Nearly every penny we receive goes directly to the medical care and Spay/Neuter of the dogs and kitties we save from the Animal Control facility (or intercept as they are about to be taken to Animal Control) as well as boarding and transport expenses. We would like to build our operating and capital accounts for the following projects - which will help us save money to be able to save even more pets while also getting at the root of the problem so that dogs and cats do not end up at Animal Control in the first place:
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It is often a frantic effort to get the dogs and cats pulled from Animal Control while the clock is ticking toward their death. We partner with great rescue organizations in other states where the local population is big enough for our rescue partners to successfully place our dogs and cats in need with wonderful adopters. In all cases, the animals we save from Roswell Animal Control first need a safe place to stay in Roswell while they undergo veterinary care and ground or air transport to our rescue partners is being arranged.
Ideally, all of the babies we save would be placed with temporary local foster families while awaiting transport to their forever homes. The reality is often there aren't enough fosters and so we end up spending a large chunk of our budget on boarding expense. After doing the math it is clear that owning our own boarding facility is the most cost effective way to continue to save the dogs and cats of Roswell. It would also provide the space we need for another of our goals: a Pet Food Bank to Assist Families in Need (see below for details)
We envision a commercial space transformed into a clean, safe, low-stress spacious environment for the dogs and cats we save to rest comfortably while awaiting their new life! The facility would also have a fenced outdoor area for the dogs to safely run and play.
After monitoring Roswell area commercial real estate, we estimate that this facility is likely to cost $200,000-$250,000.
One of the primary reasons that families do not get thier dog or cat out of Animal Control, is that they are not able to quickly come up with the cost of the mandatory spay/neuter required by the city prior to releasing the pet.
We would like to assist families that love and care for their dog or cat to be able to bring them home. We understand that a sudden unanticipated expense of $150+ (reclaim fee + Spay/Neuter cost) creates a hardship and often families do not have the ability to quickly come up with the money to get their pet out of the Animal Control shelter.
In addition, we would like to help low income families with the cost of spay/neuter to help keep the pet population in check. Lack of spay/neuter is the primary reason there are so many cats and dogs at Animal Control in the first place.
We will primarily assist with low cost spay neuter by donating to great organizations such as the Animal Welfare Alliance that focuses exclusively on this effort.
One of our goals is to create a Pet Food Bank to help Roswell area families in need keep their pets until they get back on their feet. Other successful Pet Food Bank programs across the country depend on food donations from the public, retailers or manufacturers as well as monetary donations. We also need a small space in Roswell to house the Pet Food Bank. Ideally, an empty retail space or even an extra room in a commercial building or warehouse provided free of charge. Otherwise, we need donations to pay for monthly space rental. Donated food will also be used to help our foster families care for their foster pets.
If you are interested in learning more about our Pet Food Bank Program, please contact us or if you would like to help manage this initiative, please fill out our Volunteer form: FORA Volunteer Form
This is a wonderful and humane way to save our semi-feral and feral cats from death at Animal Control or fending for themselves in a harsh environment and put them to work doing natural cat things! These cats make ideal residents for farm barns or sheds, horse stables and barns, or other suitable locations with outdoor shelter options. It's the eco-friendly, green solution to your mouse and vermin problems. A feral cat will keep your property rodent free for the price of daily cat food. Owners of barns are screened and trained once they are in our program. They provide food and water for the kitties living in their barn. The kitties are already spayed or neutred, vaccinated and healthy and there is no adoption fee. The Kitties' scent alone will keep the mice out. Similar to Barn Cats, warehouse owners often take care of feral cats and the cats scent and hunting keep the mice away
TNR is a program successfully deployed throughout the nation to keep the feral cat population in check. Caregivers take care of their cat colony (food and outdoor shelter) - the cats in the colony are happy and their numbers eventually decline - there is no more breeding. Extermination of feral cats fails because the population builds right back up again. TNR is humane for the kitties and it works! The cats are trapped, neutered and vaccinated. Any medical issues are treated before they are returned. Colony caregivers are trained and we would help supply the food!
If you are interested in helping us create a TNR & Barn Cat program, please contact us - we need your help! Fill out our Volunteer form: FORA Volunteer Form
Some of the topics include alternatives to surrendering pet to Animal Control, training to eliminate behaviour issues, proper fencing to prevent roaming, importance of spay/neuter and vaccinations etc.
When this program is up and running, we will use donations for printing brochures, signs and placing educational ads in the newspaper. And when our volunteer base expands, we would love to bring our rescue pets to schools and church groups to spread the word about the wonderful dogs from the shelter, the importance of spay/neuter and early exposure to the humane treatment of animals to young children from at risk areas.