Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
    About six months ago we were pleased to host a visit to the Houlton Humane Society animal shelter by a member of the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). It is always exciting to have someone on a national level come check us out because they have to travel very long distances to see us and we’re an extremely small shelter compared to some. The visit lasted several hours and we were blown away by the positive comments and feedback that we received.
    A few months ago we applied for a grant through the ASPCA to help local individuals with the cost of spaying and neutering their animals. We had received one grant several years ago in the amount of $5,000 and spent all of that money, paying $50 toward the spay/neuter costs of each eligible pet. Most of the animals affected by this grant were cats and we still see a need to spay and neuter more cats, because there are always families who can give good loving homes to pets, but find the cost of surgery to be a budget buster.
    With the ASPCA, the first thing you do is put in a letter of inquiry, letting them know that you would like to apply for a grant and what it would be for, and then they invite you to submit an application if they feel your project is worthwhile. In our case, we received a direct communication from the ASPCA that they felt that not only should we apply for grant money for spay/neuter funding, but that we should also apply for a grant to help with what we call “soft costs”. In other words, not money to buy equipment or pet food or even to pay bills, but funding for a consultant to come in and work with the animal shelter to find more unique and innovative ways to do things.
    We contacted the consultant who was recommended by the ASPCA and once we knew her fees and what she could offer, we applied for a grant to pay for this consultation and we were excited to receive the news this morning that our application was approved!
    This probably doesn’t sound like anything thrilling news wise. We aren’t going to be building a new wing or buying new equipment, but we are going to be taking a long hard look at the local area; what the needs are; how best to address the needs; and then, and this is the most exciting part, putting together a program that will begin to build stronger partnerships within the community.
    We network very well with shelters from Connecticut to northern Maine and we are always sharing ideas on how to improve adoptions, how to grow our outreach programs, like our nursing home program or our educational program, but there is nothing like having a trained professional come in and study your community, your economic conditions, your finances, your policies and procedures and give you a fresh perspective and new ideas. We have never pretended to be perfect and we are not too proud to ask for advice. Anybody who is given an opportunity to learn from an expert and doesn’t take advantage of it is either a fool or just plain crazy.
    Our consultant fees are fully funded by the grant. Our board is thrilled and excited to start a long, hard, honest look at everything from financial needs to board growth and development, and I look forward to bringing you the results. Many of our board members have been actively involved in animal welfare for over 30 years and can’t wait to soak up the wealth of knowledge this consultant can bring us.
    In the meantime, we are also in the last minute planning stages of our next big fundraiser, “Rockin’ The Doghouse,” which takes place Sept. 10. The location is Monument Park, the time is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee and you will be amazed and surprised by the dozens of games for the kids, the great food, the awesome music, and the amazing classic and antique cars that will be on display. Many surprises are in store, so please mark the 10th on your calendar and plan on joining us, I can’t believe it’s just a month away already! Where did summer go?