$3000

We have been granted money from West Shore Aware in recent years to go towards our general funding. This has allowed us to continue with our purpose of helping homeless pets finding their new home, educating the public and subsidizing payment for veterinary services for the public.

Kathy Korse (Co-President), Grace Gilmore (Co-President), Jo Ann Ploen (Vice President), Gwen Hinz (Secretary), Ellen Liehr (Treasurer), Bradley Borowiec, Jodi Clock, John Nappo, Cathy Novak, Shirley McKee, Renee Rush, Suzy Swanson

Al-Van Humane Society is a non-profit no-kill animal shelter, serving Allegan and Van Buren counties for 54 years. All members of the board of directors are volunteers and are active at Al-Van. Our current Adoption facility was opened in May 2018 and our Intake facility was constructed over 25 years ago. Over 75,000 animals have received shelter and care. Prior to 2012, about 85% of the animals were euthanized each year due to space constraints. In 2012, Al-Van Board of Directors adopted no-kill best practices to ensure all adoptable animals would be cared for until a forever home was found, no matter how long that took. We increased the number of foster families, active volunteers, and meet & greets held outside the shelter, increasing our save rate from 18% to 62% in one year, earning us the recognition of “Most Improved Save Rate” in 2012 by the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance. Today, our save rate consistently ranges above 95%!

We are requesting funding for our general operation. The shelter provides day-to-day care and facilitates adoptions for over 500 animals a year. Al-Van takes in dogs and cats brought in as strays, unwanted by their owners, transfers from overcrowded shelters or by residents who are unable to continue to care for them. Each animal is medically assessed, vetted, and provided a warm, safe caring place to live until adoption.

Sheltering all animals that come to us in need is our primary goal. Prior to adoption, all animals are spay/neutered, microchipped and receive vaccinations, heartworm and flea and tick control medication. Reducing the number of unwanted animals is our primary objective. Offering low cost spay neuter clinics to the public, who otherwise would not be able to afford it, is an essential part of meeting that objective. We have seen an increase in medically compromised animals and elderly animals surrendered to the shelter since the coronavirus pandemic, which requires an increase in medical emergency funds to provide the necessary care. We have also seen an increase in the number of animals surrendered due to economic reasons since covid has impacted people and the economy. Humane education is also a part of our mission. Offering Bite Prevention and animal care programs to schoolchildren and providing animal behavior assistance to adopters is a critical component of meeting our goals. We have been unable to go to the schools for two years due to the pandemic but are now able to continue our humane education programs.

In 2022 we adopted out 459 animals and our goal this year is to adopt 500 animals into new loving homes. The average cost for any healthy dog that comes into our facility for their first month in our care, including preparation for adoption, is about $200. The average cost for a cat is about $100. It costs $700-900 to treat a dog in our care for heartworm in addition to the other costs that we incur to prepare them for adoption. Last year we treated 16 cases of heartworm, the majority of which were local strays. If we were to receive this grant it would help offset some of the veterinary costs along with other operating expenses.

Al-Van’s annual operating budget is approximately $550,000. We receive approximately 46% from general donations and grants (such as West Shore Aware), 13% from fundraising events (private donors); 24% from Rescued Treasures resale shop (also private donations) and 5% from municipality service agreements. The balance of funds, 12%, is raised through shelter services, such as adoption fees and microchipping. Our operating budget has greatly increased in the last couple of years. This means that we need to increase our donations and grants. We want to get animals into loving homes without putting a barrier of high adoption fees. Grants like these really help the community who is willing to bring a rescue animal into their home without having to worry about a high adoption fee. This also allows the adopter to have more money on hand to continue to care for their new pet. This money would allow us to continue our mission and provide animals with the best care until they are able to find their new home.

Al-Van Humane Society would like for West Shore Aware to consider award funding to help us contribute to our mission to compassionately serve the companion animals in our community by providing the best shelter, adoptive homes, education and resources available. Every pet deserves love, care and above all, a home. Al-Van’s annual operating budget is approximately $550,000. Everything has become more expensive and we would like to be able to continue to provide the best care for animals prior to them finding their adoptive home without putting the barrier of high adoption fees on the adopters. All animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated prior to adoption. This helps set up the animals and adopters well so that they do not have to rush to get their new pet up to date with preventative care. We treat all heartworm positive dogs prior to adoption to ensure that they go through the whole treatment while we pay for it. It costs us $700-900 per dog to treat them heartworm. We do allow people to foster the dog while they are undergoing their treatment while we pay the veterinary bill. This is just one example of something that we do to provide the best care possible for the pets that are looking for new homes. Please help us to continue with caring for these animals temporarily and matching them with their new homes.

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