RESCUE EVERY DOG

RESCUE EVERY DOG FOSTER PROGRAM2023 LED TO A LOWER NUMBER OF INTAKES: 72 NEW ANIMALS IN NEED WERE ADMITTED TO THE FOSTER PROGRAM IN 2023 VS 97 ANIMALS IN 2022. THIS REDUCTION IN NUMBERS WAS BY DESIGN DUE TO THE LARGER NUMBER OF CARRY OVER ANIMALS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS STILL IN R.E.D.'S CARE, AND THE NATIONAL TREND OF ADOPTIONS SLOWING DUE TO THE NATIONAL PET POPULATION CRISIS CAUSED LARGELY BY HOUSING LIMITATIONS AND LACK OF ACCESS TO SPAY AND NEUTER BOTH DUE TO COST AND VET AVAILABILITY. THE NEWLY RESCUED ANIMALS INCLUDED CATS (23), AND DOGS (49).THOSE NUMBERS NOT INCLUDE CARRY OVER COMPANION ANIMALS FROM 2022 AND BEFORE THAT WERE ALREADY IN R.E.D.'S CARE FOR ADOPTION OR SANCTUARY AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. WE WERE PLEASED TO HAVE VERY FEW ADOPTION RETURNS (4), AS IT REFLECTS OUR DILIGENT ADOPTION PLACEMENTS. THE FEW RETURNS WE DID HAVE WERE DUE TO MEDICAL CRISES IN THE ADOPTIVE FAMILY, AND ISSUES MAINTAINING HOUSING. ANIMAL INTAKE AND ASSISTANCE NUMBERS WERE LOWER BY OUR MANAGEMENT CHOICE DUE TO THE LINGERING IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH BROUGHT CONTINUED INCREASED COSTS IN FOOD, SUPPLIES, VET CARE, ETC., ACCESS TO VETERINARY OPTIONS, NATIONWIDE LOWER ADOPTION RATES, SUPPLY ISSUES AND REDUCTION IN STAFF AND VOLUNTEER MOBILITY. INFLATION BEGAN CAUSING EXTREMELY LIMITED ACCESS TO VETERINARY CARE, DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO CORPORATE BUYOUTS OF ESTABLISHED VETERINARY CLINICS. WE ARE PROUD THAT WE MAINTAINED A HEALTHY PROGRAM AND CONTINUED TO TAKE IN NEW CHARGES WHO NEEDED RESCUE WHILE STILL PROVIDING QUALITY CARE AND BEHAVIOR TRAINING. THE MAJORITY OF NEW LIVES SAVED WERE LAST CHANCE FOR LIFE ANIMALS FROM HIGH KILLS SHELTERS, ADDITIONALLY WE CONTINUED TO ASSIST AND TOOK WORTHY RESCUES FROM LOCAL SHELTERS AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. ADOPTIONS AND ADOPTION APPLICATIONS CAME, HOWEVER SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2021, STILL CONTINUING PAST 2023, AND THE TREND OF STAYING IN R.E.D. CARE LONGER CONTINUES DUE TO LOCAL TOUGH ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, THE DAMAGING IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC, LIMITED HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH PETS, INFLATION, AND THE TYPE OF ANIMALS AND SPECIAL NEEDS ANIMALS WE SUPPORT AND SAVE. R.E.D. IS KNOWN FOR SUPPORTING MEDICAL CASES WITH NEEDS THAT SHELTERS AND OWNERS CANNOT PROVIDE FOR COMPANION ANIMALS. R.E.D CONTINUED ITS DEDICATION TO MORE MEDICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS ANIMALS AS WELL AS MORE SENIOR ANIMALS. THERE ARE MANY COMMON EXPENSES INCURRED IN FOSTERING ANIMALS AT R.E.D. WHICH INCLUDE PET FOOD, COLLARS, LEASHES, BEDDING, LITTER AND BEDDING, PET TREATS, AND TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR VET APPOINTMENTS, POTENTIAL ADOPTER INTERVIEWS, AND MEET AND GREETS. ANIMALS NEEDING EXPENSIVE MEDICAL CARE REQUIRE ALL THE COMMON ANIMAL EXPENSES PLUS MORE STAFF AND VOLUNTEER TIME AS WELL AS INCURRING MUCH HIGHER VETERINARY COSTS PER ANIMAL. THIS HAS ALSO BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO ACCESS QUALITY