Gulf Coast Humane Society: Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
This grant helped our organization by highlighting our issue with adopting senior dogs. This grant was given to our shelter for Rocky, one of our longest-stay senior residents. Due to our lack of adoptions for senior pets in the shelter, this grant helps us focus on 2024 and how we can reanalyze our strategies (and grant proposals) for finding our senior pets homes.
We want Rocky's new pet parents to have Goodpup.com at their disposal to help him (and them) adjust to his new home. Goodpup is a basic dog-obedience app. As a Goodpup shelter partner, we can give Rocky an eight-week Goodpup scholarship for $272. In only two months, Rocky will acclimate much better from his old shelter life to his new home life.
Our adoption fee is $175. That fee covers all costs of vaccinations, neutering, food, and general care. Rocky is also heartworm-positive. As an incentive for potential adopters, we will include medical support for Rocky and his pet parents to treat his heartworm disease. Due to Rocky's age and existing health, he is on the slow-kill method and is receiving Advantage Multi monthly. We would like to provide his new family with Advantage Multi for the first year in his new home. A year's supply of Advantage Multi costs $179.88. In enticing the public with a sponsored dog, we know someone will fall in love with Rocky. This will ensure he will live out the rest of his days in a peaceful setting where he can enjoy his remaining life.
How many pets did this grant help?
1
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Rocky is a 10.5-year-old senior dog who doesn’t know his age! His owner surrendered him in February 2023. With graying fur and a gentle disposition, he quickly won the hearts of staff and volunteers alike. Despite his age, Rocky exudes a zest for life and a spirit that is infectious.
Nevertheless, Rocky has found himself to be our oldest (and longest) resident at the shelter. When adopters visit us in hopes of finding a new addition to their family, Rocky is often ignored because he is an older dog. He also prefers to be the only dog in a home, which makes it harder for him to find a new family. Rocky is very much an American pit bull terrier: His personality is sweet, he loves attention and treats, and he even tends to be quite a bit playful when he’s excited.
In a bid to showcase Rocky’s festive spirit and bring attention to his endearing nature, we organized a special Christmas photoshoot for him. Adorned in a festive hat and surrounded by twinkling lights, Rocky’s photos radiated warmth and joy. These images were shared across our social media platforms and drew a significant amount of attention and admiration from our community.
Despite the heartwarming response to his pictures and numerous inquiries, Rocky still awaits his forever home. While we have had many visitors come to meet him and learn about his story, he continues to seek that special someone who will provide him with the love, care, and comfort he deserves in his golden years.
