It is not realistic to think that larger sanctuaries like Best Friends can step in and take in hundreds of new animals when the crisis occurs. With the letter, send samples of your literature or brochures. Whatever you are offered, accept it. So, itâs a good idea to have a reserve fund in your budget. Though legal fees can be expensive, good professional advice is key to running your sanctuary correctly in the eyes of the law. Our website has a number of publications on fundraising, including Animal Shelter Fundraising Ideas, which offers fundraising ideas and tips. Spaying and neutering are becoming the norm for the majority of people who have pets. But before you begin to think about all that, we strongly encourage you to do the following three things: Providing shelter for the animals means you need land and buildings. If there are any pet food distributors in your area, you can ask to be put on their list of groups to receive donations of dog or cat food. So, giving people the necessary information can often keep pets in their homes. One such instance surrounded a dog named Destiny who came to me through Mayday Pit Bull Rescue. Youâll be doing fundraising for two basic areas: Operating expenses. If you need something for your work with the animals, do some research, then call the company or store with the product you need and ask them to donate it. It could be as minor as making sure the animalâs vaccinations are up to date, or as major as orthopedic surgery on a leg or hip. Select the rescue location and the types of animals you will house. Youâll want to develop a financial plan that includes details on: Planning in advance for the money needed upfront and monthly will ensure that the animals receive the care they need. My passion was found. Also, visits to other sanctuaries will help you see what works and what doesnât. A few of the cute little animals I helped this year. Large companies that test products on animals are finding themselves hurting in the marketplace as more and more people refuse to buy their products. Approximately 3.4 million discarded dogs and cats will be euthanized in the United States in 2013. More and more people are choosing not to wear fur or eat meat. For more details about buying insurance, see the Best Friends publication called Animal Rescue Insurance. These are the continuing daily expenses of feeding the animals, paying the staff, providing medical care, etc. ", While shooting the behind-the-scenes footage for the Shutterstock Stories contest video, I had Mavyn Animal Rescue bring in some puppies and kittens for me to photograph. To have a satisfying life, dogs need the companionship of humans and other dogs. "All dogs are individuals and every facility that you would get a dog from is different," says Kenny Lamberti, the Vice President of Companion Animals at The Humane Society of the United States.And Mike Kaviani, Director of Life Saving Operations for Austin Pets Alive, says, "Any dog can have any number of individual challenges ⦠Legalities may appear to have nothing to do with your desire to rescue animals. A way to keep in touch with your members and let them know whatâs going on at your sanctuary. We here at Best Friends do not claim to have all the answers. Mary Hope Kramer is a former writer for the The Balance Careers covering animal-related jobs. Getting publicity for your cause. The amount you need depends on the scope of the sanctuary you are planning. How much help youâll need depends on how many animals you will be caring for. Dealing with your members in a professional way will give them confidence in your whole operation and ensure that they will continue to support you as best they can. When possible, the sanctuary itself should offer these services, not only to sanctuary animals, but also to the general public. This experience often helps people to focus on their goals, and clarify their vision. Many of the animals coming to your sanctuary will have problems. My perceived lack of purpose lead me to a premature mid-life crisis about nine years ago. Some programs cannot exist without the help of volunteers. Stories of your rescues and adoptions are a lot more interesting to your members than details of your board meetings. Animal hoarding occurs when a person houses, and often breeds, more pets than they can reasonably care for. Destiny and Shy-Low Bleu have both been featured in my book, "Tails of Rescue, A Guide to Finding the Not-So-Perfect Dog That is Perfect for You," which raises funds for the Phoenix Animal Care and Coalition's emergency medical fund. Since charging the rescue groups for my work is out of the question, I had to find other ways to keep the studio lights on. This fund helps over 125 Arizona rescue groups to offset veterinary bills for critically ill and injured animals. It is best to ask them all upfront before getting into a situation that might prove to be unsuitable for what you have in mind. I often hear people say that they would rather be around the animals than be with people. You also need to consider your neighborsâ rights. You might want to start with something simple and low-cost. You care. Loving animals doesn't just have to be a hobby or an off-work activity. If you already have the complete health and temperament history of an animal coming into your care, you can waive the two-week isolation period. If you'd like to make helping animals a part of your day-to-day life, a range of careers can let you work with animals or support them from afar. And, on occasion, we have been able to take in unadoptable animals from other groups to live out their lives at the sanctuary. Caring for animals requires patience, love, time, money and a lifetime commitment. 