Bring your pets to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis, the patron of animals, at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter’s 3rd Annual Blessing of the Pets.
Join us for an outdoor event at the shelter featuring special guests:
-Rev. Dr. Mark McAnlis, Pastor of First Congregational Church -Pastor Cindy Jones, Grace United Methodist Church
The event at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter is open to people and pets of all faiths. Blessing begins at 2 pm. Be sure to arrive at the shelter by 1:30 pm.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times (no retractable leashes). Cats, critters and other pets must be in a carrier.
Each participant will receive a prayer card and St. Francis medallion. A pet boutique (including people swag) will be on-site, as well as a photo station.
The Cape Coral Animal Shelter announced that a very generous donor has commissioned and donated a custom-designed bench to CCAS in memory of his wife.
Sharon Bodenhafer was a life-long animal lover and supporter of rescue critters. Since she passed, her husband Chuck has gone on a mission to honor her memory with donations to local rescue organizations, including the Cape Coral Animal Shelter and Veterinary Clinic.
In the spring of 2020, Mr. Bodenhafer made a very generous donation to the Cape Coral Animal Shelter in honor of Sharon, purchasing a digital dental x-ray machine, x-ray equipment, and various other items that greatly assisted our low-cost veterinary clinic as we opened to the public.
“Chuck’s donation in memory of Sharon could not have come at a better time,” said Executive Director, Liz McCauley. “Although we are low cost, we strive to have state-of-the-art equipment to provide the best care to our animals, and Chuck helped us do that. We are very grateful.”
Recently, Mr. Bodenhafer partnered with local artist Vicky Firestone to commission a custom bench featuring two of Sharon’s beloved pets—Scarface and LT-4. This whimsical addition to the adoption area provides the perfect place for families to take photos with their new furry friends and allows the shelter to highlight adoptable pups.
Rescuing animals was Sharon’s passion, and she saved many. Scarface was a beat-up stray cat that Sharon and Chuck fed and provided shelter for until he felt safe and comfortable enough to come inside. LT-4 (named after a Corvette Chuck used to race) was also a rescue pup who quickly won the hearts of the Bodenhafers. They are forever memorialized in this unique way that is sure to make you smile when you visit CCAS.
“We are very grateful to Chuck for his generosity and continued support of our mission,” said JoAnn Elardo, Founder and President of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. “We know Sharon would be very proud her memory is kept alive while helping rescue animals.”
Join the Cape Coral Animal Shelter for fun and fitness at the 2nd Annual Rescue Run.
The Rescue Run 5K allows each of us to be part of the mission in making a marked difference in our community. It is a fun activity for the whole family to participate in! This is a timed event.
Commemorative event medals and runners event shirts provided to participants.
Sunday, April 3, 2022 Check In & Breakfast: 7amRace Start: 8am Mercola Market
Event Shirt & Bib pick up at Mercola Market & Cafe on March 30th, March 31st, April 1st & April 2nd from 9 am – 6 pm.
Did you know you can purchase your pet’s medications and nutrition products in our online store and have them delivered right to your front door?
We’ve partnered with VetsourceTM, the industry-leading Home Delivery pharmacy provider to offer you this convenient service. Our partnership with Vetsource means that we can continue to supply you with quality products sourced directly from the manufacturer and have them shipped right to your front door with no shipping charges.*
AutoShip allows you to schedule regular deliveries of your pet’s medications and food at your convenience. And with RemindMeSM, single doses of your pet’s flea, tick and heartworm meds arrive once a month on the day you need them.
In June, CCAS was contacted about an adorable 10-week-old Catahoula puppy with some very serious physical challenges. Among other issues, “Bleu” is almost completely deaf and blind. We immediately contacted one of our volunteers–local Certified Dog Trainer Louise Hebert with Rescue Dog Training. Louise began fostering and working with Bleu immediately, researching various methods of training deaf and blind dogs.
Bleu also suffered from genetic issues that required specialized surgery, but we are happy to report those issues have been resolved and she is ready for her forever home! Bleu will require a very special household that is willing to continue the training Louise has started, which she has very generously offered to continue with Bleu’s new family.
BLEU’S STORY:
“Since arriving at CCAS I have had quite an adventure! Besides being deaf and blind, I am a little girl who is full of life and curiosity, bringing a smile to the face of everyone I meet. Even though Louise has been diligently working to train me on how to “see” and “hear” in ways beyond my physical senses, she would be the first one to tell you that my training has not been so much about basic commands such as “sit”, “stay”, or “come”, but more about teaching me that the world is safe, people are good, and how to navigate my life.
Along this journey, I have discovered so many things about myself. One thing I realized is that I love being outside! I am dreaming of a small fenced-in yard where I can continue my love of exploration. I have also realized I really love other dogs! I have a foster brother right now, with whom I love to hang out, but I am getting too big for him. It would be great to have a brother or sister a little bigger than me. I also know that I am very playful, and I have a lot of energy! When I get into things that I shouldn’t, my mom lovingly says, “Oh, Bleu, you’re such a Catahoula!” whatever that means!
My mom says that I am a quick learner! I am figuring out how to manage life without sight and only limited sound. I can follow shadows and objects directly in front of me. The most important thing that I have discovered is how much I love people! In fact, there is nothing that I like better than cuddling!
After all this new stuff, I am ready to learn more, and I am looking for a forever family with whom I can continue this journey. If you are a special family (kids should be older) who has the love and patience for an unusual puppy like me, please make an appointment to come and meet me!”
