Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association: Grant Report

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

Vaccines and microchips

It was extremely helpful in preventing the introduction and spread of communicable cat and dog diseases in our no-kill shelter.

How many pets did this grant help?

$450, or about 50% of the money, has been spent on 20 animals who were brought into or residing in the shelter since Sept. 1, 2018. Seven of these new animals have been adopted in September and October; the cost that includes animals helped in November will be available on Dec. 7, 2018.

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

The Happy Tale of Tater and Tot: Two tiny, tiny black kittens, barely a month old, were rescued four years ago by a Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association (SBCHA) volunteer and brought to our no-kill shelter. But because they were ill and suffering from upper-respiratory disease, their little eyes all crusty and runny with mucous, they could not be kept in the shelter and were housed and treated by a kindly foster mom until they were better. Later they contracted ringworm and had to be isolated and treated at the veterinarian for a month. Despite their rough start, the kittens exhibited gentle and loving personalities, putting up with all those treatments, meds and baths.

Over time, Tater and Tot — not the first choice of most adopters because of their black color — grew into adult cats, spending their time playing with their cat buddies at the shelter in the group cat room, a large living room-sized space with toys and a cat patio where they could lie in the sun. SBCHA Volunteers would come to groom everyone, and Tater and Tot were the most loving kitties who stole volunteers’ hearts, but were left behind when the adopters came for other, more colorful kitties.
Of course, Tater and Tot were kept up on their annual shots to maintain their health, as SBCHA is committed to keeping all animals in the shelter healthy and happy, no matter how long they are here.

Finally, just recently, Tater and Tot where the first choice of a lady who specifically wanted a black kitty. She chose Tot, but when she found out Tater and Tot were siblings, she did not want to separate them. “Two will just be more to love,” she said.

All the volunteers cheered on the big day when Tater and Tot went to their new home. And now Tater and Tot are luxuriating in a happy forever home, with plenty of toys, a magnificent cat tree, yummy treats and the caring arms of their new Mom. “Just more to love,” she murmurs tenderly, enveloping them in her arms, “just more to love.”

Tater and Tot are two of the animals helped with annual shots by the Petfinder Foundation Adoption Options in Action grant awarded in September 2018.