Humane Society of the Ochocos: COVID-19 Operation Grant Report

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

This initial grant was written in hopes of receiving a new cage bank for an expected uptick in animal relinquishment. Instead, the complete opposite occurred. Shelter volume slowed to a trickle and remained that way for quite some time!

It is now that the shelter is being inundated with pet relinquishments and strays in what is likely record numbers. since it is chronically full or over capacity. Additionally, animal stays are much longer due to veterinary-office shortages and long wait times for spay/neuter procedures.

The shelter is beginning phase 1 of a construction project to create new (desperately overdue) dog kennels in 2023. The $500 grant will be used for cage equipment there.

Please accept our apologies for the delay in final reporting, as my position was eliminated due to lack of ability to continue in-person fundraisers, which was my primary responsibility. After recently returning in a very part-time capacity, I am catching up on reporting and hope you'll forgive us this!

How many pets did this grant help?

75

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

As a no-kill shelter, we often house difficult-to-place dogs for a very long time — sometimes life. Banner has resided with us since 2018!

He is dog-fussy, takes a bit of time to warm up to strangers, and must be homed without other pets or children, making him very difficult to place.

The Humane Society of the Ochocos never stops trying for all of the animals in our care, no matter how long it takes! You can meet Banner here.