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Arftic Art event will benefit Friends of Noah

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

Friends of Noah Executive Director Lois Corwin poses with 8-month-old rescue puppy, Buttercup. The puggle puppy was found sick and locked in an abandoned car in southern Rock County late last year. The dog, now healthy, is up for adoption.

JANESVILLE — When a Rock County sheriff's deputy found a puppy abandoned in the back of a car on a cold December day, he called Friends of Noah.

Lois Corwin, Friends of Noah executive director, didn't hesitate.

"The last thing we need is to have that dog stay in that cold car another night," she said.

The sheriff's office tracked down the dog's owner, who had left and was not able to care for the animal. The owner signed over the puppy to Friends of Noah's care, Corwin said.

Buttercup, a 8-month-old puggle pup, is among more than 100 animals in need of emergency care helped by Friends of Noah in the past year.

Of those, 75 came through the group's cooperation with the Rock County Sheriff's Office.

When Buttercup arrived at Friends of Noah, she had a skin disease, mites in her ears and a hernia. She hadn't been spayed.

"Her skin was so black and yeasty she looked like a gray elephant. It was horrible. She was scared to death and in terrible shape," Corwin said.

A month later, Buttercup seems like a different dog.

"Her skin looks wonderful. She's active and healthy, now," Corwin said.

Hundreds of dollars were spent on Buttercup's medical care in addition to the cost of her food, toys and supplies. Friends of Noah spends about $2,500 a month on veterinary bills.

"We want the community to know that community matters to us," Corwin said.

The community has an opportunity to give back during the Arftic Art for Animals, a fundraiser that will feature more than 50 artists and pet supply vendors Saturday, Feb. 9.

Proceeds from the third annual fundraiser also will benefit the volunteer organizations nine pet food pantries that are feeding 500 family pets a month.

"We've taken in more than 40,000 pounds of food, and we're always having a hard time keeping the pipeline full," Corwin said.

The Companion Animal Food Effort and the Badger Animal Fund for emergency vet assistance help families who have fallen on hard times, she said.

"We've helped over 111 families with emergency pet care," Corwin said.

Friends of Noah started in March 2010.

Other Friends of Noah programs focus on animal adoption and fostering, responsible pet ownership and animal education for elementary and middle school students.

Money raised through Arftic Art for Animals will help pay for a new low-cost rabies clinic.

"We're working with the Rock County Health Department to offer it to people who can't afford it. Legally, every animal has to have a rabies shot, but only around 50 percent do," she said.

Arftic Art for Animals is intended to show what Friends of Noah is, what it does and why its volunteers are so devoted to helping this Rock County community, Corwin said.

"That's what this is all about—animals, the pet food pantry, emergency pet food care, the rabies clinic and education for the kids," she said.