NORTHWEST DOG PROJECT

2023 WAS AN EMOTIONALLY TAXING YEAR FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. WE LOST OUR OPERATIONS COORDINATOR TO BREAST CANCER, AND OUR YEAR STARTED OFF TOUGH BY UNKNOWINGLY TAKING IN A LITTER OF PUPPIES THAT HAD A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND OFTEN DEADLY VIRUS, DISTEMPER. WE WERE DEVASTATED TO LOOSE 4 OF THE PUPPIES TO THE DISEASE, AND THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE PUT A LOT OF MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WARE ON OUR TEAM. IT ALSO CAUSED US TO CLOSE OUR DOORS FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS SO THAT WE COULD CONDUCT A PROPER QUARANTINE PERIOD TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE OTHER DOGS IN OUR CARE, FUTURE DOGS THAT WOULD COME INTO OUR CARE, AS WELL AS THE DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES AT THE START OF THE YEAR, WE STILL MANAGED TO RESCUED 157 DOGS AND ADOPT OUT 151. WE CONTINUED TO WELCOME IN MEDICALLY CHALLENGED DOGS, AND PROVIDE (SEE SCHEDULE O)ALL OF THE DOGS IN OUR PROGRAM WITH EXCEPTIONAL MEDICAL CARE, FAR ABOVE THE AVERAGE SHELTER MEDICINE. OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE OUR DOGS WITH ADEQUATE TRAINING IN 2023 DID NOT FALL SHORT EITHER, THIS CONTINUED TO BE A MAJOR PART OF OUR PROGRAM, AND A BIG CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO OUR RETURN RATE REMAINING SO LOW. AS WELL AS RESCUING 157 DOGS, OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT EFFORTS AGAIN ASSISTED IN KEEPING NUMEROUS DOGS IN THEIR HOMES BUY OFFERING EDUCATION, AND ASSISTANCE WITH TRAINING AND MEDICAL CARE. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO BRING ON A KENNEL MANAGER IN 2023, WHICH HAS ADDED GREAT VALUE TO OUR TEAM.

DUE TO ADOPTION DEMANDS, OUR INTAKES SHIFTED TOWARDS PUPPIES/YOUNG ADULTS A BIT MORE IN 2023, BUT OUR SENIOR SANCTUARY PROGRAM CONTINUED WITH CARING FOR 28 SENIORS IN 2023, ADOPTING OUT 21, 2 DECEASED, AND 5 REMAINING IN OUR CARE AS WE MOVED INTO 2024.