Annual Report 2013 - Naperville Area Humane Society

2013 Annual Report
Animal Services
At Naperville Area Humane
Society (NAHS) we accept
animals from owners who
can no longer care for their
pets and from organizations,
both local and far-reaching,
lacking the space or resources
necessary to offer the animals
a second chance. We do not
euthanize animals in our care
to create space for others.
Each cat and dog receives
veterinary care, high-quality
food, a comfortable kennel
with blanket and toys, and
lots of tender loving care from
a very dedicated team of staff
and volunteers.
Zoe’s Story
Zoe came to us in April of 2013. A 1.5 year old gray
tabby, Zoe had a rough start to life. She was found stray,
pregnant, and missing one eye, when she was rescued by
a local animal control. When no one claimed Zoe, she was
brought to us, where we found her a nice foster family.
Zoe’s foster home was a wonderful place where she was
able to grow strong and safely have her kittens. The family
was able to monitor Zoe and her kittens until July, when
they were all strong enough to come to the shelter and
prepare to find their forever homes.
All Zoe’s kittens were adopted quickly, while Zoe still
needed time to heal. Staff and volunteers cared for Zoe
while she made sure her kittens found their wonderful
homes.
Then it was her turn to find a loving family. In August, it
only took 6 days for her perfect family to walk through our
doors and meet sweet Zoe.
Zoe had a lot of love to give and was so thankful for all the
support her foster family gave, as well as the wonderful
volunteers, donors, and staff at NAHS. Everyone’s
dedication to helping our homeless animals ultimately
helped Zoe safely raise her babies and grow to be a kind,
loving cat who deserved to find her forever home. And
that’s just what she did!
As staff normally does, they followed up with Zoe’s family
and we hear she is doing great.
Through the NAHS Behavior
Helpline, we are able to
provide basic behavior
assistance to pet owners in
the community, not just our
adopters. Working through
pet behavior issues when they
first begin helps to reduce the
rate of owner relinquishment
for behavior reasons. If the
issues are beyond the scope
of our expertise, we will
recommend behaviorists in
the area who can help.
In addition to caring for
surrendered pets, we offer a
Safe Pets program to assist
victims of domestic violence.
Many victims are afraid to
leave the situation due to fear
of what might happen to their
pets. We partner with local
domestic violence shelters to
provide temporary housing
for these pets while their
owners seek a safe place to
go. In recent years, the Safe
Pets program has expanded
to include victims of the
economy facing foreclosure
and homelessness.
Humane Education
Maxwell is reading to Paws for Tales team member Cisco at Crone
Middle School. In 2013, Paws for Tales team Terri and Cisco were
awarded the District 204 BMO Harris Bank Volunteer of the Month.
Volunteers
In every area of our work, volunteers play a vital role
in our success. From walking dogs and socializing
cats to fundraising and helping with clerical work,
NAHS would not be where it is today without its
more than 645 dedicated, talented and inspirational
volunteers.
In addition to the assistance volunteers provide in
and around the shelter, they also help plan and
execute our fundraising events that we rely on for
a large portion of the funds we need to care for the
animals. That includes our Black Cat Ball, Putts for
Pets golf outing and our new family event, Wags &
Wellness. Volunteers also represent us in the
community at outreach events at places like Two
Bostons, Petco, PetSmart and Pet Supplies Plus.
Naperville Area Humane
Society has a strong
commitment to humane
education for people of all
ages. We believe humane
education can stop the cycle
of violence and teach us all to
be kinder, more responsible
caretakers of our animal
friends and each other. NAHS
offers a variety of programs
covering many animal
welfare topics for both
children and adults.
We visit many classrooms
each year with customized
animal-related presentations.
These presentations, our
Paws for Tales reading
program, and other Humane
Education programs, are
offered free of charge. Our
certified dog teams help
children ages 5 and older
to feel more comfortable
by reading aloud to a dog,
thereby improving their
reading skills in a
non-judgmental, supportive
environment. Many children
enjoy the HSUS publication
KIND News provided by NAHS
throughout the school year.
Our shelter tours and birthday
parties reach out to the
children of our community
with education and fun! NAHS
also offers Animals & Us Day
Camp to children 6 to 12 years
old and Pets & Kids afterschool program for children
8 to 12 years old. We give
teens the opportunity to help
our shelter animals and learn
about many animal welfare
issues by participating in our
Spring Break Junior Internship
Program.
NAHS also offers ongoing
education for adults on a
variety of subjects in our Adult
Education Seminar Series.
Guest speakers cover topics on
domesticated animals, wildlife,
pet loss and other animal
welfare issues. It’s never too
late to learn!
