A Private Charity Since 1881 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Shelters A Private Charity Since 1881 Contact Us: 1-800-452-0114 cthumane.org info@cthumane.org 2012 Board of Directors Ellen Sharon, President Gretchen Dale, Vice President Lou Ann Giunta, Vice President William A. Haines, DVM, Secretary Leslie White, CFA, Treasurer Steve Parker Wilfredo Barriosnuevo, DVM Jennifer Rubin Jo-Ann Roberts, ESQ Peter Spano Margaret Y. Ormond Christopher V. White Executive Staff Gordon G. Willard, Executive Director Raymond Gasecki, Chief Financial Officer Barbara DeBellis Naugle, MS, Director of Development Jennifer Adams, SPHR, Director, Human Resources Alicia Wright, Director, Public Relations Janice Marzano, Executive Assistant Newington Headquarters 701 Russell Road Newington, CT 06111 (800) 452-0114 Allyson Simerlein, District Manager Waterford Shelter 169 Old Colchester Road Quaker Hill, CT 06375 (860) 442-8583 Nancy Patterson, District Manager Westport Shelter 455 Post Road East Westport, CT 06880 (203) 227-4137 Mindy Cummings, District Manager Hours of Operation Adoptions MON SAT: 9:30 am 5:30 pm Dog adoptions begin at 10:30 am SUN: 11 am 4 pm Pet Intake MON SAT: 9:30 am 5:30 pm SUN: 11 am 4 pm Administration: MON FRI: 9 am 5 pm Cat Adoption Center PetSmart New London 351 N. Frontage Road New London, CT 06320 (860) 440-3321 Hours of operation: MON FRI: 4 pm 8 pm SAT SUN: 12 pm 6 pm Fox Memorial Clinic 701B Russell Road Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-4503 Joanne Freeman, Practice Manager Hours of Operation: MON, TUE, THURS, FRI: 9 am 5 pm Walk-in WED: 9:30 am 5:30 pm 2 cthumane.org
Mission Statement The Connecticut Humane Society is the leading resource in the state for companion animal welfare, enriching the lives of families and communities through adoption services, medical care, education, and prevention of cruelty. Core Values: STEWARDSHIP: We manage and allocate all our resources to remain steadfast to our mission, to achieve the greatest good, and to ensure the future of our organization. QUALITY CARE: Our actions and decisions are based on providing the best medical and shelter care, and services to the most animals. We respect the life of each individual animal, while focusing on the welfare of staff, community, and the animal population as a whole. COMMUNITY-FOCUSED: We enrich the Connecticut community we serve by placing safe, healthy companion animals in responsible, loving homes. RESPECT: We treat all persons with dignity and respect in a non-judgmental manner. The general public, our staff members and volunteers are all viewed as our partners in improving animal welfare and in fulfilling our Mission. 2012 Revenue and Expenses* Community support makes our work possible. 85% of every donated dollar goes directly to the animals. Support Total $4,615,586 $1,966,950 PROGRAM REVENUES $2,648,636 PUBLIC SUPPORT Expenses Total $6,582,366 $5,296,068 PROGRAM SERVICES $420,034 FUNDRAISING $866,264 MANAGEMENT/ GENERAL *We do not receive any federal, state or municipal funds through tax dollars nor are we affiliated with any national humane organization. We are supported by private donors, corporations, foundations and program revenues. Complete financial statements are available upon request. cthumane.org 3
TOGETHER, WE ARE saving pets lives By Ellen Sharon, Board President With the continued support of our faithful donors, our big-hearted adopters, our committed volunteers, and our compassionate and skilled staff, your Connecticut Humane Society can look back on a year of success and accomplishment. Animal enrichment expanded, providing the mental and physical stimulation necessary to well-being and health. CHS animals now benefit from programs that include clicker training, play groups, roaming and colony rooms, individual exercise, obedience training, agility work, behavior modification, aroma therapy and audio therapy. As a result, animals are happier, and they go home faster. We formed strong collaborative relationships with many animal control facilities, rescues and shelters this past year, allowing us to help more Connecticut animals find their way to a new home. Providing medical care, alleviating overcrowding, and championing animals who have spent too long without a family proved one thing - we do the most good when we all work together. The Connecticut Humane Society geared up for a stronger legislative presence in the 2013 session by getting to know our legislators one-on-one. Through