VETERINARY CARE, AS RESCUE OPTIONS AT MANY CLINICS HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY LIMITED OR UNAVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH VETS ARE REOPENED AND BACK TO PERFORMING SERVICES, VET AVAILABLY CONTINUES TO DIMINISH AND VET COSTS CONTINUE TO DRAMATICALLY RISE AND FOR R.E.D. THIS IS A CHALLENGE SINCE WE SERVE AS A SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR RURAL SHELTERS IN WASHINGTON AND OUT OF AREA, WHO HAVE ANIMALS NEEDING MORE EXTENSIVE VET CARE THAN THE SHELTERS CAN PROVIDE. VET CLINICS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE INCREASED PRICES AND MOST NO LONGER OFFER THE DISCOUNTED SERVICES WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH FOR MANY YEARS. THIS IS A CONTINUED CHALLENGE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THE RESCUE COMMUNITY AND MADE OUR VET COSTS RISE AGAIN. RED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS CONTINUE THEIR WORK OF PRIOR YEARS- SPENDING TIME ON THE PHONE AND INTERNET POSTING ANIMALS FOR ADOPTION, INTERVIEWING POTENTIAL ADOPTERS, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, COORDINATING VET CARE, TRANSPORTING ANIMALS, DOING SUPPLY RUNS, AND WORKING WITH LOCAL SHELTERS AND OUT OF AREA SHELTERS ON ADMISSION OF ANIMALS INTO THE R.E.D PROGRAM. WE ALSO PROVIDE A FRIENDLY VOICE FOR PET OWNERS NEEDING GUIDANCE AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. R.E.D. IS ONE OF THE FEW LOCAL GROUPS THAT ANSWER THE PHONE AND CAN OFTEN ASSIST PET OWNERS WITH ISSUES THAT WILL KEEP AN ANIMAL IN A HOME INSTEAD OF BECOMING ANOTHER SHELTER ADMISSION OR WORSE. R.E.D. PROVIDED OWNER RELEASES HELP BY CONTINUING TO ACCEPT ANIMALS DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLIC WHEN LOCAL AND OUT OF AREA SHELTERS COULD NOT HELP. AS WELL AS ASSISTED WITH FOOD AND VET CARE FOR SOME PETS, INCLUDING DOGS AND CATS, FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN MASON COUNTY, KITSAP COUNTY AND OTHER LOCAL AREAS AND SOME LOW INCOME PEOPLES IN OUT OF AREA REGIONS. R.E.D. ALSO ASSISTED IN THE SAFE PLACEMENT OR TRANSFERS OF OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS ANIMALS TO OTHER SAFE RESCUES OR ADOPTIONS FROM OTHER RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS VIA PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS ON THE INTERNET AND PHONE.SOME ADDITIONAL NOTEWORTHY LARGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS R.E.D. IS PROUD OF INCLUDED CONTINUING THE FUNDING OF A LOW-COST SPAY NEUTER AND VET ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE FOR THE PUBLIC (WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO THOSE ESPECIALLY IN NEED) IN LAREDO TEXAS, A RURAL LOW INCOME AREA THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS THE ASSISTANCE TO HELP SLOW THE AMOUNT OF STRAYS, OTHER TEXAS EFFORTS INCLUDED VACCINES AND SPAY/ NEUTER FOR LOW INCOME ANIMALS, AND FOOD DRIVES.OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE CONTINUES TO BE OUR LOYALTY AND HIGH QUALITY CARE FOR THE ANIMALS IN OUR PROGRAM, DESPITE THEIR NEEDS AND/ OR LENGTH OF STAY. WE ARE PROUD OF THE AMAZING WORK AND SAFE HAVEN OUR RESCUE EVERY DOG TEAM DILIGENTLY PROVIDED TO LIVES IN NEED IN 2023.