Pet rescues and pet shelters are non-profit organizations that typically operate on the generosity of donations from benefactors with a passion for animals and they don’t generate much revenue on their own. Generally speaking, most rescue operations do not make a profit on adoption fees for pets as the costs to treat abandoned dogs before they are ready for adoption typically run significantly higher than the price tag on an adoption fee. The average cost for treating one dog that comes through Fureverwood Rescue is around $700 while we maintain a low adoption fee of $150 to keep adoption affordable for every home that wants to make one of these dogs a member of their family.
The costs associated with the treatment of abandoned and abused dogs include the cost to spay or neuter, test for heartworms, rabies, and other afflictions, treat for heartworms, fleas, and ticks, and mange, repair injuries, vaccinate and feed all the dogs while they are in our care. We have to maintain a supply of towels, blankets, and food and water bowls. We keep an ample supply of collars and leashes, dog toys, dog treats, brushes, and cleaning supplies on hand. Oftentimes we are tasked with driving hundreds of miles to pick up abandoned dogs or to deliver pups to their new forever homes. And of course, there are costly business expenses that come with operations. Shelters and rescues all over the country are faced with these and many other costly expenses to work toward the goal of saving as many animal lives as possible.
We at Fureverwood have been so lucky to have some generous donors who have made significant contributions to our operational expenses and given gifts that are always enjoyed by our pack. One such family is Jason and Brittany Monn, who have helped us in times of need when we have had needs for expensive spay and neuter procedures, surgeries for dogs, and de-worming expenses. The Monn family has been very generous, sharing not only their pocketbook, but they have also driven an hour and a half out of their way just to bring goat food for the goats and to bring dog treats and dog food for the pups. We love each and every one of our donors who help make operations here at Fureverwood possible.
People looking to donate to their favorite rescue operations have many options available to them. Monetary donations are always accepted and appreciated. At Fureverwood, 100% of the donations we receive go directly to the animals in our care. These funds go toward the treatment and care of the animals, feeding, housing, the building of appropriate shelters, and other necessities. You can make a donation to our rescue using the donation link on our website.
We also run fundraisers for our supporters to support our cause. We can be found at our Paws & Pints events on the second Thursday of each month at Pint and Barrel (see our events page for dates) where we bring a selection of our adoptable dogs looking for forever homes and offer low-cost microchipping to pets in the community and sell our Fureverwood T-shirts. We are also hosting a Fureverwood Rescue Brick Campaign where our supporters can purchase a brick stamped with their name or a personalized message for $45. These bricks will be used to build a patio pavilion on-site for our dogs to lounge and to have our donors forever memorialized for the contributions they have made toward saving the lives of the pups we have taken in.
Some of our favorite non-monetary donations at Fureverwood are dog treats. Our dogs love to nosh on Meaty Bones and Milk Bones Soft & Chewy Dog Bones. They also get really excited about one of their favorite snacks, peanuts! Toys are another donation the dogs love to receive, particularly the puppies! A pack favorite is the Kong-style chew toys that can be loaded with cheese and peanut butter; these keep the puppies occupied and help with teething (and the protection of our furniture!)
Other donations that are wonderful for pet rescues include:
- Blankets
- Towels
- Dog food
- Cat food
- Dog treats
- Cat treats
- Cleaning supplies
- Dog shampoo
- Pet beds
- Toys
Check with your local shelter or rescue to see which of these items they are able to accept or if they have other specialized needs that would serve them best. Fureverwood has an Amazon Wish List and Chewy Wish List available for anyone who would like to make a purchase for our dogs, which we can guarantee will be met by excessive tail wagging.
And of course, the other resource that you, as an animal lover, may have is time. Donations of your time, expertise, services, or knowledge are always welcome at most non-profits; check out our blog on volunteering here.