Cannolicare Archives · The Cannoli Fund

Help us change the lives of King William and Lavaca pets

Your donation goes a long way

Your donation helps not only cats and dogs, but often also relieves the stress of our neighbors who want to help an animal in crisis, but can’t without access to resources. And because our organization is all-volunteer run, and we do the majority of things ourselves in-house, virtually every penny you give goes to changing the lives of pets in need.

Our free programs for cats and dogs exist thanks to the generous support of our friends and neighbors. Help us change the lives of Southtown cats and dogs with a direct tax-deductible gift to our nonprofit. We will receive 100% of your donation as we are charged no fees by accepting gifts through PayPal giving.

Making the neighborhood a better place for people and pets

One of the best things about our neighborhoods is their diversity – from long-time residents to recent arrivals, native San Antonians to new Texans, the very young to the long-retired – neighbors coming together to help San Antonio pets. Some neighbors reach out for financial assistance to help animals in their care, and many come to us for advice and assistance in helping or spaying and neutering feral cats or stray dogs.

Our free programs include our Community Cat Carpool, which shuttles groups of outdoor cats to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated; Cannoli’s Kitchen monthly pet food delivery; Cannolicare grants for essential and often life-saving veterinary care; Spay/Neuter/Vaccinations reimbursement program, and more. A donation to The Cannoli Fund helps not only cats and dogs, but often also relieves the stress of our neighbors who want to help an animal in crisis, but need access to resources.

Help us help neighbors forever change the lives of animals in need – donate now! Thank you in advance for your support.

2020 Fiesta Medals feature dogs and cats

Fiesta medals with enamel pins support spay and neuter, vet care

BUY NOW! These dog and cat Fiesta medals and vintage medals are in our Fiesta Medal Shop and on eBay!

Help us continue to give cats and dogs in need a better life and grab our cat and dog 2020 Fiesta medals for only $5 each. Each medal comes with a bonus “Spay and Neuter” enamel pin! The Cannoli Fund is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. All proceeds support our free spay/neuter and wellness programs for stray and owned King William and Lavaca pets. We have provided free spay/neuter and important veterinary services to more than 1,720 cats and dogs since 2011.

Fiesta medals feature neighborhood pets

Our 2020 Fiesta medals feature two pets whose lives have been changed thanks to our neighbors compassion and The Cannoli Fund’s free programs. Archie, rescued in King William, stars on our dog medal. We covered his vetting and he now has a wonderful mom who dotes on him – making sure he’s always wearing his signature bow tie. Look for him taking a stroll through the neighborhood. Foxy, a community cat, struts down his Lavaca street on his medal. He took our free Community Cat Carpool to be neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped several years ago. His caretakers receive monthly cat food deliveries to make sure he, and his fellow “fixed” cat friends, are always well fed. Foxy is well-known in Lavaca for being both very handsome and full of charisma! You can catch him lounging outside his home or hanging around outside a neighborhood eatery. Support our continuing work and buy now in our Fiesta Medal Shop or on eBay. Some of our past years’ medals and lapel pins are also available.

Fiesta medal proceeds fund pet wellness programs

All proceeds support our free programs which include Cannolicare grants for veterinary care, the Community Cat Carpool, Spay/Neuter Reimbursement, Cannoli’s Kitchen monthly pet food delivery, Cannoli’s Canteen neighborhood pet water bowls, microchip scanning for found animals, and more. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Diva the dog was the beneficiary of a Cannolicare grant for medical treatment for heartworm disease

Cannolicare Grants for Medical Care Increased to $400

Diva the dog was the beneficiary of one of our Cannolicare medical grants for treatment for heartworm disease — *Diva the dog was the beneficiary of a Cannolicare grant to treat heartworm disease.*

The Cannoli Fund’s board of directors has increased the maximum amount for Cannolicare medical grants for critical vet care for King William and Lavaca cats and dogs from $300 to $400 per pet.

The Cannoli Fund believes that all cats and dogs, companion or “community,” deserve a high quality of life, free of suffering. The Cannoli Fund’s Cannolicare medical grants program provides financial assistance to King William and Lavaca residents and business owners (and their employees, if caring for an animal found in our service area) to help pay for critical medical expenses for cats and dogs in their care. Additionally, The Cannoli Fund may pay for euthanasia of animals in our service area that a veterinarian deems unlikely to benefit from treatment or unable to be saved, with the goal of relieving the animal’s suffering.

