Heartland Animal Shelter: Grant Report

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

The grant funds were used to waive adoption fees for senior animals (age 8+) adopted by senior citizens (age 65+).

This grant allowed us to place special focus on our senior animals and help get them adopted. When senior adopters visited us, we encouraged them to meet some of our older cats and dogs who were in need of loving homes, and in most cases, these adopters found their match in a senior pet! Waiving the adoption fee as part of our Seniors for Seniors program not only brought more visitors into the shelter, but helped a number of seniors adopt our deserving senior cats and dogs who are often overlooked.

This program was an overwhelming success and we ran out of grant funds before the end of the grant period. Thanks to this grant award, we have found support in the community to help us continue this Seniors for Seniors promotion even longer. We hope to make this a permanent adoption program in the future.

Thank you, Petfinder Foundation and Nestle Purina!

How many pets did this grant help?

17

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

Sparkles, a 10-year-old miniature poodle mix (first photo), came to us as a rescue from Chicago Animal Care and Control. Her mouth was in severe pain and, after seeing multiple specialists to determine the cause, it was discovered that she had lymphoma. However, her senior adopters met her and fell in love and decided they would give her the best life possible with the time she had remaining. Now, following surgery and with supportive care, Sparkles is still going strong and is happy, pain-free and loving life!