TCS Fundraiser 2006 Charity Selection

I've checked out the organizations nominated, and as far as I can tell they all meet the requirements of being a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization (not subsidized by the local or state government as a state animal shelter), and accepting PayPal Donations. We have the following 10 charities to choose from:

1. LA/SPCA (NOLA). http://www.la-spca.org/forms/donations.htm
2. Humane Society of Southern Mississippi (Gulfport, MS) http://www.hssm.org/about
3. Tree House Animal Foundation (Chicago, IL): http://www.treehouseanimals.org
4. Shadow Cats in Virginia: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/VA324.html
5. Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance (Denver, CO) http://www.rmaca.com/index.html
6. Humane Society of Houma-Terrebonne (Gray, LA) http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA54.html
7. St. Charles Parish Humane Society (Luling, LA) http://www.stcharleshumanesociety.com/
8. Southern Animal Foundation (New Orleans, LA) http://www.southernanimalfoundation.org
9. Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society (Belle Chasse, LA) http://www.angelfire.com/la3/paws-site
10. Friends of the Jefferson Animal Shelter (Metairie, LA) http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA69.html

Check them out, campaign for your favorite(s) if you'd like, and VOTE for the one(s) you would like to see the moneys from our fundraiser later this year go to.

This is w MULTIPLE SELECTION poll - you can vote for more than one! Depending on the results of the poll in a week, we'll either determine the winner, draw a name out of a hat, or have a run-off poll.

I like the idea of Gulfport, MS. New Orleans has gotten so much press and help since Katrina, far overshadowing needs in MS. Thanks for doing the legwork on this, Heidi.

That's who also got my vote

Originally Posted by Deb25

I like the idea of Gulfport, MS. New Orleans has gotten so much press and help since Katrina, far overshadowing needs in MS. Thanks for doing the legwork on this, Heidi.

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I voted Gulfport, too.

I also voted for gulfport any Katrina vitcims need the help so I will be happy to help any of them!

I voted for Gulfport as well. My brother is stationed at Keesler AFB and that area still needs plenty of TLC!!

I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of monetarily supporting a kill shelter myself I know they're necessary and all that, but it's just not where I would choose to put my money. They make me uncomfortable.

I actually agree with Allie - I will do a bit of reading on all the rest of the pages before I vote (I have only read the gulfport one at this stage)

Thanks Danielle, I thought for sure I'd get yelled at for that.

Wow, I was going to vote Gulfport, too. I do applaud them for the low cost/free spay and neuter, but the fact that they are still euthanizing makes it difficult to want to donate. We have a shelter in my town that is at the same point...I do not support them until they become truly no-kill. There is lots of info out there about how it is possible.

I do agree that New Orleans got a lot of help from Katrina. In fact, my place of work sent $150 worth of medications to a hospital in Luling, LA! (Choice 7) I checked their site, and while they are working on reducing euthanasia, they are not no-kill either!

Does anyone have personal experience with Tree House in Chicago? It is cageless and no-kill.

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Wow, I was going to vote Gulfport, too. I do applaud them for the low cost/free spay and neuter, but the fact that they are still euthanizing makes it difficult to want to donate. We have a shelter in my town that is at the same point...I do not support them until they become truly no-kill. There is lots of info out there about how it is possible.

I do agree that New Orleans got a lot of help from Katrina. In fact, my place of work sent $150 worth of medications to a hospital in Luling, LA! (Choice 7)

Does anyone have personal experience with Tree House in Chicago?

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You're in luck...I work there!

I don't disagree with all of your thoughts about the Gulfport shelter not being a no-kill shelter. However, in all of my searches for shelters in the Mississippi area that was affected by Katrina, I found no listings at all for any rescue or shelter in the area that weren't Humane Societies (meaning, kill-shelters). Animal rescue doesn't appear to be great in that region on a good day, let alone after the hurricane.

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

You're in luck...I work there!

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Well, is it as great as it looks on the website?!? Lots of community education, etc?

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Well, is it as great as it looks on the website?!? Lots of community education, etc?

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It's actually better than it looks...

Some of our programs and "viewpoints" lately have been to talk about Breed Specific Legislation which is pending in the city, we work with member of DAWG (Dog Advisory Work Group) to appear as advocates in court at Animal Cruelty Trials, we work with Steve Dale (he has a column in the SUn-TImes and a show on WGN radio- both about companion animals) pretty often as a media outlet, we work with TNR efforts in the area and have our own low-cost S/N programs, which is open to low-income people and rescued kitties, we appear at the Andersonville Midsommarfest and the Halsted Market Days, as well as two Angels with Tails walks, we have a silent art auction to benefit the kitties and will be doing a similar benefit at BARK! The Musical, we have our Stray Cat Strut this June (5K Walk and Adoptathon/Open House), and twice monthly we appear at local pet supply shops.

We also went to the Gulf Coast to pitch in there.

We are TOTALLY no-kill. Cats with behavioral disorders and terminal or chronic illnesses are admitted and never euthanized. We are limited admission only on the grounds that we only have so much space and so many foster homes available at any given time. Cats are only euthanized humanely at the same point a pet parent would have their pet put down, that is to say, they have no quality of life and are in great pain with no hope, and I believe we take cats off the premises to do this because we just don't spend our money on euthanasia drugs. As of my most recent orientation, I was told that NONE of the donated funds will be used to fund euthanasia of animals. I'm almost certain that hasn't changed and will never change.

We adopted out 483 cats last year, 535 the year before. The shelter population is around 300 at any given time. The only cages we have are for cats recovering from surgery or illness, and that's for their own safety.

We have really good ratings on those Charity-rater things, too!

I'll help anyone!
.....................

Originally Posted by lionessrampant

You're in luck...I work there!

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From their website, it looks like a wonderful place and a wonderful place to work!
I know all of these organizations need donations very badly. You've convinced me to vote for the Treehouse.

I notice the Gulfport shelter has a fund to support low cost spay/neuter. Perhaps we could earmark a portion of the proceeds to this fund, thereby helping to reduce the number of animals that need to be euthanized.

Is there a way to do that, to send a donation only for one portion of the program? I do feel the Mississippi shelter probably desperately needs the funds, and much of what they are doing is in the right direction. Sometimes it is hard to change a big organization quickly.

Thanks Valanhb, for trying to find a no-kill in the Mississippi area. I appreciate all the work you and the mods have put into this!

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Is there a way to do that, to send a donation only for one portion of the program? I do feel the Mississippi shelter probably desperately needs the funds, and much of what they are doing is in the right direction. Sometimes it is hard to change a big organization quickly.

Thanks Valanhb, for trying to find a no-kill in the Mississippi area. I appreciate all the work you and the mods have put into this!

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We're just trying to give something back to the people who work so hard in the field. I have no doubt that ANY of the organizations listed above are worthy orgs doing wonderful things in their area. I wish we could give to ALL of them!

Originally Posted by valanhb

...Animal rescue doesn't appear to be great in that region on a good day, let alone after the hurricane.

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I need to edit that statement. It appears that the organizations that are working in the region are trying to do the best they can with what they have, but are working with less resources than other areas.

In addition to the SNIP program (low-cost spay-neuter), I also found the "Chicken Soup Fund" which is a specific fund to care for ill animals in the shelter: http://hssm.org/programsevents/chickensoup/ It clearly states on that page that you can give to that specific fund.

I think we will use this vote to narrow the listing down, and then have a run-off vote. This poll will close next Wednesday or Thursday (can't remember which ).

Just want to make sure the Weekend Crowd sees this.