Resources for the Community

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is proud to serve our community through education and partnership. We are dedicated to talking to groups around the Asheville area about the importance of spaying and neutering, animal safety, rescue awareness, and much more. Downloadable information sheets are available at the bottom of this page.

Being a responsible pet guardian is more than just providing adequate water, food, and shelter for your pet. Domestic pets are completely dependent on their guardians for their welfare.

• Taking care of a pet is a lifetime commitment. If you can't make the commitment, don't get the pet.
   
• Choose a pet that fits your lifestyle.  Don't get an energetic dog if you don't have the time to exercise him/her. If you can't afford grooming or can't do the grooming yourself, pick a dog with a low maintenance coat.
   
• Spay or neuter your pets. There are already too many homeless animals. Don't add to the problems. In Buncombe County, low-cost spay/neuter options are available.
   
• Don't make your dog or cat an "outside animal". Dogs especially thrive on companionship and need to be with their "human pack." While cats are often see as more independent creatures, they are usually extremely friendly companions. The strength of the cat-human bond is mainly correlated with how much consideration is given to the cat's feelings by his human companion. The formula for a successful relationship thus has much in common with human to human relationships.
   
• Be aware of weather conditions.  Leaving your animal in the car on a hot day (even for a few minutes!) or in the yard without shade or water is risking your animal's  life.
   
• Make sure your home is "pet" safe. Pesticides, medications, household cleaners, and some household plants can be deadly to your pet. Keep them out of reach. 
   
• Provide veterinary care for your pet.  Keep their vaccinations up to date and make sure they have annual check-ups.
   
• Keep an identification tag on your pet.  A tag is your pet's ticket back home. Both dogs and cats need ID! Microchipping is good too, but an external tag is essential, it could mean the difference between your neighbor returning your pet to you or turning him/her in to a shelter.
   
• Obedience train and socialize your pet. There's nothing better than having a dog the comes when you call. This too can be the difference between life and death. Also, dogs develop fears at different points in their life, so it's important to expose them to all sorts of different sounds and people at all different ages, so they don't develop fears or aggression.
   
• Don't let your pets run loose. Dogs should be walked on leashes. Any outdoor off-leash activity should be in a secure or fenced in area where the dog cannot run into the street or be otherwise harmed. Most cats should preferably live indoors. An outdoor cat's average lifespan is 3 years; an indoor cat's is 14 years. If you choose to let your cat outside, it should be microchipped and wear a break-away collar with ID. Cat fencing and enclosures or leash walking are excellent options if you'd like to let your cat enjoy the outdoors safely.
   
• Provide your pet the proper diet. Quality nutrition is as important to pets as it is to us. Obesity is as deadly as malnutrition. Be aware that some foods can be deadly to dogs, such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, and onions. Fatty food can cause pancreatitis.
   
• Make sure your pet gets the proper amount of exercise; a walk does everyone good! Playing with your cat strenghtens the bond between you and keeps you cat healthy and happy.
   
• Take extra precautions during holidays, like the 4th of July. It is the scariest time for pets, with all of the noise and fireworks going off. Make sure your pets are secure indoors, preferably in a room with a closed door. Also protect your pets during Halloween.
   
• Be kind to your pet and shower him/her with love. Remember - you are his/her world! Take special care of your pet during his/her senior years. 

Community Resources

* Behavioral problems: Are you having trouble with a kitty missing the box or dog chewing the couch up? In the Asheville area, Pet Behavior Aid offers free Help Sessions to the public at the Asheville Humane Society. They also offer high-quality, affordable Traing Classes led by professional trainers. Go to www.PetBehaviorAid.org for more information.  You can also check out the wide range of free resources offered by the Best Friends Animal Society at www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/petcare.

* Medical Care: Individuals who are in need of assistance for medical care for their pets can contact Brother Wolf about a unique program we've begun. We'll provide items for a 'yard sale' which the pet owner hosts and they keep half of the proceeds of the sales. Email info@bwar.org for details. Proof of vet estimate/bill required. You can also check out Care Credit at www.carecredit.com/vetmed. CareCredit offers Special Financing and low monthly payment options, no up-front costs, and no-prepayment penalties so you can keep your pet healthy and happy.

* Pet Food Assistance: In conjunction with local pet stores, veterinarian offices, schools and scout troops, MOW-ABC collects pet food from throughout the community to provide to low income seniors who might otherwise share their lunch with their two/four-legged friends. Financial contributions to the program have provided low-to-no cost spay/neuter programs and veterinary assistance to seniors with sick pets. Go to www.mowabc.org/programs-services or call (828) 253-5286 for information. BWAR also provides free pet food to the public when possible. Stop by the adoption center at 31 Glendale Avenue.

• Feral and Free-Roaming Cats: Friends2Ferals is a program of the 501(c)(3) non-profit Humane Society of Buncombe County. The program is dedicated to improving the lives of feral cats and humanely reducing their numbers over time utilizing the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method. TNR has proven to be the most effective and humane method of dealing with the issue of feral cats. Not only does the program improve the quality of life for feral and free-roaming cats, it results in a dramatic decrease in the number of cats euthanized in local shelters. If you need help spaying or neutering feral or free roaming cats, go to www.friends2ferals.org or call Nancy Schneiter at (828) 505-6737.

* Low-cost Spay/Neuter: Fortunately, if you live in Western North Carolina, you can take advantage of high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter surgery at Humane Alliance. The state-of-the-art facility is conveniently located off Leicester Highway in Asheville, NC. Through a network of other animal welfare groups, they provide free transport services if you are not located near our clinic. They also offer low-cost vaccinations in association with spay/neuter procedures. Go to www.humanealliance.org for additional information. You can visit www.spayusa.org for more information on services across the country.

* Breed Rescue: According to the Humane Society of the United States, approximately 25% of the animals in shelters are purebred. Are you looking for a specific breed of animal, or needing to rehome a purebred? Download the list below of WNC breed rescues, or search online for rescues in your area. Not only are you saving the life on a homeless pet, but you'll receive excellent education from the people who know and love the breed!

* Pet-friendly housing: Go to www.myapartmentmap.com/pet_friendly, www.MyCheapApartments.com, or www.ApartmentList.com to search your area for rentals that allow pets. If you can't take your pets with you, contact a rescue group well in advance before you leave - not the day before!

• Have fun with your dog! Camp Unleashed presents retreats for people and their dogs to deepen their relationship through education and organized play in an experience designed to be transformational for both species. In 2004, Annie Brody founded Camp Unleashed on the premise that dogs need a vacation from the human world — a place where they can be off leash, safe, and in a pack with other dogs in their own natural environment. Each Camp Unleashed session offers dogs and their people a 4-day weekend retreat organized to be fun, satisfying, relaxing, and educational. Go to campunleashed.com for more information!