Conference misery::feline

    My vet has a special set-up for people willing to drop off excess pet
    food and litter.  Someone at my vet's sends this stuff to Florida with
    the goal of continuing to aid the animals distressed from Hurricane
    Andrew.  Perhaps if your local vet doesn't do something like this, you
    could suggest it?

    Also, another suggestion is to ask local grocery stores to have a box
    out front for a local animal shelter.  Some grocery stores do this but
    I tend to find that they do this in specific areas only.  One of the
    things I try to do is use double coupons and buy boxes of catfood for
    .19 or .29 cents a box and then donate them...

    There's also the private contributions made directly to the shelters. 
    Don't forget the DEC 50% matching form.

    Volunteer your time at shelters.

    Silent auctions (they used to do these at the Nashua Humane Society in
    southern NH) and other benefits such as local bake sales and raffles,
    etc.

    There's all sorts of ideas!  Sandy Merritt probably can give you an
    earful on this topic but she's likely out this week due to the holiday.
    I think Sandy and Yonee were the ones to make little catnip baggies
    that they gave to shelters.  While it may not directly help the shelter
    financially, it helps the kitties emotionally.  :^)

    There's been a similar request for help on Kauai, which was trashed so
    badly by Hurricane Iniki as to make Florida after Andrew look nice.  Kauai
    suffers from being a small island in the middle of the Pacific ocean,
    and relief supplies must be flown in or come in by ship from Pacific
    Rim countries - the other islands in the chain are not so opulent that
    they can carry the burden of the relief effort themselves.
    
    I will post an address for contributions to the Kauai animal shelter
    relief effort tomorrow.
    
    len (who just returned from Hawaii and Maui, and will shortly provide a
      story about cats in paradise).
     

    Quoted without permission from "The Kaua'i Update", Vol. 6, No. 4, by
    Paradise Publications:
    
    	The Humane Society in Hanapepe had its hands full caring for dogs
    	and cats that had been lost or run away during the hurricane. 
    	Local stores assisted in the donations of food.  If you would like
    	to contribute to the Humane Society, which needs financial
    	assistance for the care of animals even in the best of times,
    	send your contributions to Humane Society, PO Box F, Hanapepe, HI
    	96716.
    
    len.
     

    I saw a cute one for a shelter a couple years ago.  You brought your
    pet in for a picture with Santa for the holidays.  It sounded like a
    fun event and hopefully, quite profitable.
    

Attached are some ideas that we use at the Pat Brody Shelter. Claire
had provided me with some ideas off-line which were great...so keep
all the new ideas coming.....I'd love to hear them all!!!  

  o Doggie Dips: Many shelters work jointly with the UCF to sponsor
    Doggie dips every month during the summer.  UCF supplies the tubs,
    water, dip, advertisement, and dogs...and the shelter provides the
    volunteers to work the dips.  All proceeds are given to the shelter.

  o Craft committee:  Our Craft Committee started out very small and we
    made small crafts.  Over the last year many folks have volunteered
    material, completed crafts or their time...and I can honestly say we have
    a wonderful display of crafts.  We concentrate on "kitty stuff" such
    as quilted cat beds, catnip toys, catnip pads, kitty Kleenex boxes,
    kitty afghans, kitty doorstops, kitty X-mas stockings, hand painted
    kitty t-shirts etc...but we also have displays of dried flowers,
    wreaths, handmade guilts, etc.   We normally set up booths at cat
    shows, craft shows, and summer carnivals in our area.

  o Sponsor Program:  Our shelter set up a sponsor program where for $10
    a month you can sponsor a cat.   We also have special forms if you wish
    to sponsor a cat in the name of another person.  That person will 
    receive the form, a letter, and a picture(S) of the cat they sponsored!
    

  o Other ideas:

      - raffles
      - flea markets
      - Chinese Auction 
      - Gift Certificates 
      - Advertising/Begging!!!!! (nicely of course)
                    

    Uuhhh, excuse my ignorance, but What's a Chinese Auction?

