By Rachel Loseke | Project Leader
Happy New Year from San Diego Cat Adoption Service!
As we contemplate goals and plans for our rescue efforts in the coming year, it seems appropriate to share with you, our supporters, how your contributions are making a difference and why we depend on you. During 2012 our average cost per cat taken in was $143. (This includes basic supplies such as food and litter, anti-parasite medication, spay/neuter surgery, and the occasional major medical expense.) However that same year our average adoption fee was only $108. Therefore to maintain the same level of care and services, we need to receive donations of about $35 per cat, or $15,120 in a year. Unfortunately due to competition from other publicly funded shelters, we have not been able to raise our adoption rates for the last seven years.
In the past year these figures included a number of "extraordinary" medical expenses. These included several major dental surgeries (between $400-700 each), a host of lab tests for an array of GI pathogens ($100), and an eyelid surgery ($800). The sweet boy who needed the eyelid surgery came to us from a volunteer who saw him being abused and interceded. Perry was born without eyelids and needed rare surgery to correct them and let him live comfortably. Although Perry got a rough start at the hands of humans, extraordinary love and care have allowed him to have a radically different life. He was adopted by one of our volunteers and is tremendously happy in his new home. Because we never want to turn away cats who would be made well and happy due to lack of funds to treat a medical condition, we are hoping to raise $20,000 this year, which balances our expected expenses and provides an additional $5000 as a fund for any cats who come to us needing major medical care.
As you can see from the numbers, we really depend on donations to supplement our rescue efforts. That is why we cannot tell you enough times how much we appreciate your support. Your compassion and generosity make it possible for us to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of cats in the San Diego area each year and place them in loving homes. Thank you again, and remember, spay and neuter your pets, and your neighbors' pets!
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