Animal Welfare Professionals

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  • 1.  Setting Eligibility Guidelines for Services

    Posted 20 days ago

    We just started our non-profit in January 2024.  We have had UNBELIEVEABLE success in the first four months of the year.  We are, however, finding that our services are being used by people who do not fall within our category of eligibility.

    We were too vague when we started out with just saying, "anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties - whether that's permanent or temporary."  (Our aim was to attract low income individuals and also anyone who had a sudden job loss.

    We provide free pet food and free spay/neuter services.  We are finding that people sign the form saying they fit the criteria but there's a ton of evidence they don't.

    Normally we wouldn't care because the greater good is taking place - feeding an animal or sterilizing an animal again overpopulation.  However, currently it is just me and the other co-founder handling everything (along with a small number of volunteers helping here/there).  We're working 24/7 to run the programs, do the administrative work, track the finances, organize the inventory, write the grant proposals, and create and staff the fundraisers -- and we both have full time jobs doing other things.  We do all of this to raise money for these services to help the animals and the community.  We need a better system.

    What types of eligibility are others who offer Pet Food Pantries or Spay and Neuter Services using?


    #PetSupportServices*

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    Karen Kirsch
    Founder
    Spayed and Aid
    KY
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  • 2.  RE: Setting Eligibility Guidelines for Services

    Posted 13 days ago

    We don't evaluate individual people. We evaluate the whole community, find out which areas are the most under-served and in need of services, and then provide services to anyone who lives there.  It can be by zip code, neighborhood, an whole small town, etc.

    While there will always be a few people who take advantage of free stuff, most people don't. People who can afford pet food and spay/neuter surgeries just go buy pet food and take their pets to their vet. They don't waste time hunting for freebies. We try not to make assumptions about who needs services and who doesn't, because it's impossible to say for sure from the bare minimum of information someone gives out or from what we see. 


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    Maria Saucedo
    GIS Analyst
    Pets for Life at HSUS
    Baltimore, MD
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Setting Eligibility Guidelines for Services

    Posted 12 days ago

    I checked Pet fixers/ great river rescue here in Mn .  They have a list of criteria for eligibility  for the spay neuter low cast clinic. Your organzation needs to have some criteria to preserve those resources. People do take advantage. Our local food shelf does not provide pet food. We do not have an open food pantry per say. People can call and request a bag of food if they are short in a given month or payday. We have them sign a log. We discourage frequent flyers whom we suspect are playing us ( not judgmental) .99.9% of the time it is a one time assistance and folks are appreciative.



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    Rochelle Hamp
    Executive Director
    Headwaters Animal Shelter
    MN
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Setting Eligibility Guidelines for Services

    Posted 11 days ago

    In Vermont, Pet Food is distributed via the Vermont Foodbank- It is a tremendous success and incredibly helpful and a solution that makes sense.  PAWSitive Pantry, VDART Animal Shelters and Meals On Wheels works to fill the gaps where needed but it is pretty minimal.

    For s/n- using targeting is the best way to go for programs.  On May 18 the Community Cats podcast is offering a free webinar on targeting TNR:  https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/ which might be helpful...  

    I have been helping fund programs in MA for targeted owned s/n in key communities and it is really helping keep the numbers down.   We pretty much feel like we are in maintenance mode in eastern MA.    

    There is a lot of info at www.unitedspayalliance.org too

    Thanks for creating this group- congratulations.



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    Stacy LeBaron
    Head Cat
    The Community Cats Podcast
    Warren VT
    978-239-2090
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    Original Message


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