Awareness Video | The Mission of ARF

Wink & Buddy’s Heart-Warming Stories

Client: ARF
Industry: Nonprofit
Video Type: Sales & Marketing, Brand Awareness, Fundraising, Profile
Messaging Type: Interview-Style

About This Video Project

We were hired to capture these heartwarming stories of Wink, a little kitten brought in through the OPCAT program at ARF and Buddy, a dog who came from a kill shelter in South Carolina originally in 2010. He was adopted soon after, but unfortunately was surrendered.

We were able to film both of these amazing animals and hear from those who adopted them and were able to give them the best life they could. ARF’s efforts made this possible and stories like these are used to hopefully bring the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons (ARF) much needed donations and support so that they can continue to do the life-changing work that they live for every day.

Transcription

Wink was a little kitten. He was brought in by a good Samaritan through the OPCAT program here at ARF. He was in pretty poor shape. He had a wound trauma to the left eye. Unfortunately, the eye was already gone and we couldn’t do anything to save it. So we did treat him and in about a month’s time, he was actually ready to be adopted and it was wonderful to see the transformation in this little kitten. Growing up out here, I knew about the organization and when I jumped on the site, I saw his picture. In my head, I remember thinking like, oh, a one-eyed cat, everybody’s going to want a one-eyed cat. We have to get him. He called very excited about this one-eyed kitten. I wasn’t quite sure. I worked so hard at the hospital, so I wanted to make sure it was kind of easy at home. I went and set up a time and I got to meet him and he had all that normal, super fun, playful kitten and I was like, oh, this is great, he’s fine. Joe brought him home and I instantly started crying because I was like, this is my baby. Wink is so sweet and loves people and just kind of fit right in with what I was looking for in having an animal and something to come home to after work. So many times, you know, a kitten that has any physical, like, deformity might be overlooked and then you miss out on the fun that Wink really offers. Treating this little guy was so rewarding, not to only myself, but to everybody here because it is a team effort here at ARF and it’s gratifying to know that we made a world of difference in this little guy’s life and he ended up having a good home on top of it. Buddy came from a kill shelter in South Carolina originally in 2010. He was adopted soon after, but unfortunately was surrendered. At this time, he was much older and he also came with a few problems. So we did address them and at the end, we were able to, you know, put him back together in such a manner that he could still have a great life. We really were fortunate to find Mr. Miller. I went to ARF and he was in a pen up on the hill there and I could tell that he was old and he was the one. And I took him for a walk, jumped in the back of the car, he fell asleep, and I said, I guess he’s good. I consider myself pretty much East Hampton, I’m 13th generation, I’ve always had dogs all my life, I’ve done a lot of hunting, and now we’re getting older, this dog is pretty much just a companion. Two old men bonding here. Come on, bud. Come here. Good boy. Come on. Good boy. He’s deaf. I’m getting deaf. But he’s a good old buddy. Look at him. Good boy. We try to get up each day and be as crazy as we can without hurting as little as we can. Take a ride to the bay. He loves to ride. And in the truck, in the back seat, in the van today, getting on his blanket, he’d be happy. It was meant to be, that’s all I can say. We always try to say that there’s that home for every animal, and it really turned out for the good. And it was nice to know that finally we could put him in a home that would be his forever home. I’ve worked at many shelters over the years, and there is no other that matches up to ARF. To handle animals properly, you need trained veterinarians, you need trained staff, and none of this stuff is free. I mean, it takes a tremendous amount of resource to do that. And we have to be thankful for the donors that we have out here, for the community we have out here. I mean, it’s people that are doing this and giving the resources that they have and the ability they have to share generously that gives, you know, animals like this a second chance, a home. We are a direct recipient of those gifts and clearly has added so much joy to our life. And so we’re very grateful for the work that ARF does.

To learn more: https://arfhamptons.org/