R U 4 Me Pet Rescue, Inc.: COVID-19 Operation Grant Report

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

The COVID-19 grant was used for pet food and supplies for our rescued cats and kittens. We are an all-foster, all-volunteer (no paid staff) rescue organization and we pay for all food, supplies, and medical expenses for animals in our care. At the beginning of June 2020, we had 147 cats/kittens in our care. During the three-month period from June 1 to Aug. 31, 2020, we took in an additional 123 cats and kittens and were able to find permanent homes for 129 of our rescues. On average, we have approximately 130-150 cats in our care every month, particularly during the months since the start of the pandemic.

We received the Petfinder Foundation Covid-19 grant award near the end of May 2020. In June, July and August of 2020, we spent a total of $5,204 on food and supplies, which was roughly only 16% of our overall expenses during the same three-month period (veterinary expenses account for the majority of our costs). With an average cost of $53 per month for food and supplies for one rescued cat or kitten, and an average stay of two to three months in foster, the Petfinder Foundation grant provided food and supplies for six to nine of our 140+ fostered rescues.

How many pets did this grant help?

9

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

Most of our rescues are strays and many have compromising conditions or injuries upon intake. The story of one recent rescue, Heifer, is, therefore, not unique for us. Heifer, a stray kitten, was hit by a car and brought to us at 11 p.m. one night in late June. He weighed 1.2 lbs. and had two broken legs and an ulcerated eye. We kept him as calm as possible for several weeks until he could be operated on (at a weight of 3 lbs.). Following surgery, he continued in our foster care until the end of August, when he was adopted.