being used to fund veterinary care at the ARF Clinic for companion animals of qualified low-income Contra Costa citizens. With the capacity to alter thousands of animals a year, ARF's low cost spay/neuter for community members and free spay/neuter for qualifying rescue organizations will help break the cycle of pet overpopulation in the community.

The Learning Center is the first interactive museum ever connected to a private animal adoption center. Through hands on directed play, children learn how to care for animals. They 'adopt' a plush toy dog or cat which they take to the pint-sized veterinary office before going to the miniature store to select the appropriate supplies for their new pet. Only at ARF can they 'Walk in My Paws' on a creative stage where children will experience what it is like to be a dog or a cat in a human world.

ARF's People Connect programs strengthen the human animal bond for the frail and elderly, residents of assisted living centers, teens at juvenile hall, high school students, grade school students and young children.

ARF programs allow people to experience the love, unconditional support and appreciation of dogs and cats.

All Ears Reading® program helps children enhance their reading skills by reading stories in the ARF library to trained teams of volunteers and their pets. These non-judgmental teams provide a supportive environment for building self-confidence. The students quickly forget about the listening adult and their self-esteem is boosted by the dog's loving acceptance.

ARF's Pet Hug Pack brings dogs and cats to the residents of assisted living centers who are no longer able to care for a pet of their own.

The FoodShare Program assists long-term pet owners who are having difficulty paying for their pet's food. Safeway has generously donated its Safeway Select brand pet food to be distributed throughout Contra Costa County on a weekly basis.

The ARF Resource Center, receives hundreds of calls each week from all over the country and provides help, information and referrals to people who need to place animals in good homes, to people who have questions about animals and to people who have a situation with an animal that has them perplexed.

History:
Baseball manager Tony La Russa and his wife, Elaine, founded ARF in 1991 after he rescued a terrified stray cat that ran onto the field during an A's-Yankees game.

Contact person: Gaye McDuff, Volunteer Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

2890 Mitchell Drive Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (See a map)

Directions:

Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: On Mitchell at driveway   Nearest Bus Stop: On Mitchell at driveway