Cinderella Pet Rescue: Mohawk Operation Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The isolation pens that had been utilized prior to the receipt of the grant funds had a flooring consisting of stall mats. This was intended to be temporary until money was acquired in order to install a cement floor and surface that could be disinfected more easily. The old floor was not level, which made cleaning difficult. Given that all intakes must spend at least two weeks in isolation before being introduced to the general population, this was a frustrating situation. With the grant money we were able to arrange for the new floor to be added to part of the isolation ward. Regretfully the contractor went into the hospital for surgery and was unable to complete the work during the designated period. We had already given him the down payment and he had provided us a reduced cost for the project. He had started the job when he had to go into the hospital. We had hoped that he would be able to complete the project prior to the end of the grant period. This week he has come back to work and has scheduled the completion of the flooring within the next two weeks. Before and after photos will be sent when the project is finally completed.
The cement floor and easily-disinfected surface will let us house new animals, and animals with contagious conditions, in an environment that is safer, healthier and in compliance with state standards. This has been a goal since the inception of the shelter to have a separate isolation area that is both healthy and easily maintained. The appearance of the pens will be significantly better and the function will be greatly improved. The animals will be housed in a better environment and less time will be required to maintain the pens in a sanitary condition.
How many pets did this grant help?
Every pet that comes into our shelter will benefit from the improved facilities. This month 10 dogs utilized the original space. When the project is completed, all future intakes will be able to benefit from the improved facilities.
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Every dog that comes into our shelter must spend two weeks in isolation prior to being allowed to mingle with other dogs at the shelter. That means that every dog that comes to Cinderella Pet Rescue’s no-kill shelter will benefit from the new flooring. Additionally, when a pet arrives with a contagious skin condition, they must be maintained in isolation until the skin is no longer contagious. These dogs will also greatly benefit from the improved flooring.
At the present time we have a Labrador/Weimaraner puppy who was dumped at our facility when she was seven weeks old. Vaccinations (DA2PPV and bordetella), deworming and pest control (Comfortis, because of all the fleas on her) was done according to our policy and procedure manual. The pup was maintained in isolation for two weeks without any signs of illness. At that point both she and an unrelated same-age male pup were taken to the veterinarian to be spayed/neutered. Additional vaccines were administered at that time. Both pups were returned to the shelter and maintained in kennels during the 10-day recovery period, being walked regularly. After this period, the pups were allowed to play together. Within a week, the female pup began showing signs of illness, suspected kennel cough, and was put in isolation again. With the new facilities this situation will prove to be more pleasant for all parties concerned.
