16 Monterey County GIVES! 2024 mcgives.com Animals DONate online mcgives.com Animal Friends Rescue Project Year Founded: 1998 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 17 paid, 276 volunteers Budget: $1,330,000 333-0722 animalfriendsrescue.org Big Idea: Animal Friends Rescue Project (AFRP) seeks funds to help care for animals suffering from physical and emotional trauma. AFRP often serves as the last chance an animal has of finding a forever home, as this nonprofit welcomes dogs and cats that need extra medical care and recovery time. In addition to supporting this nonprofit’s emergency fund, Big Idea donors also support the volunteer foster families who help these animals rehabilitate in a caring home. “When we decided to adopt a dog in 2018, AFRP was our first stop. Our experience with Bella, and with AFRP, was so positive that two years later we adopted Dusty. Dusty had a rough first year of life, as he was found on the side of the road when he was 3 months old with a near-fatal case of parvovirus. He was nursed back to health and cared for by his AFRP foster mom, Michelle—one of over 200 committed AFRP volunteers. We are deeply grateful to AFRP for all they do to support their animals from fostering to ensuring the best possible fit for adoptees in their new homes.” -Lynn and Cary Yeh BirchBark Year Founded: 2013 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2.5 paid, 50 volunteers Budget: $605,550 471-7255 birchbarkfoundation.org Big Idea: BirchBark celebrates the human-animal bond and envisions a world where no pet is lost because of financial hardship. This Big Idea directly funds lifesaving treatments for pets whose families cannot afford veterinary care, giving the precious gift of time for families and their pets. But when that time inevitably comes, BirchBark offers a compassionate grief support community and educational resources to help humans navigate the loss of their treasured pet. “Our beloved pet cat was recently hit by a car and seriously injured. His vet bill was well over $5,000, which we could not afford by ourselves. Thanks to BirchBark, his two broken legs are healing nicely. Although his tail had to be amputated, our cat is alive and happy, and it’s all thanks to BirchBark and one of their partner vets, VCA All Pets Animal Hospital Salinas. He really means the world to us, and we are so grateful he is getting back to his normal happy self.” -Angie A. Hope, Horses & Kids Year Founded: 2010 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 20 volunteers Budget: $343,003 596-6693 hopehorseskids.org Big Idea: Hope, Horses & Kids nurtures healing connections with groups like youth facing substance use disorders and young people with special needs. Kids build trust, new skills and confidence through the gentle presence of horses. This Big Idea works at its best when the program horses are happy and healthy too. Horse care is a significant and recurring expense for this nonprofit, and donations support the horses’ nutrition, regular veterinary checkups and daily supplies. “Rojan, a former program horse, was too young and strong for our needs years ago. We returned him to Joe, our farrier, who loaned him to a police officer in the Gilroy Police Department. Rojan went through the police academy and served for five years, including as a first responder to the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting. After retirement, Golden Oldies Cat Rescue Year Founded: 2016 Paid Staff and Volunteers: 2 paid, 79 volunteers Budget: $116,822 200-9232 gocatrescue.org Big Idea: As the only local cat rescue dedicated to older cats, Golden Oldies Cat Rescue remains committed to these special cats for their entire lifetime. Senior cats enter Golden Oldies grieving and scared, often after losing their longtime home or a trusted companion. Because it can be more difficult to find a forever home for older cats, this Big Idea maintains a commitment to the needs of each cat, with donations funding needs like 7-year-old Gizmo’s daily blood pressure medication or 11-year-old Java’s prescription diet expenses. “Besides simply enjoying the company of cats, I provide a foster home for Golden Oldies Cat Rescue to help make a positive contribution to my community. I’m validated every time a foster cat is adopted and leaves my care, opening up my home for another older cat in need. A foster home is a lifesaving gift that helps to bring calm and joy into these cats’ lives. Their time in foster care allows us to learn more about their personality. This, in turn, helps them find an appropriate forever home.” -John Blair spotlight “Low-cost spay/neuter is ground zero for reducing the numbers of animals euthanized.” -Lisa Sears, SNIP Bus
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