You might remember the day in May 1990 when a black cat ran onto the field during a game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees. On that day, something wonderful began.
Oakland's manager, Tony La Russa (pictured above, gazing down at said cat), brought the terrified cat into the dugout and kept it safe for the remainder of the game. Afterwards, he brought the cat to a shelter, but was horrified to learn that there was not a single no-kill shelter in all of the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay, and that the cat would be euthanized. Tony found a home for the cat (subsequently named Evie) himself, and in 1991 he and his wife founded the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, California, the area's first no-kill shelter.
County shelters are overwhelmed with lost or abandoned dogs and cats, and they euthanize animals who haven't found homes in order to make room for the new animals coming in every day. The Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) rescues animals who have run out of time at county shelters, and takes loving care of the animals while searching for forever homes for them. Captain Sully Sullenberger, pilot of the Miracle on the Hudson, fosters and socializes kittens in his home for ARF until the kittens are adoptable.
ARF complements its animal rescues with a wide range of people programs, including educational programs for children, pet food and veterinary care assistance to low-income pet owners, spay and neuter clinics, and animal ambassador comfort programs to assisted living facilities, hospitals, adult day care, and rehab facilities. ARF helps animals and people help each other and enrich each others lives.
That little black cat has been a good luck charm for countless animals and people, myself included. I adopted a cat from ARF, and she's the love of my life.
ARF is located at 2890 Mitchell Drive, Walnut Creek, California 94598.
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