Grant ID: 1707
Title of Proposal: CARE Feline TNR 2017
Agency Type: Non-Profit
Total Funding Requested: $15,000.00
Check Payable To: CARE Feline TNR, Inc
Application Information
Demographics
Name of Applicant Agency: CARE Feline TNR, Inc Website Address: www.CAREFelineTNR.org
Person Submitting Proposal: Bill Gaskin Position: Vice President
Person Submitting Proposal Email Address: [email protected]
Agency Head: Melissa LaNinfa Agency Head Email: [email protected]
Organization Business Address: PO Box 4552 City: Orlando
State: FL Zip: 32792
Phone (xxx-xxx-xxxx): 814-596-3400 Fax:
Cell: 814-596-3400    
 
Agency Details

Date of 501(c)(3) Incorporation: 11/25/1996
Dates of Last Fiscal Year: Begin: 01/01/16    End: 12/31/16
Organization Income in Last Fiscal Year: $13,131.91
Organization Expenses in Last Fiscal Year: $34,793.54
Number of Paid Employees: Full Time: 0  Part Time: 0
Number of Active Volunteers: 25
Total Volunteer Hours per Week: 250.00
How did you learn of the 2009  Florida Animal Friend grant competition? CARE has been a prior recipient of the grant. We learned about it many years ago via word of mouth.
Year(s) of previous Florida Animal Friend grants (if applicable):
Previous Florida Animal Friend Applications: Years Funded: 2008, 2013, 2015 Year(s) denied/incomplete: n/a
Auto-Generated (Previous Applications):
Grant #Proposal YearProposal TitleStatus
3502013CARE 2013Funded
14572015CARE 2015Funded
15912008 Funded
17072017CARE Feline TNR 2017Funded
Describe your Organization:
Services Provided Organization Structure:











List your current board of directors:

NameTitlePhoneOccupation
Bill GaskinVice President814-596-3400Inflight Crewmember
Brenda McGrathTreasurer614-570-7904Certified Public Accountant
Carol SweeneySecretary407-765-9991Office Manager
Melissa LaNinfaPresident407-340-7050Instructional Systems Designer

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.
0   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? 
If not all, how are animals selected for sterilization before adoption? 
If not all, describe your sterilization policies and procedures for assuring sterilization after adoption:
 
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. 
CARE has been in continuous operation in Central Florida since its inception in 1995. Over that period of time, we have successfully provided TNR for over 33,000 cats. CARE is operated solely by unpaid volunteers, including twenty-five "active volunteers" who perform the day-to-day "administrative" functions that keep our organization running smoothly. These people donate approximately 250 hours of their time each week, and include officers and directors, the "calls" team, trappers and trap managers, and community outreach volunteers. The CARE "calls" team manages the CARE phone lines, answering all calls from the community. They provide program information, make and confirm spay/neuter (s/n) appointments and referrals, and coordinate with vet clinics that provide s/n services. The community outreach volunteers negotiate the release and return/relocation of impounded colony cats, mediate citizen complaints, and provide TNR education and colony management counseling. In addition to the "administrative" volunteers who manage the organization, there are hundreds of volunteer trappers and colony caregivers. Some of these people have a single backyard cat and use the CARE program only once. Others are people who manage multiple colonies and schedule appointments almost weekly. There is no way of estimating the volunteer time these people contribute to trapping and feeding these colonies. CARE officers, directors and volunteers have a vast range of experience in TNR ranging from 15+ years to a few months. They come from diverse backgrounds, each with special skills and abilities, yet all share a love of animals and a deep desire to reduce the population of feral cats through the humane and effective TNR process. New volunteers are provided training and are frequently teamed with or "shadow" the more experienced volunteers for an initial period until they feel comfortable with their assigned duties. More experienced volunteers are always available to provide advice and assistance. The board of directors meets monthly in an active management role.
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? 
Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) offers free spay/neuter services for cats referred by our organization and this is our first option whenever appointments are available. The number of appointments is variable on a month-to-month basis and subject to last minute changes (generally less than 24 hr notice) which makes planning difficult. And, unfortunately, the number of appointments made available to CARE is never enough to meet demand even though appointment availability has increased over the last year. CARE has established relationships with multiple private low-cost clinics throughout the community. These clinics offer special reduced rates for CARE referrals. However, some caretakers cannot afford the low-cost private clinics even at reduced rates. CARE established a "TNR Fund" in 2012. This fund is financed via an annual allotment from our general fund and earmarked donations from the community. This fund is used primarily to pay for appointments at private low-cost clinics in emergency situations when a caretaker is not able to wait for an OCAS appointment. However, it is also used to assist caretakers who cannot afford the low-cost private clinics (on a discretionary basis). Despite spending all of our budgeted TNR funding, the effort is not sufficient to meet demand - primarily the needs of caretakers who cannot access the free OCAS appointments due to unavailability and also cannot afford the reduced rates at low-cost private clinics. We have increased our TNR budget over the years, however, we anticipate that this increase will still not be adequate to meet demand as more and more caretakers need help and become aware of our assistance program.

