2011 Annual Report - PAWS of Jackson Hole

2011 ANNUAL REPORT
PAWS
of
Jackson Hole
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
IT HAS BEEN ANOTHER AMAZING YEAR
FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
: : : : : : : : : : : : A NATIONWIDE CRISIS : : : : : : : : : : : :
In the United States this year:
17.5 million people will add a new pet to their home.
As we continue to grow and expand our programs, we are humbled
and honored to have dedicated supporters who help PAWS raise the
bar each year in animal advocacy.
When we consider the nationwide pet overpopulation crisis and the
sobering fact that 4 million animals are killed in shelters due to overcrowding, we know the only way we can make an impact is to focus locally.
We are fortunate to live in a community in which there are three nokill shelters. Teton County, Wyoming and Idaho, and Star Valley,
Wyoming are on the forefront of the No-Kill Movement. But there is
still work to be done. Backyard breeders remain a persistent problem
in our area by flooding the market with unwanted litters of puppies
and kittens. Our shelters simply cannot keep up with the supply. When
people buy from these breeders, they essentially take a home away
from the fantastic pets waiting for one in our local shelters.
We need to change the public’s perception of our shelter pets. We need
to educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering, and
we need to spread the word to our friends, neighbors and family members.
SPAY. NEUTER. ADOPT.
8 million animals will enter shelters.
4 million
of these animals will die because
not enough people are willing to adopt.
Do the math. There are enough homes for all the animals
that are in U.S. shelters today. If even half of the people
that look to add a pet to their home adopt, we will end
the killing of animals in our shelters.
SOURCE: NO KILL ADVOCACY CENTER, 2011
Our Progress
When PAWS started back in 1999, we were a grassroots group that simply
wanted to help our local shelter. We had no budget and no employees. But we
had a deep love for animals and a passion for progress — and that’s all we
needed.
These are our guiding principles, and this is our mantra, but we cannot
do it alone. Together we can impact the national crisis if we share what
we know to be true: that there are enough homes for all the homeless
animals in our communities. Open your heart and your home to one
of our homeless pets. Ask your friends and family members in other
communities to do the same.
We can report many amazing achievements since our inception in 1999. We’ve
helped more than 2,000 people pay for spay/neuter surgeries and over 1,000
more with financial assistance for emergency veterinary care. We’ve helped
our three local animal shelters promote adoption, which has led to thousands
of animals finding their forever homes over the years in our community.
Together we will make a difference, and together we will end the killing
of pets in our nation’s shelters.
Today, our budget is more than $300,000, which supports eight community
programs including our new dog park, Sophie’s Place. Our impact in this
community can be felt on our trails, in our parks, in our neighborhoods, in our
vet clinics and animal shelters. PAWS is making a difference!
THANK YOU,
Larry Hamilton
BOARD PRESIDENT
ON THE COVER: ALL PETS WERE ADOPTED OR RESCUED IN JACKSON AND STAR VALLEY, WY.
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2010 EXPENSES
: : : : : : : : : : : 2010 BY THE NUMBERS : : : : : : : : : : :
PAWS hosted adoption events and paid for advertising,
food, beds and supplies to help our three local animal
shelters find homes for all the animals in their care.
More than 900 abandoned animals were adopted
from our local shelters last year alone.
We helped 75 people pay for unexpected
or emergency veterinary care.
7%
7%
12%
10%
20%
26%
9%
9%
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TOTAL
EXPENSES:
$351,469
9
2010 INCOME
4% 7%
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We paid for more than 300 FREE spay/neuter
surgeries at local vet clinics.
/%"0%.1+23%4&53+6343#(3
We supplied 120,000 FREE Mutt Mitts to Teton
County, Wyoming, to keep our trails free of pet waste.
8$93%+%343#(3+:*.;3+"<+&$31*=
28%
61%
7#43*$13#$+7#5"13
TOTAL
INCOME:
$313,224
We ran 100s of public service advertisements
encouraging responsible pet ownership.
Expanding Our Reach
We launched Jackson’s 1st community dog park,
In 2011, thanks to one very generous donor, the Ira Peterson Free Spay/Neuter
Program launched in both of our bedroom communities: Teton Valley, Idaho,
and Star Valley, Wyoming.
SOPHIE’S PLACE, to a crowd of
and their caregivers.
100s of dogs
Empowering Our Supporters
For many years, PAWS tried to secure funding to expand our free spay/neuter
program through national grant opportunities and private foundations. We’ve been
unsuccessful because many of the large granting organizations restrict their
funding to large cities and areas with populations greater than 20,000. It has been
extremely disheartening, because the rural areas in our country are largely forgotten.
