by Wendy Hunter

At the close of a long hot summer, the appearance of the pumpkin heralds the welcome arrival of autumn. ~Kari Spencer

Finally, after another sweltering summer with unbearable days of triple digits, and energy bills shooting through the roof, she has arrived. She has thrown on her cloak of crimson and copper, pumpkin and purple, then secured it with a golden chain. Her chestnut hair flows in the afternoon breezes, and it glistens with strands of spicy saffron. She brings melancholy, memories, and cozy evenings by the fire. At last, Fall is here, bringing cooler mornings and crispy nights. Rejoice! Summer has packed up his duffel bag and left the building. We shall not miss him. Well, some of you crazies out there will mourn his leaving, but the first time you pull on a toasty pair of flannel jammies, you’ll forget all about him. You’ll burrow under the warm covers of your electric blanket, listen to the heater kick on, and happily drift off to slumberland. Now don’t forget some cocoa before you hit the sack; marshmallows are optional.

The Jack-o-lanterns gave off a soft orange glow, flickering in the autumn breeze. ~Kathryn Hills

I’m happy to report that my blood sugar is fairly normal this morning, considering last night was Halloween, and I was in charge of the candy bowl. I confess to stealing a couple pieces, but that’s about it. Usually on All Hallows Eve, mom and I whip up a big batch of tortellini soup, then slurp all the yummy goodness from bowls at the kitchen table. This year, we broke with tradition and made loaded baked potato soup, with plenty of cheese, chives and bacon. Delish! There was a steady stream of Trick or Treaters, but not like it used to be, when we’d plow through at least three bags of goodies. I was also pleasantly surprised by the older kids, who were all very polite, and…well, I hesitate to say it…nice? Sometimes those teenage years bring out the surly and ungrateful ghouls and goblins, but not this year. Most of them even said “thank you,” and “have a nice evening.” What is this world coming to?

The days of autumn are shorter, and they hurry along as if they had more important business elsewhere. ~Raymond Carlson

It’s hard to believe we’re already in November, and Christmas is just peeking around the corner. Recently, I walked into the grocery store, and there were stacks of gigantic popcorn tins and bags of scented pinecones. Uh oh, the holidays have officially arrived. But before we start to panic about gift shopping, baking, and unwelcome company, let’s revisit 2024 and all her glory. For Animal Rescue of Fresno, our yearly fundraising events are a big part of keeping our facility afloat. Starting in April, we participated in an event at Ten Tavern in Clovis, hosted by Mel’s Mutts. It’s always a great joy supporting other amazing rescues, and it benefits everyone involved. In June, we attended the Central Valley Reptile and Pet Expo, which is anything but ordinary. This expo is definitely not for the faint of heart, and if you’re freaked out by slimy snakes, and creepy crawly things, it’s definitely not for you. But, if you love people watching and learning about the aforementioned critters, then you should go. All the vendors are cool and love sharing info about their passion. And if you think you could never love something with eight legs or something that grows to be 15 feet long, at least you’ll become educated. Who knows, you might even go home with a buggy-eyed chameleon.

The day after the day that I walk out the front door and the air is crisp, with just a hint of the Autumn days ahead, I put cinnamon in my coffee. ~Betsy Cañas Garmon

As the summer heated up in August, we had a gathering at ARF for our volunteers. We held a Rainbow Bridge Memorial, where we could bring ashes and collars for our late pets, and share stories of our beloved friends. Although it wasn’t a fundraiser for the public, it was a joyful event that profited all our hearts. We hung collars in the Memorial Garden trees, and scattered ashes for dogs adopted at our facility, and those sanctuary dogs who never left. They shall remain in their favorite yards, where they ran and played with their friends, and slept in comfy beds. For all of us, there are way too many to remember, but we loved each and every one. Enjoy the other side my friends, we miss you every day.

September’s sunny days were busy for ARF, and we had a couple of different fundraisers going on. For a rocking good time, there was the Dog Rock metal music show at Summer Fox Brewery, which is a fabulous venue out by All Creatures Vet Clinic. An awesome place, where they have lots of seating, yummy pizzas, and industrial beer equipment. Plus, there’s an outdoor area with several picnic tables, colorful lighting, and the rumbling sound of trains running nearby. Thanks to Summer Fox for donating a huge portion of food and drink to ARF. Fantastic!

Spring has gone
And the growing’s past,
And the time for the harvest is here at last…
~Frances M. Frost

Later in September, another ARF Yard Sale was held, with two days of wheeling and dealing with shrewd attendees. The people who visit yard sales are savvy customers, who pick through piles of clothing, videos, and books, with a fine-tooth comb. They have no problem haggling an item down from 50 cents to a quarter, or a dime to a nickel. And we love them. We especially love the ones who come and stay for two hours, loading up their cars with all kinds of household stuff, and then returning for a second or third visit. We appreciate their business, and the actual business of making money for ARF. We can’t wait to bargain with you next year!

October proved to be a very busy month for ARF, with lots going on. On the 5th, we joined many brave early-bird runners for the Pinnacle Pup Run at Woodward Park, who got up at some ungodly hour to run/walk and help support Fresno Valley’s local non-kill shelters. To all of you morning peeps, we salute you!

That same Saturday, we hosted the Subaru Loves Pets adoption event. October is Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, and Lithia Subaru of Fresno are huge supporters of the animal adoption movement. We adore the amazing employees there, and they always give our dogs so much attention. You rock Lithia Subaru of Fresno, and so does your fancy coffee machine!

Autumn is passing through us,
And we are in love…
~James Oppenheim

For some spooky delights and all-around creative fun, our last October event was at Straw Hat Pizza in Clovis, for their Trunk or Treat gathering. This ghoulish evening was hosted by Fresno Mopars. A fantastic family event for those of all ages, it was full of crazy costumes, talented trunk decorations, plus music and food. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but all the photos and videos made me think I was there. Thanks to Straw Hat Pizza for hosting this event; you guys are the best.

Coming up in December, we have the annual ARF’s Open House, from 11:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Santa will be there to take pictures with you and your fuzzy friend. There will be food and beverage, raffle prizes, and of course, tons of baked goods. We always have amazing vendors, with jewelry, jams, and all kinds of great presents for gift giving. If you’re going to attend, please bring a gift for the ARF dogs to put under the tree. They don’t have their forever home yet, but they can always enjoy some goodies from Santa. This is a fabulous event and always a lot of fun. Come on out and join us!

You will find the blue hills… with the autumnal shadows silently sleeping on them, and there will be a glory lingering round the day, so you’ll know autumn has been here; and the setting sun will tell you… ~Emily Dickinson

Animal Rescue of Fresno
4545 E Dakota Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726
Website: arf-fresno.com

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section and check back every month for another animal rescue adventure from ARF. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue. We also have a pet Facebook group for KRL and we would love to have you join!

Wendy Hunter has been volunteering with ARF since 2014. She grew up in Fresno and has been an Office Assistant with Fresno County for 7 years. She has been writing all of her life, though never professionally, and currently writes personalized poetry for birthdays, weddings, pet remembrances, etc.