History and Accomplishments

• In January 2004, the Marley Fund founded the first USDA licensed and regulated safe haven in the state of North Carolina for animals infected with feline leukemia virus.  The fund has become the only animal network for infected animals in our region—to date over one hundred lives have been saved. In addition, we have assisted hundreds of pet owners and their animals through educational means and counseling, in order to stop the deadly viral cycles of FeLV and FIV.


• In April 2004, Marley Fund was featured in the national magazine, Cat Fancy. This exposure, in conjunction with our Web site, which experienced a subsequent increase in the number of visitors, allowed the fund to rapidly expand its level and scope of public service. As a result of the article published and our unique mission we have been bombarded by animal rescuers and individuals across the country eager for placement for positives and information, making Marley Fund explode to a national level.


• In May 2006, the Fund’s annual educational calendar was used in awareness campaign for IDEXX Laboratories. IDEXX Laboratories is the leading provider of animal health tests, from heartworm to Lyme Disease, and also makes tests for two diseases that affect millions of cats – feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV). IDEXX makes the only combination test that can screen for both diseases at the same time, but because few cat owners ask for the test veterinarians were less inclined to use it. IDEXX executed the company's first consumer-directed campaign – all previous campaigns were aimed at practitioners. Now the charge was to educate pet owners about FIV and FeLV in order to spur a dialogue between the pet owner and their veterinarian and increase the request for testing. Other campaign partners included the ASPCA and Best Friends Animal Society.  The campaign was covered by Good Morning America (with pet expert Marty Becker), the CBS Early Show, WCBS-TV/New York, Cat Fancy Magazine and other cat enthusiast media (print and online), as well as on TV stations in Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Tampa, Columbus, Austin and more.


• In June 2006, the Fund expanded in conjunction with veterans in the rescue community in Wake County, to open our adoption division, Marley’s Cat Tales.  Ideally to increase the number of animals served, without limiting county boundaries—to serve all positive felines in need regardless of location.  Cat Tales, our adoption division, works through a foster network throughout the Triangle area.  FIV positive felines from all over the state, especially eastern North Carolina, are channeled through this division with much success finding forever homes.