Grant initiative proposal

1

Proposal for: Reducing Instances of Pet Abandonment and Increasing the Presence of Positive Pet Ownership Practices in San Antonio

Through the Establishment of a Nonprofit and Affiliated Initiatives

Prepared for: Ralph and Virginia Mullin Foundation

2401 E. Speedway Tucson, AZ 85719

By Nicholas Gosling, Technical Writing Student

August 31, 2013

2

Table of Contents GRAPHICS .................................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 1 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5

APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix A ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Appendix B ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT .................................................................................................. 10

PROPOSAL ............................................................................................................................... 11

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 11 Statement of Problem ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Objectives .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 Sources ................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Details of the Problem ...................................................................................................................................... 11

Severity ..................................................................................................................................... 12

Causes ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Needs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Scope ........................................................................................................................................................................ 16

PROPOSED PLAN ................................................................................................................... 16 Phases of the Plan .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Establish a Nonprofit .................................................................................................................................. 16 Implement Visual Projects ........................................................................................................................ 17 Organize Education and Outreach ......................................................................................................... 18 Encourage Neighborhood Involvement .............................................................................................. 19 Future Actions ................................................................................................................................................ 19

Costs and Materials ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Schedule of Implementation ......................................................................................................................... 20 Personnel ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 Feasibility .............................................................................................................................................................. 21 Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................... 21

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 22 Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 22

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................... 23

3

4

5

6

Appendix A: Survey Given to Nonprofits Survey Sent to 35 Nonprofits and Rescue Groups in San Antonio

Survey Respondents: 4

Question 1: How many dogs did your organization impound or rescue in 2010, 2011, and 2012? Respondent 1: 1, 40, 30 R2: 0, 0, 32 R3: 192, 210, 230 R4: n/a Question 2: Of those annual dog impounds/rescues, how many were believed stray or abandoned? R1: 1, 40, 30 R2: 0, 0, 28 R3: 22, 14, 14 R4: n/a Question 3: How many cats did your organization impound or rescue in 2010, 2011, and 2012 R1: 0, 0, 0 R2: 0, 0, 4 R3: 0, 0, 0 R4: n/a Question 4: Of those annual cat impounds/rescues, how many were believed stray or abandoned? R1: 0, 0, 0 R2: 0, 0, 4 R3: 0, 0, 0 R4: n/a Question 5: Within the last three years, approximately how many dogs or cats have been abandoned at your facility (or facilities) in San Antonio? R1: n/a R2: 0 R3: n/a R4: We have no standing facility. Animal Care Services contacts us to place adoptable dogs. Question 6: Does your organization take measures to prevent on-‐site abandonments, or does it encourage this activity, and how? R1: n/a R2: We are a home based rescue; sometimes the animals will just show up or the neighbors on our street will come to the house with animals that were dumped. R3: n/a – We are a foster-‐based rescue organization. R4: n/a – We have no standing facility. To my knowledge, no reputable organization encourages on-‐site abandonment. Question 7: Please rank the following factors from greatest to least (with 1 being the greatest) in the order in which you believe they contribute to the stray dog and cat population in San Antonio: Choice A: un-‐spayed and un-‐neutered dogs and cats Choice B: owners allowing their dogs and cats to run loose Choice C: animal dumping and abandonment Choice D: illegal dog and cat breeding Choice E: other (please explain) Choice F: other (please explain)

7

R1: A, D, B, C, E (ease of surrendering with no consequences), F (difficulty in getting into free spay/neuter programs R2: A, B, C, D R3: A, B, C, D R4: A, B, C, D Question 8: Do you or staff members at your organization know of any specific locations (i.e. parks, streets, street corners, housing developments, or neighborhoods) within San Antonio where people regularly abandon* dogs and cats? *This survey defines regular abandonment as three or more individual instances of dogs or cats being left in these locations within the last three years. R1: Just east of Animal Care Services. Cemeteries and parks all over the Southside, such as South Side Lions and Pecan Valley. The city dump is also a popular dumping site (due to the belief that dogs will find food there). R2: n/a R3: n/a R4: Olmos Park Basin Athletic Fields is a notorious dumping location because of the higher socio-‐economic status of the surrounding neighborhoods. Breckenridge Park is also an animal dumping site.