Our volunteer and dog teams visit schools helping
kids with special needs improve their reading skills
through our Paws for Tales program. Having the
option to read to a dog in a non-judgmental
environment can alleviate the stress of reading to a
group. Our volunteers also visit area senior
communities with their dogs, cats and guinea pigs in
our Pet Therapy program, providing residents with
unconditional love and emotional support. An
animal can provide a therapeutic, healing effect
spreading joy and boosting spirits.
Our volunteers also open their hearts and homes
through our Foster Program. Kittens found
abandoned, stray cats and dogs that are pregnant
or have just given birth who do not do well in the
shelter environment, or pets that just need a break
from shelter life are taken in by our foster families.
This allows NAHS to care for more animals and save
more lives.
Volunteer Hannah Kalsto cuddles up with Tango at our Black Cat Ball
which was held on October 4, 2013. Hannah took great care of our
shy Tango that evening, and enjoyed introducing guests at the gala to
the shelter animals who were also in attendance.
On the Horizon in 2014
A Dog Kennel is a Dog Kennel
Does it really matter how they look?
We’ve all seen them, whether in print, on television, or in
movies where shelter animals are portrayed: dogs living
in run-down kennels featuring dim lighting,
peeling paint, stained cement floors, and the list goes on
and on. Who cares? A kennel is just a temporary place
for the dogs to stay while they await adoption, right?
The truth is, no one likes to imagine dogs living in those
conditions, and shelter workers don’t want potential
adopters to hesitate to enter due to fear of what they
might see. Instead, we want visitors to know that NAHS
provides the animals with a healthy, caring, friendly
environment.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve taken the
necessary steps to improve the lives of the cats in our
care by creating a free-roam community cat room and
by installing state-of-the-art condos in our kitten and
isolation rooms. These improvements have led to
happier, healthier cats.
Now it’s on to a much larger project: a complete
renovation of our dog housing area. At NAHS, 2014 is
going to be the year of the dog.
If you’ve visited our shelter you might think, “Why do
they need new kennels? The ones they have now seem
okay. I’ve seen a lot worse.” To the general public, our dog
kennels aren’t aesthetically unappealing, but if you look
closely, it’s a different story.
The epoxy wall and floor paint in many of our dog
kennels is chipping and peeling in large areas and has
been for several years. A bored dog or puppy can often
be seen chewing and swallowing the paint. When the
paint chips, it leaves behind unprotected cinder block
which harbors bacteria and is impossible to sanitize, thus
exposing the dogs to disease.
Yes, we could simply repaint the affected areas, which
has been done many times, but the peeling and
chipping will occur over and over again, and the problem
will never really go away.
The chain link-style front of the kennels is an outdated
type of enclosure. The fencing is very difficult to clean
and sanitize, and it can be dangerous. It’s not unusual for
a dog’s paw to get stuck or cut while reaching for a piece
of kibble or for a treat that might have fallen outside the
kennel. Dogs can and do scrape their noses while sticking
them through the fencing to receive a pet from a
volunteer or visitor.
The transfer door system that allows a dog to cross to both
the public and private sides of the kennel is unreliable. The
doors, tracks, and pulley systems are warped and rusting,
and the doors are no longer completely secure when in
the opened or closed position. The dogs’ safety and privacy
have been compromised.
The problems mentioned are the most pressing, but
rest assured, there are many other issues—too many to
mention. We’re proud of the care we give all the animals
that come to us on their way to finding forever homes,
and we’re constantly researching ways to improve in
accordance with the guidelines created by the Association
of Shelter Veterinarians. The need for new dog kennels is
great.
Think back to the original question. Does it really matter
what a dog kennel looks like? Absolutely! While a kennel
environment is an unnatural one for dogs, it’s up to us to
ensure their well-being during their stay. Peeling paint,
stains on the floor, and poorly working kennel enclosures
equal an unhealthy, unsafe, and unhappy environment for
everyone, dogs and people alike.
Renovation sponsorship opportunities are available! If you
are interested in helping to fund this vital project for NAHS,
or would like to learn more about how you can help,
please contact Ellie Stefanic, development director, at (630)
420-8989 x114, or ellies@napervilleareahumanesociety.org.
2013 Financial
Information
Revenue
Contributions & Grant Income
Bequests and Planned Gifts
Special Events (net of expense)
Animal Care Income
Operations Income
In-kind Donations
Program Fees
Total Support and Revenue
$ 308,187
$ 303,330
$ 90,850
$ 87,041
$ 7,269
$ 42,285 $ 28,588 $867,550
Expenses
Program Services
$ 437,207
Management and General
$ 74,461
Fundraising$ 67,765
Total Functional Expenses
$579,433
Humane Heroes
Humane Heroes is a donor group for those supporters who
have left a lasting legacy for the animals and people in our
community by providing for NAHS in their estate plan. A
planned gift can include donations made through your will
or trust, naming NAHS as the owner or beneficiary of your life
insurance policy or IRA, donating stock to NAHS and partnering
with NAHS through a gift annuity, charitable remainder trust or
charitable lead trust.
