Neenah Animal Shelter Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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1 Neenah Animal Shelter Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How long has the Neenah Animal Shelter been operating? We were founded in 1958 and began operations in What is the Neenah Animal Shelter s Mission? The Neenah Animal Shelter exists to humanely care for lost, surrendered, neglected, impounded and abandoned adoptable pets until suitable homes are found for them. We strive to improve the quality and strength of the bond between people and their pets through education and example. What is the Neenah Animal Shelter s position on euthanasia? We find homes for all adoptable animals, regardless of breed or age. There are no time limits for the animals in our care and we do not euthanize for space. We view euthanasia as a last resort, to be used only when an animal is too sick to be treated, or too aggressive towards humans or other animals to be adopted. All euthanasia is performed through local veterinary clinics, who provide additional guidance to the difficult choices we must sometimes make. Is the Neenah Animal Shelter a non-profit organization and if so, what kind? Yes, we are considered a Section 501(c)3. This section provides tax exemption for charitable businesses, often referred to as the "nonprofit tax exemption." To qualify, a business must exclusively serve an exempt purpose, must not be a political organization or advocacy group and must not set aside its profits for any private individual. Does the Neenah Animal Shelter receive funding from the city or state? We do not receive ANY funding from any governmental agency, city or state, other than the fees paid by municipalities for the intake of stray animals. (These fees typically do not cover the cost of caring for the strays). We are virtually 100% self-funded, relying primarily on donations and event fundraising for our operations budget. How does the Neenah Animal Shelter raise money? Since surrender and adoption fees typically do not cover the cost of caring for our animals, we must raise money for continued operations in other ways. We raise money through events, such as our annual Furry Flurry Pet Walk, brat fry events, our Garden Party Plant and Bake Sale, and events sponsored by others on our behalf, such as Drool in the Pool and Walk the Lake. Additionally, we raise money through private donations, semi-annual appeals and our Animal Ally program. How many animals does the Neenah Animal Shelter help each year? We typically help between animals per year. We have the capacity to care for 17 dogs and 59 cats at our facility at any one time so we frequently use the help of foster homes to care for additional animals that need our assistance. How much does the Neenah Animal Shelter charge for animal adoption? Cats: Altered Cats (Up to 6 Months Old): $75 Altered Cats (6 Months to 1 Year Old): $50 Altered Cats (1 to 6 Years Old): $10 Cats (7 Years and Older): Fee Sponsored! Special Needs Cats (6 Years or Younger): $10

2 All Cats are Felv/FIV tested, distemper vaccinated and de-wormed. Cats over 4 months old will have received a Rabies Vaccination. Dogs: Altered dogs (6 Months and Younger): $250 Altered dogs (6 Months to 6 Years Old): $175 Altered dogs (7 Years and Older): $100 All dogs are heartworm tested, distemper vaccinated, bordetella vaccinated and de-wormed. Dogs over 4 months old also receive a Rabies vaccination. What care does the Neenah Animal Shelter provide to each animal (in addition to food, water, shelter, bedding)? Cats: Feline leukemia (FeLV) testing for cats under 6 months of age FeLV and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) testing for cats over 6 months of age Deworming (for intestinal parasites - worms) Distemper Vaccination Spay/Neuter Rabies vaccinations for cats/kittens over 4 months Other medical treatment is provided, as needed and includes treatment for earmites, fleas and ticks, upper respiratory infection (URI), skin disorders, stomach and bowel disorders, dental cleaning/tooth extraction (when needed), growth testing/removal (when needed), etc. Cat-i-tude testing In-house temperament testing Enrichment (Toys, Socialization, etc ) Lots of TLC! Dogs: Bordatella vaccination Heartworm testing and preventives Deworming (for intestinal parasites - worms) Flea & tick treatment Distemper Vaccination Spay/Neuter Rabies vaccinations for dogs/puppies over 4 months Other medical treatment is provided, as needed and includes treatment for skin disorders, stomach and bowel disorders, infections, dental cleaning/tooth extraction (when needed), growth testing/removal (when needed), etc. In-house temperment testing ASPCA Canine-ality testing Enrichment (Daily exercise including walks and yard play, puzzle toys, etc.) Lots of TLC! Why does the Neenah Animal Shelter spend part of its donations on maintaining the building/site? Since we receive no outside funding, donations are used primarily for animal care, but also may be used for upkeep and maintenance of our building and site. This allows us to continue to provide our animals with comfortable and appropriate housing. We are inspected by the State of Wisconsin and Town of Neenah Fire Department regularly. We must comply with state requirements for the care of animals and local building/fire codes.

