Grant ID: 1697
Title of Proposal: Project Eartip
Agency Type: Non-Profit
Total Funding Requested: $25,000.00
Check Payable To: Fortunate Ferals Inc
Application Information
Demographics
Name of Applicant Agency: Fortunate Ferals Inc Website Address: fortunateferals.org
Person Submitting Proposal: Glenda Sparnroft Position: President/Founder
Person Submitting Proposal Email Address: [email protected]
Agency Head: Glenda Sparnroft Agency Head Email: [email protected]
Organization Business Address: P.O.Box 933 City: Alva
State: FL Zip: 33920
Phone (xxx-xxx-xxxx): 347-403-1674 Fax: 239-369-2058
Cell: 347-403-1674    
 
Agency Details

Date of 501(c)(3) Incorporation: 11/02/2012
Dates of Last Fiscal Year: Begin: 01/01/16    End: 12/31/16
Organization Income in Last Fiscal Year: $25,032.00
Organization Expenses in Last Fiscal Year: $23,117.00
Number of Paid Employees: Full Time: 0  Part Time: 0
Number of Active Volunteers: 10
Total Volunteer Hours per Week: 360.00
How did you learn of the 2009  Florida Animal Friend grant competition? Promotion of Grant Recipient
Year(s) of previous Florida Animal Friend grants (if applicable):
Previous Florida Animal Friend Applications: Years Funded: 0 Year(s) denied/incomplete: 1
Auto-Generated (Previous Applications):
Grant #Proposal YearProposal TitleStatus
16802016Project EartipDenied (not completed)
16972017Project EartipFunded
Describe your Organization:
Services Provided Organization Structure:











List your current board of directors:

NameTitlePhoneOccupation
David BrownVice President239-322-7027Retired
Glenda SparnroftPresident347-403-1674Retired
Marybeth BordersonTreasurer239-368-0209Retired

Applicant Qualifications
For your organization, in the last complete fiscal year:
0  cats and 0  dogs were admitted.
0   cats and  0   dogs were adopted.
0   cats and  0    dogs were euthanized.
310   cats and  0    dogs were sterilized.
  
Briefly describe your animal programs:
 
If your program performs adoptions, are all animals sterilized before adoption? 
Yes
If not all, what percentage of animals are not currently sterilized before adoption? 
N/A
If not all, how are animals selected for sterilization before adoption? 
N/A
If not all, describe your sterilization policies and procedures for assuring sterilization after adoption:
N/A  
Give additional background information on your organization's programs as they relate to this application and the qualifications of the personnel who will be in charge of this program. Show that you have the ability to carry out this program. 
Fortunate Ferals is dedicated to provide TNR assistance education, information and guidance to responsible caretakers of feral cat colonies. Our volunteers have many years of TNR experience and have TNR'd over 3000 cats to date. We have partnered with Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers, Florida and hold monthly TNR workshops for interested individuals and offer hands on coaching for participants who feel they need more experience. With dedicated volunteers working closely with responsible colony caretakers throughout the community, a large number of feral and free roaming cats will become sterilized fairly quickly.
If you currently have a program for sterilization of cats and/or dogs, describe your current level of funding and productivity and why additional resources are needed? 
Lee County Domestic Animal Services is the main option because they preform TNR spay/neuter surgeries free for the county. However, appointments are extremely limited and have to be booked a month in advance. The second option is low cost clinics, and even though prices are reasonable, with multiple numbers of needed appointments, costs are still too high, thus limiting us to schedulling large numbers of spay/neuter surgeries. Fortunate Ferals was fortunate in 2016 to have received a grant from Maddies Fund that will enable us to have TNR'd approx. 150 cats when grant funds are depleted. A grant from Animal Friends will allow us to continue with schedulling appointments at low cost clinics for mass trapping of particular locations and caretakers will have their colony numbers stabilized fairly quickly. With less kittens being born, the cats will have a healthier and less stressful life, nuisance behaviour will become almost non-existent in the neighborhoods and shelter intake will be reduced.

