Grant ID: 1753
Title of Proposal: Community Cats
Agency Type: Non-Profit
Total Funding Requested: $25,000.00
Check Payable To: First Coast No More Homeless Pets
Application Information
Demographics
Name of Applicant Agency: First Coast No More Homeless Pets Website Address: www.fcnmhp.org
Person Submitting Proposal: Barbara Barrett Position: Major Gifts and Grants Manager
Person Submitting Proposal Email Address: [email protected]
Agency Head: Rick DuCharme Agency Head Email: [email protected]
Organization Business Address: 6817 Norwood Avenue City: Jacksonville
State: Florida Zip: 32208
Phone (xxx-xxx-xxxx): 904-520-7901 Fax: 904-338-0819
Cell:    
 
Agency Details

Date of 501(c)(3) Incorporation: 06/05/2002
Dates of Last Fiscal Year: Begin: 10/01/16    End: 09/30/17
Organization Income in Last Fiscal Year: $8,189,897.00
Organization Expenses in Last Fiscal Year: $7,938,442.00
Number of Paid Employees: Full Time: 97  Part Time: 12
Number of Active Volunteers: 700
Total Volunteer Hours per Week: 172.00
How did you learn of the 2009  Florida Animal Friend grant competition? Previous recipient
Year(s) of previous Florida Animal Friend grants (if applicable):
Previous Florida Animal Friend Applications: Years Funded: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016 Year(s) denied/incomplete: 2013
Auto-Generated (Previous Applications):
Grant #Proposal YearProposal TitleStatus
1152009Trap-Neuter-Release Surgery FundFunded
2152011Pit Bull/Feral Cat Spay & Neuter ProgramsFunded
3452013Fix a Kitty LitterDenied (not completed)
13952014Fix a Kitty LitterFunded
16152007 Funded
16332016The Big FixFunded
17532018Community CatsFunded
Describe your Organization:
Services Provided Organization Structure:











List your current board of directors:

NameTitlePhoneOccupation
Debbie FieldsPast President, Member904-596-7350Executive, Clear Channel Broadcasting
Emilie JohnsonPast President/Member847-431-1016Manager, Client Services, Beeline Company
Joseph A. StrasserMember904-396-9077Retired Businessman
Lisa CrowleyMember845-661-0480VP, JP Morgan Chase
Martin ReesPresident904-619-3939Financial Analyst
Mary AshleyMember904-520-7902Community Volunteer
Rene KurziusMember904-619-6919Community Volunteer
Tom MoilenanTreasurer904-757-0603Accountant

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. 
The mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) is to end the killing of dogs and cats in shelters in our community, Northeast Florida,and the nation. Our combination of aggressive spay/neuter efforts, adoption initiatives and pet retention programs has resulted in significant improvement in animal welfare. In 2002, the year we were formed, more than 33,000 animals entered the Jacksonville shelters annually and in excess of 23,000 of those animals were killed. Last year, total intake was down by almost 15,000 from the 2002 number, and only 949 animals were euthanized. Duval, Nassau and Clay counties have been no-kill (90% or better live release rate) for four years, and Flagler County attained that status this past year. FCNMHP is the only organization in Northeast Florida providing comprehensive services designed to reduce overpopulation. Our approach is to examine data from the city shelter—Jacksonville Animal Care & Protective Services (JACPS)—and determine the origin of pet intake, as well as the types of pets least likely to leave the shelter alive. Armed with this information, we target our efforts. For example, we have offered free spay/neuter services for large dogs, feral cats, pets owned by low-income residents and pets from zip codes with high surrender rates. FCNMHP worked with the City of Jacksonville to establish Feral Freedom, a trap-neuter-return program for feral cats. This was the first program of its kind in the nation to eliminate the standard protocol of euthanizing feral cats in shelters and has now been adopted by communities all across the country. Last year we performed more than 20,000 surgeries in our clinic which is one of the largest spay/neuter facilities in the nation. We operate programs to keep pets in the home and out of shelters. Our low-cost clinic and state-of-the-art veterinary hospital--both located in under-served areas of Jacksonville--are open to the public seven days a week, providing high quality care at about half the cost of standard veterinary clinics. We have a range of charitable funds that allow us to provide lifesaving services to pets whose owners cannot afford the critical care or for strays who have no one to pay. We have a board member funded program that will pay for medical care for strays when the finder agrees to adopt or rehome the stray. We also operate a Pet Food bank, run entirely by volunteers using donated food, which serves as another method of keeping families and their pets together. To date, we have distributed more than 1.5 million pounds of pet food to low-income pet owners. We also organize and implement Mega Adoption events, partnering with shelters and rescues across Northeast Florida. These events are among the largest in the country where upwards of 1,100 dogs and cats have found homes in a single weekend. Our spay/neuter programs are overseen by our Head of Surgery, Brienne LeMay,DVM, and our COO, Jennifer Barker. We offer surgeries six days a week and easily have the capacity to handle the additional surgeries this grant would allow. We track all surgeries and statistics and will be able to document our success. We have an active Development and Public Relations Department to advertise the program by way of media releases, newsletters, flyers, social media and PSA’s, as well as a Volunteer Manager who also manages the Community Cat Caregivers Corps.
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? 
Last year, we performed 20,789 surgeries at a total cost of $1,548,488. Of these, 9,878 were paid for, either by individuals or rescue groups, bringing in $777,696. The City of Jacksonville allocates part of the pet license fees to pay for surgeries for pets owned by low-income residents, and, for so long as the money last, for cats residing in Duval County. Grants, either to FCNMHP or to shelters in other counties covered additional surgeries costing $118,569. The remainder of the surgeries, costing $267,178, came from our funds (the majority of which were for our Feral Freedom program). This year we will receive $150,000 in funding from the City of Jacksonville for feral cat surgeries which we expect to last approximately 6 months. When we have funding to provide free surgeries, we have performed as many as 543 cat surgeries in a month, not including the Feral Freedom surgeries of cats brought to the city shelter. Moreover, we have recently launched a Community Cat Caregiver Corps (CCCC), made up of volunteer community cat trappers who can be called upon to help others, particularly the elderly and disabled, trap cats, bring them in for surgery and release the cats to their home territory. Currently, we have approximately 85 engaged members of the CCCC. In addition to TNR work, this team will also engage in community education and training as well as public dispute resolution and mediation when needed. Our research suggests that if we can reach 9,262 (one for each 100 in human population) spay/neuter surgeries of ferals each year in Duval County, and sustain it, we will be able to humanely control the feral cat population over the long term. The funding from the City will pay for 3750 surgeries. Our Feral Freedom program will cover approximately 3000 more. The additional 625 surgeries from this grant will help reach a total of 7,375. We will continue to look for additional funds, in addition to what some cat trappers pay, to reach our 9,262 goal. These funds are needed because the community impact is directly related to funding. We know that if we can offer free surgeries throughout the year, our surgery numbers increase. In addition, with the formation of the CCCC, we can expect more ferals will be brought for surgery, allowing us to reach our 9,262 surgery goal with the result of decreased shelter admissions.

