Author: Emily Fromm

alvin-NJ734.25062377-crop — Alvin is one of the adoptable pets at H.E.A.L.S. in Lodi, NJ.

When Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast on Oct. 29, 2012, many animal shelters lost power and supplies. One of them was Helping Every Animal Live Society Inc. (H.E.A.L.S.) in Lodi, NJ, which received a $2,500 disaster grant from the Petfinder Foundation. H.E.A.L.S. cofounder Benjamin Ortiz wrote to tell us about the impact the grant had for his organization.

“Days prior to Hurricane Sandy, H.E.A.L.S. had rescued 12 puppies and four adult dogs from a southern shelter that was scheduled to euthanize them on the same day that Sandy was set to make landfall in New Jersey. H.E.A.L.S. knew that this was unfair to these sweet babies and made the decision to save them from a sure death and bring them home.

“We knew the battle to keep the dogs alive was just starting when we saw how intense the storm had become and the condition of the puppies when they arrived at H.E.A.L.S. They had upper respiratory infections along with canine influenza and were immediately treated and prescribed antibiotics and cough medicine. It seemed they had gotten sick during their transportation from the south and the stress of transport made their illness worse — these babies needed a lot of T.L.C.

NJ734-flooding — Flooding outside the H.E.A.L.S. shelter in Lodi, NJ.

“The antibiotics that were prescribed needed refrigeration, as did many of the vaccines we had in stock, so we made sure we had a generator prepared in case we lost power. H.E.A.L.S. prepared as much as possible for the worst, but Hurricane Sandy planned to outsmart us.

“When the storm hit, we lost power within the first hour and flooding began soon after. The generator was knocked off the platform and swept into the nearby river. We immediately filled our coolers with bags of ice that we had bought in case all else failed and put all the medications in the coolers.

“When the storm had passed, the ice in the cooler had melted and the puppies’ condition has shown very little improvement. The medication was no longer refrigerated and no vets or animal hospitals were open due to their own damages and power failures. Sadly, many of the puppies’ got worse. Days passed and still no power; gasoline became a privilege. We struggled to find fuel to transport these animals to Pennsylvania to receive proper medical attention, but it was impossible.

“Finally, after a week, some power was restored and we received notice that a nearby vet was now open for a few hours. We immediately ran there with the puppies. After a full check-up, the vet advised us to hospitalize the puppies because their condition was critical and it was going to take a lot of medical treatment to get them healthy again. The bill for the treatment and the hospital stay, after a discount, would come out to $2,446. We could not afford this enormous bill. But we told the vet that we would have the money and to please treat our babies (we knew that their lives were more important than a bad credit report and there was no way that we were going to let them die).

“I cannot tell you how much stress I was under at that moment. I had no idea how we would raise $2,500 in two days. That night, I went home, opened up my e-mail and saw a message from the Petfinder Foundation. This angel by the name of Toni Morgan had sent us a grant application. I immediately filled it out and prayed that we could get something to cover at least half the vet bill.

“God knew what He was doing, as always, and this angel was at work for him. Within a few days we received an e-mail stating that we were approved for the grant and that the check was in the mail. THIS WAS THE MOST UPLIFTING MOMENT EVER! I immediately printed this e-mail, showed it to the vet and was granted some time to pay the bill. The most incredible thing was that when the checked arrived, it was for $2,500 — just the right amount! The Petfinder Foundation was and still is our ANGEL! THANK YOU for everything! You GUYS ARE AMAZING!”

We are so happy we could help H.E.A.L.S. and its dogs survive the storm and their illness. Thank you to everyone who donated to our Hurricane Sandy relief efforts to make lifesaving grants like this one possible!

Author: Emily Fromm

quilt_A-Rod2012-12-11_2017 — A-Rod, a favorite cat at St. Hubert’s, rests on his kennel quilt. He loves to knead the quilt before taking his naps.

In the weeks following Hurricane Sandy, the Petfinder Foundation was contacted by Nan Baker of The Quilt Pattern Magazine with one question: “How can we help?” With an audience who loves quilting, and many shelters in need of blankets to keep their pets warm, there was a clear answer. The Petfinder Foundation provided the names of groups in need of blankets for their pets. With that information, the online magazine asked its subscribers to put their passion to good use by creating small “kennel quilts” for the pets affected by the disaster. (You can see the pattern and the list of shelters who need quilts here.)

How did their audience respond? With more than 60 quilts made and mailed, and more on the way.

St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey said the quilts they received have been a big help to their shelter and the shelters they are assisting.

GreyJoy_quilt — Grey Joy, a kitten at Pets Alive in New York, tests out his new kennel quilt.

Vice President Nora Parker says, “The quilts are the PERFECT size for the kitty Kuranda beds that we (and many others) use at the shelter, so they work for both the cubbies and around the cattery when the cats are out lounging around.

“We’ve been happy we could send some off to the supply spot at the Jersey Shore. We will send more when we have them as we are keeping that spot stocked for those folks into the new year. The quilts keep coming in! I thought you’d like to know that we’ve just received a package with seven quilts and a sweet note from a lady in ENGLAND!”

The generous readers of The Quilt Pattern Magazine aren’t slowing down, and they expect this to be an ongoing effort. Nan Baker tells us, “We know there will be more occasions where quilts are needed, and we want to be ready to respond when there is a need! The shelters that have received the quilts have been so appreciative. This is one way we can let them know we are so grateful for the work they are doing in taking care of animals in need.”

The Quilt Pattern Magazine has free downloadable patterns on their website for anyone who wishes to contribute to this effort. Get the pattern here. To learn more about the effort, read The Quilt Pattern Magazine’s blog or visit the magazine’s Kennel Quilt page to download the pattern and see a list of shelters in need.

