Animal Shelters Impacted by Oil Spill Crisis
The Petfinder.com Foundation, in partnership with Merial's "Paws to Save Pets" and The Animal Rescue Site's Gifts That Give More™ program, is opening up $150,000 worth of grant applications for shelters and rescue groups affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. Animal shelters in the Galveston, Texas area all the way to Tallahassee, Florida have been impacted by the oil spill crisis. As always, the Foundation is eager to respond to the need of homeless animals when disaster strikes.
Petfinder.com Foundation will be providing $100,000 in operating budget grants to shelters located within 30 miles of the coast. Animal shelters have been affected by the economic impact the oil spill has had on the region. Their supportive community, including businesses, are unable to provide enough help with donations to cover general operation costs.
The second type of grant will provide $50,000 in total to the foster based rescue groups who are willing to take animals from these shelters impacted by the oil spill. Each $1,000 grant will provide financial help to these groups who can transport and take some of the homeless animals to decrease the burden on these shelters and help increase adoptions.
Animal Shelters in the region are sharing their stories with us.
Here is what they are saying:
"Many people in our community have lost their jobs because of the oil spill. Be it commercial fisherman to oilfield workers, it has effected us greatly, by the amount of dogs we are taking in due to families not being able to take care of their family pets any longer. Financially we are being hit hard due to lack of donations on off site events or mailed in donations. Times are tough due to this manmade disaster."
"Franklin County is experiencing a severe economic downturn as a result of the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. We are faced with a drastic decline in community contributions (30%) as well as a decrease in county funding (10%). We have experienced a 40% increase in owner surrendered animals since April."
"We have seen a tremendous increase in owner surrendered animals. In May 2009, we had 60 total intakes, in May 2010, 288. In June 2009 we had 17 owner surrenders, in June 2010 we had over 100. This has increased our expenses in all areas, vaccines, surgeries, staffing etc."
Help Homeless Animals Affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. Make a donation to the Petfinder.com Foundation's Disaster Fund today!
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