Bedford Cares

06/15/2026

Heads up everyone! We are going to be closed again this week — BUT — we are available to meet at the store for anyone hoping to collect their held items.

Please send us a message OR comment here to make plans.

We truly appreciate your patience as we continue setting up things at the store.

06/12/2026

Latest update and a special thanks to everyone that got us to this point:

06/11/2026

♥️ June Colony Food Plea ♥️

We are looking for a few folks to help sponsor our June Cat Colony Cat Food Supply this month.

Each month we spend approximately $2,000 to feed a number of cat colonies.

Please consider donating a few dollars to help us continue this vital mission for the cats in our community.

🔸We accept Venmo and PayPal—

[email protected]


🔸Donations may also be dropped off at our Thrift Store during open hours.

Any amount is greatly appreciated!

💙🐾💙🐾💙🐾💙🐾💙🐾💙

06/09/2026

Did you know we offer financial aid to help cover the cost of spay and neuter services? Availability is subject to current funding and is designed for those who qualify. We're committed to ensuring all pets can receive the care they need. Find out more at: https://www.mvhclinic.org/specials/

06/08/2026

Urgent update from Bedford Cares!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are reaching out today to share some critical news regarding our recent operations and upcoming plans.

In order to best serve our mission and manage our resources effectively, we are making an immediate transition. A few of our Board Members have stepped down, and the Thrift Shop is temporarily closed. However, we fully intend to continue with Bedford Cares and reopen the shop soon with new volunteers, furniture, and inventory.

We are currently restructuring our facility operations, moving to Tuesday 4:00 - 6:00, and a Saturday schedule from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon) every other week, starting ASAP. Because of this, the following changes are taking effect immediately:

Temporary scheduling adjustments for pickups: Please reply to this post or email us if you wish to pick up an item this week.

Relocation: We are currently relocating our storage unit, inventory, and activities.

To make this successful, we desperately need volunteer sign-ups to help stock the store and sort donations. Specifically, we need at least three (3) volunteers on Tuesdays and Saturdays to handle sales, packaging, and restocking.

Our team and board are fully committed to making this transition as smooth as possible, but we cannot do it without you. If you have any questions, or if you are able to lend a hand during this critical time, please reach out to us at [email protected] or via direct message on Facebook.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our cause of saving animals and for being such a vital part of our community.

Warmly,

Philip C. Banton & The Board of Directors

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

Heads up everyone!

06/06/2026

Lilies are in every garden. Every bouquet. Every farmer's market arrangement.

They're the #1 plant killer of cats.

All parts of true lilies (Lilium species) and daylilies (Hemerocallis) are toxic to cats. Petals. Leaves. Stems. Pollen. Even the water in the vase.

But here's the part that kills: POLLEN.

A cat brushes against a lily. Pollen dusts its fur. The cat grooms itself. Ingests the pollen.

Within 6-12 hours: vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite.
Within 24-72 hours: acute kidney failure.
Without aggressive IV treatment within 18 hours: death.

A TINY amount. Less than a petal. A few grains of pollen. That's the lethal dose.

There's no antidote. Treatment is aggressive fluid therapy to flush the kidneys before permanent damage. Even with treatment, many cats suffer lasting kidney damage.

This isn't obscure. The ASPCA Poison Control Center lists lily toxicity as one of their top calls every spring and summer.

What to do:
If you have cats (indoor OR outdoor) — do NOT plant lilies in your garden.

No lilies in bouquets or vases in a home with cats.

If your cat contacts any lily — wash the pollen off immediately, call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435), and get to an emergency vet FAST.

Time is the only variable.
Safe alternatives that look similar: snapdragons, zinnias, petunias, sunflowers, orchids, roses.

The most popular flower in American gardens is the most lethal to the most popular pet in American homes.

No lily is worth your cat's kidneys.

06/05/2026

Today only! 1/2 off all items at the Thrift Store from 4:00 - 6:00.

06/02/2026

We are looking for VOLUNTEERS to help keep the Thrift Store open.