Every year, thousands of pets are brought to Lollypop Farm. Some will be surrendered because their family is longer able to care for them, and others are rescued because they were abandoned or abused. But thanks to animal lovers like you, there is hope. Because of you, these pets are not forgotten and receive a second chance at a happy, healthy life.
We are always so inspired by the generosity of the Rochester community. Support from people like you does so much to help the animals. Seriously, if we listed all the ways you make a difference this would be an extremely long article! So, instead here are just a few of the amazing ways your donations have a huge impact on pets in need.
You support investigations to save animals from abuse
Lollypop Farm maintains the SPCA designation for Monroe County and also serves Orleans, Genesee, and Livingston counties. This means our Humane Law Enforcement Department is responsible for investigating and enforcing animal cruelty laws of New York State, which is a huge undertaking. Last year, the department investigated 896 reports of suspected animal abuse and neglect. With five animal cruelty investigators, the Humane Law Enforcement Department receives no government or agency funding. They make the community a safer place for all pets, and it’s thanks to your support.
You provide for pets who need extra time before they can find a new home
Not every pet who comes to Lollypop Farm is ready to find a new home right away. In fact, many pets end up needing a little extra time. Thanks to you, these pets are able to get the care they need. Last year, 1,602 pets went into foster care. Some were kittens who hadn’t yet been weaned. Others, being cared for by the Lollypop Farm veterinary clinic, benefited from healing in a home environment. Your support provides foster care volunteers with food and other supplies they need to care for their foster pet.
You provide behavioral enrichment and intervention
Some pets in the shelter may need some extra care from our behavior team before they are ready to find a family. These pets may be a little timid or slow to trust. Lollypop Farm can provide behavioral intervention for many of these pets. The behavior team works one-on-one to earn their trust. This extra support can mean the world for a pet in need, and your support makes it possible.
You provide shelter
This seems like a simple one, but it’s an incredible gift for a homeless pet. Your support provides a warm bed and a roof over their head—and for some of these pets it’s their first refuge from the elements. And your care extends to provide comfort as well as housing. Cats receiving care at the shelter have a window and hideaway spots to ease anxiety. Dogs waiting for adoption have heated flooring to make their wait for a family more comfortable. Dogs also enjoy daily walks with dedicated volunteers. Small animals have the bedding they need to keep them warm. Every pet receives daily attention and loving care. These touches provide a lot of relief for pets in need.
You heal pets with veterinary treatment
Every pet who comes to Lollypop Farm receives a health examination in the Lollypop Farm Klingstein Veterinary Clinic. Your support provides this team what they need to treat everything from simple ailments like conjunctivitis to more complicated conditions like cancer. On top of that, every pet who is adopted from Lollypop Farm receives spay or neuter surgery to prevent more homeless litters in the future. With your support, the team performed 4,915 surgeries last year. That’s an incredible gift of health and wellness to pets in need of care.
You keep furry friends with their families
Your support helps keep pets in their homes—and out of the shelter. Our behavior team receives many calls through our Pet Peeves Behavior Help Line from pet owners who love their pet but are struggling. Pet owners can get free advice on problem behaviors. Your support gets them in touch with an expert who can help. You also provide emergency support for pet owners temporarily in need. Through an emergency pet food bank, Lollypop Farm provides families with pet food when life’s tragedies can make it difficult to do so. Lollypop Farm also offers a low-cost spay and neuter service to qualifying families who may not be able to afford the surgery. And help is available for caretakers to keep community cat colonies healthy through the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter/Vaccinate Program. Through these programs your donations help pets stay with the families they already love.
You make happy tails possible
All of these things and so much more go into giving homeless and abused pets everything they need for a happy, healthy life. It makes their journey to a new home possible. So, when their future family comes through the doors and sees their big eyes for the first time, the pets are ready. Ready to meet their future family with confidence. Ready to live a healthy life. Ready to be part of the family they deserve. You make that possible.
We can’t thank you enough for everything you do to help pets in need. Tune in to the Tails of Hope Telethon on Saturday, March 2, 2019, from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. We’ll be broadcasting live from Eastview Mall on 13WHAM ABC, CW Rochester and 13wham.com , to help raise support for Rochester’s pets in need. You’ll hear exciting stories about pets your donations have helped support.