Author: Emily Fromm

This is the culprit who brought the Petfinder Foundation to its knees — Brody helped nurse Bella back to health.

brodypup — Brody’s mother adopted this little girl, whom she named Maggie.

While taking a late afternoon stroll through my uncle’s rural desert property 40 miles west of Tucson recently, my mother and I happened across four abandoned puppies. They were cold and starving, barely a week old and unable to open their eyes. We knew that, without a stable environment, these little guys wouldn’t survive much longer. We scooped them up and carried them home.

After a warm bath and a little puppy formula, the four perked up. They were so adorable. But I already have four dogs and a kitten, so I knew I couldn’t provide them with a forever home. My mother and I decided to foster them until they were healthy enough to adopt out. We’ve had them for a few weeks now and they’ve grown rapidly. They appear to be a mix of Husky and Chow Chow, but we don’t know for sure. Each puppy has his or her own look and a unique personality to match. My mother is adopting one of the females, whom she’s named Maggie, and there are two females and one male still looking for homes.

A local rescue group, In the Arms of Angels, has volunteered to vaccinate and spay or neuter the puppies to get them ready for their forever homes. Check back for more updates!

officepups — We are working with a Tucson organization, In the Arms of Angels, to vet and adopt out these three puppies. There are two females and one male (on the right).

Author: Emily Fromm

Noah Horton, assistant director

Today, our program assistant, Brody Anderson, brought the Petfinder Foundation to a screeching halt for about five minutes. I was on the phone talking with one of our partners when I heard the screaming begin. What started as unintelligible squealing eventually turned into one understandable word: “Puuuuupy!!!” As soon as I was off the phone I rushed in to see what all the fuss was about, and this is what I saw:

officepuppy — This is the culprit who brought the Petfinder Foundation to its knees.

Bringing a puppy into the Petfinder Foundation offices is a recipe for distraction. Work ground to a halt, and this little girl (who doesn’t have a name yet—any ideas?) was showered with affection. I think Scarlett, our executive director’s lab mix and another office dog, felt a little left out.

scarlett — Executive director Lisa Robinson’s Lab mix, Scarlett, felt a little left out. She was given a ton of love and treats shortly after this photo was taken!

Despite our inclinations to take the day off and play with the puppy, we knew we needed to go back to work. I decided I needed the best of both worlds, and so as I write this post, the puppy is sleeping in my lap.

officepuppy2 — This is how Noah reacts when a puppy comes in the office!

As it turns out, this little girl is part of a litter of four that Brody found and nursed back to health. They look like Chow/Husky mixes, they’re approximately three months old, and all of them are adorable. Brody’s mother adopted one of them, but the other three still need homes. Stay tuned!

Author: Emily Fromm

FL63_Muriel_before — Muriel, before her rescue, with a badly broken right foreleg

Muriel is a redbone coonhound whose life was saved – and transformed – by American Black & Tan Coonhound Rescue, Inc., thanks to a $1,000 grant from the Petfinder Foundation and the Pedigree Foundation. The organization’s VP and treasurer, Molly Smith, wrote to us with Muriel’s story.

FL63_Muriel_skinny — At 45 lbs., Muriel was emaciated.

“The grant allowed us to save a young coonhound, Muriel, and provide her with the care needed to allow her to live a full life. She is now adopted and has a great home. Without your grant, the medical expense would have been a major hardship for our group.

“Muriel was found in Alabama, skeletal and limping. But what a gentle, loving spirit she had in spite of everything that had happened to her. In her short two years, she had seen more than her share of pain. We suspect that she was hit by a car; her right front leg had no sensation and she did not use it to walk. When she was found, she hadn’t had food in a long time, and at only 45 lbs., she was at least 20 lbs. underweight.

“Muriel had her right front leg amputated on Aug. 10, 2012, was treated for heartworm, and by the end of August, she had found her forever home!” (See more photos of Muriel and her new family at ABTCR’s website.)

Her adopter, Brian, sent this update to the rescue group in September: “Muriel’s new name, Nyla, means winner or victor in the Creek Indian language. How appropriate for one who has survived so much adversity and made it to her new, loving, forever home.

FL63_muriel_after — Today, she is happy and healthy in her new home.

“She is getting along great with our other Coonie, Belle, and our old girl Golden Retriever, Sophie. They act like they have known each other forever. She has adapted well to her amputation and is eating us out of house and home. She still needs to gain a few pounds but we are going to have to watch her to be sure she doesn’t gain too much. She is such a sweet girl. How do these dogs go through so much and still trust and love their new families?

“Nyla is enjoying being in the country and loves to ‘tree,’ looking for squirrels and other critters. She may be slowed down a little by her amputation, but she is the most ‘handicapable’ animal I have ever seen. There is nothing she won’t attempt. She is going to do just fine.”

Thank you to the Pedigree Foundation, American Black & Tan Coonhound Rescue and everyone who made Muriel’s wonderful new life possible!

Author: Emily Fromm

In this video, Rescue U’s Bryna Donnelly gives us a tour of the work she and the other volunteers have been doing at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail, N.C.

Author: Emily Fromm

Noah Horton, assistant director

When Carolina Waterfowl Rescue was hit by a tornado in spring 2012, wind destroyed many of the structures that housed the adoptable and wild birds the rescue cares for. Kennels, cages and full sheds were blown across the property; feeding areas and barns lost their roofs; and several birds were injured. Rescue director Jennifer Gordon remembers the day the storms hit: “I was outside scrambling to get supplies in the shed, and the roof was lifted off, just like you see in tornado movies.”

