Sheltering Hands, Inc.: COVID-19 Operation Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The funds were used for adoption preparation, which includes medical exams, spay/neuter, microchips, dentals and vaccinations.

During Covid-19, we saw our adoptions increase by 25-50% in the months directly after quarantine began. This increased our anticipated budget for adoption prep, which typically costs our organization about $75 a kitten. An adult cat with no issues who is already spayed/neutered costs about $25 for the vet exam, vaccinations and microchip. We did have one cat who was three years old who needed to have all but four teeth extracted, which cost $276. We were able to take in six additional kittens and two adults, one of whom needed a dental.

How many pets did this grant help?

8

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Indy was adopted as a kitten and unfortunately did not receive proper medical care. He and his brother Speedway were taken in by Sheltering Hands. During his intake exam, it was determined that he had severe dental issues and needed to have most, if not all, of his teeth removed.

While waiting for his extractions, Indy played with all of the other cats, including his brother. You would never know he was in pain. The volunteers fell in love. Indy loved to play with humans and reward them with cuddles.

Indy is now in his forever home and, last time we checked, his new mom was more in love with him than she was the day he picked her to live with.