The Friends of Montgomery County Animals, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt humane organizationestablished in 1974. The main purpose of "Friends" is to provide financial support for humane animalprotection projects, emergencies and organizations. Humane groups traditionally operate "on ashoestring." Friends is unique because it fills a void in the humane movement by providing monetaryhelp to humane groups and for humane emergency situations.

Over the years, "Friends" has provided natural disaster emergency relief for: Mt. St. Helen's RescueEffort to save animals caught in the volcanic eruption; The San Francisco S.P.C.A. to help earthquakerelief efforts; Dade County Animal Relief and West Palm Beach Dog Fanciers to provide medical andplacement service for animal victims of Hurricane Andrew; Jefferson County Animal Shelter and St.Charles Humane Society (both in Missouri) to aid flood victims in the Mid-West; and annually to EARS(Emergency Animal Rescue Service, United Animals Nation) to help animals in natural or man-madedisasters anywhere and at any time!

"Friends" does not operate a shelter or have an office. A small cadre of dedicated humane volunteerscarries out the fundraising activities. No one is paid.

The Friends of Montgomery County Animals, Inc. is interested in all facets of the animal humanemovement. We are particularly concerned with humane education, spaying and neutering to reduce animalover population, cruelty cases, adoption of given up pets, the care of injured wildlife, and human -animal relationships, e.g. The Hearing Dog Program. Our efforts have been concentrated in theWashington Metropolitan area, but we also have supported nationwide projects.

Our Past:

The Friends of Montgomery County Animals, Inc. has provided financial support to the following:

"Green Peace International" - to help the Whale, Dolphin and Seal protection program

Montgomery County S.P.C.A. - spay program and emergency Veterinary Memorial Fund. The printing of"Born to be Killed," a Montgomery County S.P.C.A. pamphlet widely distributed in the community,especially in the Montgomery County Public School System - humane education.

Bowie S.P.C.A. - very serious cruelty case involving more than twenty-seven horses.

Animal Protection Association of America - veterinary expense and placement of cruelly treated roadside zoo animals.

Sponsored Spay/Neuter Weeks in Montgomery County and in the D.C. Metropolitan Area.

Animals' Guardian Angels -Helga Schweikert - underwriting veterinary care for abused and given updogs.

Afghan Rescue and Basset Rescue - veterinary assistance for cruelty cases.

Hearing Dogs - two of the first hearing dogs placed in the state of Maryland.

Second Chance Wildlife/Chris Montuori - to support her efforts to save and care for injured wildlife.PAW (Partnership for Animal Welfare) - to help dog adoption efforts.

Paws With a Cause and The Damascus Lions Club Fund for Service Dogs - to financially assist with thetraining costs of service dogs for two disabled Damascus boys.

"SPEAC" Society for the protection of Every Animal and Child - adoption support.

Equine Rescue League, Leesburg, VA - to aid equine cruelty cases.

Alley Cat Allies - to provide veterinary support for feral cat spay/neuter release programs.

Days Inn Farm Horse Rescue, Maryland - to support the education program to teach Maryland AnimalControl Officers the criteria for equine cruelty cases.

Greyhound Pets of America - to assist chapters in San Diego, Florida and New York in placing retiredracing greyhounds.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association - to advocate against drilling in AlaskaÕs Tundra.

Montgomery County Humane Society - fund raising support.

C.A.T.S. (Citizens Advocating Trapping and Spaying) Hatteras Island, Outer Banks - to assist inspay/neuter release of feral cats.

Riverlands, LA S.P.C.A. - to help establish an emergency medical fund.

The Animal Lobby - to assist in closing down illegal puppy mills in the Mid-West and in rescuing andplacing abused dogs.

SNAP (Spay and Neuter All Pets) - to help with low cost spay/neuters.

Special Project Fund:

"The Treasure Fund" - established in 1997 in honor of an 18 month old Golden Retriever who willeventually need expensive surgery. This Fund is earmarked to help pay for extraordinary vet bills fordogs, cats, and horses.

Our Present:

Friends of Montgomery County Animals Cat Adoptions, a small group of very dedicated volunteers, haslaunched a feline adoption and rescue service. Abandoned cats and kittens are given veterinary careand then are housed in foster homes or with one of our supportive veterinarians before being placedinto loving homes. Open houses for cat/kitten adoptions are held frequently at our participatingveterinarians' hospitals or at Petsmart. Friends is pleased to have placed over 612 cats and kittensin good homes in 1998! We continue to support many individual humane cases. Particular emphasis isplaced on helping those on fixed-incomes, the elderly, and others with extraordinary veterinary andboarding expenses. This help often enables the person or family to keep a beloved pet.

Our Future:

Our funding is generated primarily by membership dues, generous contributions, and two luncheonfundraisers: an annual Christmas Bazaar/Fashion Show Luncheon held in November and a SpringLuncheon/Annual Meeting held at a distinguished private home. We need you to help continue the effortsof Friends. Providing financial assistance for veterinary emergencies, to resolve cruelty cases, andfor humane education are our focus. Because we are an all-volunteer organization, our expenses arevery low. Therefore, virtually every penny of every dollar you give goes to help the animals. We mustcontinue our efforts for the animals. Humane groups with financial needs depend on us for support.Today we need your support to continue to help the animals. That is our bottom line!