Local volunteers made initial repairs (CWR is an all-volunteer organization), but the rescue still needed help. So Rescue U volunteers from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arizona, Washington and North Carolina took time off work or gave up their school vacations to renovate the facility. Our projects include a new barn to store supplies and serve as a bird habitat, privacy fencing around the goat enclosure (CWR is also home to rescued goats!), more than 1,500 feet of chain-link fencing surrounding the property to keep out foxes, raccoons and other predators, repair on the existing fencing and gates, and several habitat and feeding structures around the property, including one on an island that can be reached only by kayak.

mrpringles — Mr. Pringles, a grey goose, will benefit from the barn being built by Rescue U volunteers. “Pringles is the dominant goose,” says rescue director Jennifer Gordon, “so he will be able to pick his spot in the barn first!”

The barn, in particular, will be a godsend. Many of the cage-free waterfowl prefer to roost inside when it is cold or rainy. Rescue U volunteers will build several of the raised beds they normally build for dogs to keep the birds off the ground, since birds lose a lot of body heat through their feet. Most importantly, the barn will provide protection for all the birds in the case of another terrible storm. “We get a lot of storms here,” Gordon says. “It will be nice to know we have a safe place to protect our birds when another one hits.”

This project was generously funded entirely by The Animal Rescue Site. Volunteers are here until Jan. 11. Stay tuned for more updates on construction progress and the pets who will benefit from the work!

Author: Emily Fromm

Noah Horton, assistant director

A curious Canada goose comes to the island to check on the progress of his new pole barn.

Today I experienced a little bit of island life. No, there weren’t any piña coladas, Hawaiian shirts or tanning sessions — I was working on an island at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail, NC, as a part of our current Rescue U renovation project. (Read more about the renovation.)

CWR has around 150 adoptable birds at any given time. The majority are cage-free waterfowl, and those birds need water to swim, for enrichment and grooming and to avoid predators. There are several small ponds around the 11-acre property that serve this purpose. The largest pond surrounds a small island on which the geese and ducks at the rescue can sleep overnight to keep themselves safe. However, they were still vulnerable to birds of prey such as owls at night. Rescue U decided to build a pole barn — a small barn without walls — on the island to protect the birds from aerial predators and the elements and to keep the food kept on the island dry in the rain.

The only way to get to the island is by kayak. This makes building a bit of a process, as all tools and supplies must be ferried across the pond. And because the barn would rest on uneven ground and the boards had to be cut at odd angles, each board had to be measured and marked on the island, sent back to the mainland to be cut, then ferried back and installed. Finally, after a huge team effort, the whole pole-barn team and I were on location with all the supplies we needed to get the job done.

It took all day, with curious adoptable geese frequently coming over to say hello and check on our progress, but by the end of the day, the barn was completed. The waterfowl now have a little extra protection from the elements and predators.

In the coming days, Rescue U volunteers will be building a feeding box to store under the pole barn so food won’t need to be taken to the island by kayak as often, and will stay dry once there. Stay tuned for more updates!

Island2 — Noah (center) and other volunteers celebrate the completion of the pole barn, which will protect many of the birds at the rescue.

Author: Emily Fromm

FL464-marcia-kase — Kase, now renamed Chance, with his adoptive mom, Marcia

Together with our partners at The Animal Rescue Site, we’ve given more than $1 million to shelters and rescue groups through the Shelter+ Challenge. Among them: Second Chance Rescue in Bunnell, FL, which received a $1,000 grant.

Second Chance founder Debi Root wrote to us about how they used the money. “Our rescue was in dire need of large crates, both for overflow at the shelter and for our adoption events,” she said. “With this grant, we were able to purchase 14 extra-large crates and now we can take more dogs to events/adoptions and are finding more homes! We go to our local Petsmart store every Saturday from 11-5 and take as many dogs as we have crates for to meet potential new and forever homes.”

One of the large dogs Second Chance could save thanks to the crates was Kase. “Kase was another guy who was too large for the few crates we [had before] and was adopted the very first time he went with us when we had the new crates!” Debi said.

“This poor guy was rescued after being taken on an abuse/neglect charge in Orange County. He was on a chain in the yard of an abandoned home, starved and living for who knows how long with a collar deeply embedded into his neck and throat (that required surgery to remove). He sends his thanks to you!”

His adopter, Marcia, sent me this story of her adoption of Kase, now renamed Chance.

“On Oct. 11, 2012, our beloved 10-year-old Rottweiler, Lyla, had to be put down because of bone cancer. My husband, Phil, Lyla and I were like the three musketeers, doing everything together: traveling, camping, hiking, jogging, you name it. Her passing left a huge hole in our hearts, and on the day I went to our local vet to donate her food and medications, I mentioned this to Cheryl, the receptionist. Cheryl suggested looking into a rescue dog as a possible way to at least partially aliviate our sadness.

“We had always adopted dogs (Lyla was our third adopted Rottweiler) but never from a rescue. That afternoon, while browsing the Internet, I came across the Petfinder adoption site for the first time. I entered ‘Rottweiler’ and ‘Florida’ on the site and read about Chance, who was then called Kase. I looked at his picture and read his story to my husband while crying about his awful abuse. I was so moved by his story that I immediately filled out the adoption form and wrote to Second Chance Rescue about coming to Bunnell, Florida, to see him the following day.

FL464-kase-after — Chase is now happy and healthy.

“Very early the next morning, we were out biking and the phone rang. It was Dana from Second Chance asking if we could drive up to see him. She had called our references and she thought we would be ideal owners for Chance. ‘Yes, we’d love to,’ I told her, and as soon as we were back home from our bike ride, we drove the 70+ miles to Bunnell.

“When Kelly, who works at Second Chance, brought Kase out, my husband I both felt, without saying a word to each other, that he was special -– there was kindness and soulfulness in his face that instantly touched our hearts, along with playfulness and exuberance that seemed totally remarkable, considering the abuse he’d suffered. Although my husband was due to have hip-replacement surgery the following Wednesday, we took him home, only stopping at Petsmart to buy a crate large enough to accommodate him and sign the adoption papers.

