Coalition of Organizations Petitions County
 Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

Introduction

The Spay/NeuterTrust Fund

SPCA Petitions County

The Ballot Initiative

Coalition of Organizations Petitions County

Nonprofit organization initiates volunteer-run city s/n fund
In 1995, the animal control department, local humane society and community development office jointly petitioned the Parish (county) Commissioners for funds to help spay/neuter companion animals, including feral cats.

Community Development staff member Mike Strausser stated, “those who write budgets must be convinced that it is a good thing.” He suggested that:
  • public officials be invited to see for themselves examples of feral colonies, since many of them do not encounter this problem in their daily lives.

  • the general public must be reached; in Jefferson Parish, outreach vans went into local neighborhoods to bring awareness to the people.
    o the problem should be couched in language and concerns that the public officials understand - pet abuse and neglect, danger of dog bites, the spreading of garbage, danger of diseases such as rabies - in short, quality-of-life issues
  • s/n saves taxpayer dollars - to round up, feed, house and kill costs $68 per animal in this area, while s/n costs about half that.

Mr. Strausser feels, that what convinced the officials was a two-part campaign: community education/outreach, and a spay/neuter campaign focused on low-income areas of the parish. Activity was funded under HUD's community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. It was found eligible as a public health service and in compliance with HUD's national objectives since CDBG funds were used to subsidize the SNIP program in targeted low and moderate income areas only.

In addition to the veterinarian services, the Jefferson Parish Community Development Department required the local SPCA to conduct a community education program with presentations in local schools and community centers as well as various scouting and other youth groups located in targeted low and moderate income areas… Mr. Strausser stresses that a low-cost s/n program must be in place before CDBG funds can be used. These funds simply subsidize already-existing s/n services for low and moderate income pet owners.

Also important to note is that the program was only marginally successful before the spaymobile leased from The Southern Animal Foundation in nearby New Orleans was used to travel to targeted low and moderate income areas to perform s/n and other services.

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Articles:
Writing A Grant Do's and Dont's
Successful Grant Applications (a PDF of a PowerPoint presentation)

Granting Foundations:
DJ & T Foundation
PETCO Foundation
PETsMART Charities Foundation

Fundraising Initiatives:
Putting the Fun Back in Fundraising
Finding Funding to Fix Feral Felines
iGive.com

Government Grants or Appropriations:
Block Grants

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