Animals Requesting Friends (ARF)

07/31/2026

We will be having our low cost spay and neuter program on August 6! Payments are due before the actual date of the appointment. Someone from our office will contact you for payment and next steps after you fill out the form. Payment is due by Wednesday, August 5th by 4pm. Give us a call or text at 314-494-4792 if you have any questions! Please keep in mind spots are limited, so fill out the form as soon as you can. Fill out the form here: https://new.shelterluv.com/form/cat/LPMV/10608-low-cost-spay-neuter

07/31/2026

🐾 Friday Fun Fact! 🐾

Did you know that a kitten can become pregnant by the time she is 5 months old?

That means a kitten can have kittens before she's even fully grown herself!

That's why veterinarians and animal welfare organizations recommend spaying or neutering cats by five months of age. Early spay/neuter helps prevent accidental litters, reduces the risk of certain diseases, and keeps more cats in loving homes instead of overcrowded shelters.
Before a pet enters a shelter—it starts with one simple decision.

Help spread the word! 💙🐱 Feline Fix by Five

07/31/2026

Long stay shelter dogs will have stressful experiences, and long-term shelter dog behavior can include reactive or anxious behavior

07/31/2026

In remaining in line with ARF's Mission Statement, it has been decided by the board of directors of Animals Requesting Friends that our spay/nueter funds can no longer sustain the benevolent support of non profit animal welfare organizations. ARF is only able to provide support to low income individuals residing in Wayne County as of 8/1/26.
ARF is extremely proud to have been a major contributor to the success of Critter Fixers' initial start up by paying $3,920.00 in assistance to alter 196 free roaming Wayne County cats over the past 12 months resulting in a major population reduction of feral cats in our neighborhoods.
ARF remains a committed cheerleader for Critter Fixers & applaudes their lifesaving efforts in our community. We hope to assist Critter Fixers in other capacities in the future. We appreciate their tremendous hard work & are thankful for all Critter Fixers does for the animals.
-The Directors Of Animals Requesting Friends

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

🚨 CAT NOT GOING IN THE TRAP? 🚨
YOU MAY NEED TRAP TRAINING — START NOW!

🐾 Zip tie the trap door OPEN so it cannot close.
🐾 Put food at the entrance — then move it back a little each day.
🐾 Get the cat comfortable walking all the way inside.
🐾 Once they’re going in easily and the night before your scheduled TNVR appointment, REMOVE the ties and set the trap.

👉🏼 CRITICAL: The food near and then inside the trap must be the ONLY food source.

No free feeding. No shortcuts.

With a little patience and consistency, even the most hesitant kitties can learn to trust the trap!

Be patient. Be consistent. It works.

📸 Photo courtesy of Bay Area Cats

04/09/2026

It's National Cruelty Prevention Month, and this week, we're focusing on dog bite prevention. 🐾❤️‍🩹

Every dog is different, so it's important to make sure you understand their boundaries before you approach. Here are a few simple tricks to prevent a dog bite and keep you and your pet safe.

✅ Ask for permission from the pet owner before attempting to approach or pet a dog
✅ Use a calm, quiet voice to speak or give commands to a dog, especially if you don't know them well
✅ Do not touch or startle a dog while they are sleeping, eating, or chewing on a toy
✅ Pay attention to any dog's body language and back away if the dog is barking or growling

At HSHC, our behavior team works hard to make sure that every dog and cat in our care goes home with the perfect match for their temperament and playstyle.🐾💕 We even have resources to help your new pet settle into your home after you've adopted them.

➡️🐾 To learn more about HSHC's pet services, please visit hamiltonhumane.com/local-services

04/09/2026

It doesn’t mean playing.
It never did.
“Socialisation” has a lot to answer for.

It has a far more important meaning, and it’s often missed because of that one word.

It’s not all about interactions with other puppies or dogs. That’s a very small part of it.
Yet we get stuck thinking socialisation = play.

That’s the issue.

Socialisation is the whole world around them.
The one we’re used to. They’re not.

And if we reduce it to just play with other dogs?
Problems are on the way.

Socialisation is about teaching safety.
Creating safety.
Letting your puppy feel safe.

Even if they’ve never seen a plane or heard a crowd, the goal is the same.
Slow, careful exposure so they can take it in without overwhelming them.

We forget, or maybe don’t fully appreciate, how much they need to get used to in our world.

Socialisation is careful, positive exposure.
Acclimation.
And yes, a level of "neutrality".

Wet grass.
Stairs.
Rain on their head.
A cat passing by.
A scooter moving past.

The goal was never just play.