“How has Chance’s life changed? For one thing, he is now in a home where he is loved and appreciated for the magnificent animal he is. In fact, everyone in my neighborhood adores him and friends stop by just to see him, bringing along their children to meet him. His demeanor is so friendly and loving that everyone — from our neighbors to the staff at our vet’s office to the guys who pick up our garbage — responds to him.

“I’ve been working for the past few weeks with a dog trainer, and she believes he has the potential to be a therapy dog someday. My husband and I hope to achieve that goal, since we think his story is so compelling: He went from not knowing anything about a house (I don’t think he’d ever been inside one before we adopted him) to becoming housetrained in two days. He is extremely smart and has insatiable curiosity. He loves to ride in our truck and is a fantastic jogging partner, logging two-plus miles a day at my side. He has also learned many commands, such as sit, lie down, stay and come here, and he has never once shown any kind of antisocial behavior.

“The best change in his life, though, is that at night, when my husband and I are reading on the living room couch, he curls up next to us, calm and content, knowing we are there for him. When we first got him, he would go out into our backyard on his own, but only for a moment or two before rushing back into the house. It was clear that he was afraid he’d once again be abandoned. That soon changed, and today, for example, while we were eating lunch, he went outside, stretched out on the grass, and went to sleep in the sun, obviously secure in the fact that he was home for good.

“We love the fact that he has a tail (all our previous Rotties had theirs cropped) since we can immediately sense his emotions by its expressive wagging. They say that when you rescue a dog, the dog, in return, rescues you, and in this case it is definitely true. Absolutely, I believe that Chance helped my husband recover faster from his surgery, and helped us recover from the loss of Lyla. In short, Chance has filled our hearts with love and joy by being the wonderful guy he is.”

Thank you to Debi, Marcia and everyone else who made Chance’s rescue and wonderful new life possible!

Author: Emily Fromm

elizabeth-with-kongs — Elizabeth fills KONGs with canned food and peanut butter.

What does a shelter dog want for Christmas — or any day of the year? A new trick to learn; a fun toy to play with. And our grants provide both: Train to Adopt helps shelters teach adoptable dogs basic social skills, and we’ve given more than $7,000 in enrichment toys from our friends at KONG to 10 shelters over the past two years.

We were recently reminded of how much these gifts mean to homeless dogs when we received this email from Elizabeth Richardson, a longtime volunteer at Train to Adopt shelter Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control in Charlotte, NC:

“This morning, long before dawn, I turned on the Christmas tree lights and sat in silence. Mia, my dear old Border Collie, sat close to me, as she does every morning during quiet time, staring and making sure I sit in my appointed place. Then Artie came and laid down with us. Artie is an older Chocolate Lab, but she does not sit still very often.

“The three of us sat on the floor for quite a while, and my gaze fell on the Christmas tree, which has only a couple of gifts beneath it. I prefer not to buy into December’s shopping frenzy. Yet I could not quit thinking about gifts, the furry kind with four legs. What gifts dogs are! I would rather have the company of a couple of dogs than a thousand fancily wrapped presents under the tree.

“My thoughts shifted to the dogs at our shelter, beautiful dogs waiting for someone to come along and see them. I wanted to jump up, drive quickly to shelter and tell all the dogs how good they are. And bring them gifts. I will do that later today. I will give them the gift of love, made evident in a KONG stuffed with canned food and peanut butter.

elizabeth-with-dogs — Elizabeth gives the dogs their treats.

“For a little while, the shelter dogs can enjoy some peace and quiet, like Artie and Mia and I did this morning. And maybe, in those quiet moments, a good person or two will walk in and see the beauty of these dogs, and give them the gift of loving homes.

“For the dogs at Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control, more gifts are coming, from Karen Owens, our fabulous trainer, and all the volunteers she has engaged in our Train to Adopt program. What a gift the Train to Adopt program is, bringing Karen, and hundreds of KONGs, and so many positive activities, enormously lessening the stress of kennel life.

“December 21^st is the day of the year that stays dark the longest, but into this darkness, gifts of light and love will shine. I remain deeply grateful to the Petfinder Foundation, the KONG company and every person who continues to make our Train the Adopt program the gift that it is to our shelter dogs.”

All of us at the Petfinder Foundation are thrilled to be part of a program that brings such joy to homeless pets. We hope all of you will enjoy a wonderful holiday season with your family, both two-legged and four! And if you are still looking for the perfect gift, think about giving the Gift of Hope. There is no better gift than knowing you have helped a homeless pet!

Author: Emily Fromm

If you donate $100 or more to the Petfinder Foundation, we’ll send you this beautiful calendar, featuring paintings of rescued dogs by artist Paul Sansale. (While supplies last, of course.)

The real pets whose stories are told in the calendar include the rescued service dog of a Minnesota veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, and 11 other rescued therapy dogs.

Sansale and his wife, Lynn, offered to donate the calendars to the Petfinder Foundation because of their commitment to helping pets in need. “Please know how honored we are to work with such a wonderful organization as Petfinder!” Lynn says.

mariah-may — Mariah is Miss May in the Rescued Heroes calendar.

Paul and Lynn had their eyes opened up to the enormous needs in the rescue world during the recession thanks to a coworker, Gwen, who had a rescued therapy dog named Lucy. “Up to that point, rescue was something we just weren’t that aware of,” Lynn says. “We had lost our Westie and would have just inquired through breeders for another dog. Long story short, with the education we got from Gwen and additional sources, we saw a need and started a calendar called ‘Rescue Dog to Therapy Dog’ to educate people to the incredible resilience and value of dogs in rescue.”