Target Population
Geographical target area (name of city, county, zip codes, geographical Information service (GIS), etc.):
Duval County, FL 
Total human population in target area: 926,255 
Percent of residents living below poverty in target area: 14.5 
Estimated number of pet cats in target area (human population divided by 3.3): 280684 
Estimated number of pet dogs in target area (human population divided by 4.0): 231564 
Estimated number of feral cats in target area (human population divided by 6.0): 154376 
Number of cats admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 11,159 
Number of dogs admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 7,427 
Number of cats euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 490 
Number of dogs euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 479 
Please explain if you believe your target area animal population is significantly different than above.
We do not believe it is significantly different
Please explain what you believe are the most substantial sources of dog and cat overpopulation in the target area:
 Clearly, the community cat population is a most substantial source of overpopulation as evidenced by the fact that shelter cat admissions soared at the county shelter during kitten season. For example, in February feline admissions were 286; by June they soared to 1,090. The other large source of admissions is large dogs.
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?
We operate one of the largest spay/neuter facilities in the country, capable of performing up to 50,000 surgeries per year. However, without the ability to provide free surgeries, especially to targeted populations such as community or feral cats, the cost is always a limitation on the number we are asked to perform. Surgeries increase dramatically when we have funding to provide surgeries at no cost.
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.
Duval County, FL, which is 762 square miles.
 
What is the criteria used for determining the target area(s) and/or eligibility for this program?
Cats brought in by Duval County residents.
 
Describe whether the targeted area is rural, suburban, or urban. Is it commercial, residential, agricultural, or a designated special land use?
Primarily urban, consisting mostly of commercial and residential uses.
 
Estimated number of cats in the target colony area : 154376  
Estimated number that are currently sterilized: 50000
Projected reduction after utilizing the grant:  625
 
For TNR program, describe the ability to maintain lifelong care for remaining cats, commitment level of volunteers/organizations, etc.
Generally speaking, the persons bringing in the cats for sterilization are also caring for the colony. When volunteers trap cats for others, they frequently talk to the person contacting them about caring for the animals.
 
Do current city/county ordinances address TNR or free-roaming cats?
Yes

Please explain what is allowed:
The Jacksonville City Ordinances allow for Community Cat Management Initiatives, requiring that managed colonies be on the property of the caregiver or with permission of the property owner, that the cats are sterilized, vaccinated and ear-tipped and that the manager provide nutrition and medical care.
(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:
Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, Jacksonville Humane Society, Community Cat Caregiver Corps--a volunteer driven organization we have convened that both traps and helps others trap cats.
 
