Animal Welfare Professionals

I am new to this community and SO glad I found it!  I'm hoping I can get some helpful advice.

We are a vet hospital in a small (<20,000) in rural Kansas and currently we house the strays for our county and city.   Our 1st priority is getting the pets back home using social media and tracking down microchips, etc.  Our staff does an amazing job on top of their "regular" vet tech duties.  Like I said we are not a shelter but a business.  The problem we have is that when the homes are not found which is often, we are stuck trying to get these pets adopted out on top of our regular business hours.  The staff does an amazing job using social media and we partner with several  rescues that will take them usually BUT we have to eat the expense of having the pets spayed or neutered.  I have been looking for help since we are not a non-profit there doesn't seem to be much out there except donations from the local community.  Just in the past 10 months we have used over $4,000 from our Adopt A Pet fund and now it's almost gone.   Does anyone have any advice on resources for businesses that are just trying to do their best at helping these unwanted pets get rehomed??   Thank you so much!!

#FundraisingandDevelopment

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------

Have you tried getting funding from the AVMA charitable arm? Or is that how your Adopt A Pet fund is financed? Does KS have any state-wide funding sources? For ex, I'm in GA and funds from the spay/neuter car tags are distributed periodically with the largest portion going to the GVMA.  As a business, could you also maybe use connections through your local Chamber of Commerce? For ex, encourage other businesses to sponsor animals and donate for their medical care as well as help market that animal through their own businesses? You might also try Waggle Crowdfunding for Pets (waggle.org) which has a nice, comprehensive web platform for fundraising.  THANK YOU for helping the animals!! <3

------------------------------
Shari Cahill
silvercometawa.org
------------------------------

Thank you so much for all your suggestions!  I'll look into those options.

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2023 11:00 AM
From: Shari Cahill
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

Have you tried getting funding from the AVMA charitable arm? Or is that how your Adopt A Pet fund is financed? Does KS have any state-wide funding sources? For ex, I'm in GA and funds from the spay/neuter car tags are distributed periodically with the largest portion going to the GVMA.  As a business, could you also maybe use connections through your local Chamber of Commerce? For ex, encourage other businesses to sponsor animals and donate for their medical care as well as help market that animal through their own businesses? You might also try Waggle Crowdfunding for Pets (waggle.org) which has a nice, comprehensive web platform for fundraising.  THANK YOU for helping the animals!! <3

------------------------------
Shari Cahill
silvercometawa.org
------------------------------

AVMA will only cover specific things and routine spay/neuter isn't one of them and the other site is non profits only.  Do you have any idea who I would contact from my state?  Where would I even start with that?  Thank you so much for your suggestions.  We are following up on all the ideas!

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2023 11:00 AM
From: Shari Cahill
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

Have you tried getting funding from the AVMA charitable arm? Or is that how your Adopt A Pet fund is financed? Does KS have any state-wide funding sources? For ex, I'm in GA and funds from the spay/neuter car tags are distributed periodically with the largest portion going to the GVMA.  As a business, could you also maybe use connections through your local Chamber of Commerce? For ex, encourage other businesses to sponsor animals and donate for their medical care as well as help market that animal through their own businesses? You might also try Waggle Crowdfunding for Pets (waggle.org) which has a nice, comprehensive web platform for fundraising.  THANK YOU for helping the animals!! <3

------------------------------
Shari Cahill
silvercometawa.org
------------------------------

This is for owned pets, but may be helpful!

https://jasonheigl.foundation/namaste-initiative/?fbclid=IwAR08svjW1QVhsV1JAV_d-EuN4hBPLImubofC37fAA_qZ1c5SqplZQ3S_9x8

------------------------------
Amanda Gray
Adoptions volunteer
Adopt A Cat Foundation
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2023 07:27 AM
From: Dianna Pedersen
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

AVMA will only cover specific things and routine spay/neuter isn't one of them and the other site is non profits only.  Do you have any idea who I would contact from my state?  Where would I even start with that?  Thank you so much for your suggestions.  We are following up on all the ideas!

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2023 11:00 AM
From: Shari Cahill
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

Have you tried getting funding from the AVMA charitable arm? Or is that how your Adopt A Pet fund is financed? Does KS have any state-wide funding sources? For ex, I'm in GA and funds from the spay/neuter car tags are distributed periodically with the largest portion going to the GVMA.  As a business, could you also maybe use connections through your local Chamber of Commerce? For ex, encourage other businesses to sponsor animals and donate for their medical care as well as help market that animal through their own businesses? You might also try Waggle Crowdfunding for Pets (waggle.org) which has a nice, comprehensive web platform for fundraising.  THANK YOU for helping the animals!! <3

------------------------------
Shari Cahill
silvercometawa.org

That's a great program but again only for non profits.  :( There aren't many places out there helping businesses who are trying to make a difference in their communities.  Thank you for all the great suggestions though.  I am following up on ALL of them!

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-09-2023 04:50 AM
From: Amanda Gray
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

This is for owned pets, but may be helpful!

https://jasonheigl.foundation/namaste-initiative/?fbclid=IwAR08svjW1QVhsV1JAV_d-EuN4hBPLImubofC37fAA_qZ1c5SqplZQ3S_9x8

------------------------------
Amanda Gray
Adoptions volunteer
Adopt A Cat Foundation
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2023 07:27 AM
From: Dianna Pedersen
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

AVMA will only cover specific things and routine spay/neuter isn't one of them and the other site is non profits only.  Do you have any idea who I would contact from my state?  Where would I even start with that?  Thank you so much for your suggestions.  We are following up on all the ideas!