Paul had been an art director and illustrator for 30 years and had never painted a dog until the day he and Lynn were encouraged by Gwen to come watch Lucy volunteer in the READing Paws program at the library. “Paul photographed Lucy and Gwen on the library lawn afterwards,” Lynn tells us. “When he got home and looked at the photos, he thought one looked like a portrait and got to work painting Lucy, loved the whole process and the rest is history. The first calendar took on a life of its own, and people started calling us with their own rescued therapy dogs and stories. We are totally hooked on telling these dogs’ amazing stories and passing them on to the public.”

Author: Emily Fromm

Emily Fromm, Chief Development Officer

Once in a while someone will write to me and ask, “If I donate to you, how much of my money will go to actually helping pets?”

This is a question I’m always happy to answer, because it gives me a chance to show off the fact that the Petfinder Foundation does great work at very little administrative expense. It’s a question everyone should ask before giving to charity, and I’m going to tell you how to find the answer in our Form 990, the return we file each year with the IRS.

Sprokett

Second Chance Pet Rescue in Reddick, Fla., used our grant to buy 14 extra-large dog crates so it could save dogs like Sprokett, who’d been scheduled for euthanasia at a shelter. “He’s now very happy in a wonderful foster home!” says Second Chance’s Debi Root. “Thank goodness we had the room (and the crate) to take him in before his time was up — he’s one terrific boy!”

You can find our 990s from 2010 through 2014 on our Financials page.

On our 990 for 2014, go to p. 10, the Statement of Functional Expenses. Here’s where you can see how we spent our money in 2014. Our total expenses, at the bottom of column A, were $1,315,071. Of that total, $1,193,501, or 91%, went to program service expenses — that is, the programs that help homeless pets.

You’ll also see that we spent $51,037 (3.8%) on management and general expenses and $70,533 (5.4%) on fundraising. So …. is that good? Well, according to Charity Navigator, “the most efficient charities spend 75% or more of their budget on their programs and services and less than 25% on fundraising and administrative fees.” So with 91% of our budget going to programs and services, we are really efficient by the highest independent standards.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. We’ve been reviewed by the two major independent watchdog organizations: Charity Navigator (we have four out of four stars) and GuideStar (we have a Platinum Seal for Transparency).

Trinity

Trinity had been in constant pain from a botched declaw. With our grant, CATS Cradle in Fargo, N.D., got her surgery to relieve her suffering.

One thing we don’t spend our money on: for-profit telemarketing firms. You may have read some of the recent exposés about these companies and the huge percentage of donors’ money that they keep for themselves.

If you ever receive a call from the Petfinder Foundation, I can promise you it will be from me or another member of our three-person staff. We never have, and never will, hire a telemarketing firm, nor do we purchase mailing lists.

Back to our programs and services. We give grants to the adoption groups that post their pets on Petfinder.com — i.e., the overwhelming majority of shelters and rescue groups in North America. Our grants are designed to help groups find homes for their adoptable pets, prepare for and recover from natural disasters, and become more sustainable.

An organization must apply for a grant in order to receive funds. Some of our grant programs include emergency medical, disaster recovery, vaccination, transport (moving pets from crowded shelters to regions where they are more likely to find homes) and Rescue U (volunteers renovate dilapidated or disaster-damaged shelters). We also give grants for care and feeding, spay/neuter and general operations.

But all our grants are designed with one ultimate goal in mind: preventing the euthanasia of adoptable pets. That means we do whatever it takes to help shelters and rescue groups keep the pets in their care physically and mentally healthy, and available to adopters who will give them loving forever homes.

Charitable giving is a great way to have an impact and receive a tax deduction. I hope this post has answered any questions you may have had about giving to us. If it hasn’t, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]. You can also learn more about us by exploring our website and following us on Facebook. Thank you for everything you do to help homeless pets!

Other resources:

Real Simple: What to Consider When Making Charitable Donations

Charity Navigator: Top 10 Best Practices of Savvy Donors

Charity Navigator: Evaluating Charities Not Currently Rated by Charity Navigator

Author: Emily Fromm

Joyce, a volunteer, cares for two adoptable geese at the rescue.

Rescue U is gearing up for our trip to Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail, N.C., from Dec. 31-Jan. 10. This renovation will be vastly different from any we’ve done in the past.

Until now, we’ve focused on shelters that care for dogs and cats. On this build, we’ll be working to improve the lives of ducks, pigeons, swans and other adoptable birds.

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue sustained considerable damage from the tornadoes of spring 2012, leaving the animals there without shelter. Thanks to a generous grant from GreaterGood.org and The Animal Rescue Site, we’re building a new barn to protect the birds from predators and the elements.

The barn will be 20’ x 45’ and will feature a storage area, a veterinary exam room and an animal holding area. It will include windows, garage doors and a ventilation system. We also will be building an enclosed outdoor exercise/play area for the birds.

Many structures at the rescue were tornado-damaged. The new barn will provide space for the birds to roost and stretch their legs.

Because the pathway into the rescue is currently rutted, muddy and often impassable, we will be putting in a gravel driveway so that staff and potential adopters can easily get to the barn and the rest of the facility.

We will also be building four 16’ x 8’ carports with feeders (to shelter the outdoor animals), and putting in fencing. Although we are only enclosing the southern and eastern perimeters of the rescue, we’re still installing approximately 1,200 linear feet of fence.

All that is a lot to accomplish in a week, but we’re confident that the determination and work ethic of our volunteers will shine through. Rescue U volunteers from all over will come together to share ideas, learn new skills and unite in a common goal: helping to save adoptable pets.

Author: Emily Fromm

Want to help homeless pets this holiday season but don’t have much time? Here are 10 fast and easy (and, in many cases, FREE) ways you can make a difference through the Petfinder Foundation.

This year, the Petfinder Foundation helped homeless pets like Dawn.

