Perkins Animal Shelter: Disaster Grant Report

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

Spring is almost here! Thanks to the Petfinder Foundation, we made it through winter without frozen water buckets and our dogs each had a warm area to lie. The Petfinder Foundation awarded us a $1,000 grant in December that allowed us to purchase several infrared heaters as well as have electrical outlets installed to operate the heaters.

Our shelter is partially enclosed, with both the east and west ends being fully open-air. Our aging heating system consisted of a forced-air heater mounted on the ceiling in the corner farthest from the dogs. In the worst of winter, this heater could not even keep the shelter above freezing, and the dogs’ water would be frozen. With the help of your grant, we were able to install electrical outlets and purchase three infrared heaters that can be moved to focus the heat where it is needed most. Infrared heat allowed us to keep water from freezing and to provide each of our dogs with a warm spot to lie.

How many pets did this grant help?

From the time we received the grant in December 2015 to the time of reporting in March 2016, our total intake was 41 dogs. We expect to help approximately 200 dogs during the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

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

Cody, a brindle pit bull, came to us in January 2016. He was found roaming a field, skinny, cold, and scratched-up. Despite his rough appearance, Cody was one of the sweetest dogs we have ever had in the shelter. Other than being skinny, Cody was in good health. He enjoyed the warmth of the shelter, which was provided by our new heaters, and loved lying on his Kuranda bed. He quickly gained weight and, shortly after we posted him on Petfinder.com, a family came to meet him and immediately fell in love. Cody now lives nearby and is enjoying a very spoiled life.