Welcome to HOPA LONG ANIMAL RESCUE! We want to celebrate our hard work and share the experience of animal rescue with you! A day in the life of animal rescue is never boring, so we ve decided to open our doors and give you a peek behind the scenes. Core Programs ADOPTION FOSTER VOLUNTEER PET SURVIVOR EMERGENCY RELIEF COMMUNITY SPAY/ NEUTER
We foster hope Hopalong Animal Rescue is the largest, all-foster animal rescue group in the Bay Area with 620 foster families, and 580 volunteers! Founded by Helen Hill 27 years ago, Hopalong got its name from its very first animal rescued from the Oakland Animal Shelter, a three-legged cat named Hopalong. With offices in Oakland and Mill Valley California, we have rescued over 36,000 shelter animals from euthanasia lists to date. Hopalong s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome neglected and homeless animals from Northern California shelters and beyond. 1
What makes Hopalong unique? Hopalong stands apart because it is the only animal rescue group of its size in the Bay Area that is 100% foster-based. Our foster families are located throughout the East Bay, San Francisco and Marin County, and they host our rescue animals in homes (rather than kennels) while getting ready for adoption. During this time, we learn a great deal of unique information on EVERY dog and cat s personality that allows us to carefully match our animals with adoptive homes. This leads to an exceptionally low return rate of less than 2% post adoption. 2
Medical care is our specialty Our robust foster program means that we are able to rescue many more animals with special needs. These are animals who are sick, injured or senior, and often have the highest chances of being abandoned or euthanized. We make FULL medical care an integral part of our program BEFORE they get adopted out. We do this by contracting with a network of skilled veterinary practices throughout the Bay Area who graciously partner with us, discount their medical services, and enable us to rescue so many animals in need. We are indebted to these vets and their staff. Our foster homes then provide ideal places for the animals to heal and recover while receiving supportive care. Fix our Ferals 3
The foster experience We are able to pull rescue dogs and cats from shelters and get them into one of our foster homes within an average of 24 hours. One of the best parts of our job is witnessing the complete metamorphosis our rescue animals go through in their foster homes. The average foster stay in a home is approximately three weeks, and we equip each family with food, bedding, toys etc., so there is never any cost to host a dog or cat. Pet Food Express generously donates these supplies which covers over 1600 animals a year. After the first three days in a home, we often joke that our rescues start to relax and unpack their baggage. The joy of this is that once an animal feels comfortable and secure, their true personality comes out, and we can get an excellent snapshot of who they really are. 4
The final step getting adopted! We rescue and adopt out over 1600 animals a year! Once our dogs and cats have completed their time in foster care, they are ready to find their forever homes! All of our animals are listed on our website on our adoption pages, as well as being posted on Petfinder and Adopt a Pet. Our cats and kittens go to a variety of adoption condos in various pet stores throughout the Bay Area who have generously donated their space and staff to care for them. Our dogs attend multiple, mobile adoption events every weekend, and also have meet and greets scheduled in our offices. We screen our adopters rigorously, and take our animals back at any point during their lifetime. 5
Hopalong s emergency relief response program As natural disasters have been on the rise during the past few years, Hopalong Animal Rescue has emerged as a leader in emergency response. Due to the size of our foster program, our vast network of volunteers and our extended veterinary partnerships, we are able to respond on a large scale immediately. During California s most devastating fire to date, the PARADISE FIRE in 2018, we were able to launch an overnight, three-phase response by helping to evacuate adoptable animals from Butte County shelters to make room for the victims, take in pets from people who had lost their homes, and treat wounds and burns down in the Bay Area for animals who would later be returned home. Note: While this article is going to print, the fires are still ongoing, so final numbers are not available. Response time is estimated to be 8 weeks, and go into 2019. Hopalong s response during the CARR & LAKE COUNTY FIRES in 2018 enabled the rescue of 81 animals into our foster system, and an additional 39 who received urgent medical treatment locally around the fire zones. This was 8 times the average of most animal rescue groups, and again, due to the immediate availability of our foster network. 6 John Edelson/Associated Press
When the SANTA ROSA FIRES struck in 2017, we instantly responded and helped evacuate animals from the Sonoma Animal Shelter while fires burned nearby. In addition, we took in over 70 animals from several of the other fire zones. When HURRICANE IRMA hit, 52 of our foster families stepped forward in less than 24 hours to offer their homes when shelter animals from Florida were flown in. We had the pleasure of unloading many of the animals with the help of the Golden State Warriors! When ONE OF CALIFORNIA S WORST ANIMAL HOARDING CASES made headlines in Stockton, CA in 2017, the Stockton Animal Shelter called Hopalong Animal Rescue, and we instantly took in 82 neglected dogs and puppies at once. Within 24 hours, they were all in foster homes. These puppies had to learn how to be dogs through the introduction of the outside (grass,) toys, human affection, etc. 7
We Need Your Support! You can return your gift in the attached envelope, or go online to www.hopalong.org and visit our donate page. BEFORE Help us Save More Lives Every dollar you give allows us to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome countless more shelter animals. By making a gift today, you guarantee we can save the lives of more deserving cats and dogs and provide the critical care that they need! There are many ways to give as well! Workplace giving Stock gifts Legacy & planned giving Corporate or foundation partnerships Honor & Memorial gifts Naming opportunities Start a Facebook fundraiser! 8 AFTER Thank you so very much for your support, Juliet Boyd Executive Director
