Straight Outta Rescue Society: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The Kia Pet Adoption Grant provided a unique opportunity for us to increase the visibility of some of our rescues who have been in care the longest or who have specific needs that might make them harder to adopt. By offering reduced adoption fees, we were able to highlight these animals, making it easier for potential adopters to find them and ultimately provide them with their perfect forever homes.

Through applying this grant, we observed a few common trends among these animals, such as being a bit more shy, older, or having medical needs. Some are also more particular about what their future forever home would need to offer. While it can be a bit challenging to understand why anyone wouldn’t want to welcome these wonderful companions into their home, we knew that the perfect match was out there for each one of them.

This grant gave us the chance to share their stories far and wide, helping us reach more people who might be the right fit for these amazing animals. The funding was a perfect match for our mission, providing additional reasons for us and our community to advocate for these deserving pets.

How many pets did this grant help?

25

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Two of the pets this grant helped were Cinder, a white female tabby, and Buster, a male tabby. They were a bonded pair of overweight adult siblings whose owner could no longer care for them and who joined the Straight Outta Rescue family in October 2023.

Knowing that older cats, especially those with special needs such as a special diet, can sometimes take longer to find forever homes, we anticipated it would take some time for them to be adopted. Unfortunately, we were right, and after more than a year in our care, Cinder and Buster were still waiting for their perfect family.

The breakthrough came when a couple, initially looking for a pair of young kittens, heard about Cinder and Buster from one of our adoption coordinators. Upon hearing about their long wait and knowing they wanted the mellow energy of older cats, the couple decided Cinder and Buster were the right match for them.

The Kia Pet Adoption Grant played a pivotal role in sealing the deal by reducing Cinder and Buster’s adoption fees by $200 each. The couple used the savings to purchase even more toys and treats to spoil their new furry family members.

Cinder and Buster were adopted just in time for the holidays in 2024, and we couldn’t be happier for them. They are now in their forever home, where they will be loved and cherished together, proving that every pet has the right home waiting for them — even those with special needs or who need a little extra help and time to find their match.