Maddie's Fund - Press Room

(Alameda, CA – January 2006) A five year Maddie's Fund project to help save Lodi, California's healthy shelter dogs and cats has reached its objective, ending with an adoption guarantee for healthy shelter pets!

In the last eight months of the project's fifth and final year (October 1, 2004 – September 30, 2005), Lodi had zero healthy deaths (eight healthy deaths occurred in the first four months of the fifth year). The project also achieved a community-wide annual live release rate of 71%, the fifth highest in the nation.* Participating private practice veterinarians performed 3,920 spay/neuter surgeries over the five year period.

"The Maddie's Fund Board and staff are incredibly proud of what this coalition has accomplished," said Maddie's Fund President, Rich Avanzino. "When the lead agency sent in the initial application, they were an all-volunteer organization with no shelter, working out of a tiny office in a shopping center. Now look what they've done! It's fantastic."

Maddie's^® Pet Rescue Project in Lodi consisted of lead agency Animal Friends Connection Humane Society (AFCHS), Lodi Animal Services and eleven out of twelve of the community's private practice veterinary hospitals.

In addition to saving all of the community's healthy shelter dogs and cats, the lead agency made major strides in organizational development in an effort to sustain its impressive lifesaving accomplishments.

Infrastructure

AFCHS hired its first paid staff, an Executive Director and a part-time assistant.

Fundraising

Developed databases for members, volunteers, donors, and fundraising events.
Initiated a planned giving program and an endowment fund.
Raised the number of fundraising events from one to five.
Increased United Way donations 900%, from $1,000 in Year One to $10,000 in Year Five.

Program Development

Boosted internet adoptions by 75%.
Established a Cat Sanctuary.
More than doubled the number of offsite adoption days, from 24 to 52 per year.
Inaugurated seven new adoption events.

Communications

Published AFCHS's first general information brochure and quarterly newsletter.
Produced cat and dog education booklets for new adopters.

Community Collaboration and Outreach

Worked with several city task forces, including the City of Lodi Animal Services and the City of Stockton Animal Services.
Assembled the San Joaquin Animal Coalition (SJAC), which consists of multiple agencies in San Joaquin County dedicated to education and spay/neuter.
Partnered with many affiliated community organizations, including the California Teachers Association, Lodi Education Association, Friends of the Library, Friends of Lodi Lake, Lodi Parks and Recreation, Stockton Animal Shelter Friends and Micke Grove Zoo.
Mentored high school students through the Animal Friends of Tokay High School Club, which grew to more than 20 members this year and brought in student volunteers to help at the Cat Sanctuary and at fundraising and special events.

Maddie's^® Pet Rescue Project in Lodi operated from October 1, 2000 to September 30, 2005. Total Maddie funding over the five year period was $467,936.

Lodi is an agricultural and bedroom community in California's Central Valley. The city's population is 60,000.

*According to the most current statistics collected by Maddie's Fund, only Tompkins County, NY (91%), San Francisco, CA (86%), Dane County, WI (78%), and Richmond, VA (73%), have a higher annual live release rate than Lodi.

Press Room

Press Releases

January 2006