5.) Animal rescue establishes a system where rescuers can save animals from violent homes or from the dangers on the streets. To build my portfolio, I volunteered my time taking photos for rescue groups for use in animal adoption ads and on fundraising items. Stores will often donate a percentage of their sales to benefit the animals. In cases of neglect or abuse, a foster home can help the animal regain its strength or health. Every encounter with the public offers an opportunity to educate and inform. After all, that is what ultimately helps the animals. As you grow, your literature can expand to a printed newsletter or e-newsletter. But even that type of zoning doesnât cover exotics. You could start with setting up a table or booth at a popular store. Many sanctuaries are able to employ a veterinary technician who can, under the direction of a veterinarian, take care of some of the basic day-to-day medical treatments. Dealing with painful situations can be very stressful. Dan McKernan was making $100,000 at a tech job in Austin, Texas â until he gave it all up to move over 1,000 miles away and set up a sanctuary for farm animals in Michigan. Many companies are willing to donate goods and materials to a nonprofit organization. They are not voting members.) Cats also love to be with their own kind, and their permanent housing should take this into account. But if each of us does what we can to promote a world of compassion and kindness, one day we will see a very different world. They tend to be not very successful. She is also very famous as the images I have taken of her are in use on pet products and publications around the word. So get together with everyone involved in starting up your sanctuary and devise a written plan that covers a variety of eventualities. You can avoid burnout by getting some help early on. If youâre planning a larger event, find someone to coordinate who has experience with putting together these types of events. If you can, use professional expertise (a graphic or e-newsletter designer). Indeed, we have made many mistakes. If that is not possible, ask for a discount or special payment schedule. We were one of the first no-kill sanctuaries in the U.S. and we continue to work each day so that every animal has a second chance at life. In Best Friendsâ internship program, young people who are interested in careers in the animal field spend time working alongside us at the sanctuary, which gives them good hands-on experience of what is involved. Many groups use the creative abilities of their supporters in this area. So, unless you can give them a very compelling reason to support something thatâs not in their local area and that theyâve never heard of before, theyâre unlikely to respond. Be brief and friendly. Sick, abused and often pregnant ones do. Our website has a number of publications about adoption, including, Our website has a number of publications about fundraising, including, There are many magazines that specialize in specific animals. It is wise to find an attorney and/or an accountant with nonprofit knowledge and sympathy for your cause. Another option is to have an internship program. We came away with cupboards, doors, surgical lights, incubators, x-ray viewers, and a variety of other useful equipment. Sometimes a volunteer just doesnât work out. Even if you have some full-time staff, having volunteers on the team enables you to do more and itâs a wonderful way of including people in your work. There are a lot of questions to ask in relation to a piece of land you are looking at. A lot of problems people experience with their pets stem from lack of knowledge about the animals and their behavior. Sounds too good to be true? Send thank-you notes for the donations you receive (no matter how small), provide prompt responses to questions asked, and assist members with animal problems. This will determine how large a piece of land you will need, and what you will require for housing the animals. Please share your own experiences with us here at Best Friends as you embark upon meeting your goals. Make the most of your reading with comments, events and more. We also invite people of all ages who are thinking of working in animal welfare to come and spend some time here at the sanctuary to see if this is really what they want to do. Youâre informed. Your tax-deductible donation makes a life-changing difference for the animals. Starting a membership program. In closing I began contributing my animal images to Shutterstock. Insurance can give you peace of mind around visitors and volunteers should someone fall or get bitten by an animal. There is no getting away from it â people are going to be central in your efforts to save animals. ©2019 Best Friends Animal Society. Our goal is to provide quality lifetime care for animals who canât find a new home, and quality interim care for the animals waiting to go to a home. Depending on your operation, there are also other types of insurance that you might need. Your membership program is the backbone of your fundraising efforts. Zoning governs if a business can be operated in a particular area, how many animals can be kept there, and the types of animals allowed. Make sure that your publications are appealing and well-prepared. There are many advantages to having nonprofit status: Once you have completed the necessary paperwork, the nonprofit status may take around three months to obtain. The only problem with donated food is that you might get a mixture of brands and types of food. A caged lion suddenly turns on one of its trainers and would be lunch in a matter of seconds. Keep your members informed and included in your work. But unless you know for sure that the foundation will deliver each and every year, you should be wary in case you suddenly find yourself with a lot of empty mouths to feed and a well thatâs gone dry. One of our members who loves to sew takes them and creates bed pads for use at the kennels and in the clinic. Even constant barking in the background can create stress-related health issues for cats. For example, lumber companies may donate surplus building materials. Learn More. How close are they? These funds have helped to save the lives of many more animals that I have never even had the pleasure to meet. Add your voice! 