 Trimming your pet’s nails is not only to protect the furniture or floors in your home. It actually keeps them healthy and comfortable.
Why It's Important Cats, dogs, and even bunnies need to get their nails trimmed regularly. While this may seem like a small detail, it's an essential part of caring for your pet. Long nails can cause pain and discomfort. In cats, for instance, they can grow so long as to puncture the paw pads. Painful and dangerous, as it can cause an infection. Cats go into the litter box with their little feet! If the nails don't get trimmed for too long, the overgrown nails could cause long-term problems, which may require more expensive vet visits, even an emergency trip to the vet. Case in point: Muffin the Cat, who Phinney’s recently helped get emergency vet care because her nails had become ingrown. Click here to read Muffin’s story. If you feel uneasy about trimming your pet’s nails, you can always contact your vet for help. Vets will charge for this service, but typically it is not much money. Your vet can even help you become more comfortable doing this at home, preventing the need to take a trip to the vet every time your pet needs its nails trimmed. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more information on the importance of trimming your pets nails and for some information on needed supplies. What You Can Do To Help Keeping your pet safe and healthy is important and can reduce emergency vet visits, which can be costly. Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.
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 Sponsoring a godpet makes a real difference in their lives. Take Sargent Stubby, aka Sarge, for example. This sweet lovebug, age 11, has chronic health issues. And when the vet recently recommended additional blood work, Phinney’s covered the costs of the tests his dog mom can’t afford on her own.
He got the tests he needed thanks to the generous donations of those who support Sarge directly through Phinney's Godparents Program. His blood work showed a significant increase in his liver values from earlier in the year. The vet said Sarge may have Cushing's disease and/or liver or gallbladder-related issues, which they’ll continue to monitor. It’s likely Sarge will need radiographs and an ultrasound at some point, too. For now, we’re just so happy that Sarge can continue to live his best life with his doting dog mom, who is also elderly and needs Sarge’s help as a service dog. If you would like to sponsor Sarge or another godpet, please visit phinneys.org/be-a-godparent. Your contributions help ensure that godpets like Sarge get the ongoing help they need—whether it’s for food, supplies, or vet bills.  You know that very special place in your heart? You can show a piece of it on Phinney's website now! Phinney's has launched an Honor Wall, so we can all celebrate the people and pets we love. And now that the Holiday season is approaching, we hope our Honor Wall will be sprinkled with messages of love and joy. It's the type of gift that lives on, as a donation to Phinney's Honor Wall benefits pet owners in need by helping them pay for vet bills and pet supplies. On the Honor Wall, you get to display a picture and a quote about your special person or pet. By clicking on the "Donate in Honor of a Loved One" button, you can send us your special message and upload your favorite picture. We will also notify anyone you'd like about your donation and, in a matter of days, your message will be posted at the top of the Honor Wall page. People are already celebrating special dates and memorializing their dear ones there. Check it out here! Will you be next? Please tell your family and friends. Happy celebrating!   Muffin, who had nail caps on, became wobbly. She was falling over and limping. Even though her nails were being trimmed, some of Muffin’s nails got embedded in her paw pads because the caps wouldn't come off.
The vet recommended emergency surgery to remove the nail caps so Muffin’s nails wouldn’t cause an infection or more discomfort and pain. Muffin's mom, Jessica, heard of Phinney’s, applied for assistance and qualified. And now free from the pesky nail caps, Muffin is again doing great. Jessica said Phinney’s was a tremendous help to them both, and that she can tell Muffin is thankful for the generous donations that made it possible for her cat to get the care she needed. Muffin has been “very affectionate” since she’s been on the mend, Jessica adds. “She used to sleep where no one could ever see her. Now she’s all over everyone. She’s better than ever, I can tell you she certainly says a big thank you!” When you donate to Phinney’s emergency fund, you can help a pet like Muffin get the immediate care they need to address what ails them. You can learn more about how to donate to this and our other funds here. And for more information on how to care for your cat’s nails, visit Phinney’s Care Corner.  Change is in the air! The weather is getting cooler and the leaves have started to change color. A new season brings excitement for a new time of year. However, it also brings a new set of dangers to your pet.