8

Appendix B: Survey Given to Businesses (i.e. Veterinarians and Boarders) Survey Sent to 81 Animal Hospitals and Boarding Businesses in San Antonio

Survey Respondents: 4

Question 1: Does your organization treat stray or abandoned dogs and cats? Respondent 1: no R2: yes R3: yes R4: yes Question 2: Does your organization take in or foster stray or abandoned dogs and cats? R1: no R2: no R3: yes R4: yes Question 3: If you answered yes to question two, what does your organization typically do with the fostered stray or abandoned dogs and cats? (For example, do you turn them over to animal care or to a nonprofit eventually?) R1: n/a R2: n/a R3: We try not to take them, but if they are abandoned we usually turn them over to animal care services or to a no-‐kill rescue group if one is available. R4: We attempt to adopt/find them homes. We also place them with local rescues and shelters. Question 4: Which specific agencies, if any, does your organization work with to find homes for stray or abandoned dogs and cats? R1: n/a R2: n/a R3: Helotes Humane Society R4: n/a Question 5: Within the last three years, approximately how many dogs or cats have been abandoned at your facility (or facilities) in San Antonio? R1: n/a R2: 1-‐2 per year R3: 15 R4: Over 60 adult dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens Question 6: Does your organization take measures to prevent on-‐site abandonments, or does it encourage this activity, and how? R1: n/a R2: We have on-‐site cameras and we properly train staff to stress to good Samaritans that there are alternatives, such as shelters and online fostering groups. R3: We do not take specific measures to prevent it, save telling people that we are not a rescue group. R4: We installed a sign stating that we are not an adoption facility and listing the contact info for local shelters and rescue groups Question 7: Please rank the following factors from greatest to least (with 1 being the greatest) in the order in which you believe they contribute to the stray dog and cat population in San Antonio: Choice A: un-‐spayed and un-‐neutered dogs and cats Choice B: owners allowing their dogs and cats to run loose Choice C: animal dumping and abandonment

9

Choice D: illegal dog and cat breeding Choice E: other (please explain) Choice F: other (please explain) R1: A, C, B, D R2: A, C, E (cost of care services and improper pet care education), D, B R3: A, B, C, D R4: A, B, C, D Question 8: Do you or staff members at your organization know of any specific locations (i.e. parks, streets, street corners, housing developments, or neighborhoods) within San Antonio where people regularly abandon* dogs and cats? *This survey defines regular abandonment as three or more individual instances of dogs or cats being left in these locations within the last three years. R1: Universal City Dog Park R2: Country View Village Neighborhood-‐NW San Antonio, McCollum High School near Formosa Street, Wells Fargo on Highway 151 at Interstate 1604, Highway 410 at Sulpher Springs road R3: My apartment complex and many local parks R4: Secluded and rural areas around town

10

INFORMATIVE ABSTRACT

The City of San Antonio, Texas, needs an organization devoted primarily to teaching citizens about the area’s animal laws and to engaging citizens and neighborhood groups in identifying and eliminating animal cruelty, in particular pet abandonment. Some potentially effective strategies to addressing these issues include installing educational signage at popular pet dumping locations and developing presentations on positive pet care practices for schools and neighborhood groups. Changing and improving the generally held views and opinions on animal care and pet ownership in San Antonio is vital to establishing a more appealing, more animal friendly city. Presently, more than 300,000 stray dogs and cats roam San Antonio streets, parks, and neighborhoods. These abandoned and loose domesticated and feral animals not only pose nuisances and dangers to area residents, they create the visage of an unhealthy, uncaring community. Furthermore, San Antonio’s many rescue groups are forced to focus on saving these many animals, detracting from the energy and resources they can expend on better educating the general populace. This plan establishes an organization and implements projects to increase awareness of animal abandonment and related cruelty crimes in San Antonio. The first step involves organizing a nonprofit and applying for 501(c)3 status to allow this entity greater access to funding sources, such as corporate donations. This stage also entails building an online database that people may visit to learn about the region’s animal care laws, free- and reduced-cost pet care clinics, and organizations that rescue strays and surrendered dogs and cats. Secondly, this entity will implement fixed initiatives, such as signage and brochure handouts, that build awareness in locations frequented by people who dump pets. These initiatives will educate people on what to do when they witness an animal abandonment and direct potential pet dumpers towards resources. The third step involves organizing outreach activities, such as school presentations and health fair booths. These activities will raise awareness of the organization and its objectives at the grassroots level. School presentations will better educate tomorrow’s San Antonians on caring for their pets, while neighborhood-specific presentations will inform people of the resources and options available to them. The final step of this multi-stage plan involves creating volunteer watch groups to help patrol major pet dumping hotspots and build awareness within their neighborhoods. The above initiatives benefit the entire community, its individual citizens, and its pet population. Some of these benefits include:

