People for Pets Foundation helping find homes for felines, canines ...

By: Eric Watkevich | Culpeper Star-Exponent
Published: March 31, 2012 Updated: March 31, 2012 - 12:00 AM

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Entering the Culpeper home of Brenda Crist, you are likely to encounter a success story of the People for Pets Foundation ? one probably stretched out on the floor, and another watching you closely from underneath a couch.

?The calico on the floor is Marmalade, and the black and white one is Mr. Murphy.? Crist says, ?They?re both adopted, but now they?re so fat I?m trying to get them to lose weight.?

Also throughout the house are the supplies and signs for the major rummage sale to be held by PFPF this Saturday March 31 at St. Stevens?s Episcopal Church. Crist, the treasurer and secretary for the foundation, says the event is a major fundraiser.

?People are free to donate items and some baked goods will be for sale,? Crist mentions, ?and lunch is provided so we encourage everyone to come out and support us this weekend.?

The People for Pets Foundation is a Culpeper non-profit organization that works to provide homes and care for local animals. PFPF functions as a releasing agent with the Culpeper Animal Shelter, which means that they take animals, specifically cats, from the shelter and provide them medical attention and a temporary home with a foster mother.

The cats spend a period of time becoming rehabilitated, and are then adopted by the community.

?We get them and we adopt them? says Crist. ?We get them all of their shots. Then their foster mothers take care of them and help them with socialization.? These foster mothers provide for anywhere between ten to 30 cats, depending on the time of the year.

?Spring is kitten season, so we can expect to have more.? Crist mentions.

Currently, PFPF works closely with the Culpeper Animal Hospital, and has numerous projects such as the ?Spay a Momma? and the ?Trap, Neuter, Release? programs that all go to fight one of the biggest problems homeless animals have: over-population.

Due to the expense and necessity of getting stray cats and dogs spayed, a major goal of PFPF is finding a way of getting the procedure done more efficiently.

?One of our dreams,? Crist says, ?is to have in the Culpeper area a low cost spay/ neuter clinic.?

As a result of PFPF?s activities, the euthanization rate for cats in Culpeper has dropped from 42 percent down to 10, and the organization has spent more than $15,000 in medical treatments and spaying for local animals. All told, more than 500 animals were given to good homes by People for Pets in 2011.

?We think animals should be cared for and loved. That?s really what our organization is all about,? Crist said.

People for Pets consists of a seven-member board as well as several volunteers. Many of the board members are also foster mothers, which is itself a vitally needed role.

?The people we want as foster mothers are those who have animal knowledge and kindness towards animals.? Crist said. ?They are the people we cherish.?

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