Target Population
Geographical target area (name of city, county, zip codes, geographical Information service (GIS), etc.):
 Targeted areas of Zip codes of Lee County 
Total human population in target area: 26269 
Percent of residents living below poverty in target area: 16% 
Estimated number of pet cats in target area (human population divided by 3.3): 7961 
Estimated number of pet dogs in target area (human population divided by 4.0): 6568 
Estimated number of feral cats in target area (human population divided by 6.0): 4379 
Number of cats admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) Unknown 
Number of dogs admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) Unknown 
Number of cats euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) Unknown 
Number of dogs euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) Unknown 
Please explain if you believe your target area animal population is significantly different than above.
Targeted areas are those hardest hit by the economic downturn over the past ten years where people abandoned their unsterilized pets and left them to fend for themselves and continue reproducing.The other main areas of concern are low and limited income neighborhoods and communities that cannot afford veterinary services and therefore do not spay/neuter their pets, but let them roam outside and reproduce.
Please explain what you believe are the most substantial sources of dog and cat overpopulation in the target area:
 Abandoned, unsterilized pets and also pet owners who allow their cats to roam free and cannot afford spay/neuter services for their animals.
What kinds of spay/neuter services are currently available in the target area and in what ways are these resources currently insufficient to meet community needs?
LCDAS currently provides a FREE spay/neuter service for feral/free roaming cats, but appointments are limited and fill up very quickly. Their clinic cannot possibly keep up with the demand for TNR surgeries. Lee County also has three low cost spay neuter clinics for TNR, but most residents from these selected areas cannot afford these clinic prices which range from $30-$35 per cat.
Florida Animal Friend is highly supportive of proposals that are focused on animal populations that are identified as substantial sources of dog or cat overpopulation rather than being diluted over too broad of a geographic area or diverse animal populations. Describe the specific target animal population of the spay/neuter project proposed for this grant:

  
 
TNR Managed Colony Feral Cat Program/Community Cats (Free-Roaming and/or Owned) Program
Define the precise boundaries of the colony or targeted area, including estimate of square miles.
 Precise boundaries are within community limits and sometimes boundaries include sections of two zip codes. It was decided that mass trapping in selected areas would be more beneficial in this situation as these selected areas are where most of the problems stem from. Actual square mileage would be almost impossible to estimate.
 
What is the criteria used for determining the target area(s) and/or eligibility for this program?
These locations were selected based on phone calls to Fortunate Ferals and other organizations and concerned individuals looking for help or placing complaints about the high number of free roaming cats in these neighborhoods. Since this grant application is based on the maximum benefit to spay/neuter as many cats as possible in overpopulated areas, these locations were researched and selected.
 
Describe whether the targeted area is rural, suburban, or urban. Is it commercial, residential, agricultural, or a designated special land use?
Targeted areas are within community limits with some backyards leading onto commercials property, while other areas are low income duplexes, mobile homes and apartments.
 
Estimated number of cats in the target colony area : 4379  
Estimated number that are currently sterilized: 218
Projected reduction after utilizing the grant:  743
 
For TNR program, describe the ability to maintain lifelong care for remaining cats, commitment level of volunteers/organizations, etc.
Fortunate Ferals has a well established volunteer base who care for and maintain these feral cat colonies. Any assistance necessary is provided for residents who care for these managed colonies and monthly cat food donations are provided when available. Fortunate Ferals also provides continued education and support for any caretaker if they find an injured or sick feral or a new cat has wandered into their established colony.
 
Do current city/county ordinances address TNR or free-roaming cats?
No

Please explain what is allowed:

(NOTE: FAF will not fund any program this is inconsistent with local ordinances.)
 
For TNR program, list any groups or government agencies who support this TNR effort:
Lee County Domestic Animal Services, Gulf Coast Humane Society, numerous private Veterinary Clinics and most local Rescues all support the TNR Program. Dedicated Rescues help with adoptions of stray cats and socialized kittens that are found within the feral cat colonies.
 
Describe any effort to lessen the negative impact on local wildlife.
Our Organization does not endorse the release of cats onto local, state or federal wildlife preserves or parks. Also, Fortunate Ferals volunteers manage and maintain cat colonies on a daily basis and provide a feeding regiment that is sufficient to offset the need to hunt local wildlife.
 