Why It's Important In one of our previous Care Corner posts, we discussed the dangers of rodenticide on pets. This becomes more important during the fall as the use of rat poisons tends to increase after summer, when rodents tend to seek shelter inside and escape the cooler temperatures. And the start of autumn means back to school, so be sure to school supplies out of reach of pets, who might be tempted to eat things they shouldn’t! Also, just because the weather is cooling down doesn’t mean that ticks are gone just yet. On the contrary, tick season tends to come back in the fall. Make sure to check yourself and your pet after being outdoors. Any change of season brings about new things, and some can be hazardous for your pet. As always, it's important to pay attention to your surroundings and what your pet has access to. Keeping your pet safe and out of danger is always important. But now with longer wait times and understaffed veterinary clinics, it has never been more important to reduce the need for an emergency visit (not to mention the cost just to get through the door of an emergency vet clinic)! Finally, with daylight savings many pet parents might need to walk their pets when it’s dark outside or the sun is rising or setting, which can lead to solar glare that makes people and pets harder to see. Remember to walk on sidewalks whenever possible (and against the traffic so you can see what’s coming) and to dress you and your pet in bright, reflective gear. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more tips on what to keep an eye out for and how to keep your pet safe this fall season. What You Can Do To Help Keeping your pet safe and healthy is important and can reduce emergency vet visits, which can be costly. Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering. And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit our Get Help page for more information.  Unwavering passion and commitment from volunteers and donors. That’s what kept Phinney’s open and active during this most unusual fiscal year, from July 1st 2020 to June 30, 2021. Thanks to your generous gifts and your stamina, we were able to help pet owners in need with $68,341 on veterinary visits for their ill pets, and $24,426 on annual vet checks, tests and medications to keep beloved pets healthy. We also shipped $16,578 worth of pet supplies for dozens of low-income people in need. If you'd like to read some of the stories of the pets we helped and take a closer look at how we used the funds you donated to this great cause, check our 2020-2021 Annual Report here that's just come out. Enjoy the read! We love you, Marcia! And it's worth noting that our Annual Report carries a big THANK YOU to Pooch Palace of Watertown, which produced its last Phinney's fundraising Calendar last year before passing the baton onto a new owner.
The doggie daycare raised and donated almost $700,000 to Phinney's since 1996. We are eternally grateful for such a gift of love from Pooch Palace staff and especially Marcia Sassoon, the heart and mind behind this wonderful effort that saved countless pets throughout two decades. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marcia!  Fall is coming and soon the leaves will glow brilliant shades of amber, orange, and red. There’s a crispness in the air already—you can feel it, and chances are your pets are loving it, too!
Right now, we’re in the midst of our Phinney’s Ride fundraiser to help people living with HIV and AIDS care for their pets. And now through November 1, 2021, everyone is invited to do any type of ride (think car, bike, hayride, boat, etc.) to help this important cause. Here’s some inspiration on some beautiful road trips you can take by bike or car to see some of New England’s most iconic autumn landscapes while supporting a good cause. Biking It Pedal Along the Minuteman Bikeway -- Coined “America’s Revolutionary Bike Trail,” this 10-mile bike trail starts in Alewife Station in Cambridge, MA and lets you experience many of the colonial landmarks the towns of Bedford, Lexington, Arlington, and Cambridge offer along the way. Spin Wheels on the Norwottuck Rail Trail--There are 11 miles of scenic beauty that this rail trail peddles. You won’t be disappointed if you do Phinney’s Ride along this, the former Boston & Maine Railroad. Norwottuck connects with the Northampton Bikeway and the Manhan Rail Trail to Easthampton, too, so you can literally bike ride for miles and miles. Cycle on the Shining Sea Bikeway -- This 10.7-mile long bikeway on Cape Cod is a great place to enjoy a variety of types of trees (and what better time to do that than the fall)! A recent bikeway extension goes through Sippewissett Marsh by cranberry bogs and near Chapaquoit Beach so you can wind along the coast and even get close to the Salt Pond Bird Sanctuary--bonus! Road Tripping Ride the Mohawk Trail -- Head out on Route 2 and don’t stop until you’ve traveled from Greenfield to North Adams! This 37-mile stretch kisses the edge of the northern Berkshire Mountains, and provides a lovely, scenic tour of fall’s splendors. Catch Some Wave Action -- Take Route 133 to Route 127 along Massachusetts’ picturesque North Shore and the sea and the low-lying vegetation will bring you waves of joy as you wind through Essex, Gloucester and Rockport on your Phinney’s Ride. Drive the Kancamagus Scenic Byway -- Perhaps the most iconic ride for leaf peepers in New England, Route 112 in the White Mountains stretches from Lincoln to Conway and provides the purrfect backdrop for soaking in the wonders of a New England’s autumn. And since you’re not limited to riding in a bike or a car, the pawsibilities for a delightful autumn ride to support people and pets in need are seemingly endless given the natural beauty of the New England’s byways, hayfields, bikeways, and waterways! And taking part in Phinney’s Ride is simple, just:
 Hello, everyone!
