Suncoast Humane Society: Orvis Dog Enrichment Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The funds awarded by this grant will greatly benefit Suncoast Humane Society and ultimately the people and animals of the communities we serve. Your support helps us to continue our affordable spay/neuter program and preventive health care services. We continue to offer our pet pantry that provides food for pets belonging to families also suffering from the economy. As the area’s only open admission animal care center, we continue to accept and care for the communities’ lost, abandoned and abused animals. The support of the Foundation is truly appreciated.
On average, it costs Suncoast Humane Society $250 per animal surrendered to our shelter. Included in these costs is spay/neuter surgery, testing, vaccines, possible specialized medical care, possible fostering (supplies for foster parents), the cost of food and the salaries for the animal care staff who are entrusted with caring for our shelter animals. At the time an animal is surrendered we request a $25 donation per animal. Often times, people are unable to fulfill the whole donation amount as they are giving up the animal due to financial distress. We typically receive an average of $10 per animal, of which the remaining medical and housing costs must be covered through grants and general donations. In order to make more animals adoptable, we have gone above and beyond to ensure the health and well-being of our shelter animals. This is all being done for little monetary return. Throughout 2012, Suncoast Humane Society held several adoption promotion specials that offered reduced adoption fees. Rather than see homeless animals sit in our shelter, these types of promotions helped to get pets into stable, loving homes where they belong. These promotions were very successful as evidenced by the 1,100 animals that were placed into new homes this past year. By allocating the funds from this generous grant to the costs associated with our adoptable animals, we were able to ensure more animals were being placed more quickly into permanent homes
How many pets did this grant help?
Since receipt of the grant money we have adopted out or returned to owner 261 animals. These funds help us place more animals in forever homes and help to reduce the number of homeless animals in our community.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
An adoption story that we are proud of is Harley (now Koufax). Harley’s new family had adopted from us in the past, adopting Zeus, AKA Ripkin, last year. When they decided to add another pet to their family, they thought of us first because of the wonderful experience they had during their previous adoption. Zeus and Koufax became fast friends and the family said they are like brother and sister now.
Another great adoption story is about Pretty. Pretty came to us as an owner give-up because their finances had taken a bad turn and they could not longer afford to keep her. Pretty is a 9 year old female Chihuahua. After examining Pretty our animal care manager determined that she had severe dental disease which needed treatment prior to being put up for adoption. Thanks to our Shelter Angel Program, which is promoted solely as an incentive for our caring donors wishing to help individual animals with medical needs, we were able to treat Pretty and restore her smile. She then became available for adoption and found her forever home with the Butlers. They LOVE their little Pretty and she is adjusting beautifully to her new home. She loves to have her belly rubbed and snuggles in bed with them.