    I'll try to explain...it's something like a raffle....but I guess
    there are different ways it can be done.    Here's one way:
    
      o Display multiple items on a table.  the items will range from
        cheaper items...to more expensive items.
    
      o You sell tickets and each ticket has a number on it that matches
        one of the gifts.  Example...you choose the ticket with number 2
        and the number 2 item is a cat toy.  You win!!!
    
    
    Another way I have heard these work was each item on display has
    a canister in front of it.  You buy the ticket, sign your name, and
    place it in the canister of your choice.  At the end ONE name is 
    drawn for each item and they are the winner of that item.
    
    I bet there are even more ways to play this!!!
    
    SAndy
     

    
    Sandy,
    
    In the chinise auction that you first described, not EVERY ticket has a
    number on it.
    
    You buy maybe 7 tickets for $1.  They're actually little pieces of
    paper folded up.  You open up the papers there and if there's a number
    inside, then you win the prize corrosponding with the number.  They
    range anywhere from a little candybar to some beautiful items such as a
    scratching post, lamps, etc.  
    
    The ratio of prizes is usually best if it's 5/1  (5 blanks/1 prize).  
    We've done this and made up about 6000 tickets.  about 1000 of them are
    prizes. 
    
    Holly
    

    Thanks, Sandy and Holly, you explained it well.  And, actually, I've
    participated and won in a chinese auction.  The last cat show I went to
    had one.  We bought actual raffle tickets; then, if/when your number
    was called you went up and picked a piece of paper with a number on it
    out of a box.  The numbers corresponded to the different prizes.  I won
    a little ceramic pig, which I gave to a friend's daughter because she
    was so upset that she couldn't come to the show with us.
    
    Michelle

    Recently Pet's and Pals in San Francisco held a gigantic garage sale. 
    Members of the committee contacted people and told them what they could
    and couldn't use and what day someone would come out to collect the
    stuff.  It continues to be a gigantic success - so now I just store my
    stuff up until november every year and wait for some nice guy to come
    along and pick it up - knowing at the same time I'm helping out a lot
    of homeless animals.
    
    Giudi

That's a good idea. How about a Feliner's yard sale in
the spring?


                                   seh

    I know alot of shelters that run yard sales/flea markets...so save
    all your old treasures for them!!!  The Pat Brody shelter holds
    a huge yardsale over both the Memorial and Labor Day weekends!!
    
    It's amazing how much money you can make during these yard sales....
    
    Sandy

    RE: .11
    
    That's a great idea!  we could hold a yard sale (I've got a yard for
    it!) and the proceeds could go to the Silver Linining Memorial!!
    
    Holly
    

    Here's another fund raising idea for shelters during the holiday.
    Make up small cards with name and photo of each animal on them.  You
    can include a small desciption of each animal and possibly their
    Christmas wishes, ie: adopted by a nice family, lot's of mices, 
    science diet food, etc.  Place each photo/card on a Christmas tree 
    in a public area.  I'm sure lots of stores will be willing to help out.  
    When people pick a card they can donate gifts, food, toys, money etc. 
    for that lucky kitty (or doggy).  Also the photo can be a keepsake for 
    that person. 
    
    You can request that they drop the gift off by December 23 or 24 either 
    to the store or the shelter.  Leave flyers regarding the shelter at the 
    store, in case they do want to adopt the animal and/or just visit the
    shelter.
    
    Wishing you lot's of luck.
    
    Regards,
    
    Claire             
    
    

    Another idea for fund raising, Shelter Cat Calendars.  I'm note sure
    how much it will cost to make up but I'm sure people would love to
    buy them.  I got this idea from my kitty litter company.  I ordered
    my 1993 calendar by providing them with 2 proofs of purchase and
    a check for $4.95.  The calendars could be sold to us here, or at cat
    shows as well as at the shelter.
    
