OUR PROGRAMS
DISTRESSED ANIMAL PROGRAM
Program Director- Jan Hendrixson
- The FOCCAS Distress Animal Fund fills a prevalent need in our community. Many pets are abandoned on the roadside by their owners and strays are often left to fend for themselves for long periods of time. Kind-hearted citizens often rescue these animals and find they are serious injuries or illnesses that must be addressed immediately. The county animal shelter does not have the funding required to help such animals, and there is a risk of euthanize if they are taken there. This program allows us to save these abandoned pets by covering the expenses of their medical needs. FOCCAS members provide foster homes until they can be adopted into loving permanent homes. Each one is altered, wormed, heartworm tested (and treated, if necessary), and vaccinated.
FELINE PROGRAM
Program Director - Holly Brown
- Our volunteers rescue many homeless, lost, and injured cats. They specialize in helping the community cats through the national TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return) program. Stray cats living in colonies are trapped, neutered, inoculated, and fostered until they can be adopted; truly feral cats are treated and returned to their colony. When possible, we take in pets being surrendered by their owners and more often, stray kittens and adult cats. Once healthy and fully vetted, they are adopted into loving homes
CANINE RESCUE
Program Director- Jan Hendrixson
- Abandoned, stray, and homeless dogs & puppies are a constant occurrence in our rural county. There are hundreds of unwanted litters born every year. Although we have a county-run animal shelter, they are often full, and the waiting list for owners surrendering their pets is months long. FOCCAS is the only resource operating in Cumberland County. We accept a large population of dogs and puppies. Each one is fostered in a home environment, fully vetted, and placed for adoption on Petfinder and AdoptAPet. We frequently rescue "unadoptable" pets, such as hospice dogs and unsocialized dogs. They remain in foster care until the end of their lives.
EDUCATION PROGRAM
.Program Director- Ellen Rosenfeldt
- FOCCAS strongly believes that the future of animal welfare depends on how well we teach our youth about responsible pet ownership. We have developed programs suitable for every grade level to tell every child about the experience of unconditional love & friendship they can have with a pet & what it means to be a responsible pet owner.
We believe real change will come when the citizens of our county become engaged in improving the state of animal welfare as a community and desire to embrace responsibility for the care and comfort of the unwanted and abandoned pets we have here.
In 2023, FOCCAS outreach director placed educational material about pet care and being a good person to animals in 10 local schools and the Crossville public library. The Buddy Bench program at Stone Elementary continues with coordination from the student council. FOCCArescue dogog Reagan has helped local Girl Scout troops earn their pet care badges and barks on animal safety issues
COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR AT RISK DOGS (CORD)
Program Director- Mark Hendrixson
- FOCCAS launched CORD in the winter of 2018-19 to regularly address the suffering and neglect we witness in our community. Much of the neglect we see is due to a lack of understanding and/or lack of resources. CORD seeks to address these issues by providing education and the needed resources to allow dogs to live better and safer lives outside. We offer free dog houses for those who have none or have substandard shelter and straw for houses in the winter. We offer kennels for small dog being housed outside for them to be allowed to come inside at night to keep them safe. Our volunteers have made 60-pound tip-proof water and food bowls with a removable 5 qt stainless steel bowl in a poured concrete base. FOCCAS on Breaking the Chains is an important aspect of CORD and offers spay and neuter options for dogs tethered outside.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
- FOCCAS is a fully volunteer-staffed animal rescue that relies on adoption fees, donations, and local fundraisers for income. We apply for grants as applicable (e.g. TN Animal Friendly and Mutt Nation Spay and Neuter), but funding is minimal. Donation solicitation and local fundraising are limited by our community's small size and economic status. We, along with other charities in town, are asking over and over from the same few people who can give. Many chose to donate their time supporting adoption events, fostering, cleaning at the main foster facility, and administrative work. Click on the Volunteer Tab to learn more.