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Animal rescue agencies need rescuing
JENNIFER PITTMAN - Sentinel Correspondent
Article Launched: 10/23/2008 01:33:39 AM PDT
Penny and Rain are just two of the many horses rescued from the Pregnant Mare... (Contributed photo)«12»Local animal rescue organizations that rely on private donations are grappling with an unprecedented increase in abandoned animals and a steep drop in private donations.
The Santa Cruz Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which adopts out 100-120 animals per month and runs entirely on private donations, has received about half of its normal cash donations and about 75 percent less in animal food donations. Hummer Ranch Pregnant Mare Rescue, which houses horses at a small Aptos ranch until they can be adopted, has run out of cash. And, Project Purr, which spays and neuters feral cats, may not have enough money to stay open until its next fundraiser in May.
"Donations are down at least 65 percent," said Lisa Carter, director of the SPCA. "We're having to think of drastic measures in order to stay afloat. It's pretty grim. Because of the economy, we're looking at having to rescue less. More and more people locally are being impacted by the economy."
Carter, who has been with the SPCA for six years, says she's never seen such a big drop in donations and such a demand for animal shelter services. The agency gives out cat and dog food each month to about 150 people who can't afford to feed their animals.
"For the first time, we're low on food," Carter said.
At the Pregnant Mare Rescue program, another nonprofit organization supported entirely by private donations, cash is at an all-time low and requests to house "just one more horse" are skyrocketing.
"As the economy continues its downward trend all facets of our community are struggling to make ends meet," said Lynn Hummer, owner of the horse rescue effort. "I am inundated with calls daily to take, help, or pick up horses in need. I have even received calls from other rescue organizations asking if I have room for a horse."
The problem is exacerbated by troubles outside the Santa Cruz community. Both the SPCA and Hummer Ranch have typically helped animals outside the county but they are turning down an increasing number of requests for shelter.
"A rescue organization in Northern California is putting perfectly healthy horses to sleep rather than see them go to the slaughterhouses," Hummer said. "Their community is supporting this effort because the alternative seems to be 'The road to hell on the slaughter truck.' This is desperation for horses at its worst."
A new law that penalizes people who abandon animals inside their foreclosed homes may also be having an impact, Carter said.
Project Purr has never had to shut down in its 20-year history. The mild autumn weather extends the breeding season and cats are now dropping their second litters of the year. "It's typically a difficult time of year anyway, but it's amplified because of the economy," said Lynne Achterberg, a Project Purr board member. "Everyone's feeling it. The sheer numbers are overwhelming." Adding to the strain on funds are increasing vet bills and increased demand on the program since Friends of Watsonville Animal Shelter cut back on feral cat services this summer. Project Purr had $9,000 in vet bills last month and about the same in August as well.
"We're beginning to pinch pennies and see what we can do but we don't think at the current rate we're going to make it," Achterberg said.
It's not that the community isn't supporting the agencies. Project Purr raised $23,000 at their annual Labor Day rummage sale and Hummer, who puts out periodic requests to the community for emergency funding, raised $2,000 during the summer to help a sick horse and defray rising hay costs.
Hummer noted a $550 farrier bill and high hay costs. "That money is now gone," Hummer said.
Contact Jennifer Pittman at jrpittman@comcast.net.
To donate
Pregnant Mare Rescue, PO Box 962 Aptos, CA 95001 USA or
www.pregnantmarerescue.com or 408-540-8568.
Santa Cruz County SPCA, PO Box 3800, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 or
www.santacruzspca.org or 831-465-5000.
Project Purr Feral Cat, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, www.projectpurr.org or
831-423-6369.
Friends of Watsonville Animal Shelter, PO Box 1930, Watsonville, CA 95077 or www.fowas.org.
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