Isn’t that the truth! When Heather couldn’t pay for the medical care G needed after breaking his leg, she didn’t give up hope. She reached out to Phinney’s to help her little guy. While recovering, G had a slight setback, but Heather sprang into action again, getting him back to the vet to do a little adjustment to the pin used to set the fracture. And following that tweak, G was on his road to recovery. Heather’s resolve is a testament to the care and concern pet parents have when their fur kids need help. And, we’re confident that as far as G is concerned, the love he feels for Heather is just as unbreakable. Visit Bark Tweet Meow to read more about G and Heather’s solid bond and some helpful tips on what to do if your pet breaks a bone. If you'd like to support a cat in dire straights, please donate to Phinney's Adam Rosen Fund for Desperate Kitty Cases! This Fund helps pay for expensive bills that will save a life of a cat in need.  Hello, everyone!
One of the hallmarks of Phinney’s mission is to educate pet parents on issues that can help them live their best lives with their pets. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce Phinney’s Care Corner. First, we'd like to thank Phinney’s volunteer Alison Me for her hard work on researching and writing about relevant and timely topics that may interest you as a pet parent! So far, Phinney’s Care Corner, published in our news blog Bark Tweet Meow, has covered maintaining a healthy weight in pets, dog park safety, the harms of rat poison, summer travel with pets, and Lyme disease prevention. Within each post you’ll find a link to Phinney's Care Corner page, where we list resources from expert organizations on the topics we chose. If you have a subject you'd like us to cover, please reach out to us here. To get the latest Care Corner posts, follow @phinneysfriends on Facebook. That’s where our dedicated social media volunteer Erika Fields posts updates! And just one disclaimer to remember: Care Corner resources are for informational purposes only, OK? They are not an exhaustive list or an endorsement of the information provided. Phinney’s recommends consulting with a licensed veterinarian or other licensed pet-care professional regarding specific questions or concerns. We hope you’ll enjoy Phinney’s new corner, which has been a labor of love in and of itself. Happy Fall, everyone!  Daniela Caride with Graffiti - a former Phinney's cat who needed a home after his mom could no longer keep him. Hello, Phinney's Supporter.
Hope you are well and safe. The COVID-19 pandemic that continues to ravage the lives of so many is, of course, impacting Phinney’s as well. The requests for help have skyrocketed. And while the phone doesn't stop ringing, a lot of our volunteers and donors have been struggling and less able to contribute. Many have lost or changed jobs, closed their businesses, or are dealing with other issues related to long-haul symptoms and burnout. As a result, we understand why many have had to stop volunteering or donating. The ones who still stand are moved by sheer stubbornness and love of the cause. It is very inspiring to see how brave people have been. Brave to continue on, and even brave enough to admit they now are the ones in need of help. So, here we are, faced with a wider group of pet lovers in dire straits -- many of them our closest friends -- while Phinney's is still not able to hold the events we so love, out of concern over the safety of our supporters. It may feel like 2022 is far away. But it's not. As we plan our budget, we know we will need to brace ourselves for a difficult year. So, if you are in a position to help, please donate now and help safeguard Phinney's power to save lives and create joy and relief to both people and their pets. We even have a specific fund to help people affected by the pandemic. Click here if you'd like to check it out. If you can't donate, no problem. There are so many ways of making a difference. You can talk about Phinney's with your friends and family, and post about us on your social media pages. Our website, phinneys.org, is full of fresh information on how we make a difference, and how to be involved. We want to help as many pet owners now more than ever, as this worldwide crisis has increased the burdens of people who were, not long ago, able to support their families. That’s why we need you. And only together we can go on. Teamwork is the answer. Living through these times, we learned that the best source of inspiration and strength comes from the resolve of one another. Thank you for caring! Daniela Caride Phinney’s President |
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Phinney's is an all-volunteer registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps low-income people keep their pets. U.S. federal tax ID 94-3475924. All content on this website is the property of Phinney's Friends, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
PO Box 425, Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: 617-203-2053 Fax: 617-979-8705 |