In just a few months, PAWS supporters all over the nation raised more than $8,000
by simply sharing our mission and our goals with their friends and family members.
With this funding, PAWS can spay and neuter ALL the pets in our three-county
vicinity! We cannot fully explain what an enormous impact this will have on the
three local animal shelters that service these communities. With fewer litters
of puppies and kittens to find homes for, these shelters can focus on strong
adoption programs and persuasive marketing of the adult animals that come
through the doors.
If you’d like to start a PAWS fundraising page, simply go to Firstgiving.com
and get started. It’s easy, and it is extremely gratifying to watch the donations
grow on your personal page!
When you think about the fact that in the U.S, we are still euthanizing 4 million
animals in shelters every year, the fewer unwanted litters of puppies and kittens
that come in, the closer we will get to being a no-kill nation.
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During the 2010 holiday season, PAWS launched our first ever online fundraising
campaign. We joined forces with Firstgiving, an online fundraising resource that helps
ordinary people raise extraordinary amounts of money for the causes they care for.
Engaging Our Community
The Fur Ball
EMCEE MARK “FISH” FISHMAN SHARES
SOME LOVE WITH MATT DEEHAN
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
PAUL VOGELHEIM ADOPTS HIS
NEW BEST FRIEND, STOLI
Old Bill’s Fun Run
MARK RAMSAY, WINNING THE PAWS
2012 CALENDAR COVER
PAWS BOARD PRESIDENT
LARRY HAMILTON WITH
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AMY ROMAINE
PAWS BOARD MEMBER,
LISA CARRANZA-HABIB BIDDING
PAWS BOARD MEMBER DIANE
PETERSON AND AMY ROMAINE
PAWS BOARD
MEMBER
SANDY COUSINS
REMEMBERS
HER SISTER,
KRISTEN KARN
LARRY AND KNIFFY HAMILTON WITH CHRIS ROMAINE
AND AN ENTHUSIASTIC PAWS SUPPORTER
ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF DOGS
ADOPTED LAST YEAR AT THE JACKSON/
TETON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
PAWS BOARD
MEMBERS
AMY
VIGNAROLI
AND JILL
WALSH
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Measuring Success: One by One
Every day, the PAWS office is bursting with activity. Between the nonstop
phone calls with inquiries about our free spay/neuter program, to managing
issues at the dog park, to dealing with cases of animal abuse and neglect, to
coordinating volunteers, to helping people find lost pets and promoting all the
adoptable animals in our community, we’re busy!
We sometimes forget to put a face on all the
work that PAWS does to help our four-legged
friends in this valley.
SafePAWS & Coney’s Cottage
Enabling victims of domestic violence to leave abusive
households without leaving their pets behind.
Today in the U.S., there are only 28 domestic violence shelters that accept
pets. PAWS and Community Safety Network understand the richness of the
bond between people and their pets, which provide unconditional love and
comfort. For that reason, PAWS built “Coney’s Cottage” on the CSN campus to
keep domestic violence victims and their pets together, when they can no
longer be at home.
Please remember PAWS in your Old Bill’s donations this year. We rely on the
generosity of our supporters to maintain all eight of our community programs. These
programs include our support of the local Animal Shelter; our free spay/neuter
program, maintenance and improvements for Sophie’s Place Dog Park, financial
assistance and of course, Mutt Mitts, education and our SafePAWS program!
In the past year, Coney’s
Cottage has housed numerous
dogs and cats that were in
desperate need of a safe
haven from domestic abuse.
According to Community Safety
Network Executive Director
Sharel Love, “The decision to
leave an abusive home is
more difficult than many
people realize, fraught with
worry about housing, childcare, custody, stigma and the
possibility of abandoning a
pet. When a victim worries
about leaving her pet in an
abusive household, fleeing the
situation becomes unbearable
for some. Thankfully, in Jackson
Hole, when victims of domestic
violence seek safety at the
Community Safety Network,
Coney’s Cottage provides a
safe place for their companion
animals. There’s no doubt in
CONEY’S COTTAGE
my mind that this service has
saved the life of a woman, her animal or both, who otherwise were living with
an abusive partner.”
Interested in learning more? Visit the PAWS website at www.pawsofjh.org or
join us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PAWSofJH.
We hope that more domestic violence shelters across the nation will take the
initiative to offer this crucial service to the clients they serve.
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In February, Tressa Allen, an employee at the
Animal Care Clinic, found a little poodle wandering
around a snow-covered field all by herself. Upon
closer inspection, Tressa realized the dog was
blind. This was an older dog, and when all
attempts at finding her owners failed, Tressa
knew she had to take care of this little girl. Once
TULIP, A RECIPIENT OF
“Tulip” was fed and cleaned, it was determined
MUFFIE BECKS MCDOC FUND
that she might be a good candidate for eye
surgery to restore at least some of her eyesight.