• Heightened awareness of local animal cruelty and leash/pet control laws and of the regional resources available to pet owners.

• Increased cooperation in identifying animal cruelty crimes and their victims. • Enhanced support of rescue groups and Animal Care Services in San Antonio. • Strengthened community collaboration and engagement in addressing an issue

that affects municipalities nationwide: an opportunity to develop and institute a model plan implementable in other cities and towns.

11

INTRODUCTION Statement of Problem The City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) division, and their many nonprofit partners have made great strides in the last few years in addressing San Antonio’s stray and abandoned pet population. In the mid 2000s, SAACS euthanized about 9 of every 10 dogs and cats it took in (Baker, “Success in San Antonio”). At the time, San Antonio had one of the highest per capita rates of animal euthanasia of any city in the country.

Today, SAACS live releases an average of 76 percent of its animals through its adoption program and nonprofit partnerships (“ACS Quarterly Reports: Third Quarter”). Live release refers to the rate at which animal shelters rehabilitate and relinquish animals to new or previous owners, to no-‐kill rescue groups, or to other organizations.

However, because of the preponderance of stray animals in San Antonio, SAACS must focus many of its resources on one side of the problem. On the other side, San Antonio suffers from a culture of poor pet ownership practices and misinformed citizens. Many dogs and cats end up in the system because their owners do not adhere to the local laws, or these same owners do not know where to turn when they need pet-‐related resources and assistance. On occasion, they opt for the cheaper and easier alternative: abandonment. Objective This proposal examines the plausibility and benefits of a San Antonio-‐based nonprofit (referred to hereafter as an organization) focused on instilling in pet owners good ownership practices and on educating San Antonio citizens of the area’s pet-‐related laws. While the overall work of this nonprofit will center on teaching positive ownership practices, it will address one issue above all others: pet abandonment (also known as pet dumping). This proposal analyzes the extent and severity of pet dumping in San Antonio, as well as some of the underlying contributors and factors to this terrible crime. It then lays out a series of steps for establishing a nonprofit and implementing projects to address pet dumping and encourage healthy pet ownership mannerisms. Sources The data for this proposal comes from three main sources: websites and online articles, in-‐person interviews, and questionnaire results. The online resources include national and regional statistics and news and feature articles. The interviews were conducted with experts in animal care and shelter administration and in nonprofit development. Professionals working within San Antonio’s animal care industry answered the questionnaires. Details of the Problem While this proposal evaluates the extent of pet dumping and animal abuse in San Antonio, it also offers solutions implementable in other urban and rural communities faced with similar predicaments. For comparison, this proposal

12

includes national statistics, as well as information from a comparable problem in another Texas city. Severity Pet dumping is a global epidemic on par with some of harshest animal cruelty crimes. However, unlike more severe abuses, such as dog fighting and animal torture, cases of pet dumping may be found in nearly every community in the United States. Without the hope of rescue, abandoned dogs, cats, and other former pets often lead short, pain-‐filled lives. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) goes so far as to say that between abandoning and euthanizing pets, humane euthanasia performed using a sodium pentobarbital injection provides a far more compassionate solution and death (“Euthanasia: The Compassionate Option”).

