T. Russell Reitz Regional Animal Shelter: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report

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

Having the fees sponsored and decreased for cats and dogs also helped other pets in the shelter find homes (one guinea pig and three rabbits), even though they were not a part of the grant and sponsored-fee promotions!

How many pets did this grant help?

58

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

Tif, a 6-year-old blue heeler, was the most highlighted animal during this event to find a forever home. She came in scared and very fearful to everyone. Staff worked with her for many months — six, to be exact — and she was able to find a forever home. She now has a family, kids, cats, and dogs she lives with! We do not think this would’ve been possible without the help of this grant!

From Facebook, March 18, 2022: Tif was adopted to a veterinarian who was looking for a heeler. Tif headed home with them to Texas.

Tif came in five months ago. Shelters generally don’t work with dogs this long, but here at T. Russell, we strive to give every animal a chance as long as they’re progressing.

Tif was left outside, had some hair loss and was abused in her past life. She came into T. Russell scared and wouldn’t trust anyone. After a few days, she trusted a staff member; that grew to two, three, and then the whole crew. We found out Tif was heartworm-positive. Donations made her treatment possible.

A local trainer offered to volunteer and help our training program grow. Tif quickly enjoyed the daily one-on-one training and enrichment, learning several commands, how to properly meet strangers, and even how to meet other dogs and accept them.