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Bengal Friends' Fund is a charitable organization established to benefit companion Bengal cats whose owners are facing difficulty paying for veterinary care. It is our feeling that re-homing a sick Bengal puts undue stress on both cat and owner. In a tough economy, we want to see Bengal cats helped, particularly because they sometimes may not do so well in shelters. Bengals may be misunderstood due to the wildness factor in them, though they are purely a domestic animal, and we who know them know they make wonderful pets. As an interactive breed, described by many as "dog-like", they become very attached to their people. It is our hope that we can be the step before shelters or Rescue, and that we can help prevent cats from being given up due to treatable illnesses.
As the founder of Bengal Friends' Fund (BFF), I understand what it is like to be in a quandary because of high vet bills. Not everyone feels they can afford pet insurance, and sometimes we get caught off-guard by an illness, or by life itself when it takes unexpected turns, leaving us unable to come up with the money for needed veterinary care. Our pets are our family members, and we want them not only to receive the care they deserve, but also to have the security of a loving forever home with the family they know. BFF hopes to be a safety net for those who understand the human-animal bond when illness or injury threatens to break that bond.
We will not be able to help everyone, or pay peoples' full bills, and frankly, for starters, our helping will be limited to few, but we hope to get to know Bengal owners through our Forums, and other social networks. Then through our own discretion and knowledge of situations, we will help those whom we can. Our first project will be gathering needed funds to apply to the State and Federal Governments for 501(c)(3) status, and for legal counseling. Once we are established as a non-profit, we hope to reach out to Bengal owners in need who face tragedy, job loss, disability, and other extreme circumstances.
There will be no pleas made for donations on the Bengal Chatter Forums. Only the administration can conduct *fun* fundraising raffles. We will not subject our members to pleas for money. This will be strictly enforced.
To make a donation to Bengal Friends' Fund through PayPal, click Donations. Currently, donations are considered GIFTS and are NOT tax deductible. We are working on gaining tax-exempt status pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
To buy tickets for the Raffles, visit our "Special Events" page.
Thank you for visiting our website.
Respectfully,
Marcia Martin, Founder and President
Bengal Friends Fund (BFF)
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