Your Support is Critical Every Dollar Counts Please Give Today! 9
Critical support also comes The success of our foster program has many key elements, and one of the most endearing and profound forms of support for a rescue dog or cat right out of a shelter can come from the resident pet in the foster home. Witnessing and experiencing stable and nurturing behavior from another animal can instantly soothe and calm a dog or cat who feels lost, is scared during transition, or is sick. Nulo Nulo is a one year old pit bull adopted from Hopalong a year ago to one of our favorite foster families. Selfishly, we feared losing them as a foster home after adoption, but not only did they foster again, the number of dogs they hosted increased! This can largely be attributed to Nulo s love of puppies and other dogs, and his fondness for becoming a full-time nanny to all of the new arrivals. He gently takes care of each and every one, and expertly calms the most fragile of nerves. 10
from animals, not just humans Max Max is a Hopalong cat adopted by one of our admired board members years ago. We always marveled at the volume of kittens this gentleman was able to foster each year, and then we found out his secret weapon. He too had a hidden, nurturing nanny who threw a welcome party for the new kitten arrivals on a regular basis, and welcomed them into the fold. We can t tell you what a difference this makes, and we love seeing the complete change in personality they have gone through when they return to us a month later, now ready for adoption. 11
12 Happy Endings
When Skipper's mom passed away, he immediately came to Hopalong as part of our PSP program. Money had been set aside for his future medical care, and at 12 years old, he was adopted into this phenomenal family who adored him until his passing several years later. Hopalong's very unique, Pet Survivor Program Many people worry about what will happen to their pet after they are gone. What some don t realize is that many animals wind up in shelters when their owners or parents have passed away. These pets tend to do very poorly after living in a home their entire lives, and often don t make it in the shelter environment. Hopalong created a comprehensive program 19 years ago after seeing so many animals struggling, and the program is a huge success. We are one of the few organizations in the U.S. that has a program like this, and animals even come to us from out of state. If you would like more information on our Pet Survivor Program, visit this page of our website: www.hopalong.org/pet-survivor-program-psp or please email: info@hopalong.org. We would be happy to talk with you! 13
Veterinary Offices EAST BAY Aborn Pet Hospital Fremont East Bay Veterinary Clinic Oakland Emeryville Pet Hospital Emeryville Abbey Pet Hospital El Cerrito Adoption Locations CATS EAST BAY Pet Food Express Rockridge Cat Adoption Center Your Basic Bird See Spot Run Oakland Berkeley Alameda Campus Vet Berkeley Petco Alameda Companion Animal Hospital Camino Alto Vet Animal Medical Center Larkspur Landing Veterinary Hospital Mill Valley Cat Clinic MARIN Castro Valley Mill Valley San Rafael Larkspur Mill Valley CATS MARIN Woodlands Pet Food & Treats Family Petcare Mill Valley Greenbrae San Rafael Novato Novato Emergency & Specialty EAST BAY + MARIN Berkeley Dog and Cat Berkeley PETS Referral Center Berkeley Pet Emergency Center San Rafael DOGS EAST BAY Berkeley Pet Food Express Alameda Oakland Fenton s Creamery Oakland Eye Care for Animals VCA Bay Area Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Hospital UC Davis Veterinary Hospital Santa Rosa San Leandro Davis DOGS MARIN Mill Valley Terra Linda Pet Food Express San Anselmo 14 Fosters Novato Hamilton Novato
Santa Rosa VETERINARY OFFICES EMERGENCY & SPECIALTY ADOPTION LOCATIONS FOSTERS to Davis Greenbrae Larkspur Mill Valley Novato 367 Miller Ave, Mill Valley San Anselmo San Rafael Greenbrae Larkspur Mill Valley El Cerrito Emeryville Oakland SAN FRANCISCO Emeryville Alameda Berkeley Oakland Alameda San Leandro 945 22nd Ave, Oakland San Leandro Castro Valley Fremont 15
Number of fosters: 620 Number of volunteers: 580 Fun Facts Amount spent on medical care each year: $290,000 In kind donations of goods: $450,000 Number of spays/neuters annually: 1,840 Number of vaccines given each year: 4,800 Number of staff: 6 full time and 3 part time Number of years Hopalong has been in existence: 27 Number of animals rescued to date: 36,000 Number of Hopalong s community members: 15,230 16
Thank you's We would like to dedicate this magazine to Suzanne Golter, President and Founder of Happy Hound Boarding, Training & Daycare. Thank you for caring for, training and fostering our rescue dogs over the years, and for making our dreams come true with your financial support. You have done wonders for us as a rescue community, and allowed us to reach new heights. We thank you. Thank you WOODLANDS PET FOOD AND TREATS for hosting and adopting out so many of our cats in all of your stores in Marin with your amazing staff, and for your generous donations. Thank you NOVATO FAMILY PETCARE for adopting out our adult and special need cats! Your big heart works wonders! Thank you YOUR BASIC BIRD in Berkeley for your MANY years of devotion and adoption of our cats. Thank you SEE SPOT RUN for your years of adoptions of our cats, and your creative and thoughtful fundraising! Thank you PETCO for representing and adopting out so many of our cats in the Alameda area! THANK YOU to HOPALONG ANIMAL RESCUE S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Your leadership, guidance and devotion to the animals and the growth of this organization is appreciated more than you can know. Suzanne Golter, President and Founder of Happy Hound Boarding, Training & Daycare. A special thanks to PET FOOD EXPRESS for their years of support, the continuous donations of goods for all of our foster animals, help and encouragement in launching the Marin office, and the fact that you support over 220 animal rescue organizations in the state of California. Thanks goes out to ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE FOSTERS AND VOLUNTEERS!!! You are the backbone of this organization, and allow all of these lives to be saved. Thank you to our INCREDIBLE STAFF for giving up so much of yourselves, and working so tirelessly to rescue all of these deserving animals. Your dedication and love for the cause is truly awe-inspiring.
P.O. Box 27507 Oakland, CA 94602 (510) 267-1915 tel (510) 444-3741 fax email info@hopalong.org web www.hopalong.org