Animal outreach needs everyone’s help

Something exciting is happening at Animal Outreach.

Animal Outreach, the El Dorado County no-kill animal shelter and facility located at 6101 Enterprise Drive in Diamond Springs, rescues approximately 2,000 animals per year.

The nonprofit is in a tough competition with other shelters in the United States to win a challenge. It is the $100 K Rachel Ray ASPCA Challenge.

The winners can earn anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000.

“This money is so very valuable because it will allow an underdog (excuse the pun), Animal Outreach, to land up on top. Our biggest competitor is the heavy hitter Marin Humane Society which has better funding than us. If we win, this money will allow us to help our community in many ways,” said Maryann Schultz, Animal Outreach fundraiser and spokesperson.

Each second Saturday of the month, Animal Outreach neuters, spays and inoculates more than 100 feral cats for free.

“Spaying and neutering is the core issue to reducing homeless pets,” said Maggie Killackey, executive director of Animal Outreach. “We will use the challenge grant money to provide more low and no-cost spay/neuter surgeries and services to our community.”

As well as fixing feral cats at no cost, throughout the week, Animal Outreach offers low-cost neuter and spays to the public as well and low-cost veterinary services and shot clinics.

“With the economy still bad, not everybody is able to afford more expensive vet services. We at least offer a cheaper alternative to people who may have an injured or sick animal which would never see a vet,” Schultz said.

In 2011, Animal Outreach provided over 10,000 spay and neuter surgeries or vaccinations at no or low-cost to animals in El Dorado County.

 

Community involvement

Animal Outreach is also doing an excellent job of getting the community directly involved in saving more lives.

“Just as our logo visually suggests, an angel holding a dog, cat and kitten in its arms, one of our goals is to reach out to other overburdened municipal shelters aiding them in reducing intake and euthanasia of pets,” said Schultz.

“We currently do this by working together with area animal welfare agencies such as El Dorado Pet Club, El Dorado County Animal Services, El Dorado Humane Society, city of Folsom Animal Services, PAWED and many others. This has allowed us to strengthen our ability to save more lives,” said Kathy Anderson, community outreach and operations manager.

An example of this collaboration is El Dorado Pet Club, a dog grooming and training center in Shingle Springs that has convinced their customers to become volunteer dog foster families.

“This amazing partnership has allowed Animal Outreach to rescue and place into loving homes more than 50 dogs that would have otherwise died in a municipal shelter,” said Kerry McBride, owner of El Dorado Pet Club.

In case you may be thinking about adopting a dog, all dogs are behavior tested, spayed, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

Both dogs and cats come with a 30 day health guarantee. Dogs may even receive a free grooming and discounted training class.

Local businesses have been very supportive by inviting Animal Outreach to hold adoption events in their locations.

“Studies show that more people say they plan to bring a new pet into their home, yet many people do not want to walk into a shelter,” said Anderson. “By bringing the animals to offsite locations, more homeless animals can meet potential adopters.”

 

A 1,000 goal

During the nationwide contest, August through October, Animal Outreach is striving to adopt 1,000 animals.

“By adopting a pet from Animal Outreach you are saving the life of a homeless dog or cat that may have died in an overburdened shelter,” said Kathy Anderson.

“But, we can’t do it without our community support,” Schultz pointed out. “We are asking you to please help us.”

To help Animal Outreach win the $100K Rachel Ray Challenge

Adopt an Animal Outreach dog or cat at:

• PetSmart in Folsom, Iron Point Road, East Bidwell; Citrus Heights; Rancho Cordova
• Togs for Dogs and Cats Too, 330 Green Valley Road, El Dorado Hills
• Bark Avenue, 4311 Town Center Blvd. El Dorado Hills
• Lee’s Feed, 4110 Mother Lode Drive, Shingle Springs
• El Dorado Pet Club, 4131 South Shingle Road, Shingle Springs

Check with Animal Outreach at 530-642-2287 or the businesses for adoption days and times.

Pets can be adopted on Monday through Saturday at the Animal Outreach Adoption Center, 6101 Enterprise Drive, Diamond Springs or El Dorado County Animal Services, 511 Placerville Drive, Placerville.

For those unable to adopt an animal help Animal Outreach win by pressing “LIKE” or “COMMENT” or “SHARE” on the Animal Outreach facebook page: facebook.com/AnimalOutreachRescue. This Internet interaction will be tallied for the competition.

Supporters can also sponsor an adoption day through a business or school, think about fostering an animal or just lending a helping hand.

New volunteers will also be tallied for the competition.

Animal Outreach can use the help of an attorney, a CPA, a skilled handyman, anyone with veterinary training, or just someone to help clean or spend time petting orphaned cats and dogs.

Animal Outreach is also in desperate need of an industrial washer and dryer.

To help or get more information call Animal Outreach at 530-642-2287 or visit animaloutreachcats.com.