LAKEPORT >> Fix Lake County’s Fabulous February Fix fundraiser is on.
The purpose is to raise money to do one large spay and neuter event in Lake County. FIX LC has tentatively scheduled the first event for June 10, in partnership with a local tribe as the location for the event. The cost to bring the programs into the county will be between $5,000 and $10,000 per event.
The Fabulous February Fix is a fundraiser to collect money for the event, donations are solicited at $50 each, though smaller donations are also appreciated. Donations can be sent via the donate button on OrphanDog.org or mailed to Orphan Dog, P.O. Box 662, Lakeport, CA 95453.
Fix Lake County is an initiative by Orphan Dog Rescue.
Valentine’s Day Fabulous February Fix 2017 goal is to raise $10,000 to do one spay and neuter event. That means the organization needs only 200 gifts of $50 to meet this goal.
“When we first started Orphan Dog in 2003, I thought the problem would be stemmed in about ten years. Instead, the need continues to grow” said Karen Schaver, Executive Director. “We can’t adopt our way out of this mess, we have to try something else”.
While rescue is one-side of the problem, the growing number of unplanned and unwanted litters for both cats and dogs is really the driving force and ‘flip-side’ of animal rescue.
“I get up to 20 phone calls a week from people who need to give up their dog, up to five calls a week from people who need help with their vet bills and up to 10 calls a week from people who need to get their animals spayed or neutered,” Schaver said, “We currently have 300 names on the spay-neuter list. If we could tackle this list, it would make a huge difference in our unwanted pet population in Lake County”.
Although Fix Lake County raises funds to provide spay/neuter services to people who are looking for assistance, logistics is one of the biggest hurdles.
“Many of the people who’ve contacted me asking for assistance also struggle with finding transportation to a scheduled clinic,” Schaver added. “Our Valentine’s Day Spay/Neuter outreach, the Fabulous February Fix, has addressed that by scheduling a spay and neuter event in areas where I know, from experience, that pet owners struggle with transportation issues. By going directly to those areas, we have a much greater opportunity to provide these desperately needed services. In addition, we will be providing some transport of pets for those who absolutely cannot come to the event.”
The Orphan Dog team travels over 3,000 miles a month to over 50 adoption events a year and has homed over 3,200 dogs, 296 were homed in 2016. With Lake County Vets, Orphan Dog has spay and neutered over 30 community owned pets. Orphan Dog is an all-volunteer rescue group, every single penny of ever donation goes directly to animal care.
The next event will also require another $10,000, so the total goal for both events is 400 gifts of $50 each. Donations can be sent via the donate button on OrphanDog.org or mailed to Orphan Dog, P.O. Box 662, Lakeport, CA 95453. Every donation is greatly appreciated.
To follow Fix Lake County, go to Facebook.com/fixlakecounty.
