Hockey Fundraiser, Grants, and Surgeries!

We're only two weeks in to the new year and 2012 is starting to look very promising.  We've got a new fundraiser on the horizon, we've met some new funders, and our numbers look great!

On Friday, February 3, 2012, the OKC Barons hockey team will be hosting a nonprofit fundraiser night.  We have the opportunity to bring in some funds by getting people out to the game.  For every ticket purchased in our name (Volunteers for Animal Welfare), we will receive a $4 donation.  So, we're busting our humps to tell everyone we know.  (Call 232.GOAL to order tickets--don't forget to mention Volunteers for Animal Welfare!)

To start off the new year, we also have received grants from the Bernice Barbour Foundation and the Greg Biffle Foundation.  Of course, this is exciting because we got some more grants!  But it's also exciting because Volunteers for Animal Welfare has never received any funding from either one of these foundations before.  We are so happy to be starting new relationships with these two wonderful groups.

Dr. Yunker checking on his
assistant, Peanut.

And more exciting than anything else, we have spayed/neutered 275 animals since the start of the year!  That is an average of 39 animals per day!  Last summer's heat wave and the economy's dip really hit everyone hard, including us.  Our numbers dropped because people had a hard time fitting spays and neuters into their budgets.  But things are looking up and we are so proud of our numbers to open the new year!




This year's gonna be a good one!

Two Spay it Forwards on Tuesday: Tinkerbell and Daisy

The holidays were a tough time for our clients and their pets.  Even when money is tight, we want to give our furry children the best.  Here is a huge thank you to Irene Hernandez for helping two different families give their pets the best present.

Tinkerbell's mom is homeless.  She has two children to care for, as well.  She love's Tinkerbell and knows that getting her spayed is the healthiest thing she can do for her.  We were able to not only get Tinkerbell spayed and vaccinated, we also talked to her mom about other resources in the community including food for Tinkerbell (Pet Food Pantry). 

Daisy's dad was planning on getting her fixed, but then lost his job.  He knew that this still needed to be a priority because it is healthier for Daisy and he does not want puppies, so he called us.  We got Daisy spayed and up to date on her vaccinations!

We are so happy to be able to help animals in need.  We are especially thankful to have the generosity of those who donate Spay it Forwards, like Irene Hernandez, enabling us to provide these services.

Beautiful Felice Spayed December 15th

Felice's owner has been over-run with cats.  She has been keeping the boys separate from the girls to keep from having litters.  She got together what she could to spay and neuter what she could for her kitties for Christmas.

Felice's owner brought in 8 cats on December 15th.  We agree that spaying and neutering was the best Christmas present she could have given her kitties, so we decided to help get one done so the others could get their vaccinations, as well.

A huge thanks to Kelly Sanders for not only helping Felice get spayed, but helping her family get their needed vaccinations, as well.

Adele and Neil! Spayed and Neutered December 13th

Meet Neil (left) and Adele (right).  These two cats were two of a litter that were dumped at our clinic on a day that we were closed!  We don't know how long they were stuck in that carboard box, but we're thankful it wasn't raining or extremely cold!

Because we do not house/board animals, we would not be able to take these animals in.  However, our VERY compassionate and caring clinic manager, Arlene, made phone calls and sent emails until she found homes for them all.  We do not usually home animals here and usually animals that are abandoned at our clinic are taken straight to the shelter.

A very special thank you is in order for Irene Hernandez for donating two Spay it Forwards to cover the surgeries of Neil and Adele.  Arlene paid for the additional charges and surgeries involved for the rest of the litter so that everyone will be spayed or neutered before being homed.

Foxy on December 10, 2011

Foxy's owner had contacted us a few times trying to find a day that he could bring her in that coincided with his work schedule.  Between working so much and being tight on cash, her owner wasn't able to get Foxy in as quickly as he would have liked. 

Last week, Foxy's owner called in a panic because Foxy had been "gotten" by one of the unneutered neighbor dogs.  Luckily for Foxy, her owner didn't work that upcoming Saturday.  We were able to get her in and, thanks to a generous Spay it Forward from Jon and Diana Giffin, there is no risk for an "oops litter."  Now, Foxy won't have to worry about raising puppies and her owner won't have to worry about extra mouths to feed!

Kylee Johnson Visits the SPOT Clinic!

This is Kylee Johnson of Girl Scout Troop 3001.  She is working her way through doing 100 great things and the SPOT Clinic was lucky enough to make it on to that list!  Kylee got on our website and checked out our wish list.  Then, she hit people up for donations!

When Kylee came in today, she got to tour the clinic, meet the staff, and even see a spay in progress!  We talked about the health benefits of spay/neuter and she told me that all four of her kitties are fixed!

Way to go, Kylee.  You're ahead of the curve and setting a great example!  Keep up the great work!