Grant ID: 1771
Title of Proposal: Spaying Putnam County Pets
Agency Type: Non-Profit
Total Funding Requested: $25,000.00
Check Payable To: SAFE Pet Rescue
Application Information
Demographics
Name of Applicant Agency: SAFE Pet Rescue Website Address: www.safe-pet-rescue-fl.com
Person Submitting Proposal: Robin Kantner Position: President
Person Submitting Proposal Email Address: [email protected]
Agency Head: Robin Kantner Agency Head Email: [email protected]
Organization Business Address: PO Box 840215 City: Saint Augustine
State: Florida Zip: 32147
Phone (xxx-xxx-xxxx): 904-460-0556 Fax:
Cell: 904-325-0196    
 
Agency Details

Date of 501(c)(3) Incorporation: 09/26/2008
Dates of Last Fiscal Year: Begin: 01/01/17    End: 12/31/17
Organization Income in Last Fiscal Year: $973,570.33
Organization Expenses in Last Fiscal Year: $865,470.18
Number of Paid Employees: Full Time: 6  Part Time: 17
Number of Active Volunteers: 75
Total Volunteer Hours per Week: 900.00
How did you learn of the 2009  Florida Animal Friend grant competition? First Coast No More Homeless Pets
Year(s) of previous Florida Animal Friend grants (if applicable):
Previous Florida Animal Friend Applications: Years Funded:  Year(s) denied/incomplete:
Auto-Generated (Previous Applications):
Grant #Proposal YearProposal TitleStatus
17712018Spaying Putnam County Pets Funded
Describe your Organization:
Services Provided Organization Structure:











List your current board of directors:

NameTitlePhoneOccupation
Carole Mussolinevice President 386-325-1534Retired Teacher
Don PetermanDirector 386-328-7437Retired
Karen BascheTreasurer904-315-5815Insurence
Robin KantnerPresident 904-460-0556Executive Director SAFE

Applicant Qualifications
For your organization, in the last complete fiscal year:
385  cats and 1709  dogs were admitted.
364   cats and  1501   dogs were adopted.
4   cats and  8    dogs were euthanized.
821   cats and  1988    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. 
SAFE Pet Rescue was formed in 2008. Its goal is to take the dogs and cats scheduled for euthanasia in local shelters. We take the animals and place them in foster homes and offer them for adoption in our adoption centers. We operate a cattery and dog adoption center in St. Augustine and the Hollister Humane Society in Putnam County. We also transport pets to shelters in the Northeast and West where they have a better chance of finding new homes. We also operate two Neuter Commuters that we use to transport pets owned by residents in St. Johns and Putnam counties for spay/neuter surgeries. We take the dogs to First Coast No More Homeless Pets and the cats to Flagler Cats. SAFE has 23 employees and 75 dedicated volunteers. The director has a long background in animal welfare. SAFE has been running our low cost neuter commuter for Putnam since 2008 . We have already in place advertising, transport vans and experienced transport staff.
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? 
We offer our Neuter Commuters to the public as a community service program. We have two transport vans operated by our employees.We schedule the surgeries, meet the pet owners with their pets at a central location, transport the animals and pick them up after surgery to be returned to their owners. The public pays $50 for dogs to be fixed at FCNMHP and $45 for cat package at Flagler Cats. This past year we transported 436 cats and 279 dogs for surgeries in our Putnam Neuter Commuter program. However, this really doesn't get at the problem in Putnam county. Putnam County is primarily rural and approximately 21.5% of the population live below the poverty level. These folks cannot afford to pay for the surgery for their pets. Thus, their pets breed and the offspring frequently end up in the shelter. We have no separate funding to pay for these surgeries. Our funds come from the operation of our two thrift stores and donations which fund our adoption efforts.

Target Population
Geographical target area (name of city, county, zip codes, geographical Information service (GIS), etc.):
 Putnam County, FL 
Total human population in target area: 72,277 
Percent of residents living below poverty in target area: 21.7 
Estimated number of pet cats in target area (human population divided by 3.3): 21903 
Estimated number of pet dogs in target area (human population divided by 4.0): 18070 
Estimated number of feral cats in target area (human population divided by 6.0): 12047 
Number of cats admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 770 
Number of dogs admitted to animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 860 
Number of cats euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 11 
Number of dogs euthanized in animal control shelters in the target area last year (if known) 7 
Please explain if you believe your target area animal population is significantly different than above.
It should be noted that the euthanasia rate in the Putnam County shelter is so low is almost entirely a result of our efforts and other rescue groups. Of the 1,630 animals admitted to the shelter, 1,289 went to rescues, including SAFE Pet Rescue. Since opening the Hollister Humane Society in Putnam County 2 years ago, our admissions (primarily large dogs and puppies) exceed the county animal control shelter especially since it now charges $65 to take an animal.
Please explain what you believe are the most substantial sources of dog and cat overpopulation in the target area:
 Pets owned by low-income people (mostly large dogs) and feral cats.
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?
There are no low-cost spay/neuter services in Putnam County. The only resources people have, other than private vets, are to take the pets to locations outside the county in Flagler or Duval counties or to use our neuter-commuters.
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.
 N/A
 
