Humane Society of Pinellas

Quick recap

The meeting began with the club President, David Bramley, welcoming new and prospective members. The main presentation focused on the Humane Society of Pinellas, where the organization's mission, shelter operations, and various programs were highlighted, including their efforts to prevent animal homelessness and support pet owners.

Summary

Gala Fundraiser and Animal Charity

The meeting discussed a joint fishing tournament gala event between the Rotary Club of Dunedin and the Dunedin Boat Club, with proceeds going to Pinellas County Charities.

Club member Helen Henwood introduced Rachel Fefer, who works as a Volunteer Coordinator and Outreach Manager at the Humane Society of Pinellas, sharing her background as a former attorney. Rachel presented the society's mission to prevent animal homelessness and cruelty, highlighting its local focus and the importance of community support, which includes volunteer hours equivalent to those of 14 full-time staff members. She also mentioned a new initiative to distribute unused blankets and towels to homeless shelters.

Shelter Operations and Achievements

Rachel discussed the shelter's operations and achievements since its grand opening in December 2024. She highlighted their capacity to house 38 dogs, 70 cats, and 12+ small creatures, as well as their ability to serve as a shelter during hurricanes. The shelter has successfully adopted almost 1,500 pets, with an average length of stay of 7 days for dogs and 5 days for cats. They also have a foster program for kittens and a pet pantry program that distributes donated food to pets in need.

Humane Society Pet Support Programs

Rachel discussed various programs offered by the Humane Society to support pet owners and prevent animals from entering the shelter system. These include the Pet Food Pantry, Senior Pet Connection Program, Foster Program, and the Humane Society's has a program for end-of-life pet care. Rachel also highlighted initiatives like humane education classes, behavior consultations, public training classes, and the Pets for Patriots program, which helps veterans adopt pets. Additionally, the society offers community vaccine clinics for low-income pet owners and provides Care for Life arrangements through wills for pet owners.

Humane Society Adoption Awareness Events

Rachel discussed various events and activities organized by the Humane Society of Pinellas to raise awareness and promote animal adoption. She mentioned upcoming events, such as the Paws for a Cause Annual Gala, and highlighted successful adoptions, including the adoption of five kittens from Petco. Rachel also shared a personal story about fostering a cat named Bert and encouraged support for the organization. When asked about the percentage of foster families who adopt the animals they fostered, Rachel noted that it was fairly high, attributing it to the animals' cuteness.

Pet Adoption and Ownership Trends

Rachel discussed the rising costs of pet ownership, highlighting a 49% increase in dog ownership expenses since 2020, and emphasized the benefits of pet ownership, including healthcare cost savings of $22.7 billion. She explained the organization's animal acquisition process, noting they source 60% of animals from Pinellas County Animal Services, 20% from other shelters, and 20% from owner surrenders. Rachel also stressed the importance of microchipping pets to ensure their safe return and shared success stories of adopting challenging animals. She concluded by expressing her gratitude to the volunteers and event organizers.

Rotary Fundraising Events Update

The meeting covered several updates and announcements. Linda discussed ongoing food and gift card collections for October, the upcoming fishing tournament gala at Lucky Lobster, and ticket sales for the St. Joseph's South Flats Classic event. She also mentioned the holiday party tickets and the importance of the fishing tournament in raising funds for grants. Additionally, Linda shared details about various auction items, including travel packages to destinations like Sonoma Valley, Sweden, Spain, and Finland. The conversation concluded with a quote of the week and a reminder about Rotary's Four-Way Test of Values.