What We Do

We’re busy making sure our mission of Prevention, Awareness and Treatment is met.

We get the word out about our mission through educational seminars, often lead by members of our medical advisory board and in conjunction with partners, covering a variety of areas related to pet aging and cancer detection and treatment.

We partner with local merchants and concerned groups of animal lovers to increase awareness and to raise much needed funds.  Through our See Spots Campaign each November during Pet Cancer Awareness Month, participating retail sponsors donate a portion of the proceeds raised from the sale of a specific product or service.  In 2008, Three Dog Bakery promoted Gimley’s Gobblers, Weezie’s Kitchen offered Mojitos & Conch Dishes; Bark Busters Home Dog Training committed to every lesson scheduled during the month; Bruster’s Real Ice Cream in Chester, Virginia gave away free Doggie and Kids Sundaes when a donation was made to FETCH; and the BarrelThief Wine Shop & Café had a featured “FETCH wine” for the month.  This is just a sampling.  Here is the entire list of all of our 2008 See Spots Sponsors.

Holiday season campaigns include Toys for Furry Tots and Holiday Bone Tree.  Toys for Furry Tots is a collection campaign benefiting homeless animals in need of holiday cheer.  Decorated doghouses are placed in locations around the city (schools and retail shops) as drop off locations for pet toys and supplies.  These gifts from the community are then delivered to area shelters and humane societies on Christmas Eve, helping to give shelter animals some comfort and happiness while they wait for their new parents to arrive.  Holiday Bone Tree is a great way to spread the word and get a delicious treat for your canine companion.  Participating businesses house a FETCH Holiday Bone Tree adorned with handmade dog bone treats – some sponsor the entire tree, while others sell the treats with proceeds being donated back to FETCH.

Our most visible fundraising effort is our Pups on Parade Gala and Live Auction, where 30 metal pups are created by sculptor Bruce Mickelson and then hand-decorated by local artists and talented dog lovers to reflect a wide variety of puppy personalities.  Each pup can be “sponsored” by foster parents and then auctioned off at the gala.  Our second annual Pups on Parade event in June 2009 was a tremendous success.

We continue to raise the bar to create fun and interesting ways to get pet lovers, and the general community, excited about our mission.  To that end, we have new fundraisers such as a Progressive Dinner Experience and a Canine Film Festival.  Be sure to check out our News & Events page often!

Remember, if you or a friend is in need of financial assistance, please read about our Companions in Crisis program and download an application today.