Target Population
Geographical target area (name of city, county, zip codes, geographical Information service (GIS), etc.):
 Orlando, Orange County, Census Tracts: 168.02, 168.03, 168.04, 168.06, 168.07, 170.04, 170.06, 170.08, 170.11, 170.12, 170.13, 170.14, 170.15, 170.16, 170.17 
Total human population in target area: 112,196 
Percent of residents living below poverty in target area: 16.8 
Estimated number of pet cats in target area (human population divided by 3.3): 33999 
Estimated number of pet dogs in target area (human population divided by 4.0): 28049 
Estimated number of feral cats in target area (human population divided by 6.0): 18700 
Number of cats admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) N/A 
Number of dogs admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) N/A 
Number of cats euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) N/A 
Number of dogs euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) N/A 
Please explain if you believe your target area animal population is significantly different than above.
We do not believe the population is different in this area.
Please explain what you believe are the most substantial sources of dog and cat overpopulation in the target area:
 We believe that people living in this area are well below the poverty level, which would hinder them from taking their community cats to be fixed for a fee. This grant will allow us to give an opportunity to those in this area to fix their community cats for free.
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?
Presently Orange County Animal Services offers 50 free community TNR appointments weekly. These appointments are filled on a first-come first-serve basis and are always booked 6 weeks in advance. We believe with this grant we could offer more appointments specifically targeted for this area at our partner clinics.
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.
 The boundaries would run north of the Orange County line following Interstate 4, 528 and Narcoossee Road. This boundary would include a large area or Orlando International Airport.
 
What is the criteria used for determining the target area(s) and/or eligibility for this program?
We will have the clients provide the zip code of where the cats are located, and determine from there whether they fall within the boundaries of this grant.
 
Describe whether the targeted area is rural, suburban, or urban. Is it commercial, residential, agricultural, or a designated special land use?
The area for the targeted area is mostly suburban, with commercial and residential use.
 
Estimated number of cats in the target colony area : 18000  
Estimated number that are currently sterilized: 5000
Projected reduction after utilizing the grant:  500
 
For TNR program, describe the ability to maintain lifelong care for remaining cats, commitment level of volunteers/organizations, etc.
With our organization, CARE Feline TNR, we have dedicated volunteers who continue to feed, vaccinate and care for the cats in their neighborhoods. Whenever a volunteer from the area decides to move, we network to find another volunteer in the area who will take over the commitment.
 
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:
Orange County Animal Services has been a major supporter for TNR efforts in Orange County since CARE Feline TNR's inception in 1997. We continue to work with Orange County Animal Services on a weekly basis to reduce the number of kittens born to stray/community cats.
 
Describe any effort to lessen the negative impact on local wildlife.
We do not feel that there is a negative impact on local wildlife. With TNR, we will work to reduce the number of stray/abandoned cats within our targeted area, which will help with any impact on local wildlife.
 
Describe efforts that will be made to mitigate current or potential nuisance issues.
CARE Feline TNR is committed to the education of our community on TNR and the benefits. We work with Orange County Animal Services to reach out to clients who have called in nuisance issues, to explain TNR and how beneficial it is to the well-being of the cats.
 
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.
Even though there is a large amount of feral cats in this area, we believe that we can target specific colonies along with utilizing our current appointments. We would continue to TNR 50 cats weekly, but would also get an increase in appointments at our partner clinic to work on getting more completed with this grant.
 