a first ever survey, personal tours of our shelter facilities, and plenty of follow-through, we formed strong connections with the champions of animal welfare at the Capitol. The path is now laid for stronger and more progressive cruelty prevention legislation. A totally revamped website is now live, providing more resources for our visitors, more ways to get involved, and lots of new features. Visit us at cthumane.org. (But I should warn you, the site is highly addictive.) The past year also provided us with a large number of opportunities to be out in your communities, sharing information about adoptions, medical care, education and prevention of cruelty. Whether at our own events, a partnered event, or as a guest, we enjoyed meeting animal lovers throughout the state and spreading the word on behalf of animal welfare. We can all be proud of the past year, and excited about the upcoming one, as we look towards expanding medical care to provide more wellness care, cures for the sick, and healing for the hurt. It is your continued support that keeps us motivated, pushing forward, and certain of a brighter future for companion animals in Connecticut. Thank you for putting your trust in the Connecticut Humane Society. 4 cthumane.org
THE COMMUNITY MAKES US stronger By Gordon Willard, Executive Director Same old, same old? No way! As the Connecticut Humane Society begins its 132nd year, we have the opportunity to reflect upon some of the wonderful things that were accomplished in addressing animal welfare concerns and preventing animal cruelty. But most importantly, we can see how the sum total of those who donated money and products, volunteered their time to help pets, and opened up their homes to one (or maybe more) of our pets have moved us closer to being a more humane Connecticut. These pages will showcase spay/neuter surgeries performed, and lifesaving interventions by our staff and experienced medical teams in CHS s three animal care and adoption centers and at the Fox Memorial Clinic. We speak about behavior modification programs; pet enrichment activities for pets while they wait for a new home, number of pets cared for by our foster homes, volunteer hours, and so much more. The information demonstrates how the community has provided CHS with the resources it needs to help companion pets. The information reflects how the community comes together through CHS to help pets in need. I certainly want to showcase the skills of our professional staff, their dedication, compassion and empathy. They work hard to provide wonderful care to the pets that come through our doors. I can t say enough about our volunteers, who show up day in and day out, to exercise our dogs and run them through their training regimen, pet our cats and yes, run them through their clicker training exercises. There are our foster care parents who time and time again take on litters of kittens and puppies and special needs pets at a moment s notice simply because they want to be part of the team that makes those pets whole again. Thank you to those who have made monetary donations because quite simply, without those financial resources, we would be much more limited in our ability to respond to the needs of our companion pets. As you look at these pages, I wish to call your attention to the adoption numbers, not as a reflection of what we have done but as a reflection of our Connecticut families who have joined those who care about animal welfare by giving our pets a new home. These people are excited to accept a new family member who happens to have four legs. Without those who adopt our pets, everything would just come to a halt. But in 2012, that was never a concern. Our pets are fortunate to have such great community support and we have been fortunate to have earned your trust. cthumane.org 5