Tressa put the word out, and donations started coming in. In conjunction with
PAWS’ Muffie Becks McDoc Fund and the generosity of strangers, we were able
to donate $1,650 toward Tulip’s care!
Tulip is now living a happy, carefree life with Katie and Kevin Kavanagh and the rest
of their furry and feathered family. Congratulations, Tulip, on finding your way home!
Old Bill’s Fun Run for Charities
Saturday, September 10th on Town Square!
Engaging the Community
RAINBOW BRIDGE
Putt for the
Pooch Park
EACH YEAR, WE LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AT PAWS TO REFLECT ON
OUR LOCAL FURRY FRIENDS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY:
Callie Bell
Bob Bolden
Kira Bolden
Dakota Carroll
Wister Brennan
McCarthy
Bear Christopher
Ginny Courser
Owen Cousins
Salem Doyle
OWEN COUSINS
Cali Elliott
Bonnie Flittner
Chase Forman
Jasper Grant
Chenonceau Hamilton
Elvis Hayashida
Survivor Hesser
Maize Jenkins
Dozer Lisell
Chase Maddex
CHASE MADDEX
Griz Matthews
Medley Naylor
Morgan Parker
Copper Saez
Roscoe & Duke Shadid
BJ Triano
Meg Van Norman
Peaches Vito
Dusty Weise
Stop by Sophie's Place
Dog Park and visit our
new memorial tree
sculpture. You are
welcome to hang dog
tags to honor a
beloved pet that has
passed away.
STEPHANIE POGUE, KRISTI PETERSEN
AND SANDY COUSINS TEE IT UP FOR
OUR FORE! LEGGED FRIENDS
PAWS BOARD MEMBER MAURINE
KARABATSOS, PAWS ASSISTANT
BOBBIE WHALEN AND BOARD MEMBERS
DR. CHRISTIE LAUGHERY AND
GARTH DOWLING AT THE PAWS BOOTH
INKY’S NEW
FAMILY
Home 4 The Holidays
A HAPPY ADOPTER TAKES HER NEW
FRIEND HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
CHENONCEAU HAMILTON
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION
MORGAN PARKER
MEMORIAL LIGHT ORNAMENTS
CONTACT PAWS AT (307) 734-2441 TO MAKE A MEMORIAL
DONATION OR TO PURCHASE A LIGHT ORNAMENT TO HONOR
A CHERISHED PET. LIGHTS ARE $10 AND WILL GLOW FOR SIX
HOURS EACH NIGHT, THEN AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF.
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Expressing Our Gratitude
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
The past few years have been difficult for many residents of our community.
Many people are having a hard time making ends meet and providing for their
families. Sometimes, even veterinary care becomes a luxury item. For this
reason, PAWS has seen a dramatic increase in demand for our financial
assistance programs. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who
donated this past year. Because of you, PAWS has not had to reduce the level
of support we provide and has not had to turn away anyone in need.
Dawn Webster
PAWS also offers many options for people who want to donate their time to our
cause. Our SafePAWS program is always in need of temporary foster homes for
pets of victims of domestic violence. We have numerous fundraising events
throughout the year that require volunteers. Plus, for the past few years, PAWS
has taken on the role of volunteer coordinator for dog walkers at the
Jackson/Teton County Animal Shelter.
Through the years, we’ve had the opportunity to interact with some of the
most passionate pet enthusiasts in our community. We’d like to express our
most sincere thanks to all of the volunteers that have contributed not only
donations to our organization, but also their time, energy and enthusiasm.
A HAPPY DOG
WALKING
VOLUNTEER AT
OLD BILL’S
SAFEPAWS FOSTER SINCE 2007
PAWS: What made you decide to
volunteer in this way?
Dawn: One of my pets has lived in three
different states and has been with me through multiple relationships. One of
these relationships was very volatile, and there was definitely a point where
I could have used a service like SafePAWS. I was lucky to come out of the
situation okay and to be able to leave with my pets. Fostering pets through
SafePAWS allows me to help people in similar situations.
PAWS: What other types of volunteering do you do?
Dawn: I also foster animals through the Animal Adoption Center. I love to
help out with the Coney Classic Ski-Jor every year, which raises money for
several shelters and animal welfare organizations. I also try to stay involved
with Habitat for Humanity. We built and purchased our home through
Habitat, have traveled to other countries to build homes with them and
strongly believe in their mission. I suppose I just believe that all humans and
animals alike deserve a decent home.
PAWS: How many animals do you think you’ve fostered over the years?
Dawn: I'm not even sure we can count — at least 30 or more.
PAWS: How does your compassion for animals impact the way you’ve
raised your daughter?
