HSUS offering grants to shelters and rescue groups to help families keep their pets
by Barbara J. Koll, Best Friends Network VolunteerThe Humane Society of the United States has launched a grant program for shelters and rescue groups that will help keep families and pets together during tough financial times. Over the past six months, there have been countless articles about the plight of the pets of families facing the loss of their homes. Pets are the voiceless victims of the current economic crisis and are frequently left behind in foreclosed homes or abandoned at shelters. Shelters are reporting that many families are struggling to care for the pets and they are seeing increased numbers of owner surrenders.
The HSUS is offering grants ranging from $500 to $2000 to shelters, rescues, and agencies to help establish, expand or publicize programs and services designed to assist families in caring for their pets during economic crisis. Preference for grants will be given to organizations that establish a cooperative agreement with other community organizations such as food banks or meals-on-wheels programs. Other programs that would be eligible for funding from HSUS include partnerships with local veterinarians to develop pet service vouchers for distribution to people in need of basic medical care for their pets and special funds to provide financial support to families to cover pet care expenses.
Shelters and rescue groups interested in applying for a grant can complete an application online at
AnimalSheltering.org. Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization or a municipal animal control agency eligible to receive restricted funds. The
HSUS website has additional information for shelters and rescue groups including the grant guidelines.
How you can help:•
Click here to make a donation to the HSUS Foreclosure Pets Fund.
• Contact your local shelter or rescue group and find out about the needs in your community. Help organize pet food and supply drives. Help educate pet owners on the options available when facing foreclosure.
• Contact your local food bank or meals-on-wheels program to find out if they have programs to help feed the pets of their clients.
For more information on caring for pets during financial crisis:Pets and Foreclosures: Frequently Asked QuestionsTips from HSUS for families with pets who are facing foreclosureASPCA Press Release (January 30, 2008)
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.com.