The Humane Society of Midland County is organizing a weeklong “peer to peer fundraising blitz” from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 to boost money to buy cat condos.
HSoMC Director of Development and Fundraising Jesse Fletcher is planning the fundraiser to exchange the short-term, outdated, and low cost cat cages and old canine kennels which can be at the moment used to accommodate cats. She mentioned the canine kennels should not solely housing the mistaken animal, however they’re additionally the mistaken dimension.
Fletcher is hoping the fundraiser can elevate not less than $15,000 for the following spherical of cat condos.
“It’s vital for us to have and provide the extra spaces,” Fletcher mentioned.
In whole, the HSoMC hopes to boost $67,000 to finish the challenge. Fletcher mentioned they’re doing it in phases due to the cost. The Midland 100 Club has made a donation, which helped with the primary part of condos.
Fletcher mentioned peer-to-peer fundraising is a method by which individual supporters host private campaigns (digital advertising with social media being the primary part) to gather donations from their buddies, household, and colleagues on an organization’s behalf. This strategy may help an organization develop its attain to new, beforehand unexplored networks of supporters.
HSoMC will assist individuals arrange their very own fundraising web page if wanted.
Fletcher mentioned when HSoMC took over the shelter in 2011, there was little or no house for cats, of which greater than 1,000 got here in yearly. There have been solely six cages devoted to cats, which means most have been euthanized previous to HSoMC taking up.
In 2011, all workplace house was changed into cat house since there was nowhere else to carry them within the small building. They used short-term cages, outdated and cheap cages, and now the cats are within the “old dog kennels” after the HSoMC up to date the kennel space.
Fletcher mentioned 99% of the greater than 1,100 cats taken in yearly come from Midland County residents. She mentioned that quantity is down from 1,700 in some earlier years and is manageable. What isn’t manageable, although, is the housing for the cats.
She mentioned cats are sometimes handled as second-rate pets and the HSoMC has “shamefully” needed to do the identical inside its capability, with insufficient and cramped housing and old and repurposed kennels being the “norm.”
Fletcher mentioned the cats do get loads of love and a focus and are vetted and stored snug. But in addition they have wobbly, rusty cages with gaps in them. She mentioned this additionally spreads illness and scent. She mentioned cats are delicate creatures and that sensing different animals is usually aggravating, making them prone to infections.
“What we desperately need is appropriate condos for our cats – condos that are the appropriate size, ventilation, and sanitation,” Fletcher mentioned.
She mentioned the right cat cages will hopefully be a part of a brand new HSoMC facility sooner or later.
“The prime quality and excessive normal of care will final for us for years and years to come back,” Fletcher mentioned.
To be part of the fundraiser, e-mail Fletcher at [email protected]
