JAMESTOWN - The Chautauqua County Humane Society (CCHS) is thrilled to announce that the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) recently awarded the organization a Community Service Grant totaling $4,000 to continue serving the area through spay/neuter programs and reduced adoption fees. The grant strongly supports CCHS's core mission to increase the save rate for homeless pets and eliminate unnecessary euthanasia.
In 2003, faced with a save rate of 54 percent, the CCHS Board of Directors instituted the policy that no healthy and friendly animal would be euthanized due to overcrowding. Since that policy was enacted, CCHS has continued to increase the save rate and for the second consecutive year we have achieved a save rate of 92 percent.
"To reach a save rate in the 90 percent range takes a tremendous commitment from staff, volunteers and community partners" states Jeff Lubi, CCHS executive director. "We are very grateful to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) for their support over the past nine years. In the beginning, CRCF helped to fund our no cost spay/neuter clinic which dramatically reduced the number of unwanted kittens entering into our care. In more recent years CRCF has generously contributed to our reduced adoption fee program utilizing their Community Service Grant."
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Submitted photo
Left to right: Jeff Lubi, CCHS Executive Director; Mary Schiller, CCHS Board President with “Judy,” Judy Parker, CRCF Community Service Grants Committee member; Kase Kinney, CRCF Associate.
CCHS President, Mary Schiller added, "Our organization remains committed toward solving the overpopulation problem of unwanted companion animals. Our priorities are the adoption of animals, conducting extensive spay/neuter programs and the development of our latest initiatives that expand our ability to rehabilitate animals that are considered outside the healthy and friendly evaluation. Because of the support of our mission by the Chautauqua Region Community, so many animals have received a second chance."
From 2007-2011, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) has graciously supported our program that reduces or eliminates the adoption fees for adult animals. This concept dramatically increases the animals' chances to first be considered by an individual or family and then ultimately adopted into their loving home. Because of CRCF funding, the Humane Society reports that a total of 668 animals have been placed into loving homes.
The Chautauqua County Humane Society continues to operate at a capacity of 100-125 cats and 18-25 dogs throughout the year. These numbers represent animals awaiting adoption at the Strunk Road facility. They do not include the large number of dogs received from the 28 municipalities who contract with CCHS to provide Stray Holding services, animals in volunteer foster care, or the abused and neglected cruelty case animals receiving treatment. Lubi also added, "The faster we find an animal its forever home the faster we can provide for another animal that needs our care. We are so appreciative that the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation has responded to this need."
The Chautauqua County Humane Society is a non-profit that is not part of any government organization and its mission to care for animals by promoting adoptions, preventing cruelty and providing education relies solely on public support. For more information visit www.spca-pets.com or call 2209 ext 202.
