Humane Society of Summit County: Purina and Amazon Treats for the Holidays Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
For 48 years, the Humane Society of Summit County has served as our county’s haven for victims of animal abuse, neglect, and abandonment and strays suffering from illness and injury. Our staff includes two full-time Humane Officers who respond to calls, investigate animal cruelty and, as warranted, prosecute offenders. We take the time to nurse animals back to health and find them loving, permanent homes through adoption. We are a “no time-limit” facility, and adoptable animals are cared for until they find their forever homes. We are also an independent nonprofit organization directly dependent upon the generosity of our community for funding and supplies.
PAWSibilities, Humane Society of Greater Akron, was honored to be chosen as a recipient of 1,020 canisters (one pallet) of Friskies Party Mix cat treats through a Friskies Party Mix Cat Treats Grant. The products from the Petfinder Foundation have been used to build trust and foster life-changing relationships between our rescued felines and staff, volunteers, visitors, and adopters.
One way that our staff and volunteers garner human trust and bonding is through treats! Due to our mission, most of the animals we care for at PAWSibilities have experienced and survived terrible situations – some at the hands of neglectful, abusive humans. With patience, understanding, and yummy treats, we are dedicated to teaching our animals that not all humans are malicious. Since May of 2016, our visitors, potential adopters, and volunteers were given packages of Friskies Party Mix donated from the Petfinder Foundation to offer to our adoptable cats to build relationships and ease anxiety. Appealing to our felines’ taste buds with Friskies Party Mix has encouraged the development of confidence and trust for our most challenged cats.
We extend our most sincere appreciation to the Petfinder Foundation for providing PHSGA with the means to continue to give second chances and bright futures to our rescued felines.
How many pets did this grant help?
On May 17, 2016, the day in which PHSGA received its Petfinder Foundation award, our facility was sheltering 146 cats. Within the following few months, our organization rescued 509 cats from desperate situations of abuse, neglect, illness, or injury and provided not only rehabilitative physical care, but also socialization. By coaxing rescued felines into building trust and confidence, we prepare them for successful integrations into their new adoptive families. Thanks to the support of the Petfinder Foundation, PHSGA placed 249 cats into loving homes from May 17 to August 10!
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
In July 2016, sweet Marley became the holder of an unwanted title – Longest Feline PHSGA Resident. At the shelter, Marley was a shy girl and required extra patience and understanding to let her guard down. The shelter can be a hectic place and all of the new people looking into her enclosure often made her anxious. Because visitors and adopters are typically more drawn to the friendlier, social cats, Marley was overlooked and passed by. Her wait lasted over one year.
Volunteers and staff familiar with Marley were confident that if given the chance, she would do wonderfully in a calm home. After showcasing Marley on our Facebook page, her day finally came! A patient, gentle, and understanding family came to PHSGA just to meet Marley and it was love at first sight. The adopters spent a great deal of time getting to know Marley and building trust and confidence in the new relationship. Friskies Party Mix cat treats donated to PHSGA by the Petfinder Foundation helped the adopters and Marley further develop an early bond. Marley learned that people aren’t all scary – especially those with tasty treats! Marley’s adoption day was July 10, and our adoption counselors were sure to send her home with donated canisters of Friskies Party Mix!
Her new family has since shared great updates about how Marley is transforming each day. Her new home gives a sense of security and newfound confidence! Marley even gained a canine buddy and they get along marvelously! We could not be happier for Marley and her new family. We are grateful to the Petfinder Foundation for helping us make Marley’s happy ending come true!
