annual report - Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota

ANNUAL REPORT
2013
3
THE HEART OF A VOLUNTEER
IS NOT MEASURED IN SIZE,
BUT BY THE DEPTH OF THE
COMMITMENT TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF OTHERS. — DEANN HOLLIS
OUR MISSION
To rescue and rehome unwanted, abused,
neglected and displaced Golden Retrievers
and Golden Retriever mixes, and locate
permanent homes for them. We advocate
responsible pet ownership and support animal
abuse and neglect prevention programs, as
well as spay/neuter initiatives.
OUR PROMISE
Through the support of dedicated volunteers,
sponsors and donors, RAGOM will never lose
sight of its mission.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends of RAGOM,
Our nearly 30-year journey of rescue and rehabilitation would
not have been possible without the generous support of our
volunteers, friends and business partners. This year was filled
with dogs in need of transport, foster homes, veterinary care,
and special assistance. In 2013, we helped 369 dogs find
their forever families. It was the most rewarding measure of
our success. On behalf of RAGOM, I offer my heartfelt thank
you for your partnership and contributions. Together we have
made many Goldens smile.
Sincerely,
Mary McGowan
Cover: Jill (13-352) came to RAGOM from a
retiring breeder pregnant with eleven puppes.
Design: J. O’Brien Design
Layout Design: Kristin Koppin
©2014 Retrieve a Golden of Minnesota, Inc.
Follow us on social media and at ragom.org
LEADERSHIP
Board of Directors
Mary McGowan, Chair of the Board
Jane Nygaard, Founder/Board Member
Karen Hayes, Recording Secretary
Julie Klein, Treasurer
Bob Cristofono, Board Member
Cathi Hammond, Board Member
Jan Stone, Board Member
Leadership Team
Denise Anderman, Intake Manager
Kelly Burns, Finance Manager
Trace Hoekstra, Adoption Manager
Alison Holzerland, Events Manager
Adam Hunsley, IT Manager
Amy Lake, Development Manager
Dayle Stubbs, Foster Manager
4
A NEW CHAPTER
RETRIEVE A GOLDEN OF MINNESOTA HELPS
PUPPY MILL DOGS START A NEW LIFE
The Dog spent each day the same way; eating
whatever was thrown out for her, sleeping in
filthy conditions, drinking dirty water, confined
without room to run, enduring exposure to the
elements in all seasons, and having almost no
human interaction. She quietly suffered ear
infections, rotting teeth, untreated cherry eye,
and malnutrition. The only break in her routine
occurred when she came into season and was
bred. Then she raised her puppies in these
deplorable conditions. The puppies were sold
and the cycle started over again. This was
The Dog’s life for 10 years. It was no life for a
beautiful Golden Retriever, but it was all she
knew. She was not alone: there were more
than 132 other dogs sharing her fate at a
dog breeding facility in Pine River, MN.
In July of 2013 The Dog’s life took a dramatic
turn. The Dog was among 104 adult dogs
and 29 puppies seized from the breeding
facility by authorities and taken to the Animal
Humane Society (AHS). Staff and volunteers
worked for weeks to provide the medical care
and socialization needed to help these dogs
prepare to enter an intimidating new world. A
few days after entering the care of AHS, The
Dog (now known as Pink Band #3) gave birth to
6 puppies. Over time many of the rescue dogs
gave birth, adding about 80 puppies to the mix
of dogs, and bringing the total dogs rescued
to more than 200. This time Pink Band #3 and
her puppies had adequate medical care and
shelter, but she still didn’t know her own fate,
or the fate of her litter.
When Animal Humane Society took in the dogs,
RAGOM immediately offered to help with the
Golden Retrievers among the rescued dogs.