Programs by the numbers Adoptions The Connecticut Humane Society strives to find a loving family for every pet presented for adoption. In 2012, we found homes for 4,924 pets and had an adoption rate of 92%*. The adoption rate includes pets who were adopted from our shelters, transferred to rescue groups best equipped to find homes for certain pets, and reunited with their owners. 240 OTHER ADOPTIONS** 1,624 DOG/PUPPY ADOPTIONS 3,060 CAT/KITTEN ADOPTIONS 4,924 TOTAL ADOPTIONS 92% ADOPTION RATE Medical Staff at Work The Connecticut Humane Society shelter medical teams provide quality, loving care to every pet who comes into our shelters. Our pets receive a veterinary exam, vaccinations, spay/ neuter services and in some cases, extensive medical care prior to placement with a loving family. Last year 2,435 Spay/Neuter Surgeries Performed for Shelter Pets Over 14,300 vaccinations were administered Over 5,500 diagnostic tests were performed Hundreds of lifesaving surgical and medical treatments helped pets suffering from illness and injury *We do not euthanize for time limits, space or age of pet. Shelter operating statistics can be found at www.cthumane.org/aboutus **Other adoptions include birds, rabbits, Guinea pigs, ferrets and other small pets. Extending Help to Others 240 pets rescued from local animal control Last year, we reached out to Animal Control and overcrowded shelters to help save the lives of pets faced with few opportunities to find a loving family. We found homes for: 1,100 pets rescued from overcrowded shelters Good Manners Make Better Companions The goal of the Connecticut Humane Society training and behavior department is to help pet owners establish solid bonds with their companions through training and to assist our shelter pets in learning new manners while they wait for new homes. In 2012: Over 432 people attended classes provided by our pet training partners Over 104 behavioral consultations were provided to CHS adopters Over 1,640 volunteer hours were spent training and providing special enrichment for our shelter pets 6 cthumane.org
Volunteers making a difference We could not accomplish our goals without the meaningful support of our volunteers. From foster care to dog walking to pet photography and more, volunteers make a difference in the lives of our pets every day! 392 active volunteers 17,835 volunteer hours contributed in 2012* *Not including foster care 1,088 foster pets cared for by volunteers 15,919 hours spent providing direct care to animals* 9.2 full-time positions filled through equivalent volunteer work saving us over $181,000 in salaries and benefits Educating our community We bring the values of compassion and responsibility to thousands of children and adults inspiring them to make the world a better place for animals and humans alike. KIND News sponsorships provided for 520 classrooms & reaching over 15,600 students 67 shelter tours conducted educating over 1,100 students 21 classrooms visited educating over 380 students 110 students attended Kindness Club Summer Program Helping our community keep their pets at home and out of shelters Our Fox Memorial Clinic is a full-service hospital offering veterinary care to the pets of families in financial need. Preventative wellness care, spay/ neuter, and vaccination clinics are among the services offered to clients at an affordable fee. 1,655 Spay/neuter surgeries provided 5,656 office visits conducted 6,980 vaccines delivered at office visits and clinics 36 vaccine clinics conducted 170 specialized surgical procedures performed 3,210 hours of service delivered by Fox veterinarians Based out of the Newington shelter, our pet food pantry provides quality pet food to people in financial need who are struggling to feed their pets. Beginning in November 2010, the food pantry has expanded from holiday events to monthly distributions. Over 71 collection drives were conducted by businesses, groups and individuals 71 Families & 197 pets served monthly, on average Over 10,500 lbs. dry food 6,300 cans wet food $3,000 donated cthumane.org 7
OUR EVENTS ARE A huge success! 8 cthumane.org
CHS would like to thank everyone who came out for Grapes & Gavel, a wine & beer tasting held at the Niantic Bay Yacht Club on Friday, April 27, 2012. Nearly 100 attendees enjoyed the food, beverages, entertainment, and silent and live auctions with over 40 items up for bid. This event raised GREAT GRAPES over $17,000, with the support of its generous Presenting Sponsors Alpha Dog Marketing and Seaside Wine & Spirits of Old Saybrook. The Connecticut Humane Society gives special thanks to its host, Martin J. O Meara, Jr., member of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club. 2012 Fall Gala Raises Funds and Awareness Our Annual Fall Gala raised over $25,000 on November 16 at the Inn at Longshore in Westport! Over 100 guests enjoyed the exciting auctions (with over 50 items up for bid), dinner, and entertainment from Broadway performers of the New Paradigm Theatre. Funds raised by this event support the programs and services we provide at our Westport, Newington and Waterford shelters. Noted guests for the evening included U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, State Senator Toni Boucher, and State Representative Gail Lavielle who attended the event to show their support for the Connecticut Humane Society. We gratefully acknowledge and thank our 2012 Fall Gala Sponsors: Fairway Market, Broad River Animal Hospital and Southport Veterinary Center, and our advertisers, auction donors and attendees for their generous support. GRAPES AND GAVEL FALL GALA Fall Gala photos by Cynthia McIntyre Photography, CynthiaMcIntyre.com cthumane.org 9
