Coastal Pet Rescue Celebrates Third Anniversary this February
(Savannah, GA) - February 16, 2006
The year 2005 brought more success for Coastal Pet Rescue than can be counted on four paws.
The group finished the year having rescued 80 dogs and 63 cats, of which 64 dogs and 50 cats found new loving families. Those numbers are a dramatic increase from 2004, in which 32 dogs and 9 cats were rescued and 25 dogs and 7 cats were adopted.
In July, the organization launched The Milton Project, a feral cat trap-neuter-return program that addresses the community’s need for feral cat population control. 29 cats were trapped, spayed or neutered, provided rabies vaccinations, ear tipped to identify them as sterile, and returned back to their colony in 2005, thanks to the dedication of volunteers and veterinary expertise from Dr. Jane Liller of the Cat Care Clinic.
“The community’s response to The Milton Project has been overwhelming,” says Mandy Ownley, Coastal Pet Rescue’s Special Projects Coordinator and director of The Milton Project. “We have received inquires for help from all over the Coastal Empire, including Tybee Island, Savannah, Pooler, Hinesville and Midway. People want to humanely and effectively reduce feral cat populations, but they simply haven’t known how to go about doing so.”
The Milton Project is investigating ways to scale the program in 2006 in order to effectively respond to the community’s demand. The trapping rate thus far in 2006 has already doubled the 2005 rate, but Ownley wants to find ways to increase it exponentially.
Coastal Pet Rescue participated in 32 events throughout 2005 to bring awareness of homeless animals to the community.
Locally, the agency was profiled in the Savannah Morning News as well as serving as regular guests on news segments with WJCL, FOX 28 and WSAV. Regionally, Toyota recognized Coastal Pet Rescue’s partnership with Chatham Parkway Toyota in an advertorial in the August 22nd edition of TIME Magazine. Nationally, the group received recognition from Jiffy Lube and Purina and mention on CNN.com.
“It was a very busy year for us,” says founder Lisa Scarbrough. “Awareness of our organization increased drastically.”
The group now has 80 volunteers on its volunteer list, and a notable list of sponsors and supporters, all of which will be utilized to achieve higher goals this year.
“We have seen what is possible with just a few people and a loose plan,” says Scarbrough. “We are now implementing formalization to increase our successes this year.”
The organization established a formal strategic plan for 2006 in December, which also added two more members to the board. Lisa Reinhardt and Sherry Montgomery joined the board as the new secretary and treasurer, respectively.
In addition, three of the officers, Lisa Scarbrough, Jason Schwartz and Mandy Ownley, have enrolled in the Humane Society University’s Executive Leadership Certification program, to be completed later this year. Lisa Scarbrough is also currently enrolled in Duquesne University’s Bachelor of Science in Humane Leadership program, which she hopes to have completed in late 2007. Scarbrough received a partial scholarship from Humane Society University to enroll in the program, based upon letters of recommendation from fellow volunteers and outside supporters.
Coastal Pet Rescue has already established an events schedule for the year. On March 11th, they will participate with Bryan Animal Caregivers in the first See Spot Run 6K Run/Walk in Richmond Hill. On May 21st, they will join the Savannah Sand Gnats for the annual Bark in the Park. On June 3rd, they will host their second annual Spare the Pets Bowl-a-Thon at AMF Savannah Lanes. September 17th will find the group aboard Capt. Mike’s Dolphin Tours for their third annual Cruise for Critters. Other activities are in the works; detailed information will be available on the website at http://www.coastalpetrescue.org.
For more information, please contact Lisa Scarbrough at (912) 351-4151.
Coastal Pet Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless, abused and neglected dogs and cats in Savannah and surrounding areas. Founded in February 2003, Coastal Pet Rescue changes the lives of homeless pets in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham Counties through its foster home program and small capacity shelter, Camp Pawsawhile Retreat.
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