According to PETA, “Turning unwanted animals loose to roam the streets is not a humane option. If they don’t starve, freeze, get hit by a car, or die of disease, they may be tormented and possibly killed by cruel juveniles or picked up by dealers who obtain animals to sell to laboratories.”

Abandoned dogs also pose potential dangers to people and their pets. Within the last six months, several serious stray dog attacks have occurred in the United States. In July, a Houston, Texas, woman was mauled nearly to death by as many as 15 stray dogs while she was walking to a city bus stop (“Houston Woman Clings to Life”). Earlier in the same month, a resident of Liberty County, Texas, was killed after she intervened when a stray dog attacked the family pet (Horswell, “Liberty County Woman Killed”). And in May 2013 in Reedley, California, a pack of five stray dogs attacked and killed more than 70 farm animals owned by a high school while teachers and students looked on (Rosales, “Pack of Stray Dogs Attacks”).

Closer to home, San Antonio police blamed a pack of stray dogs for thousands of dollars in vehicle damages in a San Antonio Eastside neighborhood (Willson, “Dogs Chew on Car”). According to the news report, the pack of dogs was “terrorizing an East side neighborhood, scaring neighbors back into their homes.” While these attacks were likely isolated incidents, they are nonetheless the consequence of poor pet ownership practices, practices that include allowing dogs and cats to roam free, not spaying or neutering pets, and abandoning dogs and cats instead of properly relinquishing them to shelters.

Within San Antonio, pet owners face fines and even jail time for failing to follow leash and control laws and for abandoning or dumping their dogs and cats. According to Audra Houghton, one of four SAACS Animal Cruelty Specialists, the fines for not following leash laws and/or not properly securing dogs on owners’ properties range from $100 to $2,000. In Texas, these types of crimes are considered Class C misdemeanors (“V.T.C.A., Penal Code § 42.092.”).

Animal abandonment crimes vary in severity from Class A misdemeanors up to third-‐degree felonies, depending on the number of previous offenses by an offender. The penalties for a misdemeanor sentence of animal dumping range as high as a $4,000 fine and a year in prison (Houghton). An individual convicted of a third-‐degree felony may face a $10,000 fine and 2 to 10 years in jail (“Texas Penal Code – Section 12.34”). However, simply having these laws and penalties in place is not enough to encourage healthy pet ownership practices in San Antonio.

13

Each year, SAACS increases the number of animal cruelty cases it files with the Bexar County District Attorney’s office. From January to March 2013, animal cruelty officers filed 47 cruelty cases (“ACS Quarterly Report: Second Quarter” 8). In 2012 during the same three-‐month span, SAACS filed three cruelty cases.

“When we’re able to prove [the crime] we file it,” said Houghton. “We hope that we have provided enough information, that we’ve done enough work, that the facts lead to a prosecution in each case. And we have a very high percentage rate (of upheld cases); I think in the five years that I’ve been here, there’s been one case that led to an acquittal.”

Lisa Norwood, Public Information Officer at SAACS, said that many more people are going to jail now for felony-‐level animal cruelty crimes than did in the past. This uptick in holding more people accountable has made SAACS unpopular among some populations in San Antonio, including by “a particular audience that is not interested in being responsible,” she added.

The City of San Antonio and Bexar County suffer from an overpopulation of stray dogs and cats that stems largely from citizens with misinformed or lazy ideologies on caring for their pets. According to Best Friends Animal Society, approximately 150,000 dogs and 187,000 cats currently roam San Antonio streets and parks; some are owned and allowed to run free while others were lost, abandoned, or born in the wild (Vincent T., “Thousands of Unleashed, Unloved Animals Roam S.A. Streets”).

In San Antonio, pet dumpers frequently target city and county parks and rural areas just outside of city limits, according to Joseph Flores, SAACS Animal Cruelty Specialist.

“Pretty much anywhere there is a park,” replied Flores when asked where locals frequently dump their pets. “Animals being dumped on the side of the road are going to be in your lower income areas and the rural areas of those lower income areas.”

However, cases of abandonment in which pet owners simply leave their dogs or cats behind at their former houses before moving exists city-‐ and county-‐wide (Flores).