Initially AHS believed there would be a quick
legal decision in the case, and anticipated
keeping all of the dogs in their care until the
courts decided the fate of Pink Band #3 and
the rest of the Pine River dogs. By September,
the legal battle was protracted and AHS
was overwhelmed with the growing number
of puppies. RAGOM was asked to provide
foster care for some of the goldens under a
confidential agreement that maintained AHS’s
guardianship of the dogs. Finally, Pink Band #3
and some of her puppies got their own foster
homes. They lived in a house with comfy beds,
good care, and people who cherished them.
The trauma of her breeding life left her too
scared to reciprocate the affection, but Pink
Band #3 knew she was safe, and that life had
more promise than she had ever known.
It was almost another month before the legal
battle was settled and all of the dogs rescued
from Pine River became the permanent wards
of AHS. Some of the dogs in RAGOM’s care
were returned to AHS to be put up for adoption,
but RAGOM retained eight of the dogs that
were the most traumatized for further medical
care, socialization and adjustment, in order
to help them become more confident family
members and to improve their chances of
being adopted into loving and supportive
homes. RAGOM also paid the adoption fee for
5 puppies and 1 adult dog so they could stay
with RAGOM and be helped on to life with their
forever families. An additional dog with medical
needs was also brought into the RAGOM family
from AHS. On October 10th, 2013, 15 dogs,
including Pink Band #3 and 4 of her puppies,
were officially turned over to RAGOM, and Pink
band #3, at 10 years old, finally got her new
name – she became Annie.
The Pine River dogs that came into RAGOM
required extensive ongoing medical care and
Annie (13-316) enjoys the
freedom of her backyard at
her foster home.
social support. Annie moved to a permanent
foster so she could have the benefit of a fenced
yard to begin her exploration of the world
and to continue her recovery. On October
30th Annie had spay surgery, and the book
of her life as an unnamed breeding dog
was permanently closed. She required two
surgeries on her eye and oral surgery to begin
to restore her health. She was too scared to
eat, to leave her crate or to interact with her
fosters. The journey was just beginning for
Annie and her compatriots, but RAGOM was
committed to making sure that for the rest of
their lives these dogs would know only good
things, and in time some of the trauma they
experienced would be replaced with the joy of
being a beloved family member.
LEARNING TO LIVE
Another five months have now passed and
Annie is still in foster care. Her history still
weighs heavily on her, but her foster Dad
and foster siblings are trying hard to ease the
burden. When she is sure no one is watching
Annie will chew on a bone, eat a treat that
has been placed on her paw, or roll in the
snow. She will venture out on a walk in the
neighborhood if surrounded by her foster
family. She has attended a few Meet and Greet
events and shared the company of some other
puppy mill survivor friends there. She accepts
human affection but does not seek it. She does
not play with toys, and spends most of her
time in her crate. Recently she reached a small
milestone; she wagged her tail at the site of
her foster Dad for the first time.
It is a privilege for RAGOM to care for these
precious dogs from Pine River. With diligence,
affection, and encouragement these dogs have
made tremendous strides. 14 of the original 15
(including 4 of Annie’s puppies) are now living
with their forever families. Annie is the last in
RAGOM foster care: her day will come, but until
that time RAGOM will continue to support her,
and will seek further opportunities to carry out
our mission to rescue and re-home unwanted,
abused, neglected and displaced Golden
Retrievers and Golden Retriever mixes. We
believe that no dog should have to wait until
they are 10 years old to have a name.
6
2013 ACTIVITIES & RESULTS
75
Our annual Goldzilla fundraiser is the largest Golden Retriever
event in the Midwest, attracting hundreds of people and their dogs.
