Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter: Grant Report

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

This grant is helping to fund our kitten coordinator position. This seasonal position aids shelter staff and increases lifesaving by working to match the right kitten or litters of kittens with the right foster. Then, when they are ready for adoption, the kitten coordinator works with shelter staff and volunteers to arrange for them to go to our shelter's adoption center or one of our offsite adoption locations.

Our shelter easily receives upwards of 1,500 cats and kittens during our "kitten season." This puts a great strain on staff. With staff being spread so thin, reaching a 90% save rate for cats and kittens during this period was impossible. However, with the introduction of a temporary position during kitten season last year, we were able to hit that 90% mark. This year, we hope to increase the lifesaving by again adding the kitten coordinator.

How many pets did this grant help?

1,500

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

Four little kittens entered the shelter soaking wet and ice-cold. Shelter staff worked hard to get them warmed up and stable. The litter were covered in scabs and dried blood and were very emaciated. One boy had rear paralysis and passed suddenly. A sister went into respiratory distress and passed. The remaining kittens were in such bad shape, staff were worried they wouldn’t make it through the night. Even so, staff didn’t give up. With the help of the kitten coordinator, the remaining kittens, Lenny and Carl, went into the home of a seasoned foster for round-the-clock care. One week later, the two brothers are doing great! They are not ready for adoption quite yet, but will be soon!