This month, it is our great pleasure to announce another Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation financial award, given to Marion Regional Humane Society of Marion, IL. A non-profit, no-kill organization, this tight-knit group works closely with the public to achieve their twin goals of reducing pet overpopulation and matching up abandoned animals with new homes. In a profession that leaves some rescuers cynical about the cruelty of some people towards non-human animals, these folks do their good works with gentle caring, unflagging perseverance and good humor.

As we have seen many times in previous foundation-related blog postings, some rescue organizations take as their mission the saving of specific breeds of dogs. Other non-profits cater their knowledgeable care solely to cats. And then there are those organizations like Marion Regional Humane Society, who seemingly take their inspiration from that ark of old, opening their hearts and doors to animals of all stripes, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters and more.

Frankie

Over the years, Marion Regional has operated a spay-and-neuter program, offered veterinary medical aid, provided food and shelter, and – above all – improved the chances that abandoned animals will become united with loving forever homes.

Graham

Day-to-day operations now take place in a 2,500-square-foot leased space, but the directors have purchased a three-plus-acre plot of undeveloped land where a brand new facility will be constructed in the very near future. In addition to seeking our grant, Marion Regional has actively pursued other fundraising opportunities to help pay for their new shelter. This spring, they plan to sponsor a black-tie affair at a local winery and restaurant in hopes of garnering local, and potentially more ample, financial support.

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention … to deal with the issue of limited space for their rescued animals, these warm-hearted folks provide pet food for pet parents who are burdened by financial difficulties. They know the best way to prevent animal abandonment is to keep companion animals in their existing homes, if at all possible. Similarly, they have implemented a low-cost, spay-and-neuter program, which also helps to curb feline and canine overpopulation in the area.

When their shelter was relocated to their current location, volunteers were utilized for many aspects of the move, including the installation of an HVAC system. Unfortunately, the unit was installed improperly, which lead to routine (and expensive) maintenance issues. When your primary source of funding comes from bake sales and the sporadic donations from the local area, dealing with an issue of this magnitude can prove especially challenging. Clearly, they needed substantial funding to handle the problem.

Our foundation’s board of directors consulted with Marion Regional’s directors, and a mutual decision was reached to allocate the necessary funds for building repairs. Once completed, anything remaining of the grant money would be put towards the stewardship of their rescued four-leggeds.

According to Jim Powless, our financial award made it possible to deal with their persistent problem, saying that “we are extremely grateful for your approval and funding of our grant application ... Otherwise, we might have just continued to expend short dollars indefinitely trying to pump more refrigerant into the system that wouldn’t work.” In fact, they were able not only to fix the system, they were also able to install an ultraviolet light to reduce mold allergens and bacteria. Since the new equipment was installed, they’ve had no incidents of respiratory infections or widespread allergic outbreaks in the shelter … fantastic news indeed!

In addition to the critically needed HVAC repairs mentioned above, our grant made it possible for Marion Regional to cover some of the costs of operating their shelter, including life-saving medications and vaccines.

We’d like to convey our sincerest thanks to all of our readers who, through their personal donations and continued patronage, made this grant possible. You have directly helped the dedicated network of Marion Regional’s volunteers to continue their vital work towards making the world a better place for abandoned companion animals.

Remember, every time you place a Life’s Abundance order, a portion of the profits goes directly to the foundation. If you would like to show additional support for our foundation, you may do so when placing an order online or by sending a check to Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation, Inc. at P.O. Box 1425, Palm City, FL 34991. Even if you can only spare a dollar or two, you’ll be providing much needed aid to deserving rescue organizations on the front lines of the fight to reduce and eliminate pet abandonment, neglect and abuse in America.