Dawn: I've surrounded myself with animals my whole life — rodents, birds,
horses, goats, dogs and cats were a part of my life growing up. I guess this
rubbed off on her, as she has a deep love for animals and would like to be a
vet when she grows up.
PAWS: Is there anything else you’d like to share about your passion for
animals and the SafePAWS program?
ANIMAL HUMANE ASSOCIATION
OF STAR VALLEY PRESIDENT
MARY ANN AHRENS AND
PAWS BOARD MEMBER
DANIELE DUBOIS
VISIT IN STAR VALLEY
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Dawn: I frequently share my knowledge of the program with others. I hope
that eventually the program is so well known that everyone in our area
knows that they do not have to choose between their safety and their pets. I
believe the SafePAWS program is so important because it empowers people
in crisis and offers them a choice, which could be the catalyst they need to
leave a bad situation.
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Expressing Our Gratitude
CONTINUED
JACKSON/TETON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER DOG WALKERS
Denise Bixler
Joan Crittenden
Sandy Cousins
Laura Davenport
Wade Jeffers
Dominique Lohn
Dawn Rehill
Kate Rohrstaff
Amy Romaine
Kym Rupeiks
FOUNDER OF THE SHELTER
DOG WALKING PROGRAM
John Shepard
Lisa & Stuart Smith
Lisa Stratton
Sandy Strout
Kathleen Taylor
Amy Vignaroli
Lisa Walter
Story Watsabaugh
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER
Bonnie & Paul Maddex
Nikki Maldonado
Faith May
Elizabeth Merrell
Christa Mullen
Paige Murray
Erin Niebling
Melissa Puelicher
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER
JACKSON/TETON COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER CAT CAREGIVERS
Shane Holton
Gary Weissman
Kara Pollard: VOLUNTEER
PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PETFINDER
Securing Our Future
Every year, The PAWS Board is tasked with sustaining our organization and
growing our programs. We pride ourselves on running a lean organization with one
full-time and one part-time employee and on maintaining an efficient budget.
One of our long-term goals is to extend our programs to Star Valley, Wyoming
and Teton Valley, Idaho. We know that this will require tremendous fundraising
efforts, the ability to secure grants and the support of these communities. We
also know that anytime we’ve set a goal in the past, we’ve achieved it!
PAWS EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Stacey Breidenstein
Emily Curran
Rachel Daluge
Martina Hansen
Rick & Candy Howe
Karen Keckley
Kate McGowen
Jim Whalen
Trina & Ana DiTommaso
SAFEPAWS FOSTER VOLUNTEERS
Cindy & Dave Barnard
Lisa Carranza-Habib
Lydia Dixon
Maria Hayashida &
Max Ludington
Katie and Kevin Kavanagh
Hope & Dave Moore
Robin Robertson
Spring Creek Animal Hospital &
Happy Tails Pet Boarding Facility
Jane Squires
Dawn Webster
Take Sophie’s Place Dog Park as an example. The launch of the park last year
was a monumental achievement. It has been an overwhelming success and a
fantastic resource for pet owners. This coming year, we will focus on securing
a permanent location for the park. Our current lease with the Town of Jackson
will expire in June of 2012 and the land is in the process of transferring to
the Teton County Housing Authority. This parcel will eventually be the site of
affordable housing. At this time, we do not know if we will be able to acquire
a longer lease with the Housing Authority, so we are actively pursuing an
alternate location and the funding we will need to move the park.
Please consider PAWS in your annual charitable giving. We know consistent,
reliable donors are the backbone of our organization. You are the key to our
future success!
INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED? WE ARE HOSTING A SAFEPAWS FOSTER
TRAINING SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 14TH! CALL COMMUNITY SAFETY NETWORK
AT (307) 733-3711 TO LEARN MORE.
FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON OUR FUTURE PLANS PLEASE
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! WHEN YOU “LIKE” PAWS YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY
RECEIVE UPDATES FROM US IN YOUR FACEBOOK NEWS FEED.
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PRESIDENT
Maurine Karabatsos
Jill Walsh
Diane Peterson
Kathlee Roe
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Bobbie Whalen
W. Garth Dowling
Christie Laughery, DVM
Amy Romaine
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AMY ROMAINE
WITH DERBY
Sandy Cousins
STAFF
TREASURER
SECRETARY
Lisa Carranza-Habib
Daniele Dubois
Elizabeth Merrell
Amy Vignaroli VICE PRESIDENT
Larry Hamilton, Ph.D.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
pawsofjh.org
250 West Pearl Ave. :: Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 734-2441 :: [email protected]
PAWS of Jackson Hole
BOBBIE WHALEN
WITH BUFFY