What is the criteria used for determining the target area(s) and/or eligibility for this program?
N/A
 
Describe whether the targeted area is rural, suburban, or urban. Is it commercial, residential, agricultural, or a designated special land use?
N/A
 
Estimated number of cats in the target colony area : 0  
Estimated number that are currently sterilized: 0
Projected reduction after utilizing the grant:  0
 
For TNR program, describe the ability to maintain lifelong care for remaining cats, commitment level of volunteers/organizations, etc.
N/A
 
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:
N/A
 
Describe any effort to lessen the negative impact on local wildlife.
N/A
 
Describe efforts that will be made to mitigate current or potential nuisance issues.
N/A
 
Will the cats be ear-tipped? No
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.
N/A
 
Objectives
What do you hope to accomplish with these funds (objectives should be specific and quantifiable)?
We hope to spay or neuter approximately 445 dogs and cats owned by low-income Putnam County residents. (The exact number will depend on the mix of cats as opposed to dogs.)
How does this program increase the number of sterilization surgeries above the existing baseline?
We currently transport approximately 20 dogs each week from Putnam County to First Coast No More Homeless Pets and 20 cats to Flagler Cats for surgery. With this funding, we would schedule an additional day for transport to each facility, if needed.
Methods
What criteria will you use to determine eligibility for your program? 
The pet owner would have to show proof of eligibility for one of the following programs: Food Stamps, Medicaid,MediPass,MediKids,Health Ease,Healthy Kids,Kid Care,Sect. 8/Public Housing,WIC or SSI or provide proof that their income is under 150% of the poverty level.
How will you advertise the program? Explain how the advertising will reach the target audience.
We will advertise the program on social media, at our thrift store, and on the radio and through the Palatka newspaper. Putnam Animal Control will also let people know about the program. There are some county employees who do outreach who would also let low-income pet owners know about the program.
How will you address barriers to full use of the program such as transportation, illiteracy, and cultural hurdles? 
We provide the transportation from central location in Palatka. We have volunteers who can also help with transportation and help with cultural hurdles.
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.
 We operate two air conditioned vans and have crates that we use when transporting the animals. Our employees are trained and experienced in transporting pets.
Veterinary Services
 

What arrangements have you made with veterinarians to perform the surgeries? 
We have a long-standing relationship with First Coast No More Homeless Pets in Jacksonville to sterilize the pet dogs and with Flagler Cats for the pet cats.
Are they:  
 

Veterinary Practices
Practice NameAddressCityStateZipPhoneLead Practice
First Coast No More Homeless Pets6817 Norwood AvenueJacksonvilleFlorida32208904-425-0005
Flagler Cats2405 E Moody Blvd 32110BunnellFL32110386-503-4250

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 owners to determine if they want to pay for additional services.  
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
All local vets in Putnam SAFE has long standing excellent relationship with all of the local vets in Putnam County. All understand the need for this and will direct clients in need to us
Local Radio Stations All do run PR for us telling people of our services
Palatka Daily News Will run PR at no charge letting people know of this service being offered
Putnam Animal Control Will direct folks needing this service to us and those turning in pups and kittens

 
Other Information
Provide any additional information that will help the grant selection committee understand how the program will operate to achieve its goals.
 There is a tremendous need in Putnam County for these services. Just this past weekend, we had 20 puppies abandoned to us--we cannot keep up with the numbers. Putnam County desperately needs a spay/neuter program focused on pet owners who cannot otherwise afford the surgeries.
Budget
Total number of sterilization surgeries projected:
Cats: 300    Dogs:  155 
Total budget requested (Budget should not exceed $25,000): $25,000.00 
Average cost/surgery projected: $55.00 
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 other expenses will be borne by the pet owner.
 
Describe any other funding sources for this program, i.e. other grants, targeted fundraising efforts, budget allocation, etc.
Right now we have no other sources for funding.
 
What percent of the total cost of the program would this projected grant cover?
25%
Timeline
All projects must be completed within 12 months of receipt of funding.
Projected start date: 08/01/18/     Projected end date: 12/31/18
 
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 will look for additional grants, seek local funding and try to work with the Putnam County government to provide funding.
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.
 SAFE will include with each PR and each radio broadcast the fact that this was made possible by The Animal Friend License Plate . We will also advertise in our newsletter and website, Facebook pages .