Objectives
What do you hope to accomplish with these funds (objectives should be specific and quantifiable)?
We plan to TNR 500 cats. This number assumes that all s/n surgeries are obtained at our partner vet clinic for a fee of $30/cat.
How does this program increase the number of sterilization surgeries above the existing baseline?
CARE TNRd a total of approximately 3,000 cats between Jan 1, 2016 and Dec 31, 2016. This number includes cats TNRd under our last FAF grant which ran from August 2015 to August 2016. Subtracting out the grant cats we have approximately 2,000 cats TNRd. The target of 500 surgeries will increase our sterilization program by a large percent.
Methods
What criteria will you use to determine eligibility for your program? 
Cats must be feral or otherwise un-owned and caretaker must agree to ear-tipping and continued management of the colony
How will you advertise the program? Explain how the advertising will reach the target audience.
We will advertise the program via our official website and our Facebook page, as well as by word of mouth among our volunteers.
How will you address barriers to full use of the program such as transportation, illiteracy, and cultural hurdles? 
Our volunteers have a well established teamwork approach to TNR, helping each other with trapping, transportation, recovery and return as necessary. We have not encountered literacy or cultural hurdles in the past and do not anticipate problems at this time. However, we do have bi-lingual volunteers that assist with the Hispanic community. Our volunteers do a great deal of one-on-one outreach to colony caretakers and we would expect this effort to be intensified in the target area.
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.
 The project does not involve transportation of animals by anyone other than the colony caretaker clients. All persons borrowing CARE traps are required to sign liability waivers. We provide training and counseling in the use of traps, as well as pre-op / post-op care and release of cats.
Veterinary Services
 

What arrangements have you made with veterinarians to perform the surgeries? 
We have a TNR pricing agreement with SNiP-it Clinic which will serve as the primary clinic for this grant effort. If for any reason the SNiP-it Clinic is not available, we have additional pricing agreements with a number of veterinary clinics throughout the greater Orlando area. This allows flexibility in scheduling of appointments and convenience to non-resident caretakers. We do not anticipate any difficulty obtaining sufficient s/n surgery appointments.
Are they:  
 

Veterinary Practices
Practice NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneLead Practice
SNiP-it Clinic3096 Michigan AveKissimmeeFL34744407-476-4748

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: 
 All veterinary services are contracted as a TNR package which includes s/n surgery, rabies and FVRCP vaccines, parasite medication and ear clip. The pricing given is the fee negotiated between CARE and the SNiP-it Clinic.  
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
Orange County Animal ServicesOrange County Animal Services will TNR any cats that we determine do not qualify within the targeted TNR area.

 
Other Information
Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection committee understand how the program will operate to achieve its goals.
 CARE has been the leader in TNR in the Central Florida area for many years. Our volunteers are experienced and work together well as a team. Our program has been quite successful over the years with over 33,000 cats TNRd to date (early records are a bit spotty). Our ultimate goal is that no cat will ever be homeless or unwanted. Although we understand it is doubtful that this goal will be reached any time soon, we are happy with the trend toward increased acceptance and implementation of TNR, increased numbers of low cost S/N clinics opening in the community, the major policy change to support TNR by Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando (PAGO,formerly the SPCA), and the interest being shown in TNR by more young people in the community. However, despite all our efforts to reduce costs and explore new methods of fund raising, the money is never enough. We know that grant funding is critical to our success. We know that we fell short of our goal for our 2015 grant, but we will strive to hit our reduced goal this year.
Budget
Total number of sterilization surgeries projected:
Cats: 500    Dogs:  0 
Total budget requested (Budget should not exceed $25,000): $15,000.00 
Average cost/surgery projected: $30.00 
Describe any expenses that are not included in the grant and how they will be paid for (for example, vaccines, microchipping, ear notching, etc.):
All veterinary services are contracted as a one-price TNR package which includes an exam, s/n surgery, rabies and FVRCP vaccines, parasite medication and ear clip. Operational items such as telephone service, website hosting, and cloud data storage are not anticipated to increase over our baseline costs. These items are paid from our general fund from donations received. Additional traps may be needed and trap repairs are an ongoing expense. All trap costs are paid out of our general fund.
 
Describe any other funding sources for this program, i.e. other grants, targeted fundraising efforts, budget allocation, etc.
We are in the process of pursuing additional grant funding from other sources. In addition, CARE plans to continue our traditional fundraising methods in the coming year, including direct community-targeted fundraisers like yard sales and merchandising, as well as web-based fundraising.
 
What percent of the total cost of the program would this projected grant cover?
100
Timeline
All projects must be completed within 12 months of receipt of funding.
Projected start date: 08/01/17/     Projected end date: 07/31/18
 
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.
 We are continually searching for additional grant funding from other sources. In addition, CARE plans to continue our traditional fundraising methods, including direct community-targeted fundraisers (like yard sales and merchandising) and web-based fundraising.
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.
 CARE currently promotes the Florida Animal Friend Spay/Neuter license plate on our website. We will issue press releases announcing the grant program and urging residents to purchase FAF spay/neuter license plates. We will also post an announcement/description of the grant program on our website, post blogs and updates on our Facebook site, and use our CARE News (electronic news) to disseminate information about the FAF program and our grant in particular to our electronic mailing list of over 300 interested persons.