[quirky3]

Does anyone have experience or feedback on what is the best pet charity? "Best" means spends a large % of their donations on the animals, makes a big difference in improving the lives of animals.

I have heard different things about organizations like the Humane Society, ASPCA, PETA, etc. Really looking for positive feedback on the best, most effective charities. Thanks!

[angiefox10]

Very little money given to the USHS goes to saving animals. You can google it rather then take my word for it.

I work with many shelters and rescues. I am more inclined to learn about local shelters and try to help them. These are the groups in the trenches, working with the animals. These groups depend mostly on volunteers and local donations! They are in need of just about everything... food, blankets, even office supplies. Most of the help volunteer their time.

If you are looking for a more well known origination. You would want to check out Best Friends. http://www.bestfriends.org/ This is the group who took in the Michael Vick dogs that weren't ready for adoption. They are awesome!

There is an underground the many people aren't aware of who on their own time pull dogs and cats out of kill shelters, find fosters, coordinate transports, overnight them, transport, crosspost for these guys on the internet and via e-mail, shelters and fosters who take them in, make sure their shots are up to date, spay and neuter them, make sure they are healthy and advertise on petfinder.com, interview the prospective parents (to assure they aren't going back into a bad situation) and then place them into their new homes. Most if not all of these people do not get paid. These dogs are sold for anywhere from $50 to $150. As you can see so much more money then that goes into saving just one dog or cat.

I've worked with some of these people. Some have a hard time getting gas money for themselves, but will put their last dollar into the gas tank to save one of these animals!

We've pulled 10 lb dogs out of puppy mills who weighed 30 lbs because of the feces that had accumulated on their little bodies. Volenteers clean them up and get them ready for adoption. Fosters take them in and house them for sometimes months.

I guess, my point is. The big organizations who are getting the money are not passing it down. I think it's the little shelters who are in such need of help. The cries for help for the little groups and shelters are not heard because they don't have the money to advertise.

Thanks for asking...

[seashorecaroline]

I have two bichons one of which I got at seven months old from an organization in Oklahoma called Small Paws Rescue. They rescue bichons from puppy mills. I donate to them all the time. Their website is www.smallpawsrescue.org. Check them out.

[Doodlegirl]

1. Breed rescues which hold a 501 federal not for profit distinction and have
been in the work of rescue and rehome for several years. For example if you
have owned a cocker spaniel, golden retriever...any kind of AKC defined Breed, they generally have a national umbrella group with local volunteers and are always in need of support. You can often find them via petfinders
where the dogs they are holding (by volunteers) are placed.

I happen to be involved in a hybrid rescue for Goldendoodles and Labradoodles, International Doodle Owners Group (Idog.net), and that is
where my charity dollars go. Not only do we (and other breed groups) rescue the dog, but must pay for any medical treatment or Veterinarian check up,
must see how the dog lives with a family, may need grooming or medications,
etc. We have dogs on our site that are pictured (Idog rescue and rehome), but others not pictured who are in transition to being placed on our site.
This group, just like other breed rescues, depends soley on charitable dollars
to function, and works also with organizations like Pilots and Paws to get
dogs from volunteer homes to their forever homes. All of the work takes time, planning, resources...and money only from donations. Two years ago I was able to place 23 Doodles in forever homes in Florida...and others around the Country were doing the same in their states. So, breed rescue is certainly a place where your tax deductible donation would be used immediately.

2. The second critical place would be to the Colleges and Universities that
have a Veterinarian training school. We have several in Florida. I believe
the closest to us may be University of Central Florida (UCF). With those
programs you can ask your money be placed in specific research work (canine cancer for example), or into the Vet School's general operational
fund.

There is a third area that I have donated to periodically. And that would
be to a fund for spay-neuter at a local veterinarian. OR, to that specific
Veterinarian hospital with the understanding that you want the Vet to make
your donation available to a family who cannot afford treatment. That means
you must trust that the Veterinarian will use that money and not have to report to you how the funds were spent, or, to whom it was given. Some
people will even set up with a Vet a Fund...The Quirkyy 3 Fund...for animals whose owners cannot afford treatment for a serious disease, spay-neuter, etc. However, if the Vet does not have a 501 designation, your money in
funding cannot be considered charitable meaning tax deductible. I have a
friend in South Florida who refunds her fund to $15,000 every year with her
Veterinarian. She is wealthy enough not to worry about the tax issue, and
her life has been dedicated to the health and well being of companion animals.