Give of Gift of Hope. When you make a donation in honor of a loved one this holiday season, he or she will receive a personalized card announcing the gift by Dec. 25. Donate $50 or more and we’ll also send him or her a special gift. (Find out more.) Donate by Dec. 17 to ensure delivery by Christmas Day.
“Like” us on Facebook and stay informed about what the Petfinder Foundation is up to all year long. You can also join our cause at causes.com for even more news.
Complete a survey. Sign up to take surveys at SurveyMonkey.com and the Petfinder Foundation will receive 50 cents for each one you complete.
Give a new bed to your furry friend. For every bed purchased from its Artist or Original collections, Pet Lifestyle and You (P.L.A.Y.) will donate a specially designed Chill Pad bed to a shelter dog.
Buy a gift from The Animal Rescue Site. A donation to the Petfinder Foundation is made for each purchase from the Animal Rescue Site store. For an extra-special gift, order a pair of Purple Paws & Circles Button Knit Slippers (only $10) by Dec. 25 and The Animal Rescue Site will donate $5 to the Petfinder Foundation. Order by Dec. 19 to ensure your gift arrives by Christmas!
Sponsor A Pet. Want to adopt, but can’t right now? Sponsor A Pet through the Petfinder Foundation to help pets in need until you’re ready to adopt.
Create a Pinterest Board. For every “Pinning for Pets” board created on Pinterest, BISSELL will donate $10 to the Petfinder Foundation. Start looking for BISSELL products and cute pups today!
“Like” Comfort Zone products on Facebook. For every new like, Comfort Zone products will donate $1 to the Petfinder Foundation.
Make a custom accessory with your pet’s photo. Visit FuzzyNation.com to create a puppy purse or other custom accessory; the Petfinder Foundation receives a donation for each one sold.
Text a donation. Pressed for time? Text 4PETS and your email address to 20222 to donate $10 to the Petfinder Foundation.

A special thank you to everyone who helped impact the lives of homeless pets this year. And if you do have some time to give, please volunteer at your local animal shelter. Have a wonderful holiday!

Author: Emily Fromm

We’re big fans of Comfort Zone® products, and all month, they’re giving $1 to the Petfinder Foundation — up to $7,000 — for every new “like” of their Facebook page! (Click here to “like” Comfort Zone® products on Facebook now!)

The products — Comfort Zone® with Feliway® for cats and Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) for dogs — combat stress-related behavior by mimicking pheromones the animals themselves secrete and which trigger a sense of security or well-being.

Toby

Best of all, Comfort Zone® products come in sprays or plug-in diffusers, so they’re super easy to use (i.e. no “pilling” an already stressed-out cat!).

Our own Bethany Meissner has seen Comfort Zone® with Feliway® work wonders on her cat Toby. “I’ve used Comfort Zone® with Feliway® to help Toby get over his fear of the carrier,” she says. “Although he doesn’t love car rides to the vet, he now can sit more quietly and doesn’t get as anxious as he used to.”

The product also helped Toby adjust after Bethany’s recent move. “I made sure to use my Comfort Zone® with Feliway® diffuser in the bathroom where Toby lived for the first day,” she says. “Although he hid at first, within a few hours he was happily exploring his new domain.”

Finally, it’s helped Bethany when she’s brought home new cats (she’s fostered seniors for D.C.’s Washington Humane Society). “Not only did Comfort Zone® with Feliway® help the fosters adjust to their new home,” she says, “it helped Toby as he navigated the new smells that came from fosters living in another room. And I always made sure to use a few extra sprays the week the fosters came out of their room and met Toby face-to-face for the first time!”

Without Comfort Zone® with Feliway®, Toby might have exhibited destructive scratching or urine-marking; Comfort Zone® with Feliway® is 95% effective at reducing both stress-related behaviors in cats. In dogs, Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) helps control stress-related barking, digging, chewing and soiling.

Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.®

The makers of Comfort Zone® products have heard from dozens of dog parents who’ve seen miraculous changes in their dogs’ behaviors. John R. writes: “My wife and I are completely amazed. Our Lab/Pit Bull mix Marley was uncontrollable, particularly when company was at the house. He would jump all over our guests and we could not calm him down.

“We heard about Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® and tried it as a last resort. Lo and behold, Marley is now a gracious host when we have friends and family to the house. I would personally recommend this product to anyone who wants to live in harmony with their dog!”

Many other pet parents have seen Comfort Zone® with D.A.P.® help with their dogs’ fear of thunderstorms, destructive nighttime behavior, separation stress and general “spazzy” behavior.

So try Comfort Zone® products to help your own pets, and “like” Comfort Zone® products on Facebook today to help those still waiting for their forever homes!

Author: Emily Fromm

cardoutside — This card, by artist Laura Jackson (www.spaystreet.com), will come with a personalized letter to your loved one.

This holiday season, give the Gift of Hope to a homeless pet by donating to the Petfinder Foundation in a loved one’s honor.

Donate by Dec. 17 and your gift recipient will get the beautiful card pictured above, with a personalized letter from us. The watercolor is by Austin, Tex.-based artist Laura Jackson, who has often donated her work to us for our holiday cards to gift recipients.

I asked Laura — who writes a great blog about rescuing pets that has a lot of excellent pet-care tips — why she is so generous to the Petfinder Foundation. “Your foundation takes real action to improve the lives of shelter animals and people,” she said. It’s true!

In addition to the card, if you give $50 or more, your loved one will receive a special gift from us: A copy of one of the following new books (while supplies last; if we run out, we will send your giftee a Petfinder Foundation t-shirt):

A Christmas Home by Greg Kincaid. Greg has been working with Petfinder since the publication of the first book in his series, A Dog Named Christmas, in 2008. (Read his posts on the Petfinder blog.) A Dog Named Christmas, about a young man who convinces the people in his town to foster all the pets in their local shelter over the holidays, was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame original movie, and Greg worked with the producers to have a PSA for Petfinder and pet adoption aired at the end!

