Jul
25
Written by:
NJVMA Admin
7/25/2011 10:36 AM
The Monmouth County SPCA will save 5,000 lives this year!
Yesterday’s Accomplishments
Eleven years ago the Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA) reached the incredible milestone of 2,000 adoptions annually. Every year after that number inched up, until they opened their brand new facility and Homeward Bound Adoption Center in 2009. That year, the number of lives saved grew by an incredible 12% to more than 3,700.
Today’s Challenge
Even with the increase in lives saved made possible by the new facility, the MCSPCA knows that many more animals do not have the same luck annually. Inspired
by their participation in the ASPCA $100K Challenge, they know that they can live up to the potential of their incredible building and save more lives than ever. “We know we can do more,” said MCSPCA Director of Development Meghan Rehbein.
With a state of the art facility, and more than sixty-five years of experience, the MCSPCA knows that they can live up to their potential and save 5,000 animals this year. Here are some of the specific tactics and programs that they will use:
Adopt Out More Pets
Getting dogs and cats adopted out faster helps the MCSPCA save more using the same resources, and keeps the entire population healthier. Our Donate What You Can promotion for adult pets (over 4 mos.) offers potential adopters the option to donate what they can afford, rather than a set adoption fee and removes one potential barrier to adoption. Additional promotions will also be offered throughout the three months focused on the human population that offer other incentives to adopt.
Seniors for Seniors – Every Wednesday, seniors invited from active adult communities in Monmouth County and surrounding areas that will be given the opportunity to adopt in an exclusive, low-key setting. Adoption Counselors will be available early on an invitation-only basis for these seniors to meet older dogs and cats in a less crowded setting. The MCSPCA will provide coffee and snacks for the adopter to enjoy the exclusivity and one-on-one service offered through these appointments.
Town-based adoption promotions – Each week we have identified a town or group of towns to offer special promotions through. Partnering with in-town information distribution systems as well as local newspapers, residents of these towns will have the opportunity to receive special incentives during their towns’ adoption week at the MCSPCA. As adoption fees have already been reduced or eliminated, promotions for town residents will focus on value added items like free training or enrichment, food and supplies and free services from partner companies.
To kick off the Challenge and get adoption numbers off to the right start, the Monmouth County SPCA will be holding a Midnight Madness Adoption event August 5th, 6th and 7th. This Friday through Sunday event has a goal of adopting out 150 cats and dogs during the three days. They will be open through midnight for this event, and adopters who arrive after 9pm in their pajamas will receive special recognition. All adopters throughout the three days will receive an Adoption Swag bag including supplies and food, coupons for local retailers, magazines or books, MCSPCA logo gear and other fun items. Milestone adoptions – 50th, 100th and 150th – will receive gift baskets loaded with goodies. From 8-9pm we will have bedtime stories for the pets and families visiting read by a local celebrity, as well as milk and cookies for a bedtime snack.
Rescue More Puppies
For a three-month period the Community Room at the Homeward Bound Adoption Center will be transformed into a Puppy Rescue Center. The MCSPCA will transport twenty-five puppies weekly up to the center from Puerto Rico, South Carolina and other overcrowded shelters. They will be spayed or neutered and vaccinated and adopted out within the week, making room for the next transport of puppies. Anecdotal evidence as well as our own experience with puppy transports and, most recently, PuppyPalooza leads us to expect that there is a market of this magnitude in Central New Jersey for shelter puppies, which follows the animal welfare message of Adopt Don’t Shop.
Transports will arrive weekly on Tuesdays and the puppies will go immediately into the Puppy Rescue Center after they have been examined by the medical team. Spay and neuter surgeries will be performed Wednesday and Thursday, with help from Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Veterinarians in the evenings. Puppies that are not adopted out within the week will be transferred to partner shelters – Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association or St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center.
The MCSPCA will also be using social media and technology to help spread the message of adoption. They will be setting up 24-hour Kitty and Puppy cams with live feeds available through their website. Potential adopters as well as the curious public will be able to log onto their cameras and see cats and puppies at play at their leisure. Currently in development the MCSPCA is getting ready to have an App for that! Through some very supportive volunteers the MCSPCA will soon be able to unveil both android and iPhone Apps that will showcase adoptables, services, events and donations. The MCSPCA will also be turning to their friends and followers via Facebook® and Twitter® to help generate excitement and interest in the animals of the Monmouth County SPCA.
To learn more about any of the programs, promotions or animals at the Monmouth County SPCA Homeward Bound Adoption Center please check out their website www.monmouthcountyspca.org or stop in for a visit 260 Wall Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724.