A lot goes into running an animal welfare organization or shelter. There are vet expenses, program and administrative costs, staffing expenses and resource needs. So who helps those organizations working so hard to help animals in need?
The Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals has awarded more than $100,000 to non-profit animal rescue and welfare organizations since its founding, ensuring that organizations helping animals in need are getting proper funding and help from outside sources. The Foundation awards annual grants to non-profit, no-kill animal and marine mammal rescue and welfare organizations.
“We are proud of all the hard work that the committee did last year and very thankful for everyone that contributed to make these grants possible,” said Betsy Palazzo, Dudick, President of the Foundation.
The Foundation is thrilled to announce the 10 recipients of its 2015 grants. The grant money is used for day-to-day operations, emergency relief, spay/neuter efforts, veterinary care, equipment, construction, vehicle purchases, educational programs and special projects.
Grants were awarded to All Critters Rescue, Inc., All Fur Love Animal Rescue, Inc., American Rescue Dog Corporation, Animal Care Sanctuary, Cat Assistance Network, Inc., Greyhound Friends of NJ, Mid-Atlantic Bulldog Rescue, New Life Boxer Rescue, Oasis Animal Sanctuary and Sedona Shepherd Sanctuary.
In 2010, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts, Betsy Palazzo-Dudick and Koren Spadavecchia announced the launch of the 501(c)(3) non-profit Purr’n Pooch Foundation. The Foundation honors their parents, Dick and Mary Palazzo, owners of Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts. Dick and Mary have a passion for animals that runs deep, and their love for animals is apparent by looking at their incredible accomplishments with Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts as well as with animal welfare advocacy.
A few of the 2015 grantees are highlighted below:
SEDONA SHEPHERD SANCTUARY
Millburn, NJ
Sedona Shepherd Sanctuary rescues senior German Shepherds and finds suitable homes and solutions for them. They provide adoption services in New Jersey, Delaware Valley, Manhattan, Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern New York. The organization also works in assisting other German Shepherd rescue organizations throughout the Northeast, and dog rescue organizations in need of assistance and guidance. Sedona Shepherd Sanctuary believes that older dogs teach compassion and hope, and makes it their mission to find older dogs loving homes.
“This grant allows us to continue to work with special need and older dogs that are harder to place and more likely to be euthanized,” said James Dascoli, founder and president of the Sedona Shepherd Sanctuary. “A lot of the time we don’t have a lot of options, and there is more of a cost from a medical perspective. With this grant we can also increase our reach.”
ANIMAL CARE SANCTUARY
East Smithfield, PA
Animal Care Sanctuary was founded as a non-profit no-kill organization in 1967 in Tom’s River, NJ, and moved to East Smithfield, PA in 1982. The sanctuary celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2012 and is the nation’s fourth largest no-kill sanctuary, welcoming animals that are deemed “unadoptable” due to illness, injury, age, or those that have struggled to find a home. Residents of Animal Care Sanctuary include dogs, cats, horses, pigs, and birds. They work to find these animals permanent homes but offer lifetime care if this is not possible. The Animal Care Sanctuary also offers animal care workshops, dog training courses including a master’s course, grooming, and a low-cost spay/neuter clinic available to the public five days a week
“We’re excited about this grant because it’s going to purchase “banked cages,” which are stainless steel cages on wheels that will go in our isolation unit,” said Joan Smith-Reese, executive director of the Animal Care Sanctuary. “This spring the cages will be in our nursery, so mommas and babies will live in them. We’ll be able to wheel the cages closer to the windows so people can view the kittens, which will help with adoption. These cages are easy to keep clean, and with 400 pets, cleanliness is our middle name.”
NEW LIFE BOXER RESCUE
Kenilworth, NJ
New Life Boxer Rescue is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the lives of Boxers who are at risk of being neglected, abused or forced to find new homes for reasons out of their control. Their mission is to provide a safe and loving environment in foster care while seeking a new and permanent home for rescues. The organization provides medical care, including spaying and neutering of all Boxers, treatment for heartworm and Lyme disease, required vaccinations and holistic treatments. New Life Boxer Rescue is committed to matching all dogs with a caring and loving forever home
“We are extremely grateful to the Foundation for their generosity in giving us such a lovely grant,” said Dee Moscoso, president and foster coordinator. “We are a small rescue and we pride ourselves on the fact that we never turn a dog away based on medical need. It is for this reason that grants like this are such a God-send to our rescue. All of our funding comes from donations and adoption fees and all of that money goes to the veterinary care of the dogs. We have very little other expense and so our dogs are well cared for, in whatever area they need that care.”
The Foundation raises funds for their grant work through special events organized for all ages. Past fundraising efforts have included a Canine Classic 5K Run/Walk, U.S. Military Working Dogs Drive, children’s writing and cartoon contest, and Summer Gala. Upcoming Foundation fundraising events include:
PAINT & SIP AT PINOT’S PALETTE
April 13, 2016 ~ 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. ~ Red Bank, NJ
(Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Learn more and register online>
SHOP TO DONATE AT ALEX AND ANI
May 2, 2016 ~ 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. ~ Red Bank, NJ
15% of sales with benefit the Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals
Learn more and RSVP >
ANNUAL SUMMER GALA
August 17, 2016 ~ The Channel Club ~ Monmouth Beach, NJ
Details to come.
Apply for a Purr’n Pooch Foundation for Animals grant or to learn more information >