That book also inspired Petfinder’s annual promotion, “Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays,” which shelters nationwide have participated in every year for the past four years.

A Christmas Home, the third book in the series (after the 2010 prequel Christmas with Tucker), revisits the McCray family at a time when the local shelter is about to close due to lack of funding. Like Greg’s other books, it’s touching and wise (but you don’t need to have read the first two in the series to enjoy it). See the book on Amazon.

Why has Greg continued to work with us over the years? “It’s always such a honor to work with Petfinder,” he says. “I don’t know of anyone who does more for shelter pets than this talented and hardworking organization of animal advocates. They truly make the world a better place.” Thanks, Greg!

Little Boy Blue: A Puppy’s Rescue from Death Row and His Owner’s Journey for Truth by Kim Kavin. When Kim, a journalist, adopted Blue as a puppy in 2010, she became curious about his history. Her investigation led her to the crowded North Carolina shelter where he’d been scheduled for euthanasia before he was rescued by the organization that brought him to the Northeast and posted him on Petfinder.com.

Little Boy Blue tells the inspiring story of the “underground railroad” of rescue groups that has exploded in recent years, thanks in part to Petfinder giving groups the ability to reach potential adopters all over the country. You will also come to know and love Blue, a very special dog who now brings smiles to the faces of everyone he meets.

The author is even donating some of the book’s profits to the Petfinder Foundation. Here’s why: “I found my dog Blue on Petfinder, and in reporting Little Boy Blue I learned about the critical role that Petfinder plays in helping dogs like him find homes,” Kim tells us. “The Petfinder Foundation is doing great work to help rescue groups of all sizes, not to mention all kinds of animals, and I could not be more thrilled that a portion of my book’s proceeds are helping the Petfinder cause.” See the book on Amazon.

So give the Gift of Hope — the perfect present for the compassionate person in your life!

Author: Emily Fromm

Lisa Robinson, executive director

When I adopted my Boxer-Lab mix, Luckie Boy, eight years ago, I had no idea the kind of true love that I would be given. I quickly found out how tossing a ball and running in the park with my new furry friend could be the best time spent.

Luckie Boy was a great dog.

A few months ago, Luckie developed a bone tumor in his nasal cavity. The news completely devastated my family. Over the next few months, the tumor grew — it created a bump on his head that got bigger as the days went on. His breathing became heavy and he started getting nosebleeds.

His personality changed too; he became withdrawn. This week we made the hard choice to put him to sleep. While the decision was hard, I find comfort knowing that we gave him a wonderful life and that he blessed my life with true unconditional love.

As we move forward as a one-dog family (although I don’t think that will last long — our five-year-old Lab, Scarlett, seems lonely and has been looking for Luckie), I am truly touched by the support of our friends and family.

People have given us flowers and cards, and made donations in Luckie’s memory. I’m reminded how many lives my little black dog touched. I’m also reminded what a great way a donation is to honor a pet’s life.

At the Petfinder Foundation, we often receive donations in memory of loved ones, two-legged or four. Like all the funds we receive, they go exclusively into programs that provide direct care to homeless pets across the country. Improving the lives of pets still waiting for their forever homes is a wonderful way to honor a life that has blessed yours.

To make a donation in memory of a loved one for whom you’re thankful, click here.

Author: Emily Fromm

NY174.24591771-2 — Meet adoptable Dobie/Am Staff mix Storm at Westchester Humane Society in Harrison, NY.

Westchester Humane Society got a disaster grant from the Petfinder Foundation to care for the animals it took in because of Hurricane Sandy. Board member Irma Jansen wrote to us about one of those refugees, a Doberman/American Staffordshire Terrier mix named Storm (pictured above).

This is Storm, one of the 18 animals the Westchester Humane Society in Harrison rescued from New York City. Storm came from Staten Island the day before the hurricane hit.

They were evacuating shelters and were overcrowded. In order to help prevent a lot of animals from being euthanized, we rescued a total of 18 dogs and cats.

Storm, named in ‘honor’ of the hurricane, was saved from Sandy and did not seem to care that a week after the hurricane, a snow storm hit our area! It has been quite a week in the NYC area.

She loves the snow, this 2-year-old girl! She is an absolute sweetheart and we are happy we were able to have saved her. Thank you so much for making this rescue possible!

Some of the other shelters and rescue groups receiving disaster grants in Sandy’s wake include:

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23844525 — These puppies, at Tails of Love Animal Rescue in Staten Island, will benefit from a Petfinder Foundation disaster grant.

Humane Society of Atlantic County in Atlantic City, NJ, which was badly flooded but nevertheless is caring for both its own adoptable pets and those belonging to local residents in need. (Read more about HSAC’s disaster grant here.)

Tails of Love Animal Rescue, Inc., in Staten Island, NY, which lost heat and power and suffered damage to its roof and outdoor kennels, and also needed money for food, blankets, a generator, food bowls (since staff could not wash them without hot water) and cleaning supplies.

Seer Farms, Inc., in Jackson, NJ. “We took in over 50 animals in the first weekend after the storm, which is an approximately 10% increase in our population, and we are taking in new animals every day who were either rescued from abandoned homes or brought by their owners who are living in shelters,” says owner Laura Pople. “We lost power for several days and spent several thousand dollars on tree removal.”

Abandoned Angels Animal Rescue in Columbus, NJ, which took in pets for people whose homes had flooded and will care for them until their families can find housing for themselves and their pets, or find them new homes if their guardians can’t take them back.

