 When the weather outside gets frightful you may be inclined to want to stay inside, but your dog still needs exercise and mental stimulation in the cold, dark winter month. We’ve got some tips for fun activities that can motivate you to bundle up and get outside with your pooch plus some creative ways for dog-friendly inside fun, too! Why It’s Important Keeping your dog active can help keep them happy and healthy. And while that may be harder as the cold weather sets in, there are plenty of activities that will help as long as both of you are safe, of course. Something as simple as walking around the block and looking at holiday decorations can be lots of fun. And if you live in an area where it snows, head out and play in the snow with your dog–-there’s nothing like chasing snowballs! If it really is too cold or icy outside, consider indoor options, such as indoor dog parks and games in your own home. For an indoor dog park, remember that the same outdoor dog park rules generally apply (check out our Care Corner post for safety tips on dog parks). While inside, try hiding treats for your dog to find or creating your own obstacle course with furniture, shipping boxes or anything else. Be creative! Colder weather and shorter days can be challenging for dog moms and dads, but with some planning and some creative dog-friendly ideas, you can both get through the winter months and get some energy out. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for more on how to have cold-weather indoor and outdoor fun with your dog. What You Can Do To Help 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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 You are amazing, and we love you! Hi there,
We are so touched and humbled by the outpouring of support we received this Giving Tuesday. Thanks to the generous spirit of so many Phinney’s supporters, we have raised $1,250, which will be a Godsend this holiday season. We cannot do what we do without compassionate friends like you. And on behalf of the people and pets we serve (like adorable Phinney's pet Freyja, pictured above), thank you again from the bottom of our hearts. Sincerely, ~ Phinney’s Volunteers P.S. If you missed this week’s giving event, you can still leave your mark.  Giving Tuesday is here, and we can think of no better way to show what your generosity means than to share a heartwarming message we just got from Freyja's person. "Thank you again for helping me get my girl the emergency services she needed, she is everything to me and I would be lost without her. I am forever grateful for everything and will be paying it forward."
~ Leanna, who Phinney's recently helped when her beloved Freyja needed emergency treatment after accidentally chomping down on corn of a cob Fortunately, after x-rays it became clear that Freyja had chewed the corn into pieces before gulping it down, and her symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea subsided after 2 days. Leanna says she's got a reinforced trash can now and was able to happily celebrate Thanksgiving with her furbaby now that everything is safely stored so she can't get into things! This Giving Tuesday, we could think of no better way to show what your generosity means than to share Leanna and Freyja's story. After all, it's the people and pets like them that benefit when you give to Phinney's. Right now, we're at 15% of our Giving Tuesday goal, and we need your help to raise the rest, so Phinney's can always be here for pets who need our help to get the veterninary care they need. To everyone who gives to Phinney's, THANK YOU! It is because of your generosity that we can lending a helping hand when pets and people like Freyja and Leanna need us.  Giving Tuesday is coming up November 29, and you can get involved with this global movement of generosity right now to help us reach our $5,000 fundraising goal. Giving Tuesday, a global movement of generosity, takes place on November 29, and we're so pumped to participate that we've already launched our annual Giving Tuesday campaign where you can keep track of our fundraising progress.
The tax-deductible donations we receive for Giving Tuesday will make a tremendous difference in the lives of so many who can't afford vet care, pet food, medication, and supplies. Take for example adorable furbabies like:
Each and every donation we receive, no matter the day, means so much to pets like Drama, Max, Clyde, and Sable (who are featured in the photo above, left to right) and their people, too. And you can visit Our Memories to read stories that show how important every giving dollar is. So whether you choose to give on November 29 or want to take advantage of "early bird" giving, Phinney's thanks you from the bottom of our hearts!  Pets can get stressed out just like people do. And while meditation and deep breathing can help people, when it comes to de-stressing, our pets might need a little extra attention and help!
Why It’s Important Pet stress could result in vomiting and diarrhea and may even contribute to lifelong conditions like heart disease and diabetes. And the signs of pet stress may be subtle or more extreme, so it’s important to pay attention to your pet’s behavior. For instance, hiding or backing away, lip smacking, pacing, panting and aggression, as well as destructive behavior toward the furniture, could be signs that a pet is stressed out. And there are a number of common situations that may stress out a pet, too, such as having guests over, moving, construction in or near the home, or just being exposed to loud noises. Once you know what might trigger your pet’s stress, you can take steps to provide them with relief. And there are some simple things you generally can do to help ease pet stress. For example:
And speaking of pheromones, Phinney’s friend Dr. Rachel Geller, who provides free cat behavior counseling, was recently quoted in an article by Fear Free Happy Homes, which educates people on how to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress in pets. Rachel discussed synthetic pheromones, which she says can be used to calm a kitty when unfamiliar objects or fixtures are brought into the home (or the cat is in a strange place, such as their own new home). The article noted that there are now products on the market to help dogs de-stress, too. If after trying some or all of these tactics your furry friend is still stressed, it might be time to contact your vet for some extra guidance. Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for resources on how to help a pet who’s stressed out. And if separation anxiety is stressing your pet out, check out this Care Corner post. What You Can Do To Help 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.  The giving spirit was out in full force at this year's Holiday Festival, warming the hearts of our Godpets, their people, and Phinney's volunteers. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended the 2022 Holiday Festival, we raised more than $3,300 in just one day this past Sunday to help our Godpets and their people (and we're still counting donations as they come in)!