Describe any effort to lessen the negative impact on local wildlife.
When the cats are negatively impacting endangered species, we recommend moving the source of food, or, as a last resort, removing the cats.
 
Describe efforts that will be made to mitigate current or potential nuisance issues.
Our Community Cat Caretaker Corps has a division that is trained in working with the caregivers and property owners by mediating disputes.
 
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.
 
Objectives
What do you hope to accomplish with these funds (objectives should be specific and quantifiable)?
Our immediate objective for these funds is to spay or neuter 625 feral cats. This year we will receive $150,000 in funding from the City of Jacksonville for feral cat surgeries which we expect to last approximately 6 months. When we have funding to provide free surgeries, we have performed as many as 543 surgeries in a month, not including the Feral Freedom surgeries of cats brought to the city shelter. Moreover, we have recently launched a Community Cat Caregiver Corps (CCCC), made up of volunteer community cat trappers who can be called upon to help others trap cats, bring them in for surgery and release the cats to their home territory. Our research suggests that if we can reach 9,262 spay/neuter surgeries each year (one for every 100 residents), and sustain it, we will be able to humanely control the feral cat population over the long term--our ultimate goal.
How does this program increase the number of sterilization surgeries above the existing baseline?
We know that if we can offer free surgeries throughout the year, our surgery numbers increase. In addition, with the formation of the CCCC, we can expect more ferals will be brought for surgery, allowing us to reach our 9,262 goal. This grant provide for 625 surgeries toward our ultimate goal.
Methods
What criteria will you use to determine eligibility for your program? 
This will cover community cats brought in by Duval residents.
How will you advertise the program? Explain how the advertising will reach the target audience.
We will promote this on Facebook and across our other social media platforms where we have more than 30,000 passionate followers. We will post information on our website and in email blasts as well as sending out press releases. We will also notify the members of the Community Cat Caretakers Corps.
How will you address barriers to full use of the program such as transportation, illiteracy, and cultural hurdles? 
Our Community Cat Caretakers Corps can help provide transportation and help breakdown other barriers.
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.
Most of the members of our Community Cat Caretakers Corps are experienced cat trappers and past participants in TNR programs. They can help and train the less experienced. Community members will be transporting the trapped cats in their own cars. We make it very clear that the cats must remain in the traps at all times.
Veterinary Services
 

What arrangements have you made with veterinarians to perform the surgeries? 
We have 7 full-time veterinarians on staff who perform spay/neuter surgeries.
Are they:  
 

Veterinary Practices

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: 
It is up to the trappers bringing in the cats if they want to pay the fees for the optional services. Generally speaking, the optional services are not requested.  
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
Cats AngelsThis is a local cat rescue group
Community Cat Conservation CorpsThis is a newly formed group that will trap community cats, bring them to our facility for surgery, and return the cats to their home territory. The will also train other community members, conduct education sessions, and, when necessary, mediate disputes with neighbors or homeowners associations.

 
Other Information
Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection committee understand how the program will operate to achieve its goals.
 There are many community members willing to care for colonies of community cats and make sure that they have been sterilized. However, for many, the cost of surgery for a colony is prohibitive and if we are going to be successful in dealing with the cat population (and reduce kitten admissions to the shelter), it is essential that we be able to offer as many free surgeries as possible for this population.
Budget
Total number of sterilization surgeries projected:
Cats: 625    Dogs:  0 
Total budget requested (Budget should not exceed $25,000): $25,000.00 
Average cost/surgery projected: $40.00 
Describe any expenses that are not included in the grant and how they will be paid for (for example, vaccines, microchipping, ear notching, etc.):
This cost covers the exam, surgery, rabies vaccination and ear tipping. Any other cost, such as microchipping etc., must be paid by the trapper or person bringing in the cat.
 
Describe any other funding sources for this program, i.e. other grants, targeted fundraising efforts, budget allocation, etc.
We will receive $150,000 from the City of Jacksonville this year for community cats.This will cover 3,500 cats which we expect to last approximately 6 months. In addition, we internally cover the shelter cats brought in through the Feral Freedom program. This will cover approximately 3,000 additional cats. We have outstanding grant requests, which in conjunction with this grant will help us reach our 9,262 goal.
 
What percent of the total cost of the program would this projected grant cover?
7
Timeline
All projects must be completed within 12 months of receipt of funding.
Projected start date: 07/02/18/     Projected end date: 08/15/18
 
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 expect to receive continuing grants from the City of Jacksonville for funding part of this program. We will continue our successful grant and fundraising programs all year long.
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.
We will send a media release to our media database announcing the grant support and promoting the license plate. We include promotional links on our website and Facebook pages. Literature will be distributed at our public events, including our Mega Adoption events that attract up to 30,000 people annually. We will also distribute license plate information at our two clinics where we annually see 60,000 pets and the people who love them.