    I know that there will be an inital cost to set up this idea but it
    should pay off in the end.  Imagine having a calendar of Pat Brophy's
    shelter and all of the kitty's living there.  How inspiring.
    
    Regards,
    
    Claire

    re. 15  Pet Pride of New York did a calendar last year.  I have it here
    on my wall.  There are pictures of some of the cats and a little story
    about them.  They are a no-kill shelter for cats only.  A local free
    lance photographer donated her time and materials for the calendar. 
    The pictures are black and white, and it seems to be on recycled paper.
    
    Steffi

    One of the shelters had a "most beautiful cat" contest.
    You sent in a picture of your cat with the $$ registration fee, and
    got all your friends to send in $1 donations disguised as votes
    for your cat.  $1 a vote added up......
    

    My husband has just joined the Board of Directors for the
    Humane Society of South Brevard -- the only "No Kill" shelter
    in the surrounding 5 or 6 counties. This organization has done 
    very little in the way of fund raising and is beginning to drain 
    its capital funds.
    
    QUESTION: Any creative ideas for fund raising events?  My husband
    has never been charged with this type of activity before, so
    any and all ideas will be greatly appreciated.
    
    This shelter does a lot for animals and their owners. For 
    example, all animals entering the shelter are tested for 
    feline leukemia and FIP, given rabies, distemper, etc., 
    spayed/neutered (even if they don't have a home to go to); or
    if you own a cat or dog and cannot afford to have it 
    spayed/neutered, they will pay the vet bill for you.
    
    I know this group will have a lot of great ideas! And, we
    can use them all.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Chris Rhone

    Where is South Brevard? Are we talking the U.S. here, or somewhere
    across the pond?
    
    Anyway, the shelter I volunterr at, had an auction last November, which
    netted them over 12,000 toward their building fund. (Theyu want to move
    the shelter to a larger nicer place.)
    
    What they did was go to all the merchants in the surrounding areas, and
    ask for donations that could be auctioned off. Some gave gift
    certificates, others gave merchandise. Plus the volunteers and their
    friends/families donated things. One lady painted a picture of two of
    our favorite shelter cats. Of course two of the volunterrs went in
    together to buy it for another volunteer! ;-)
    
    
    It was a lot of work, but it made the shelter a good amount of money.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Yonee

    With a nodename like ODIXIE you have to ask?  :^)
    
    The person is in the south, most likely Georgia since ODIXIE serves
    many users at the  Alpharetta facility.

    I found out a long time ago not to try to pronounce too many nodes.
    PLus, how do I know this person is not a transplant from the south,
    that misses it? ;-) I've seen this happen before too. I just don't take
    chances when I've never heard of the place. 
    
    My brother-in-law works at Alpharetta, but he doesn't use this node. Oh
    well, I still think and auction is a good idea! ;-)
    
    Yonee

    I wonder if South Brevard is Brevard County in Florida.  I used to
    live there a million years ago.
    
    Jan

    Could be Florida.  The southern states seem to share node ODIXIE.... 
    Maybe we should form a task force and go there to investigate?  :^)

    The TreeHouse Animal Foundation in Chicago has a project where they
    provide advice to fledgling shelters.  You can get their phone number
    from Chicago information.
    
    The shelters around here have bake sales and flea markets.  They also do
    a have your dogs pix taken with Santa at Christmas time, in conjunction
    with their Christmas sale.
    

    First, no need to form a task force to determine the location
    of South Brevard -- it is in Melbourne, Florida.  Second,
    thanks for all the great ideas.  The ideas you have all shared
    will do a lot for some very deserving animals.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Chris Rhone
    

    Yeah!  I win!  Actually, Chris, I lived out there before 
    Eau Gallie was incorporated into Melbourne (1965ish).  
    Lived on 1412 Sunwood Drive right across from the rollar rink.
    
    Good luck with the fundraising!
    
    Jan

rats!! I was hoping that some field investigation would
be required!!!


                                        seh