Cannolicare will provide up to $400 per animal for medical care necessary for the health of an animal. Types of medical care for cats and dogs include, but are not limited to, services such as surgical or other treatment for broken bones or umbilical hernias, mange, heartworm disease, or other illness with a positive prognosis. Examples of items not covered include flea medication, baths, nail trims, and other services part of standard care.

Visit the Cannolicare page of this website for the details of the program and how to apply for a grant to improve the life of a neighborhood cat or dog.

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Rescued from the streets in Lavaca and recipient of The Cannoli Fund's Cannolicare medical grant program, Sunny/Lucy enjoys her foster home

The Rags to Riches Story of a Stray Dog From the Streets of Lavaca

Rescued from the streets of Lavaca, San Antonio, and recipient of The Cannoli Fund's Cannolicare medical grant program, Lucy the former stray dog enjoys July 4 on a lake — *Sunny, now named Lucy, celebrated the fourth of July on a lake.*

Rescued from the streets of Lavaca, San Antonio, and recipient of The Cannoli Fund's Cannolicare medical grant program, Lucy the former stray dog relaxes at her foster home — *Now clean, vetted, spayed, and fed, the former stray relaxes in her foster home.*

In April, a sweet female dog showed up behind the house of a serial dog-rescuer in the Lavaca neighborhood. Despite being tired, hungry, thirsty, and with signs of a previous tail injury, the dog soon known as Sunny was very friendly.

A volunteer from The Cannoli Fund, hoping to find where Sunny belonged, scanned the stray for a microchip and found none. Then it became apparent that Sunny was in heat! Since The Cannoli Fund’s primary mission is to reduce the stray dog and cat population in our service area, we knew we needed to help. Sunny was quickly whisked to the vet, who estimated that she was four-and-a-half years old and had already given birth to at least one litter, most likely more. He also confirmed that Sunny was in the early stages of heat. Thankfully she tested negative for heartworm disease and was treated for a minor infection and hookworms thanks to our Cannolicare program, which provides grants for essential medical care. The cost of her spay surgery was covered by our spay/neuter reimbursement program. To keep her from ever being lost again, Sunny was microchipped and the chip registered.

After a brief stay in a foster home, Sunny was adopted by one of The Cannoli Fund’s supporters in the neighborhood, and renamed Lucy. Lucy now lives inside in a forever home where she is loved, cared for, and will no longer have to worry about raising more puppies. She goes for a run or walk twice daily, appreciates attention from both humans and other dogs, and is eagerly learning new things!

A real rags-to-riches story, Lucy was a stray on the streets in April and by the fourth of July she was boating on a lake with her new mom! For this dog, the story has a very happy ending.

Even though he only has 3 legs, Rocky doesn't let it slow him down. He is proud to be the 2015 dog model for The Cannoli Fund's Fiesta San Antonio medals.

Rocky: Dog model for The Cannoli Fund’s 2015 Fiesta medal

Rocky was found with a gun shot wound to his leg but through everything, remained sweet and loving to his rescuers. — *Rocky, shortly after he was found wandering Lavaca.*

MEDALS ARE HERE! Buy now in our Fiesta Medal Shop!

In the summer of 2014, a compassionate neighbor found an injured and limping pit bull-type dog wandering on the edge of the Lavaca neighborhood. Later named Rocky, the dog had multiple cuts and abrasions and a severely injured front leg. Despite his obvious pain, this sweet and friendly boy allowed his rescuer to bathe him and tend to his wounds. She called The Cannoli Fund volunteer who checked for a chip with our microchip scanner. Not surprisingly, Rocky wasn’t chipped or neutered. Because he was in urgent need of medical attention, Rocky’s rescuer immediately took him to the vet.

Because of the nature of Rocky’s multiple bite wounds and scratches, the vet believed he had been used as a bait dog for illegal dog fighting. The dog had also been shot in the left shoulder, causing multiple bones to shatter. The vet determined that amputation of the left leg was the only option, due to high risk of infection. Thanks to our Cannolicare program, and the many others who helped with his medical expenses and rehabilitation, Rocky received the treatment he needed. Despite what must have been multiple traumatic experiences and the pain he was in, Rocky remained calm and affectionate to his human rescuers.