•Over 600 people and their dogs participated in the Walk for
Rescue, raising over $70,000
• The event was sponsored by 10 businesses
121,000
441
In 2013, RAGOM held 7 fundraising events, raising a total of
$
In 2013, RAGOM
participated in 75
community events to
promote pet adoption
and to educate our
communities about
our mission:
• 2 state Pet Expos
(Minnesota and Iowa)
• Community events
and festivals
• Minnesota State Fair
1
• #1 in total dogs rescued in 2013
• #2 in total purebred Goldens rescued in 2013
• #2 in dogs altered after being rescued
dogs placed in foster homes
approximate number of
active volunteers
522
•
#4 in total vet expenses
Source: 2013 Golden Retriever Club of America
National Rescue Committee Annual Survey
In 2012 we introduced Stouts
for Snouts, a craft beer tasting
hosted by Summit Brewery.
The fundraiser attracted more
than 100 people and raised
over $5,000 through ticket
sales and a silent auction.
2
3
223
dogs spayed or neutered
RAGOM rescues dogs across the Midwest –Minnesota,
Iowa, North and South Dakota, Western Wisconsin as well
as with a partnership established with Nebraska in 2013.
• 70 Meet & Greets
at pet-related retail
locations, enabling
personal meetings
with prospective
families.
Among Golden Retriever rescue groups nationwide,
RAGOM is ranked:
• #3 in total number of volunteers
RAGOM was awarded the 2013 Starfish Award
presented by the Golden Retriever Club of
America National Rescue Committee.
This award is given on an annual basis to a
rescue group that makes a difference.
It was awarded to RAGOM in
recognition of the work for the
Pine River Rescue.
7
4
In 2013 RAGOM met all
27 of the Charities Review
Council Accountability
Standards. The Charities
Review Council reviews
nonprofit organizations’
performance in four critical
areas: Public Disclosure,
Governance, Financial
Activity, and Fundraising.
The review works to
ensure an organization’s
operations, structure
and policies meet widely
accepted standards for
accountability
and transparency.
210
veterinary partners
90,465
miles were traveled by
RAGOM volunteers transporting dogs
RAGOM continues to advocate for proper care of dogs,
using social media and our website to provide information
on key topics including support
for legislation to regulate
puppy mills. In 2013, we
launched an online resource
to answer questions adopters
might have about the newest
members of their families.
8
9
REVENUE
FINANCIAL REPORT 2013
Revenue Total – $379,856
RETRIEVE A GOLDEN OF MINNESOTA 2013 INCOME STATEMENT
Fundraising Events
13%
Other
2%
Investment Income
1%
TOTAL EXPENSE
Expenses Total – $344,719
Management & General
13%
Fundraising
1%
Program Revenue
Contributions and Grants
52%
(Adoptions and Applications)
32%
RETRIEVE A GOLDEN OF MINNESOTA 2013 BALANCE SHEET
200000
Program
86%
200000
Year 2013
Year 2013
150000
100000
2013 Total Assets – $185,863
2013 Total Liabilities – $16,428
2013 Net Assets –­ $169,435
100000
50000
50000
Dog Related Supplies
3%
Dog Rescue
4%
Microchips
2%
Other
2%
0
0
Events
1%
200000
Year 2012
2013 ASSETS & LIABILITIES
150000
PROGRAM EXPENSE
Year 2012
Cash
Savings
Boarding
13%
Veterinary
75%
Cash
Savings
Misc
Misc2012
TOTAL
ASSETS
ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS
& LIABILITIES
2012 Total Assets – $140,622
2012 Total Liabilities – $6,324
2012 Net Assets –­ $134,298
150000
100000
50000
0
Total Assets
Total Liabilities
Net Assets
• 166 transport volunteers drove a total of 90,465 miles
in 2013.
• RAGOM had 247 fosters in 2013, up from 175 in the
prior year.
• RAGOM Volunteers drive at their own expense thereby
saving RAGOM over $50,660 in expenses.
• On average RAGOM has dogs for 55 days - from intake to
foster to permanent adoption.
Photo by Mike Zerby
10
SUCCESS STORES
Jewel and Ruby started their lives as two
little curious pups in a breeding barn without
the loving guidance of a human. They were
rescued by RAGOM but arrived with the scars
of boredom. They each had pieces of their
muzzles missing, a result of unsupervised
chewing on the sharp edges of their cage.