3 We must keep our computer and printer functioning to maintain our animal s medical records, adoption/donor records, tax records, and numerous other records associated with running an animal shelter We must keep the building in good working condition (heat, air-conditioning, plumbing, etc ) to ensure the building is safe and comfortable for our animals, staff, volunteers and adopters. Whenever possible, we partner with companies who provide donations, discounts and donated services. We work very hard to be good stewards of all donations and assistance we receive, understanding that we cannot exist without the trust and support of the community. Does the Neenah Animal Shelter have a volunteer program? Yes we do. There is an informational meeting at the Neenah Police Station once per month. At the informational meeting, we provide an overview of our shelter operations, volunteer program and opportunities. This is followed by a one-on-one Meet and Greet, where our Volunteer Coordinator meets with volunteers individually to determine what their interest areas are and schedules an appropriate training session, based upon their interests. Finally, a training session is scheduled to prepare the volunteer for their new role. Working with shelter pets can be very different from working with household pets, so those working with the dogs or cats will learn about reading the animal s behavior and handling them safely. All volunteers must invest in one volunteer T-Shirt for $15 (to be worn while volunteering for the shelter), and will be issued a name badge. How can I volunteer at the Neenah Animal Shelter? We are always looking for additional volunteers! You can volunteer on an ongoing basis (we ask for a commitment of approximately 6-hours per month), or just help out occasionally. At the shelter, volunteers can walk dogs, socialize cats, wash dishes, mow the lawn, wash/fold laundry, clean and do some administrative tasks. Outside of the shelter, volunteers can attend, work at, and in some cases, learn to run brat fry-events, supply drives, PetCo/PetSmart events, Farm Market events, and other outreach events. We also need help with event planning. There is something for everyone and every little bit helps! To find out about the next informational meeting, call the shelter at Does it cost anything to surrender a pet? Yes, to surrender a pet in the City of Neenah, the charge is $30. For those outside of the City of Neenah limits, the charge is $60 and may require a wait if space is not available. Why does the Neenah Animal Shelter charge people to surrender pets? The charges are to help offset the cost of caring for the animal, which includes food, medical care and other expenses. The Neenah Animal Shelter typically does NOT recoup the cost of caring for an animal, even with the surrender charge. Does Gibby still run the Neenah Animal Shelter? Since 2010, the shelter s manager has been April Pinnow. April has a biology degree from UW-Oshkosh, and has extensive animal care experience. April has had a passion for animals her whole life. She grew up on her parent s dairy farm in rural Winnebago County and from a young age knew that she wanted to

4 pursue a career working with animals. She worked at three other shelters prior to coming to our organization in We are very happy to have her as a member of our team. How many people work at the Neenah Animal Shelter? The staff consists of 3 full-time and 6 part-time personnel. What do the Neenah Animal Shelter employees do? Seven days per week, 365 days per year, the shelter staff completes this list of tasks: Clean all cat cages Clean all dog kennels Clean all common areas Scoop litter boxes twice per day Wash all cat and dog dishes daily Wash all cat and dog toys Provide dogs with enrichment toys/activities Walks dogs and/or provides yard exercise Laundy, laundy, laundry Medical care, as needed Update vaccinations, as needed Perform temperament, cat-i-tude testing, and canine-alities as needed Transport pets to the vet, as needed Perform building maintenance (mowing lawn, shoveling snow, other maintenance), as needed Conduct animal surrender and animal adoption appointments, as needed Conduct animal intake procedures and documentation Work with potential adopters Work with volunteers Work with townships, City of Neenah, and law enforcement on stray, neglected and abused animals Help plan and carry out events Participate in ongoing training Community outreach Why does the Neenah Animal Shelter stay in the old building on Cty Hwy G? As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, funds are tight. A new building would require a capital campaign, which the shelter is not yet ready to begin. Are there any plans for the Neenah Animal Shelter to move to new location? We hope to begin a capital campaign for a new shelter in the next 3-5 years, pending increased community support. Is the Neenah Animal Shelter on Facebook? Yes, just type in Neenah Animal Shelter in the Facebook search field. Does the Neenah Animal Shelter have a website? Yes, it is at How can I donate to the Neenah Animal Shelter? There are so many ways to make donations to the shelter! If you wish to donate food or other needed items, check out the Wish List on our website or go to Amazon.com and type Neenah Animal Shelter Wish List in the search field. If you wish to donate money, send a check to the shelter, or stop in to make a donation.

5 Consider becoming part of our Animal Ally program! A charge of your choosing can be applied monthly to your credit card. There is no obligation and you can discontinue the program at any time! Sponsor a pet s adoption fee. This helps improve their chances at finding a home. If you wish to donate your time, please call the shelter, and we ll let you know when the next Volunteer informational meeting will take place.