Rocky recovered and found a wonderful permanent home with a caring family. Despite the former abuse at the hands of humans, Rocky’s forever family reports that he is an affectionate dog who loves everyone he meets, people and dogs alike!

Order Rocky’s 2015 Fiesta medal online at The Cannoli Fund’s fiesta medal shop now! Medals will also be for sale at the King William Association office, at Pig Liquors on S. St. Mary’s, at Villa Finale Museum and Gardens on King William Street, and at Lucy’s Doggy Daycare and Spa’s downtown location, beginning in early April. Both our cat and dog fiesta medals will also be for sale at Pin Pandemonium at Fiesta Fiesta at the Alamo, Thursday, April 16, 5 pm until dark, and at the Ilse’s Attic booth at the King William Fair on April 25, 9 am – 6 pm.

All proceeds from medal sales benefit The Cannoli Fund’s numerous programs for cats and dogs living in the King William and Lavaca neighborhoods. The Cannoli Fund (tax ID 45-2476260) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Tar-Zhay the orange tabby cat is The Cannoli Fund's 2015 Fiesta San Antonio Medal model

Tar-Zhay: Cat model for The Cannoli Fund’s Fiesta 2015 medal

Tar-Zhay, a former stray cat living in King William, was neutered and vaccinated thanks to the Cannoli Fund and is now the cat model for the Fund's 2015 Fiesta San Antonio medal. — *Tar-Zhay in 2011, a few months after being neutered and vetted by The Cannoli Fund.*

Tar-Zhay the cat was the beneficiary of urgent medical care for a bad case of mange. He received treatment thanks to the Cannolicare program of The Cannoli Fund for Dogs and Cats. — *When Tar-Zhay reappeared at his feral colony in early 2014, he was suffering from a bad case of mange.*

Tar-Zhay the cat in a metal porch chair — *Now free of mange, well fed, and content, Tar-Zhay relaxes on his porch.*

MEDALS ARE HERE! Buy now in our Fiesta Medal Shop!

Tar-Zhay, an orange tabby named for the large target-like patterns on his coat, was a male tom cat who roamed a wide territory in lower King William. With a distinctive slightly deformed left ear, Tar-Zhay appeared to have been born to a feral mother. The streets had not been kind to him. When he was spotted in the neighborhood, he frequently had scratches or wounds from fighting.

One day in 2011, Tar-Zhay’s life changed for the better. He and several other ferals were trapped, spayed or neutered, and returned to a small outdoor community cat colony. T-N-R, or Trap-Neuter-Return is considered the most effective way to control feral cat populations. Although Tar-Zhay was wary of people at first, regular feedings and neutering led him to change his mind quickly! He soon made himself at home on a lower King William porch, enjoying frequent opportunities to cuddle up in a warm lap and get some attention.

In late 2012, Tar-Zhay disappeared! An extensive search, liberal sprinkling of potent catnip on his porch, and offers of tuna fish and other delicious treats did not bring him home. His family and community cat colony missed him greatly. After a few months his family decided that something must have happened to Tar-Zhay and that they would probably never see him again.

Then, in January of 2014, Tar-Zhay suddenly reappeared on his former porch! He looked terrible because of a bad case of mange. He immediately was taken to the vet who explained that the itching was so intense that Tar-Zhay had scratched himself to the point that he had lost fur on his head and neck and had developed open wounds. After an overall checkup and updated shots, the cat was put on a treatment plan for his mange. Tar-Zhay benefited from The Cannoli Fund’s Cannolicare program, which provides up to $300 towards crucial medical care for pets in our King William and Lavaca service area.

Tar-Zhay now spends his time napping in his favorite box or chair, eating all he can, and enjoying the company of the other cats in his colony.

Order Tar-Zhay’s Fiesta 2015 medal online at The Cannoli Fund’s fiesta medal shop now! Medals will also be for sale at the King William Association office, at Pig Liquors on S. St. Mary’s, Villa Finale Museum and Gardens on King William Street, and at Lucy’s Doggy Daycare and Spa’s downtown location, beginning in early April. Both our cat and dog medals will also be for sale at Pin Pandemonium at Fiesta Fiesta at the Alamo, Thursday, April 16, 5 pm until dark, and at the Ilse’s Attic booth at the King William Fair on Saturday, April 25, 9 am – 6 pm.