Dear Animal Welfare Advocates,
We already know how committed you are to Animal Welfare. New Orleans is the awesome city it is because of your participation . I am asking for your help in supporting the SPCA Animal Transport program. The SPCA now has a fund, Lolly's L.E.A.S.H , named after Lolly, a remarkable service dog who helped our beloved community member , my dear friend, Jo Gwin Shelby, function and thrive far longer than would have been otherwise possible..
We wish all our shelter animals could enjoy the same loyalty, devotion, and absolute love that Lolly and Jo Gwin shared . Unfortunately that is not possible in New Orleans where the number of adoptable pets far exceeds the number of suitable homes for them. Thankfully, there are shelter that actually need and want our adoptable animals, and will successfully place them in wonderful homes.
Please read about Transports, http://www.la-spca.org/page.aspx?pid=745 , and follow the link to Lolly's page, to be inspired by a beautiful life giving partnership. I am hoping this information will motivate you to join a pilot program where a number of us agree to fund a portion of transports for a year. After you read Dean Howard's memo that follows mine, it will be clear what it will take. It will be terrific if some of us will commit to sponsoring an animal on each transport. Obviously some people will choose to participate more or less fully, but every donation, no matter the size, will be deeply appreciated , part of the solution.
Soon I will have a meeting at my house to discuss this, and , before then, I welcome your emails, input, questions. If you care, SHARE ! Please put yourself into the process by forwarding this email, posting it on Facebook, or just spreading the word about the Program. It's easy and understandable to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the animal issues in New Orleans, but Transports are a viable way to transform the lives of so many. Together we can give adoptable pets a better tomorrow, the tomorrow they deserve. Very Best, Gene Goldring
The Louisiana SPCA has used animal transports whenever possible to help alleviate overpopulation issues. The Southern states generally struggle with shelter overpopulation to a greater extent than other parts of the country, so the shelter works hard to coordinate transports to areas where supply and demand are more closely matched. The ultimate goal of any transport is to give every animal the best possible chance to find their forever home. Nearly 28% of our animals placed last year were due to transports.
Our constant drive each and every day is to see the community’s euthanasia of healthy animals = ZERO. New Orleans cannot adopt its way out of the problem. The entire community must embrace spaying and neutering. Even with efforts such as high volume spay/neuter, foster programs, community outreach and more, the shelter saw a 7% increase of intake in 2012.There is an immediate opportunity to save more lives with transports. Transports open a spot on the adoption floor for another adoptable, fill the need of the receiving shelter and allow multiple shelters to increase their adoption rates lowering euthanasia numbers.
All of this could not take place without partner shelters and donors. There are at least 12 transports planned for the year that will result in saving nearly 1,000 lives. One transport a month will go out to partner shelters containing 55-100 dogs (sometimes cats). These animals will come from Orleans and surrounding parishes and be transported to partner shelters in New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Georgia. Additional states may come on throughout the year.
Transports are expensive and on average cost $7,500-$8,000 per transport. This includes vetting of animals, staff, gas and more. That means they average $150 per animal. If there are donors that would like to participate, it is easily understood that their donation of $150 will secure an adoptable getting transported out to their new forever home. We have specific donor dedicated to helping pay for transports because they understand the importance and the impact. Additional supporters will only help and will not take away from existing programs. Remember our goal is ZERO.
Development Director
Louisiana SPCA
1700 Mardi Gras Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70114
Direct 504.762.3300
Fax 504.368.5108
Twitter: @LaSPCA
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