Treating Animals With Kindness (TAWK)

Check out this article from Faithful Friends' website:

"February 23, 2010 – Wilmington, DE – In recognition of National Spay/Neuter Week, the Philadelphia Eagles TAWK program (Treating Animals With Kindness) is partnering with Faithful Friends, Inc. No Kill Animal Shelter to reduce pet overpopulation in Delaware by donating $20,000 toward one of their spay/neuter initiatives that also focuses on education and outreach.

Pamela Browner White, Philadelphia Eagles Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations, presented the check for $20,000 to Faithful Friends. “We chose to award Faithful Friends No Kill Animal Shelter with this grant because they have demonstrated outstanding animal care standard,” said Pamela Browner White. “We are proud to start a new partnership with them and expand our support for the plight of homeless and abused pets in the Delaware community.”

The Philadelphia Eagles TAWK program is a community outreach initiative that focuses on public education and awareness to reduce the abuse of animals, promote responsible adoption, encourage spay and neuter and put an end to dog fighting.

Dr. Carmen Garcia, Faithful Friends Board President, was joined by Carla Markell, First Lady of Delaware, County Executive Chris Coons, and Mayor James Baker at the press announcement to thank the Philadelphia Eagles for investing their funds in Delaware initiatives. The First Lady praised the agency for their great care of animals and talked about her daughter, who volunteers as a dog walker at the shelter. County Executive Chris Coons went on to talk about his recent adoption of a dog from Faithful Friends and the wonderful experience his family had there, “We didn’t just walk out the door, the staff at Faithful Friends prepared us for the challenges of adopting a puppy and the commitment it would require on our part to train him as he grows up. He is a joy to our family.”

Jane Pierantozzi, Executive Director of Faithful Friends, opened her remarks by introducing resident cat, King David. King David is a rescue from Edgemoor Gardens, where Faithful Friends went door to door to neighbors last year when a kitten was burned alive. According to Ms. Pierantozzi, “King David represents the thousands of cats and pit bulls mistreated each year in Delaware and across the country. They are either neglected, or as King David was, tossed out to fend for themselves. The community of Edgemoor Gardens is one of many neighborhoods where residents appreciate our help to take homeless cats into care, or to help them spay/neuter their family cats at low cost or free. Reaching out to neighbors that need education and accessible, affordable services is essential; not only to reduce the unnecessary killing of animals in shelters, but to end neglect and suffering as well. These programs put responsible pet ownership within reach.”

Faithful Friends Operation CatSnip spayed and neutered 1,200 cats last year and their model Pit Stop program, which offers ‘one stop shopping’, spayed/neutered and offered support services such as micro-chipping, vaccination and training advice to 222 families and their pit bulls. Last year, this program ended with almost 100 people on the waiting list to get their pit bulls altered.

“We are looking forward to a long standing relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles to increase our work to advance the plight of homeless and abused pets, said Board President Dr. Garcia. “This grant will specifically enable us to serve those pet caretakers in Delaware who have been on our waiting list to spay/neuter their cats and pit bulls, as well as learn to be responsible pet owners. That is the ultimate goal that we both share; bringing more services to help animals and their caregivers, so they have the tools they need to care for their pets’ well-being.”
The Philadelphia Eagles also donated $10,000 earlier this year to the Faithful Friends ‘Double Your Love Campaign’, a matching grant program."