SUCCESS STORIES FROM 2012 Letters October 21, 2012 To the family who surrendered Kitty Puff to the Connecticut Humane Society: We are a childfree, professional married couple that simply adores cats. Two of our beloved cats died this past year; one to diabetes and the other to old age. This summer, we decided it was time to fill the void by adopting another shelter cat. We visited the Connecticut Humane Society in Newington and instantly felt a connection with a little black furball called Kitty Puff. During the first night in our home, Kitty Puff sat on my husband s shoulders and purred himself to sleep. This is a phenomenal little kitty. We renamed him Simon, but the name Kitty Puff also suits him perfectly. We ll call him by both names. We imagine a little girl holding him and naming him Kitty Puff. It is the perfect name; his tail is big and bushy, his paws are huge and he is growing rapidly. We believe he is a Maine Coon cat, so he s going to be a big guy. He is really friendly, he purrs constantly and is gentle with his claws and teeth. He ll keep his claws, as we find declawing to be cruel. He is very healthy, loves to eat (especially shrimp) and has not been sick once since we adopted him in August. Kitty Puff and our other two cats (ages 8 and 11) all get along well. Kitty Puff loves to play. When he sleeps (on his back), he puts his legs up in the air or stretches them way out. Just watching him makes us very happy. Kitty Puff is beloved, well-caredfor and appreciated in his new home, not to mention spoiled! KITTY PUFF Please know that we have been through several rough years. We not only lost two of our beloved cats but also suffered other tragedies and deaths in our family. Kitty Puff has made us so incredibly happy, it can t be put into words. Thank you for the loving act of surrendering him to the Connecticut Humane Society so that we could find him and find true happiness. ~ Heather and Michael To the Connecticut Humane Society, I no longer need to participate in the Food Pantry Program. Please accept this donation as a token of my appreciation. You are a true friend of animals in need. Thank you from Gizmo, Stars and Stripes. Kind Regards, Susan, Andrew and Family 10 cthumane.org
JASPER Jasper In December, 2012 we rescued a 13-year-old pit bull mix named Jasper from another shelter. Jasper had been seeking a new home for over three years with no success. Our partner in rescue had done all they could with the resources they had and decided to reach out to CT Humane for assistance with finding a new family. They did not want to leave any stone unturned! One look at Jasper s sweet face and we fell in love. We agreed to take him in and do everything we could to find him the retirement home of his dreams. His medical examination revealed that he had Cushing s disease and would need ongoing drug therapy to keep his health stabilized. Despite his age and chronic condition, we knew there was a family out there for our darling Jasper. Finally, his ship came in and Jasper is now living in the lap of luxury with a delightful family from West Hartford! LOLA Lola Lola, a beagle puppy, got sick almost as soon as her new family brought her home. Her owners brought her to their vet where she was treated with antibiotics. Sadly, she didn t improve. Another trip to the vet brought very bad news; Lola had advanced pneumonia requiring immediate hospitalization and 24-hour care in order to give her the best chance of survival. Treatment this extensive was beyond what her family could manage, even with financial assistance. They made the difficult decision to give Lola up so that she could receive the care that would be necessary to save her life. Lola spent several days at an emergency hospital before she could be stabilized. Then she lived in foster care to complete her recovery. Within days of coming back to our Newington shelter, she found her forever home with the Holland Family. cthumane.org 11