Hope I've given you some ideas. Very thoughtful of you to be considering
a charitable contribution. The closer you get to the animal in need the
faster the money will be used needfully, if you know what I mean. As a volunteer, thank you for considering a charity for pets!

[quirky3]

So that's where the name "DoodeGirl" comes from! Good for you!

[Doodlegirl]

know West Suffield well. I was brought up in West Hartford, was married and
lived in Farmington before moving to FL nearly 40 years ago!!

[mfp509]

I donate to the Marion County humane society, Precious Paws rescue in Inverness, and also Best Friends out in Utah.

I'm from Enfield, CT - know Suffield well.

[judynlee]

Another vote for Best Friends; they are the best! Their slogan is "No more homeless pets" and they serve about 1700 animals at any given time. They are no-kill and if no one adopts an animal they have a forever home there. Do check out their website-and they have a beautiful magazine sent out to donors.

[LittleDog]

A couple of years ago my wife and I decided not to exchange gifts for Xmas but to donate of a charity of choice. We really don't need anything for Xmas and if we wanted something or needed something we would just go out and buy it. In any case I decided my charity of choice is the Humane Society of Sumter County so every Xmas I send them a check.

John

[Halle]

I also believe in donating to non-profit rescues. I currently donate to German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County. My sister adopted a beautiful 8 year old shepherd while I was visiting her. I was very impressed with the organazation and their dedication to a cause they truly believed in. When my beloved Alaskan Malamute Nick died at 13 1/2 a few months later I knew I wanted to adopt from GSROC. We adopted two puppies, 4 and 3 months old that were abandoned and living on the streets of LA. At first we did not want puppies but when they told us they were harder to place we agreed to take them both, they are my profile picture. In the future we will always adopt from a rescue.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by jrheydt

A couple of years ago my wife and I decided not to exchange gifts for Xmas but to donate of a charity of choice. We really don't need anything for Xmas and if we wanted something or needed something we would just go out and buy it. In any case I decided my charity of choice is the Humane Society of Sumter County so every Xmas I send them a check.

John

Ahhh good point! When I said the HSUS does not donate to local shelters... they also do not give much if any to the local humane societies. The names should not be confused.

[quirky3]

Originally Posted by jrheydt

A couple of years ago my wife and I decided not to exchange gifts for Xmas but to donate of a charity of choice. We really don't need anything for Xmas and if we wanted something or needed something we would just go out and buy it. In any case I decided my charity of choice is the Humane Society of Sumter County so every Xmas I send them a check.

John

That is so sweet; the world needs more people like you and your wife! To give a gift of charity gives more than money - it gives energy behind the intent. I've always believed that every action has a "ripple" effect, and acts of kindness have a positive ripple effect.

[ttown]

I have been giving to the Leesburg Humane Society for years. It is a small no-kill shelter. They have never given my name out and all the money goes directly to them. Any small local shelter is probably the same.

[Debfrommaine]

Since my husband and I, as well as many other Villagers volunteer at All Creatures Sanctuary Great & Small in Ocklawaha, I'd say this is the best place. Tish, the founder, puts her heart and soul into the rescue and rehabilitation of animals in crisis.....and we all help support her by volunteering at this wonderful establishment.

[Halle]

Originally Posted by Debfrommaine

Since my husband and I, as well as many other Villagers volunteer at All Creatures Sanctuary Great & Small in Ocklawaha, I'd say this is the best place. Tish, the founder, puts her heart and soul into the rescue and rehabilitation of animals in crisis.....and we all help support her by volunteering at this wonderful establishment.

Thank your for all you do at All Creatures Sanctuary Great & Small in Ocklawaha. Once we are fulltime residents we would also like to volunteer there, in the meantime I will put them on my donor list.