Press Room

A coalition of animal welfare organizations and veterinarians exploded off the starting blocks in the quest to save every healthy cat and dog in Lodi within five years.

In its first three months (Oct-Nov-Dec, 2000), the Lodi Pet Saving Connection increased dog and cat adoptions by 41%, increased spay/neuter surgeries by 96% and reduced shelter deaths by 24% over the same time period last year.

The group is led by the no-kill rescue organization, Animal Friends Connection (AFC), and includes Lodi Animal Services, seven of Lodi's private veterinary hospitals and four surrounding veterinary clinics.

The coalition is funded by a five-year, half million dollar grant from Maddie's Fund, a pet rescue foundation whose goal is to help animal shelters throughout the nation establish community-wide adoption guarantees for healthy cats and dogs.

"Even though we're only looking at the project's first quarter, the importance of what Lodi has accomplished cannot be overstated," according to Maddie's Fund President, Rich Avanzino. "The fact that the coalition has so greatly surpassed last year's baseline numbers is tremendous and it's a tribute to the groups grit and determination. But from the perspective of Maddie's Fund, this achievement takes on a much larger significance. Our funded projects are being monitored by animal welfare organizations all across the nation to see if these groups really can save all of their healthy, adoptable cats and dogs within five years. The Pet Saving Connection's success, therefore, is not just in saving the lives of more cats and dogs in Lodi. It's serving as a guide and inspiration for hundreds of other towns, cities and counties who are looking for ways to build their own no-kill communities."

Among the 378 lives saved in Lodi within the past three months:

• Helen, a blind tabby and white kitten placed in a loving home with an elementary school principal.
  
• Chadwick, a one-year old, 160 lb. Great Dane, placed with a software executive.
  
• Princess, an eight-year-old severely matted and neglected calico Persian cat, placed with a retired teacher.
  
• Chauktah, a one-year-old husky, placed with a loving family.