Dane County animal welfare groups and veterinarians to receive $1 million over five years to save all healthy and treatable shelter cats
August 1, 2008
Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
fletcher@maddiesfund.org
Maddie's Fund® the Pet Rescue Foundation (www.maddiesfund.org), has awarded a $252,000 grant to support the first year of Maddie's® Pet Rescue Project and Maddie's® Spay/Neuter Project in Dane County, Wisconsin. As goals are achieved, Maddie's Fund will provide animal welfare groups and veterinarians over $1 million to end the killing of Dane County's healthy and treatable shelter cats. (Dane County is already saving all of its healthy and treatable shelter dogs.)
Maddie's Pet Rescue Project is led by Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) working with two adoption guarantee organizations-Shelter from the Storm and Dane County Friends of Ferals. The first year goal is to increase the total number of cats adopted by 353 over the baseline year and decrease the number cats euthanized in Dane
County shelters by at least 353 below baseline. Offsite adoption programs, new staff, expanded hours and events are a few of the ways the coalition plans to increase adoptions. The collaboration's first event, a 29 hour adoption marathon called Catapalooza found homes for 80 cats!
Maddie's Spay/Neuter Project is also administered by DCHS. Surgeries will be performed by participating private practice veterinarians and by participating nonprofit spay/neuter clinics. The program is available to Dane County low-income residents who receive Medicaid or BadgerCare assistance or Food Stamps and have companion cats; it is also available to Dane County residents who manage feral cat colonies. The total number of cat surgeries to be performed under this program is 4,123. The first year goal is 1,250.
"Our past experience funding a 2 ½ year feral cat spay/neuter program in Dane County was a huge success," said Maddie's Fund President, Rich Avanzino. "I have no doubt that this community collaborative effort will equal or exceed those previous lifesaving accomplishments."
About Maddie's Fund
Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to their inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.
The Foundation has awarded over $265 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S.
Maddie's Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie.