ANIMALS

ANIMAL FRIENDS RESCUE PROJECT

www.AnimalFriendsRescue.org

333-0722

Founded: 1998

WHAT THEY DO: Animal Friends works to rescue, medically treat, foster and find permanent homes for stray, abandoned or abused companion animals. They also help eliminate euthanasia as a means of controlling animal populations by providing spay and neuter programs.

THE BIG IDEA: The nonprofit’s Friends with Benefits Program is seeking funds to medically treat long-term illnesses and provide fospice (foster-hospice) to animals that might otherwise be considered unadoptable, giving them a second chance at love.

SAFE HAVEN: “Jack nosed my cheek the first night, trilled softly and beat his tail with joy until he fell asleep! I’ve cried a river over that.”

ANIMAL WELFARE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE

www.AnimalWelfare.org

372-1650

Founded: 1978

WHAT THEY DO: AWIA helps keep pets with their owners at home by assisting owners who may be going through financial trouble and unable to pay for pet care. Their programs inform the public about low-cost veterinary services and provide to responsible but financially disadvantaged owners pet services that include microchipping, spay/neutering, medications and food.

THE BIG IDEA: Animal Welfare strives to keep pets living with their people, and to keep pets from being abandoned or surrendered to shelters in the first place. Funding will help pets remain in loving homes they already have instead of ending up in shelters when low-income owners can’t afford care.

OH, WON’T YOU STAY WITH ME: “My cat Sunny was very ill and I am disabled. Animal Welfare Information and Assistance found out she had cancer and made sure she didn’t have to suffer.”

PEACE OF MIND DOG RESCUE

www.PeaceofMindDogRescue.org

718-9122

Founded: 2009

WHAT THEY DO: Finding loving homes for pets when elderly guardians move into a nursing home or pass away is Peace of Mind Dog Rescue’s goal. The group also seeks medical care for senior dogs in shelters and has become a go-to resource advocate for senior dogs and senior people.

THE BIG IDEA: Maintaining peace of mind is a challenge, so this nonprofit aims to help over 150 senior dogs in 2015 that come from animal shelters or from guardians who can no longer care for them. Contributed funds will provide medical care, foster homes, adoption events, online and newspaper profiles until the senior dogs are placed in their forever homes.

FOREVER FRIEND: “I hope there will be a miracle and that I will live and return home with my Chulita, but if I don’t come back, I am so thankful that she is with you.”

SAVE THE WHALES

www.SavetheWhales.org

899-9957

Founded: 1977

WHAT THEY DO: Save the Whales does just that: They work to save whales from the harmful actions of humans. They provide education about preserving marine mammals and their environment, and how our actions on land can kill marine life with litter, soap, oil, and plastic bags. This is one very creative organization which also provides jobs – with a sense of purpose and a connection to ocean preservation – to the disabled.

THE BIG IDEA: As they save the whales, this nonprofit also seeks to enable employment opportunities by hiring developmentally disabled employees from HOPE Services. Hard-working and eager employees will decal storm drains with “No Dumping, Drains to Bay” stickers. In addition, the nonprofit has identified a greater need for their outreach with hands-on educational programs about endangered marine animals. Funds will help them go into more schools, connect with more underserved students and educate, inform and inspire people to take action.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT: “Save The Whales has given us an opportunity to be… hands-on and cooperative with another nonprofit and with something so important to everybody in the community.”

SPCA FOR MONTEREY COUNTY

www.spcamc.org

373-2631

Founded: 1905

WHAT THEY DO: The SPCA for Monterey County assures the compassionate and humane treatment of all animals, making sure no animal is turned away. How they remain committed to this goal is by responding to, investigating and prosecuting the reports of animal abuse, neglect and cruelty. The nonprofit rescues, treats, fosters and places abused animals, as well as providing spay and neuter services at a low cost.

THE BIG IDEA: To fulfill their mission, the SPCA needs to collaborate with other agencies/departments in order to provide the combined resources from domestic violence courts, Adult and Child Protective Services, animal humane investigators and officers, staff, food, medical care and sheltering in order to investigate crimes against animals and prepare cases for prosecution by the District Attorney.

CUDDLE BUDDY: “Molly is the perfect companion and I feel so blessed that the SPCA rescued my little angel. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.”

VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY

www.VentanaWS.org

455-9514

Founded: 1977

WHAT THEY DO: Ventana Wildlife Society conserves native wildlife and their habitats through scientific research, education and collaboration. They’ve led the way in reintroducing the iconic American bald eagle and the California condor to native habitats in Central California.

THE BIG IDEA: VWS has spent the past 18 years reintroducing condors to the wild, and has established a local population of nesting condors – 60 alone reside in Big Sur. And to make sure condors and their chicks stay healthy, the nonprofit provides pediatric condor care to chicks hatched in the wild. Part of this work involves climbing to condor nests, checking on eggs, conducting wellness exams and providing emergency and veterinary care when needed.

SOARING REPUTATION: “Ventana Wildlife Society’s track record in wildlife restoration, in particular their success with bald eagles and California condors, is highly commendable.”