In a survey of nonprofits and shelters (see Appendix A) that deal with pets and veterinary hospitals and boarding kennels (see Appendix B) located throughout San Antonio and enclave communities, respondents identified numerous areas, including many parks, with high concentrations of pet dumping (see Figure 1). One respondent, Dr. Benjamin Espy of Spay Neuter Inject Protect San Antonio (SNIPSA), added that his organization often finds that pet owners from “lower socio-‐economic classes dump dogs in higher socio-‐economic areas in hopes that someone will have the financial means to rescue these animals.”

The survey also asked for respondents’ input regarding the top factors that contribute to San Antonio’s stray pet population. The majority of respondents listed un-‐neutered and un-‐spayed dogs and cats as the greatest contributor. Roughly half of respondents identified owners who allow their pets to roam freely as the second greatest factor, while animal dumping and abandonment ranked as the third largest contributor.

14

Causes People abandon their cats, dogs, and other pets for many different reasons. Ultimately, pet dumping stems from irresponsible pet ownership, explained Houghton.

“Financial issues and ignorance are the two most common reasons that people commit offenses of animal cruelty at that [misdemeanor] level, i.e. the neglect and abandonment cases,” she said.

In a nationwide survey of animal shelters, the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) examined the top reasons that people surrender their pets (“The Top Ten Reasons for Pet Relinquishment”). The primary justifications varied between dog and cat owners. Dog owners often cited moving as the top reason they needed to surrender their pet, followed by landlord/rental property restrictions, the costs of upkeep, limited time for the pet, and inadequate facilities. The NCPPSP study identified the main reason for relinquishment among cat owners as owning too many cats. Other reasons that topped the list included family member(s) with allergies, relocation, the cost of upkeep, and landlord/rental restrictions.

In recent years, the recession and foreclosure crisis has indirectly produced an overwhelming number of pet abandonment cases in the United States. As a result, the term “foreclosure pets” was coined to identify those dogs and cats abandoned in foreclosed-‐upon homes after the former owners left (“Abandoned pets”). Former owners often leave them behind because of financial difficulties and the uncertainty and instability in their own lives. Many of these foreclosure pets die of starvation or exposure after being locked within their house or tied up in the yard for days or weeks before real estate agents ever discover them. At least one state has a bill in the works that would require real estate professionals to visit foreclosed homes within a certain timeframe to check for abandoned pets (Fucci, “Legislature Makes Change to Eldridge Bill”).

As a result of these and other contributing factors, between 5 million and 7 million pets enter U.S. animal shelters each year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“Pet Statistics”). Roughly 3 million to 4 million (or 60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats) never leave these shelters alive. Kill shelters euthanize approximately 5 out of every 10 dogs, and 7 out of 10 cats, because of a lack of forever-‐home adopters.

In San Antonio, statistics for live releases slightly exceed the national average. From January to March 2013, SAACS achieved its highest live release rate to date: over 80 percent for all adoptable and non-‐adoptable animals over a three-‐month period (“ACS Quarterly Report: Second Quarter” 3). By July 2013 that number had dipped slightly to approximately 76 percent (“ACS Asilomar Report”). During that same January-‐March 2013 time span, San Antonio’s Solid Waste Management division retrieved between 2,450 and 2,800 deceased animals per month from city streets and properties (“ACS Quarterly Report: Second Quarter” 7).

Each year SAACS receives approximately 84,000 calls for assistance. However, determining which intake animals were abandoned by their owners from

15

which animals were allowed to run loose or were born to feral parents presents a nearly impossible task according to officers Houghton and Flores.

“It’s very difficult to give you exact numbers because of the way that our system is set up,” said Houghton. “[The system] does not separate the cases by type of abandonment, or even necessarily by abandonment.”

“However, we don’t have [cases of pet dumping] nearly as frequently as we have instances of people moving out and leaving their pets behind,” she added.

What is known, said Norwood, is that many San Antonians need “a change in the mindset” of they view and approach pet ownership and pet care.

