End Of Year Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Because of your ongoing support, 2008 has been a productive year for Homeless Animal Lifeline (HAL). We have made wonderful progress in each of our programs and have steadily grown by adding new, energetic volunteers. In addition, the beginning of the year saw a change in the HAL Board of Directors with former Vice-President Michelle assuming the office of President, and our long-standing volunteer Catherine taking over the Vice-President/Treasurer position. MaryAnn remains our Secretary.

HAL has not only spayed/neutered cats within its own Foster & Adoption program, but has worked extensively with the community and helped to spay/neuter animals belonging to lower-income families. HAL has become a dependable source of assistance -- both financial and emotional -- for pet parents who visit the Bridgewater PetSmart on Saturdays.

HAL has funded medical care for animals who otherwise would have gone untreated. Thanks to your generosity, Merlin, a cat who needed Perineal Urethrostomy Surgery was able to receive life-saving surgery and is now living happily ever after with his human mom Ingrid.

Our Feral Cat program has helped colonies and their caretakers throughout New Jersey by providing assistance with spay/neuter, medical care, food, and supplies for feral cats. HAL honored National Feral Cat Day in October by hosting an informational table at Bridgewater PetSmart.

HAL has welcomed new volunteers to our Foster Home program as well as our Adoption Day events. Sue Heineman and Edina Pelinkovic have provided temporary homes to cats who would otherwise have nowhere to go; Sue even bottle-fed orphaned kittens! Dawn and Kent Van Wagenen lend a helping hand at Bridgewater PetSmart and help our foster cats find the perfect homes. During her temporary stay in New Jersey, Nan Ryan fostered and volunteered at adoption days and eventually adopted her foster cat Megan! Melissa Mancuso, a former adopter of three HAL cats, assisted with fundraising and helped with our website.

Special thanks go to emergency foster volunteers who, at the beginning of the year, stepped in to help at a moment’s notice: Janine, Sue, Elaine, Norm, Ilene, Gerry, Edina and Matt, Lori and Scott.

Our much-needed Fundraising program has been expanded to include a Vehicle Donation Program. By calling 800-320-0476, you can donate your car, truck, trailer, recreational vehicle, boat, etc., for FREE -- no towing charges or Motor Vehicles paperwork! Plus, you qualify for your lawful IRS tax deduction. In May and October, Carol and Michael held their annual multi-household yard sale to benefit HAL; as always, it was a great success! Nikki Pasquino also held a yard sale that raised funds for HAL’s bottle babies.

We look forward to another successful year in 2009. With your continued support, HAL will keep its commitment to saving the lives of animals in New Jersey. We are always in need of new foster homes, experienced Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) volunteers, supplies such as wet/dry food and litter, and monetary donations to help keep our programs going.

HAL wishes you and your family a very Happy, Healthy Holiday and Peaceful New Year.