by Rachel Hunter
Friends 4 Pound Paws held its annual Fall Luncheon and Vendor Show on Oct. 14 at the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, 1419 US Highway 11, Gouverneur. The funds raised will help Friends 4 Pound Paws Inc. give its shelter pets a “second chance at life.”
Friends 4 Pound Paws was established on May 30, 2011, by a group of concerned citizens, hoping to save the forgotten ones – the local pound dogs. Friends 4 Pound Paws is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, feline and all-breed canine rescue. Its mission is to help promote adoptions from the Gouverneur, Russell and Fowler Dog Pounds. They have established a foster care program to help save the dogs that have been scheduled for euthanasia. F4PP promotes spaying and neutering as a general ideal, and spays and neuters all dogs and cats that are of age at time of adoption, or enter into a neuter contract with the new adopting families. All of the rescues receive immediate medical care, vaccinations and lots of love. Friends 4 Pound Paws also accepts owner surrenders of unwanted animals when there are open foster homes. “We will not stop until they all have a home.”
North Country community members came in droves to show their dedicated support of Friends 4 Pound Paws, Inc. The craft and vendor show opened at 10 a.m., and featured 13 local vendors from all over Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. New this year was a Friends 4 Pound Paws rummage sale, featuring many holiday and home décor items at rock-bottom prices. The Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 also ensured the chicken barbecue was cooked and ready for the community by the 11 a.m. start time. Raffle tickets were sold for chances to win a cannon replica, made by Glen Besaw of Gouverneur.
Friends 4 Pound Paws volunteers were also on site to encourage North Country residents to adopt (or foster) shelter dogs and cats. Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that the need for pet adoption has greatly increased since the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Friends 4 Pound Paws is experiencing an unprecedented number of calls from people who wish to relinquish their dogs and cats. The calls are coming in from all over New York State and beyond. Friends 4 Pound Paws is dedicated to meeting as many needs as they can with the resources available, but the nonprofit organization is in critical need of volunteers, foster parents, monetary and other donations to support the rescue shelter.
Much gratitude was extended to all North Country residents for their continual support of the Friends 4 Pound Paws Inc. Rescue. Friends 4 Pound Paws’ shelter is open at 55 Owl Road, Gouverneur on Tuesdays Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 315-842-7297. For more information about the rescue shelter, visit www.friends4poundpaws.org.