Funded Projects

Maddie's Lifesaving Award in Tompkins County, NY

  • Awarded:   2005
  • Funding:   $330,000
  • Lead Agency:   Tompkins County SPCA


As the first in the nation to achieve and sustain an adoption guarantee for all healthy and treatable shelter dogs and cats community-wide, the Tompkins County SPCA (TCSPCA) was the first to receive a Maddie's® Lifesaving Award.

The TCSPCA instituted a "no kill" policy for Tompkins County, NY in 2000 and has maintained one of the nation's lowest rates of shelter killing ever since. The county's annual live release has stayed between 91% and 94%.

The Maddie's Fund grant was used to hire a full-time veterinarian to oversee the medical care of the animals in the shelter.