Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Inc.: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report

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

Shelter environments are not suitable for long-term housing of any animal, especially dogs. The longer dogs remain at a shelter, the more susceptible they are to stress, resulting in increases in behavior issues, illness, etc.

Through the use of these grant funds, the ARL was able to shorten the length of stay for our longest residents and get them into new homes! Between the award month of April through September, we were able to reduce the overall length of stay for our dogs by two days!

How many pets did this grant help?

80 long-term residents

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

Ducato was surrendered to our shelter and spent more than eight months in our care until he found his forever home.

An active and playful boy, he was often passed over due to his energy level and leash-biting. As time went on, Ducato’s stress level increased and he was placed in a foster home for some relief. Due to circumstances within the foster home, Ducato was returned to the shelter while he awaited his new family.

Thanks to the Kia grant through the Petfinder Foundation, we were able to sponsor his fee due to his length of stay and eventually place him with a family on Aug. 26, 211 days after he first came to the shelter!