8,432 Adoptions and $6.9 Million Awarded to Shelters at Nation's Largest Free Pet Adoption Event
September 17, 2013
Contact:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Marketing & Communications
925.310.5458
fletcher@maddiesfund.org
Nearly 8,500 dogs and cats found homes during the nationwide Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days on June 1 - 2, 2013. Held in eight communities at 192 locations across the United States, it was the nation's largest free pet adoption event.
Reflecting Maddie's Fund's focus on pets who are traditionally harder to find homes for, 297 of the adopted pets were elderly dogs and cats, 2,829 had treatable medical conditions and 796 were elderly pets with treatable medical conditions.
Those pets included Dough Boy, a 10-year-old mixed breed dog who came to Gainesville Pet Rescue in Florida after his owner could no longer care for him due to his age and a leg fracture that had never been properly cared for; Molly, a 10-year-old blind Maltese, found the perfect home during Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days with the help of Waggytail Rescue in New York City; Cappy, a senior with only one eye, who came to Delta Animals Safe Haven in Antioch, CA, so matted that his knots of fur were infested with fleas; and thousands more.
All adoption fees were waived during the event, with $6,973,000 dollars awarded to participating shelters and rescue groups by Maddie's Fund®. Each organization received $500 for every healthy adult dog or cat, $1,000 for every senior pet or a pet with a treatable health condition, and $2,000 for every adopted dog or cat who was both a senior and had a treatable health condition.
"Although this amount is significantly more than we anticipated, we couldn't be happier," said Maddie's Fund co-founder Dave Duffield.
This was the event's fourth year, but the first with adoption locations outside the San Francisco Bay Area, where Maddie's Fund is headquartered. Communities participating for the first time were Alachua County, FL, Dane County, WI, New York City, Santa Clara County, CA and Washoe County, NV. Returning participants were the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco in California.
The breakdown by community was as follows:
• SF Bay Area: 91 organizations; 3,915 adoptions; $2,903,000 in funding
• Alachua County, FL: 7 organizations; 680 adoptions; $517,500 in funding
• Dane County, WI: 5 organizations; 263 adoptions; $238,000 in funding
• NYC: 71 organizations; 3,098 adoptions; $2,905,000 in funding
• Washoe County, NV: 3 organizations; 476 adoptions; $409,500 in funding
"It is a tremendous joy to see Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days spread across the country," said Maddie's Fund president Rich Avanzino. "But the greatest joy of all is seeing all the wonderful dogs and cats who became part of loving families that weekend."
For more information about Maddie's® Pet Adoption Days, visit adopt.maddiesfund.org.
About Maddie's Fund
Maddie's Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to their inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today.
The Foundation has awarded over $275.7 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S.
Maddie's Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie.