Karma Cat & Zen Dog Rescue Society: No Fee/Low Fee All Love Adoption Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
The Petfinder Foundation grant had a direct and meaningful impact on both our organization and the cats we serve. By subsidizing reduced adoption fees during our February and March adoption events, the grant allowed us to significantly increase adult cat adoptions – placing 19 adult cats into permanent homes during these events.
Adult cats are often the most overlooked in shelter environments and typically experience longer lengths of stay. By lowering the financial barrier to adoption, we were able to highlight these cats and connect them with adopters who may not have otherwise considered adoption. Each of these placements represents not only a successful outcome for the individual cat, but also a reduction in overall shelter population pressure.
Importantly, the grant also enabled us to maintain our high standard of care. Every cat adopted through these events had already received comprehensive veterinary services, including spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and microchipping. Without grant support, offering reduced-fee adoptions at this scale would not have been financially sustainable for our organization, given the significant medical costs associated with preparing cats for adoption.
In addition to driving adoptions, the increased placement of adult cats created critical space within our program. This allowed us to transfer additional adult cats out of the municipal shelter system, where they are at greater risk due to limited space and resources. By moving cats more efficiently through our adoption program, we were able to expand our lifesaving impact beyond the cats directly supported by the grant.
Overall, this funding helped us adopt more adult cats, sustain quality care, and increase our capacity to assist vulnerable cats in need – amplifying the impact of our work at multiple levels.
How many pets did this grant help?
19
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Tristan (first photo) came to us from a local shelter after a leg injury healed incorrectly, leaving him walking on the affected limb and living with daily discomfort. Tristan was able to receive the amputation surgery he needed – giving him relief from pain, improved mobility, and a true second chance at a happy, healthy life.
As he recovered, Tristan’s sweet, resilient spirit shined through, and one bond in particular became impossible to miss: his friendship with Isolde (second photo). The two quickly became inseparable, offering each other comfort and companionship every step of the way.
We’re thrilled to share that Tristan and Isolde were adopted together during the $14 adoption event made possible by a grant from The Petfinder Foundation. We are so happy these two are beginning their next chapter side by side (third photo). This outcome is exactly what your support makes possible – not just lifesaving medical care, but the chance for animals to heal, connect, and ultimately find loving homes.