It was so wonderful to see so many smiling faces (and wagging tails) come out to support our important mission. And now that our Angels Tree is officially lit up, we invite all who couldn't attend the festival to visit Pierce Park at 17 Weston Road in Lincoln any day from dawn to dusk through January 2023 (look for signs for Phinney's Angels Tree). You can enjoy the quiet comfort of the park grounds while marveling over the love our volunteers and our donors have for each and every Godpet whose adorable faces are featured on hand-painted watercolor ornaments adorning a majestic blue spruce. And speaking of those special faces, we have several NEW Godpets we would like to officially introduce you to: Archie, Freya, Fritzy, Paka, and Sparkly! Perhaps you would like to sponsor one of these cuties or our other Godpets. Being a Godparent is a special way to help ensure that they get the vet care, food, meds, and other supplies they need. And monthly sponsors receive quarterly updates about their Godpet! On behalf of all the Godpets, their people, and our volunteers, thank you again for your continued support. Your giving spirit is the reason we are able to bless so many in need with kindness.  We hope you can join us for this festive fundraiser tomorrow! After months of planning, Phinney's Holiday Festival is finally here!
Stop by Lincoln's Pierce House at 17 Weston Road between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. tomorrow to say hello to our dedicated volunteers. They work hard all year long to make sure people and pets in Massachusetts who can't afford pet food, supplies, and veterinary care don't have to worry about having those essential needs met. We've got a great day in store for everyone, including:
Plus, Phinney's will have a wide assortment of decadent baked goods and hot, seasonal beverages to warm your spirit and hand-painted Phinney's Godpet ornaments. All proceeds from the sale of our items go directly to support peopled pets in need, and, while supplies last, anyone donating $50 or more will receive a fabulous Phinney's mug. We are also expecting a very special guest direct from the North Pole, and we look forward to seeing you soon! And if you can't make it tomorrow, we hope you'll consider making a donation to help us kick off the giving season.  We've got a special treat for you! Check out our all-new video about Sparkly the dog who gets help from Phinney's and learn tricks on how to ensure your pet's safety and well-being this Halloween. With Halloween coming up next week we've got a dog-gone adorable treat for you plus some tricks for keeping your pets safe this Halloween!
Our all-new Monsters of Cuteness video features the heartwarming story of how Phinney's has helped Sparkly the dog, his cat sister, Freya, and their dad, Barry. Click here to see Sparkly's "adhorrorable" film debut! We also want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of a few tricks that can help ensure that pets stay safe this Halloween, including to:
Phinney's wishes you and your pets a hauntingly happy and safe Halloween!  Manny's story is a strong reminder about the important role client coordinators and support through donations play in making sure people and pets who need our help can get it. Manny, an adorable 11-year old poodle, had skin lesions and a tumor, which the vet said had to be removed for his health and well-being.
His person, Natalie, who is low-income and couldn’t afford the surgery, reached out to Phinney’s. And we’re so glad she did because we were able to cover the cost of the surgery, and according to Natalie, Manny is doing very well post-op! "Our family is absolutely grateful for the help Phinney's Friends provided with Manny,” she says. “He truly is the best dog one can ask for and seeing him getting back to himself after surgery is a great feeling. This organization was a blessing to us." And we’d like to give a shout out to our client coordinator, Diane, who worked on Natalie’s and Manny’s case and who started just a few months ago with Phinney’s as a client coordinator after serving as The Cat Connection’s medical director. “Diane was so kind and helpful, making sure that our baby was able to get his much needed surgery ASAP,” Natalie adds. Client coordinators like Diane are integral to carrying out Phinney’s mission. It’s a very important role through which volunteers help triage each person’s unique situation, and determine if and how we can help them or direct them to the right place. And once there's a plan in place, client coordinators make sure the “moving parts” run smoothly so pets’ needs can be addressed in a timely way. Right now, we’re in search of client coordinators to oversee our team of dedicated volunteers. The job is perfect for someone with prior experience, but we can also provide training for anyone who’s interested in reviewing cases, following up, and responding in a timely manner to emails and texts from people like Natalie who need our help. You can email info@phinneys.org or visit our website’s Volunteer page, too, where you can learn more about volunteering opportunities and submit your own application. And if you would like to make sure pets like Manny never have to go with out critical medical care, please consider supporting Phinney's with a donation using the button below.  Many people like to add plants to their homes, but if you have pets, it’s important to know which plants may be dangerous to your furry family member(s). Why It’s Important Plants can give warmth to your space, but not all plants are pet-friendly. Some can be toxic if ingested or cause allergic reactions if a pet has a plant allergy. So, exposure to the wrong plant could put a pet’s health at risk and result in costly vet bills, too. Since pets can get into virtually everything, it’s a good idea to research prior to bringing a plant (flowering or otherwise) into your home to ensure that they are relatively safe for your pet–and you can also go the extra step to cross check any information you find with your vet. Keep in mind, too, that according to the ASCPA, even non-toxic plants could result in vomiting and gastrointestinal upset, so take steps to ensure that your pet cannot eat any plants! Check Out These Resources Visit our Care Corner web page for links to resources that can help identify which plants are toxic and likely non-toxic for pets generally. And, again if you have specific questions about the toxicity of a plant talk to a licensed veterinarian. What You Can Do To Help 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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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 |
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