26/01/2024
We like to think that we do a good job of sharing the joys and successes of animal sheltering. From our wonderful staff, fosters, and volunteers, to our generous donors and amazing adopters, to the cats and dogs that we care for each day, we have so much to be thankful for.
But there are LOTS of struggles in animal sheltering too, especially since the pandemic, and we find it more difficult to share those sometimes. We want our community to be proud of the work that we do, but the reality is that that work is really challenging right now, and we need our community to know about the hardships we are currently facing.
โจ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐: We know everyone is feeling this, and we're right there with you. We are struggling with rising costs of medical care, supplies, food-- basically everything. Our buildings are old and require a lot of regular (and sometimes uniquely irregular) maintenance. Funds are critically low right now, and this has put a strain on our ability to provide essential services. Your generosity, big or small, can make a significant impact.
โจ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐: Sadly, we've seen a decrease in adoptions of medium and large dogs despite their lower adoption fees and an increased focus on marketing them creatively. We've seen their average length of stay at the shelter nearly double in the past year.
โจ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐: As shelters up north are facing many of these same challenges, our transport options have become more limited, meaning that we must rely on our community more than ever to find loving homes for the pets in our care. Your help in spreading the word, fostering, and promoting adoptable animals can be a game-changer.
โจ ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด: Our municipality contracts and fees have never covered the cost of the services that we offer to our citizens, so we have always depended heavily on donor dollars to continue serving our community. Due to the dramatic increase in costs in every aspect of animal sheltering, our funding just isn't keeping up with the cost of operations.
Our community plays a vital role in supporting our shelter and the critical, life-saving work that we do. If you've taken the time to read this, please share this post, consider ๐ณ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด or ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด your next pet, and-- if you're able--๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐บ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. We truly need your help to continue making a difference in the lives of these precious pets that we care for each day.
To make a gift, please visit: https://loom.ly/7TH93zs