The injuries were especially evident on Jewel
with her nose pulled to one side due to taut
skin which developed during the unattended
healing process.
Scarred and scared they were welcomed into
their RAGOM volunteer foster family by both
humans and confident dogs to make them feel
more comfortable in their new warm and safe,
inside as opposed to outside, environment. The
implications of their injuries were both physical
and social. Their teeth were constantly
exposed which gave the appearance of
growling. Other dogs didn’t want to approach
them and they had difficulty making friends.
But with all of their challenges, they remained
adorable, curious little pups and within a short
period of time they were wrestling, running,
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Ruby (12-416) and Jewel (12-415)
getting into trouble and learning about all
of those things they had missed in their
confinement.
Through a generous grant from the Golden
Retriever Foundation’s April Fund as well as
donations to RAGOM’s Golden Smile Project,
the girls were each able to have plastic
surgery to repair their muzzles and bring their
appearance back to more typical little Golden
faces. Today both Jewel and Ruby each have
Golden lives with forever families and get to
spend some time together with occasional
playdates.
HOSPICE CARE
RAGOM accepts dogs in every stage of their
life. Some foster volunteers take dogs into
their homes knowing they will be the last family
the dog will ever know. In 2013, there were
five dogs cared for in hospice and others that
due to their age spent their remaining days or
months as members of a foster family.
Rocket, a 10-year-old Golden Retriever mix,
spent his life in an outdoor kennel until arriving
at RAGOM. He was diagnosed with kidney
failure and not expected to live longer than six
months. Rocket’s foster Dad wrote “it will be
a tough time ahead but Rocket will be loved
every step of the way.” And he was. He had
a yard, long walks, dog buddies, cat buddies
and most importantly, a family. Rocket greeted
Rocket (12-091)
every dog and person he met with a wag and
a smile. Every day was an adventure, every car
ride meant having his head out the window.
He was loved by his foster family and he loved
them back. Rocket lived nearly eight months
after his diagnosis. Thanks to the generosity
of donors and the compassionate care of a
RAGOM volunteer, Rocket’s last days were the
best of his life.
As a 501(c)(3), RAGOM relies heavily on donations to support our rescue efforts.
There are a variety of ways you can help us to make certain every animal coming
into RAGOM leaves healthy, happy and ready to begin a Golden life with their
forever family.
Donations
• Visit Ragom.org to make a donation or sponsor one of our foster dogs.
• Check with your Human Resource Department to see if your company has a
matching funds program-you might be able to double your support to some
deserving Goldens.
• A gift in the form of appreciated securities is one of the most cost-effective ways
to donate. You receive a tax deduction in the amount of their full value and incur
no capital gains tax.*
• Create a lasting legacy – include RAGOM in your will, or name us as a
beneficiary of your retirement account or insurance policy.*
Turn shopping online into a donation to RAGOM
• When you do an internet search, you can raise money for RAGOM by using a
search engine such as Goodsearch.com. You can also use Goodshop.com to
shop at a wide variety of stores such as Amazon.com, Target or Nike to get a
percentage of what you spend donated to RAGOM.
Share your time and your talents
• RAGOM has volunteer opportunities to fit every schedule. You could help
with events, transport rescues or even be a foster. We always have a need for
Golden-loving individuals. Your personal reward is guaranteed to be far more
than you ever imagined and just might include the gentle touch of someone’s
paw. Go to RAGOM.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities and to
complete the online application.
*Your tax or financial advisor can advise you on the best approach to giving
relative to your unique situation.
For more information on ways you can give, contact Amy Lake,
Development Manager at [email protected].
“SAVING ONE DOG WILL NOT CHANGE THE WORLD,
BUT SURELY FOR THAT ONE DOG,
THE WORLD WILL CHANGE FOREVER.”
— Karen Davison