4.) Healthy, happy animals don't need rescuing. So, be prepared to show that you value your volunteers. Taking a guided tour will help them understand some of the problems of unwanted pets firsthand. The company will require you to sign a paper stating that you will not sell the product, but there is nothing to stop you from sharing it, as long as they abide by the same requirement. But it is not always an easy job. I then developed a photographer's cooperative in Scottsdale, AZ called Photo Fusion Studio. Leasing land does not offer any stability for the animals. Hatred and negativity can eat you up, and soon you will not be able to do the work. The Humane Society of the United State is a good resource for finding models to follow and understanding the standards you must meet. Evaluating shelter animals 4.) We covered this area in an earlier section relating to the acquisition of property. Guy Quits His Job To Rescue Animals | Dodo Heroes - YouTube Be prompt in your pickup of the items. Together we can help to put an end to our nation's animal over-population crisis. Many are published by Fancy Publications â, Our website has a number of publications about spay/neuter. Housing dogs can be noisy, and if you donât have a buffer zone, like land or trees to dissipate the sound, your neighbors can legally file a complaint and perhaps force you to close down your operation. These are for fixed assets, such as buildings, vehicles, an information database, etc. You are going to be looking for a permanent home for each animal, with people who have the time and money to care for this new member of their family. Again, check out the courses offered to make sure the methods taught suit your own beliefs in this area. The Resources section of the Best Friends website offers a number of publications about adoption. Perhaps the founder has died or become incapacitated without making provision for the animals. A release form lays out potential problems, or specific requirements, making a person aware of issues or requirements involved in adopting an animal, working with animals, or having an animal undergo a surgical procedure (like a spay or neuter). Who will take care of the animals you have rescued? Resources. Setting up a table outside of a busy grocery or pet-supply store is a fairly simple way to generate funds and add valuable names to your membership list. Once we began receiving large donations of pet food, we had a storage problem. Cats may bite, have litter box problems or other quirky behaviors. This can be a make-or-break area! Every animal you rescue will need some medical attention. Lamprey. And some people never outgrow that desire to make caring for animals their lifeâs work. Agricultural zoning is the most open to animals. Probably because thatâs exactly what it is. Information about such plans is available through Shelter Planners. The welfare of the animals in your care may be at stake; you donât want to be required to move your whole operation because of a zoning issue. In our experience, cats do better if their diet is both high quality and consistent. The lamprey looks like an ancient sea monster. Capital expenses. At the beginning of Best Friends, I was prone to lecture everything that moved! You will need to be prepared financially, emotionally and physically to ⦠Make sure the location aligns with zoning laws. People are already receiving more mail than they know what to do with. To start and then continue to run a sanctuary, you need money. Best wishes from all of us at Best Friends. If you donât have the money to spend on such things, ask around. Some people decide to take one of the many courses offered in dog training as part of their preparations in starting a sanctuary. Maybe, maybe not. Is the land prone to flooding? I personally would much prefer to have a job saving these animals instead. We have found it helpful, however, to keep the animals in a separate area until they get used to the new routine, new diet, and new personnel. Replicate that schedule for at least the first few days to avoid gastric distress. You will also need to create intake isolation facilities. You can find them. It is only too easy to âburn outâ when we see the animals that we dearly love being treated with cruelty and neglect. Destiny is now healthy and happy in her new home with a family that loves her very much. In walked Oliver, who had me at "hello.". Rescues ⦠So donât try and take on the whole burden by yourself. Depending on where youâre trying to build, youâll need to contact either the city or county offices. There have been times over the years when I needed that advice myself. I quickly developed thirst for knowledge. Heartwarming stories about animals are always welcome on TV and in the local newspapers. And most importantly, your financial supporters are people, too. Animal groups will often share their adoption paperwork, such as adoption applications or contracts, as long as you change the name on the documents to your groupâs name. Once youâve selected some suitable land, find out what the zoning laws are for that land. I've always had a love and respect for animals. If you are lucky enough to link up with one or more veterinarians who are sympathetic to what you are doing, they can help you with discounts on medicines and procedures. Direct mail programs can help build membership, but theyâre a slow and expensive operation. Early on, you need to have a long-term plan in place for the animals in your care. 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