Describe efforts that will be made to mitigate current or potential nuisance issues.
Fortunate Ferals will provide education and counselling to caretakers to reduce and eliminate nuisance behavioral problems at specific colony locations as needed. We also provide information to neighbors, homeowners, homeowner associations and other neighborhood groups about TNR and the positive impact that it has on controlling nuisance behaviour as well as it's benefits in and around the community.
 
Will the cats be ear-tipped? Yes
Will the cats be microchipped? No
 
Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection committee understand how this program will operate to achieve its goals.
Fortunate Ferals will continue to provide training and support to users of this program to ensure trapping success. Training includes personal coaching, phone or email support by volunteers and hands on, one-on-one demonstrations in various trapping, transporting and recovery procedures. Caretakers can contact any of our volunteers at any time when looking for advice, suggestions and support.
 
Objectives
What do you hope to accomplish with these funds (objectives should be specific and quantifiable)?
Fortunate Ferals goal is to TNR an extra 743 cats at low cost spay/neuter clinics for $30-$35/cat. This would enable us to make the biggest impact by mass trapping in targeted areas in the shortest amount of time.
How does this program increase the number of sterilization surgeries above the existing baseline?
This number almost doubles our annual goal of 350 TNR surgeries and will increases our totals by 240%.
Methods
What criteria will you use to determine eligibility for your program? 
Eligibility for this TNR Program is based on the fact that the cats are feral/free roaming or community cats. Caretakers must agree that ALL cats be spayed/neutered, vaccinated for rabies, eartipped and returned to the colony location. Friendly cats will only be placed for adoption if space is available at local Rescues. Caretakers are required to continue feeding and maintaining the colony and have to agree to TNR any new cats that might move in.
How will you advertise the program? Explain how the advertising will reach the target audience.
Fortunate Ferals will advertise the Animal Friends Grant thru social media, website, newsprint, any new printed Organization materials and by word of mouth. Information sheets will be posted or hand delivered to targeted areas before a TNR project begins so that everyone is aware of the upcoming TNR project. This advance notice should make for a successful trapping project in the shortest amount of time.
How will you address barriers to full use of the program such as transportation, illiteracy, and cultural hurdles? 
Trapping, transporting and proper handling training will be provided to individuals or groups before any TNR project begins and Fortunate Ferals volunteers will be available to assist with any of these things if the need arises. Based on past experience, we do not anticipate any illiteracy or cultural problems and do not foresee any at this time. Language barriers, if encountered, will be dealt with by our bilingual volunteers or available printed material.
Does this project involve the transportation of animals by someone other than the client? If so, describe the vehicles, methods for confinement, personnel training, liability releases used to assure the safety of the animals and handlers.
 This project does not require any other means of transportation or handling, other than that provided by the caretaker or Fortunate Ferals volunteers. Caretakers will be trained in proper handling and transportation techniques and will be required to sign a waiver stating such.
Veterinary Services
 

What arrangements have you made with veterinarians to perform the surgeries? 
Local low cost spay neuter clinics have been contacted and an average price of $33.50 per cat was negotiated regardless of the sex.
Are they:  
 

Veterinary Practices
Practice NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneLead Practice
Gulf Coast Humane Society2010 Arcardia St.Fort MyersFlorida33916239-332-1573
Rohlk Animal Hospital4002 Wholesale CtNorth Fort MyersFlorida33903239-995-8582

Fee Range
What is the fee range to be paid for spay and neuter and what is the distribution to be paid by the client vs. the grant program? Keep in mind that Florida Animal Friend grant funds may only be used for costs directly associated with sterilization surgery (including anesthesia and pain control) and not for other items such as vaccines, testing, licensing, and capital purchases.
Amount Paid by Client Amount Paid by Project Total Amount
Range for Male Cats
Range for Female Cats
Range for Male Dogs
Range for Female Dogs
Please check each item below to indicate additional services offered at the time of surgery, whether the client is required to pay for them, and if so what the fee is. For example, if an examination is required for surgery but is not charged to the client it would be marked: Required  Yes, Fee to client No
Required, Optional, or Not Offered Fee to Client?
Examination   
Rabies Vaccination if Due   
Other Vaccination if Due   
Pain Medication   
Parasite Medication   
HW Testing   
Feline Leuk/FIV
County License   
Ear tipping   
Microchip
Other   

None of the anticipated grant funds can be used for any of the above services, except for pain medication.
If necessary, please explain the procedures and fees described above: 
 Average cost per cat is $33.50. Rabies Vaccinations and eartipping are included with the price stated above. Any additional cost for parasite meds or testing, if necessary, will be paid for by Fortunate Ferals.  
Is this a voucher program? No
 
If so, how will you assure compliance with the program?