Current members of Humane Heroes include:
Cleo Keller
Anonymous (2)
Candy and Ray Knippenberg
Alice Bartik
Mark Baloga
Leslie D. Knudsen
Barry Busa, Jr.
Virigina L. Knudsen
Andrea and Anthony Cervini Beth Mars
Sylvester Czopek Rachel and Ken Moore
Evelyn Dudzik David Nargis
Jennie Edwards Rolfe Renouf
Rae and Don Emery Elizabeth Schmidt
Denice Gierach Susan A. Stepan
Jean Haeger Cherylee and Bill Van Cleave
Keith Jury Sophie Walters
Development
For 35 years, compassionate animal lovers have supported
Naperville Area Humane Society, an organization funded entirely
through private donations.
Because of our community’s generous support and endless love
of animals, hundreds of precious lives are saved and human hearts
touched by the incredible experience of a loving companion animal.
Every year, members of the community support our friends who
participate in day of giving fundraisers and our Virtual Adopt-a-thon.
They enjoy a day in the park with family during Wags & Wellness,
golf in Putts for Pets and dance the night away at our Black Cat Ball,
all raising the critical funds necessary to care for countless animals
and serve people in need.
By the Numbers
Humane Education
After-School Program67
Summer Camp70
Spring Break Jr. Internship
10 teens
Tours79
Presentations90
Number of Individuals Impacted
5,062
Adult Education Seminars
72 adults
Paws for Tales227 visits
Number of Students with Special Needs1,411
Volunteers
Total Volunteers645
New Volunteers in 2013
259
Volunteer Hours Donated
21,631
Hours Dog Walking and Socializing8,500
Hours Socializing Cats2,800
Hours morning kennel/cage cleaning3,600
Shelter animals days in foster homes2,000
Pet therapy visits a month90
37
Individuals with 48 to 60 Hours
Individuals with 60 to 100 Hours
51
Individuals with 100 or More Hours
32
Animal Care
Animals Received798
Transferred from Other Agencies
481
Strays 86
Owner Surrenders121
Adoption Returns110
On Hand at Beginning of 2013
63
TOTAL ANIMALS 861
Total Adopted749
Dogs319
Cats430
Returned to Owner
12
Sent to Rescue Group
4
Euthanized*32
On Hand at End of Year
64
Total Animals861
*Of the animals euthanized, none were considered “healthy,”
“treatable” or “rehabilitatable.” All animals euthanized
were considered “unhealthy” or “untreatable” due to serious
medical or behavioral issues.
In addition, our community is very generous with donations of
cat and dog food, cat litter, treats, bleach, towels, postage stamps,
dishwasher detergent, copy paper and many other useful items.
By contributing in this way, NAHS is able to use cash donations
for things like veterinary fees, special food for cats and dogs on
particular diets and materials for our humane education programs.
Thank you to everyone who gives so generously!
Mission
Our mission is to promote the humane treatment of companion
animals and create lasting human-animal bonds.
Vision
Our vision is to engage people to compassionately and responsibly
create a more humane world.
Values
We strive to deliver services to our community that reflect our
integrity, respect, compassion and joy for all people and animals.
Board of Directors
Officers
President - Tom Carroll, RR Donnelley
Vice President - Lisa Spaeth, Naperville Area
Chamber of Commerce
Secretary - Jennie Edwards, MD, Elmhurst Pediatrics
Treasurer - Anthony Cervini, Sikich, LLP
Directors
Jennifer Imburgia, Heritage Moulding
Denice Gierach, Gierach Law Firm
Rosemarie Breske Garvey, Minuteman Press, Naperville
Alex Jones, ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Keith Jury, Exelon Generation
Kelly Salach, National Bathing Products
Lisa Schaffner, BMO Harris Bank
Staff
Angie Wood, Executive Director
Ellie Stefanic, Development Director
Terri Hancock, Humane Education Manager
Michelle Lenz, Animal Care Manager
Becky Wyatt, Volunteer Program Manager
Beth Killian, Office manager
Animal Care
Katie Aseves
Jenifer Cotner
Carly Jaminski
Rebecca Kolzow
Marketing Intern
Rachel Maher
Making a Difference
Naperville Area Humane Society is a unique and independent
501(c)(3) organization and is not affiliated with any other local,
state or national entity such as the Humane Society of the
United States in Washington DC. We are supported through
contributions, grants, bequests, investments, proceeds from
our in-shelter retail center and some fees for services. Your
contributions stay right here in our community to help animals
and people in need and to enhance and support the
human-animal bond.
Shelter Information
Location:
Naperville Area Humane Society
1620 West Diehl Road
Naperville, IL 60563
Telephone: (630) 420-8989
Website: www.NapervilleAreaHumaneSociety.org
Adoption Hours:
Mondays & Thursdays: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays:
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays & Sundays: 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.