Dakin Humane Society (Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society): Shelter+ Challenge Grant Report

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

The money was used to offset the costs of a mega cat adoption event held on Nov. 30, 2014. We held our 3rd annual Black Friday $5 Felines event and adopted out more than 140 animals!

When we only charge $5 for an adoption for which we normally charge $95, we lose $90 in the transaction. Because we don't change anything else about our adoption process (the cat still receives the same amount of care, the adopter still receives the same amount of care), we suffer a financial loss. While it's a lifesaving financial loss -- so many cats going home so quickly keeps cats from languishing, getting ill, or becoming depressed in the shelter environment -- we are a non-profit that cannot afford to lose funding. The $1,000 from Petfinder Foundation helped to offset the more than $11,000 in lost adoption fees from the adoption event. It helped to leverage funding received from the ASPCA for this purpose.

How many pets did this grant help?

This grant covered the remaining $90 adoption fee for 11 adult cats.

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

Pia is a lovely short haired gray and white 5-year-old cat. She had been languishing in our adoption centers, competing with the cute and cuddly kittens, since mid-July. Her food allergies made prospective adopters think twice. Thanks to the Black Friday $5 Felines promotion, Pia went home with a new family willing to work with her finicky habits!