Helping Every Animal Live Society, Inc. in Lodi, NJ, which needed to relocate to a safer building. “We lost all or vaccinations and antibiotics that needed refrigeration. The river swept away many of our crates and destroyed pallets of dog food,” says vice president Benjamin Ortiz. “This grant will be used solely to relocate our rescues to a safe and healthy facility.”

Animal Rescue R Us, also in Lodi. “We lost crates, bedding, food and supplies due to damage from flood,” says president Christina Chavis. The grant will allow the shelter to replace those items to care for its 20 adoptable pets.

We are able to help these organizations continue their lifesaving work thanks to donors like you. Thank you to all who gave — every little bit helps.

Author: Emily Fromm

Hurricane Sandy has devastated animal shelters in the northeast — but the Petfinder Foundation is getting cash and goods worth more than $1 million to Petfinder shelters and rescues in need. Here are just a few ways we’re helping:

Humane Society of Atlantic County dogs were crammed into tiny cat cages to escape floodwater.

We’ve given $18,500 and counting in cash grants to affected shelters, including the Humane Society of Atlantic County in Atlantic City, NJ. The shelter was flooded with seawater a foot deep; large dogs had to be moved into tiny cat cages to escape the rising water; and the organization lost thousands in damaged supplies and equipment. Our grant will help staffers repair the facility and care for local residents’ pets in need of medical aid, food and shelter.

Thanks to pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), we’re donating vaccines to shelters and rescue groups that lost medications during the storm (many vaccines need to be refrigerated, so shelters that lost power had to discard theirs). BI will work with the Petfinder Foundation to figure out what vaccines each shelter needs most.

DelMonte is donating 1,200 lbs of Nature’s Recipe premium dry cat food to be distributed to organizations in need via a Petfinder Foundation grant.

With help from our partners at Wahl, we’re donating grooming supplies and shampoo to shelters that lost theirs due to Hurricane Sandy.

True-Dose is donating its Calming supplement to shelters to help relieve anxiety in pets going through the stress of being displaced from their homes, living in an unfamiliar environment and being separated from their families.

We’re giving KONGs to shelters that need to replace toys damaged by the hurricane thanks to a donation from our partners at that company.

Still, we need your help. Even the smallest donation makes a difference. Please give today.

Author: Emily Fromm

Pets like Chespita at the Humane Society of Atlantic County will be helped by a Disaster grant from the Petfinder Foundation.

I think I speak for everyone at the Petfinder Foundation when I say that our thoughts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy. All of us here have been working diligently to provide whatever assistance we can to help pets, and the people who care for them, during this difficult time.

For me, awarding grants is one of my favorite parts of my job as Program Manager at the Petfinder Foundation because I know each grant I award is directly helping homeless pets. Most recently we awarded $10,000 to the Humane Society of Atlantic County in Atlantic City, NJ. They were hit extremely hard by Sandy. The shelter had approximately a foot of sea water throughout during the worst part of the storm and because of the flooding they lost a significant amount of medical and shelter supplies, including medications, food, and other items.

In addition to the damage, the Humane Society is also offering assistance to the pets in the community that were affected by the storm in the form of medical care, food and shelter. This is a great example of the role animal shelters play in their local communities. When disaster strikes, shelters not only cope with their own losses, but work overtime to care for the pets of those around them so that people who’ve lost everything can at least know their pets are safe.

Danielle Tustin, Adoption Counselor for HSAC, says, “We are hoping to replenish our medical and shelter supplies, and establish a point where those affected in the community can bring their pets for medical care and any needed supplies. We will need to purchase medications, vaccines, and food, as well as pay doctors and staff to help care for these animals. We anticipate caring for a significant of local animals from the community in the coming weeks as a result of this disaster.”

The Petfinder Foundation is continuing to reach out to and award groups affected by this storm. If you are a group in need of help, please fill out the disaster application here. To help other organizations impacted by Hurricane Sandy please make a donation to the Petfinder Foundation here.

Author: Emily Fromm

The Petfinder Foundation has always been concerned with the safety of homeless pets when a disaster hits. Hurricane Sandy is no exception. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the Frankenstorm including our fuzzy friends. At this time, the Foundation is preparing to help Petfinder members in a variety of ways, including providing disaster relief grants, assistance with transport of homeless pets to safer areas and providing education and care to those who need it.

Here are some of the ways that we are helping:

The Petfinder Foundation IFAW truck prepares for recovery efforts.

The Petfinder Foundation partnered with International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to fund a recovery and disaster vehicle. The truck has proven to be helpful in a variety of ways when a storm hits. Often the PFF truck is loaded up with supplies like food, medical equipment and crates to help homeless pets affected by a storm. Once deployed, the truck provides additional assistance by transporting homeless dogs out of the disaster area to a safer environment where they are better able to find forever homes. Currently, the Petfinder Foundation rig is loaded up with boats and water rescue gear in preparation for water support of the devastated areas. The truck is also prepared with sheltering supplies to make sure to address whatever unmet animal needs there might be following the storm.

The Petfinder Foundation partners with National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) to address specific needs when disaster hits. As there is a great need with Hurricane Sandy, we are actively working with our NARSC partners to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that organizations are working as a team to bring the best support to affected shelters and rescue groups.

Hurricanes and other disasters can devastate animal rescue and shelter organizations. The Petfinder Foundation oversees a Disaster Fund to help pets and animal welfare organizations when natural or man-made disaster hits a community. We are currently accepting applications from Petfinder members who were hit by Hurricane Sandy. We have already received several applications and are reaching out to groups to award disaster grants and help them through this troubling time.

As we move forward with recovery efforts, the entire Petfinder Foundation would like to personally thank all the shelter and rescue groups staff and volunteers for their time and effort to help save the lives of homeless pets.

To support the Petfinder Foundation Disaster and other programs, donate here.

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Sprokett

Trinity

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading

Author: Emily Fromm

Further Reading