Australian Shepherds Furever - Maine (Atkinson) Chapter

Nancy Pearlman-Gonzalez, Founder and CEO, created Australian Shepherds Furever (ASF), a non-profit organization to promote the education, rescue, fostering and adoption of the Australian Shepherd breed of dog. In July 2012, Australian Shepherds Furever (ASF) initiated as a page on Facebook. Hoping to have 1,000 members at the end one year, ASF quickly grew into a network of more than 67,000 dedicated individuals striving to provide aid and refuge to Aussies all over the country. From these phenomena, the website www.australianshepherdsfurever.org was developed to educate the public on this intelligent and beautiful breed, and provide resources to those seeking help or willing to contribute to the Adopt, Save and Foster (ASF) philosophy. ASF filed for non- profit status in July 2013 and obtained its status in July 2014 and through proactive networking, partnerships, training/rehabilitation and fundraising, ASF has saved the lives of countless dogs to include those with Parvo, Mange, Tick Disease, Cancer, Pneumonia, broken limbs and some of the most extreme cases of abuse that one could imagine. ASF focuses on the Aussies that most would turn their backs on. ASF is in its 5th year and over 1,910 Australian Shepherds have been rescued from high kills shelters, abusive owners and other high-risk situations. We, as humans, have a responsibility to uphold, shelter and care for those beings that are less fortunate, that are simply cast away. Thanks to proactive individuals who work collectively, Aussies nationwide are being given a chance at a better life through Australian Shepherds Volunteers are an integral component of ASF for the maintenance of the website, screening potential fosters and adopters, providing training, fundraising, data base management, networking and transporting of recued Aussies. All Volunteers; Adopters, Fosters, Trainers and Transporters etc. are carefully screened and vetted to assure the safe and vital placement of these dogs into furever homes. We currently have over 170 foster families and over 160 dogs in foster care nationwide. We have professional trainers to work with our dogs with severe behavioral issues. We also have a team of Rescue Coordinators, Medical Advisors, Fundraisers, Regional Reps, Application Processors, Data Base Managers, Social Media Managers, Microchip and ID tag Registrars and Ground and Air Transport Coordinators that work together to save these beautiful dogs. Furever (ASF).