Cooper's Chance Animal Rescue: Senior Pet Adoption Assistance Grant Report

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

Grant funds were used to remove the barrier to adoption for our senior pet, Walter, who had been in our care for several months. The funds were used for neuter surgery and waiving the adoption fee for his new family.

The grant funds directly helped a senior pet, Walter, by removing adoption-cost barrier and helping him to connect with potential adopters he otherwise may have not had the chance to meet.

How many pets did this grant help?

1

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

This grant directly helped senior pet Walter find his furever family. Walter is a 12-year-old Queensland heeler mix who was rescued from Pinal County Animal Care and Control after he was found roaming a gas station in Casa Grande, AZ. He was emaciated, dirty and covered in ticks; it was obvious he had been out in the desert for a few weeks, but otherwise, he appeared healthy. Despite his ordeal, he was friendly upon intake, and to our surprise, had a microchip; but sadly, his owners refused to claim him due to his age, leaving him to die alone at the shelter. Abandoned and confused, Walter spent two months at the shelter before a plea was sent to rescue him, and on the eve before he was scheduled for euthanasia, we answered the call and rescued him, bringing him to a loving foster home where he was safe and comfortable.

In rescue, Walter’s light really started to shine, and he brightened every day with his infectious smile and gentle spirit. He is a happy, healthy, polite gentleman who wants nothing more than to spend time with his family and nap in the yard. He loves car rides, pancakes for breakfast and “spaw” days. Unfortunately, despite all efforts to find a family, he was in rescue for six months, and there wasn’t any interest in a large, senior pet ready for retirement.

Although he was happy, he was not home. As time went by with no interest, his adoptability declined, so in an effort to increase his chances of finding the right family and generate more interest, we requested a grant of $400 to waive his adoption fee $175 and cover the cost of neuter surgery for $225, which included mandatory surgical bloodwork for seniors ($175 surgery/$50 senior blood panel). We believed that this would open up the opportunity for more families to adopt, and also ensure he had all proper vetting prior to adoption.

Walter was adopted by a retired couple who wanted a friendly older companion, and Walter was the perfect fit. They appreciated his waived fee, as they are on a budget and the waived fee reduced the stress associated with bringing a new pet home. Instead, they used some of that money to treat Walter to a spaw day (second photo)!