"Deck the Halls" at AARF Pet Central

Every day, things look different at AARF Pet Central! Thanks to another great volunteer day on Sunday, November 21, even more is painted, most of the damaged peg board is removed from the training/adoption center, and all of the old floor is up. Thanks so much for Chantal, Alissa, Danielle and Aubrey for their hard work on Sunday.

This week, the main entrance room is being transformed. By the end of the week, we'll have a new floor and a check-out counter built by some wonderful volunteers all the way from Indiana! Do you have some carpentry or handy man skills? You too can put your own mark on AARF Pet Central by volunteering the materials and/or labor for a project. We need windows replaced, new lights installed, ledges and perches built in the cat adoption room, and more! Just email us at info@aarfatlanta.org if you'd like to help.

Our contractor is scheduled to start as soon as we can raise the funds to pay for the changes he'll be making. - replacing the rotten and inaccessible entrance stairs and ramp, making the bathroom accessible for all of our guests and creating the dog wash stations. We have raised about 30% of our funds for the construction, so we still need your help.

Want a fun and exciting way to help? Are you headed out for holiday shopping on the biggest shopping day of the year? While you are filling your cart, consider a gift to help us "Deck the Halls" of AARF Pet Central. Check out our modified wish list below. If you'd like to donate a specific item, just let us know and we'll schedule a time for you to come by the building to drop your donation and get a tour. Or you can pick up a Lowe's or Home Depot gift card when you check out, and drop it in the mail. All donations are tax-deductible, and you'll know that you helped us save even more pets through AARF Pet Central.

• 30 -2x10x16 pressure treated lumber
• 8 -2X8X16 pressure treated lumber
• 26-6X6X10 pressure treated lumber
• 20- 2X4X16 pressure treated lumber
• 150- 2X2X12 pressure treated lumber
• 85- 5/4/X6X16 pressure treated decking
• 23-12X48 concrete form tubes
• 14 -1/2X7 lag screws
• 42 bags OF 80 lb concrete
• 45 - 2x4x8
• 6 sheets of 3/4 plywood
• 8 - 2x8x12
• 2 tubs
• 2 wall surrounds
• 300 sq feet of bathroom tile
• 1500 sq feet of Armstrong vinyl tile
• 5 sliding windows

Other items we still need (THANKS to all of those folks who have donated items already!)

• Deep Freezer
• Electric Dryer
• Coffee maker
• Large plastic storage bins
• 2 Computers (Desktop or Laptop) Mac preferred
• Copier
• Power tools
• Hand tools
• Large garbage cans
• Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Sears gift cards
• Cement floor sealant
• Microwave
• Storage shelves
• Unused PVC pipe
• Dog crates
• Cat carriers

AARF Pet Central is Getting a Makeover!

On Sunday, AARF Pet Central started getting a makeover! Louis, Aubrey and Kim showed up on our volunteer work day to help us begin the transition to our new look. Louis and Aubrey spent the afternoon in the fall sunshine, giving the outside of the building a new coat of paint. And Kim spent three hours of backbreaking work, scraping up old, broken tile from the cat adoption room. We can't say thank you enough to these three dedicated volunteers who gave up their Sunday afternoon to help move AARF Pet Central closer to opening.

Are you wishing you hadn't missed out? Don't worry - you can come out this Sunday, November 21, from 1:00 - 4:00 for another volunteer day. Just email Melanie at melanie@aarfatlanta.org to let us know you are coming. Put your mark on the AARF Pet Central!


Thanks for a recent donation from WAG-A-LOT to sponsor the community adoption room, we have reached half of our fundraising goal. Our major renovation phase will begin in the next two weeks, as our contractor will begin work on replacing the rotten deck, adding the dog wash stations, and making our bathroom accessible for all of our visitors. Your donation or tile order form will help us continue to move forward. Remember, all donations are tax deductible, and it's time to plan now for your spring taxes. Download a tile order form here.

Do you own a business and want to leave a lasting legacy? Or would you like to honor a loved one in your life with a naming opportunity in the new center? Corporate tiles start at only $500, and naming opportunities from $1000 - $10,000 are still available. Would you like your business or name to be the first thing everyone sees on their way into AARF Pet Central? Sponsor the new entrance ramp, stairs and deck for only $3500. Learn more about naming opportunities here.

Thanks to 3 Local Sponsors!

I am excited to announce 3 corporate sponsors of AARF Pet Central!

WAG-A-LOT will be joining us as the sponsor of our dog adoption center. We'll be holding adoption days for AARF dogs and inviting other rescue groups to join us in this indoor adoption center. The dogs will be in a safe, climate-controlled space, and we'll have lots of space for potential families to spend time with the dogs at the adoption day. We are so glad to have WAG-A-LOT as our partner in finding more forever homes for dogs!'

Showseason Animal Products, based here in Atlanta, is sponsoring one of our self-wash dog tubs. It's a great match for Showseason and AARF. The great Showseason products will be available at the dog wash stations and in our retail section.

Dream Land Pet Memorial Center will be joining the wall of donor tiles as a corporate sponsor.

We want to say thank you to these three local companies, and we hope others will follow their lead! For information about naming opportunities and corporate donor tiles, visit the AARF Pet Central page here.