Heidi's Village: REDI Training Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

Heidi's Village is located in a diversely populated part of the greater Phoenix area, close to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport and in a mix of uniquely zoned neighborhoods. This training served as a great lesson to the key staff chosen. The training enabled us to check biases in our adoption processes. As a result of the training, we re-designed and re-printed the Heidi's Village brochure in English and Spanish so it could be readable to more of the families who we serve and that live in the Heidi's Village neighborhood.

This grant also guided us to direct more focus on each specific pet's needs and behaviors as well as the needs, patterns, and behaviors of each family, checking on other pets in the home as well as the children, family members' ages, and the family's level of activity.

This has enabled families to find good furrever fits the first time adopting at Heidi's Village.

How many pets did this grant help?

In the previous 12 months, Heidi's Village adopted out 1,091 cats and dogs. We hope this grant will help as many, if not more, animals in this grant cycle.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Part of the grant helped us learn and understand more about keeping healthily bonded pairs together, even if they seem to be an “odd couple,” and to find a family that suits them purrfectly.

Piggie and Pie were found roaming the streets together as strays. After an unknown amount of time, they were picked up by a good Samaritan who fell in love with them. Unfortunately, he was unable to have pets at his residence.

It was clear these two were bonded from their time on the streets, so we knew they had to find the perfect forever home that wanted the Piggy AND the Pie – we are SO HAPPY THEY DID!

Once we started taking about them with potential adopters, we were very clear that they had known and bonded with each other for several years and that they really seemed to thrive together.

We found the perfect mom for both Piggie and Pie. We’ve received great reports that they are happy, healthy, and thriving in their newfound home.