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS


Original Message:
Sent: 11-01-2023 11:00 AM
From: Shari Cahill
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

Have you tried getting funding from the AVMA charitable arm? Or is that how your Adopt A Pet fund is financed? Does KS have any state-wide funding sources? For ex, I'm in GA and funds from the spay/neuter car tags are distributed periodically with the largest portion going to the GVMA.  As a business, could you also maybe use connections through your local Chamber of Commerce? For ex, encourage other businesses to sponsor animals and donate for their medical care as well as help market that animal through their own businesses? You might also try Waggle Crowdfunding for Pets (waggle.org) which has a nice, comprehensive web platform for fundraising.  THANK YOU for helping the animals!! <3

------------------------------
Shari Cahill
silvercometawa.org

Would the rescues that take them be willing to pay for the spay/neuter? I know some of ours are because it's cheaper here in rural area and already done by the time they get the dog.  Maybe start a "help spay/neuter ME" account where people can donate while they are there for their own pet. You would be surprised how many people will throw a five or ten your way to help. Put up signs around your waiting area.  Post it on social media what you're doing. ASK for donations! Do not be shy about it. (something I had to get over) Good Luck! 

------------------------------
Dee Cummins
Dog Warden/Operations Manager
Meigs County Rescue & Adoption Center
OH
------------------------------

Thank you for your suggestions!  We are trying but in this small community it's hard to get enough funds to cover all the expenses.  

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2023 06:34 AM
From: Dee Cummins
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

Would the rescues that take them be willing to pay for the spay/neuter? I know some of ours are because it's cheaper here in rural area and already done by the time they get the dog.  Maybe start a "help spay/neuter ME" account where people can donate while they are there for their own pet. You would be surprised how many people will throw a five or ten your way to help. Put up signs around your waiting area.  Post it on social media what you're doing. ASK for donations! Do not be shy about it. (something I had to get over) Good Luck! 

------------------------------
Dee Cummins
Dog Warden/Operations Manager
Meigs County Rescue & Adoption Center
OH
------------------------------

Living in a very rural community myself (about 5,000 people in farm country) we struggle with the # of cats that are dumped and abandoned and getting them the necessary care (vet shortage) and then raising funds to pay for them.  As a for profit business, I wonder if you could organize a separate non-profit that operates specifically for the spay and neuter program prior to turning them over to a rescue.  It may require an attorney to chime in, but if you could get a separate and very specific nonprofit established there are a number of local, state and federal grants (we have a pet license plate grant we apply for each year in our state).  You could also make a presentation to the city council for budget funds to be allocated to the spay/neuter program.  Hope some of this is helpful 😺

------------------------------
Monica Bennion
Clowder 9 Ranch
Buhl, ID
------------------------------

Thank you.  It seems like we are all in this together!  I'm blessed to have found such a great group of people.  When I was exploring whether a FOR profit can run a NON profit there were some difficult issues to overcome.  Thank you for reaching out.

------------------------------
Dianna Pedersen
Office Manager
Abilene Animal Hospital
KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-07-2023 08:39 PM
From: Monica Bennion
Subject: Help us we're drowning!

Living in a very rural community myself (about 5,000 people in farm country) we struggle with the # of cats that are dumped and abandoned and getting them the necessary care (vet shortage) and then raising funds to pay for them.  As a for profit business, I wonder if you could organize a separate non-profit that operates specifically for the spay and neuter program prior to turning them over to a rescue.  It may require an attorney to chime in, but if you could get a separate and very specific nonprofit established there are a number of local, state and federal grants (we have a pet license plate grant we apply for each year in our state).  You could also make a presentation to the city council for budget funds to be allocated to the spay/neuter program.  Hope some of this is helpful 😺

------------------------------
Monica Bennion
Clowder 9 Ranch
Buhl, ID
------------------------------

Dianna,

Thank you for being an animal advocate! I would agree that your local chamber of commerce might be a good place to find support. Maybe you can ask for a business to sponsor advertising for adoptions or sponsor your spays & neuters, even though you are a business, you can ask for sponsors for specific programs. Try to get on a local morning news show and get the word out that you have adorable pets for adoption. After I was featured on a local morning news show with a kitty we had for adoption our phones blew up! Do the same with the local paper, reach out and let them know your predicament and see if they will do a blurb about your pets needing loving homes.

Good Luck to you!

~M

------------------------------
Mary Millenbach
Director of Development & Fundraising
Paws & Whiskers Cat Shelter
OH
------------------------------

Have you considered starting a nonprofit, staffed by community volunteers, to share the load? It would take a while for financial help to grow, but you would have more help  and flexibility for social media and fundraising.

When you feel like you're drowning, take a few minutes to close your eyes, float on your back, enjoy the sun on your face, and breathe.  It helps.

------------------------------
April King
Volunteer and Board Member
Kotor Kitties
+1 206 407 5336
http://www.kotorkitties.org
------------------------------

Hi Dianna,

A vet clinic in St. Louis was in a similar situation - they have two sides to their organization, for-profit and non-profit. 
Judy's Forgotten Jewels, you might contact them to see how their organization works.  They have accepted a few mom/puppy combos from us. 

Connie 

------------------------------
Connie Ash
Director
Mended Paws Sanctuary
AR
------------------------------