START OVER ROVER, INC.: Shelter+ Challenge Grant Report

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

100% of our donations and grants received goes directly towards the care of our animals. We are all volunteers, so that money can be spent solely with the animals in mind.

We used this grant money to purchase medical supplies and medical treatment for our animals. All of our animals are spayed/neutered and given vaccinations before they are re-homed. Our medical bills are approximately $2,000 to $3,000 each month.

How many pets did this grant help?

We currently have 120 animals, but that number fluctuates on a weekly basis.

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

Zeus is a beautiful American Bulldog. He came into Start Over Rover as a 10 week old puppy, dressed in a T-shirt and diaper, and he was being carried like a baby by his oldest human sibling. Zeus had previously been listed on Craigslist as Free to a Good Home by a breeder. Zeus’ back legs were deformed and he had constant diarrhea. Zeus’ human grandma thought that her daughter, a mom with 5 kids under the age of 6 yrs old, needed a puppy with deformed legs to add to her brood. Zeus’ then-Mom recognized that she couldn’t take proper care of Zeus while also taking care of her 5 children. She came to Start Over Rover for help. Zeus was immediately snatched up by one of the volunteers who fell in love with him at Rover. He was adopted immediately! Zeus had one back leg amputated the following week, and his recovery is going well! The other leg is getting stronger everyday and Zeus gets around very quickly. Zeus will have more surgeries ahead of him as his gastrointestinal tract is not quite right, but right now he is happy boy who loves to play with his pack! Today, Zeus is the mascot for Start Over Rover. He symbolizes all of the beautiful animals with special needs who, unfortunately, do not normally survive in most shelters.