 
For your voucher program, how have you determined the capacity of the veterinarians listed above to handle the projected capacity?
 
 
Will you have the ability to report the number of vouchers issued and the percentage that result in S/N surgeries?

 
Community Collaboration
To assure the success of your program, are there any local groups (such as rescue groups, animal control agencies, TNR groups, local businesses, local media, social service agencies,etc.) other than your organization and your cooperating veterinarians who are committed to assist?
 
 
Please list them and detail their level of involvement with the proposed effort.
NameLevel of Involvement
Cat Tails and MoreProvides help with adoptions of friendly strays or socialized kittens found in colonies
Gulf Coast Humane SocietyLow cost spay/neuter clinic. Promotion and provide information to individuals who seek assistance or willingness to volunteer. Provides venue for TNR workshops and offers an incentive of five free TNR spay/neuter surgeries a month for participants of those workshops.
Haven on Earth Animal LeagueProvides help with adoptions of friendly strays or socialized kittens found in colonies

 
Other Information
Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection committee understand how the program will operate to achieve its goals.
 With the support of low cost clinics, private Veterinarian Practices, Gulf Coast Humane Society, dedicated volunteers and colony caretakers we can focus on our mission of low cost spay and neuter services for feral/free roaming cat colonies and find more people willing to become involved in TNR. We have identified the areas in need, have proven that TNR works and have gained trust and support in the community.
Budget
Total number of sterilization surgeries projected:
Cats: 743    Dogs:  0 
Total budget requested (Budget should not exceed $25,000): $25,000.00 
Average cost/surgery projected: $34.00 
Describe any expenses that are not included in the grant and how they will be paid for (for example, vaccines, microchipping, ear notching, etc.):
Any extra antibiotics, parasite meds(if required), along with transportation costs, pre/post surgery supplies and TNR miscellaneous items will be provided by Fortunate Ferals.
 
Describe any other funding sources for this program, i.e. other grants, targeted fundraising efforts, budget allocation, etc.
Any extra costs required for these TNR projects, along with transportation costs, pre/post surgery supplies and TNR miscellaneous items will be funded by Fortunate Ferals usual fundraising practices and public donations.
 
What percent of the total cost of the program would this projected grant cover?
85%
Timeline
All projects must be completed within 12 months of receipt of funding.
Projected start date: 09/01/17/     Projected end date: 08/31/18
 
Unexpended funds
Any unexpended funds must be refunded to Florida Animal Friend within 30 days of the end of the project.

Requests for extensions
Requests for time extensions are discouraged and not often granted. If it is imperative to request an extension, such request must be made in writing at least 30 days prior to the end of the project. It is FAF’s policy to seldom grant more than a 30-60 day extension.

Failure to submit reports and requests within the required time period will impact your agency’s future grant applications.
 
Future Funding to Sustain Public Spay/Neuter
*Explain how the organization plans to fund this program in the future. Having sustainable plans including other grants, local donations and other services generating revenue enhances the chances of receiving this grant.
 Fortunate Ferals is continuously searching for additional grant funding from other sources. Additionally, we plan to continue our traditional methods of direct community and web based fundraising and rely on the generosity of public donations
Promotion of Florida Animal Friend Spay/Neuter License Plate
*Applicants selected for funding are expected to publicize their grant in support of their spay/neuter program and promote the sale of the Animal Friend license plate via press releases, newsletters, website links, social media, etc. Please describe your plan to promote the Florida Animal Friend Spay/Neuter License Plate. Grantees are required to submit documentation of promotional endeavors with their final report.
 Fortunate Ferals will promote Florida Animal Friend Grant and license plate sales on our website, social media page and any newly printed organization material. We will issue a press release announcing grant approval and include the importance of Animal Friend license plate sales. Fortunate Ferals will provide continuous updates of project activities and post announcements and descriptions on our website and social media pages.