“We can pick up dozens of dogs in the city parks, where they’re hanging out either because they live there or that’s where they go to spend the day; whatever the case may be,” she said. “But if we’re not addressing the issue of why they are in the parks to begin with…we’re not doing ourselves any favors. We’re putting a Band-‐Aid on a gaping wound.”

Gavin Nichols, a Community Initiatives Program Officer for the San Antonio Area Foundation (SAAF), agrees in the importance of education, especially when it comes to teaching people about secure dog laws. Nichols, who works with several animal-‐oriented nonprofits and shelters in the region, said that many of San Antonio’s strays are owned pets allowed to roam freely. However, he added, an even greater contributor to San Antonio’s stray pet population includes people not spaying or neutering their pets. Needs Currently there exist plenty of nonprofits and community initiatives in San Antonio that rescue and help adopt out stray dogs and cats from the area. However, many of these organizations lack the time, resources, and manpower to focus on effective local education and outreach. San Antonio needs an organization that (1) develops unique programs to inform pet owners of the regional laws and the local resources available to them and (2) identifies and implements innovative plans to reduce cruelty crimes, such as abandonment, while addressing the ideologies that many San Antonians possess regarding pet care and ownership. Recently announced developments at SAACS and its’ partner agencies suggest that the present political climate and population base in San Antonio would help to sustain a pet-‐oriented education and outreach organization in the area. For example, SAACS plans to open an 8,200-‐square-‐foot shelter in San Antonio’s Breckenridge Park in the fall of 2013; this new facility will allow the municipal organization and its partners to greatly increase the number of dogs and cats they save and further expand their operations (Vincent T., “Multipurpose Pet Adoption Center Unveiled”). Furthermore, San Antonio’s City Council and local voters previously approved a multimillion-‐dollar bond to construct new kennels at the Animal Defense League in San Antonio (Aldridge). When completed, these new kennels will increase the capacity of this no-‐kill nonprofit and the number of animals it can pull from SAACS for adoption.

16

Scope This proposal provides an assessment of projects and initiatives that would address pet dumping and abandonment in San Antonio and generate interest in local animal laws and positive pet ownership practices. The proposal includes individual sections for an estimate of cost and materials, a schedule of project implementation, an overview of required personnel, and an analysis of project benefits. PROPOSED PLAN Plan Phases This plan outlines several short-‐ and long-‐term projects that address animal abandonment and other negative pet ownership practices in San Antonio. The four major prerogatives of this plan include: (1) establishing a vehicle for fundraising and grants acquisition; (2) implementing fixed initiatives to raise awareness of the laws regarding pet ownership and animal abandonment; (3) organizing outreach and educational presentations; (4) encouraging active citizen involvement in meeting all these objectives. Establish a Nonprofit and Online Presence. The first prerogative to developing an effective education and outreach organization in San Antonio starts with applying for 501(c)3 status with the federal and state governments. According to Rhonda Heffernan, co-‐founder of Stop the Crosby Puppy Massacres in Crosby, Texas, achieving nonprofit status opens doors to important resources, such as corporate donations and grants. However, actually receiving 501(c)3 status may take up to a year, said Heffernan, who is still waiting on her nonprofit approval. Heffernan established Stop the Crosby Puppy Massacres more than two years ago in response to a major pet and garbage dumping site off of U.S. Route 90 in Crosby, a community just outside of Houston. She first heard about the site through a local animal rescue organization. During her initial visit to the area, she came across a horrific discovery: several two-‐month-‐old puppies tortured, killed, and unceremoniously thrown out like discarded litter. In the months and years since, Heffernan has worked diligently to clean up and close this popular dumping ground. Her organization has rescued 87 live dogs, seven cats, and one burro from the area; she has, however, seen numerous more tortured and/or killed pets, many of them placed in trash bags and left to rot. While Heffernan used to find newly dumped live dogs and cats at the site every week, she now reports that those cases of abandonment have slowed to about once per month. The change, however, did not occur overnight and not without significant amounts of hard work and regional networking. After several months of reaching out to law enforcement officials and animal protection agencies without success, Stop the Crosby Puppy Massacres attracted the attention of local media (Heffernan). From there, interest snowballed. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office became involved, as well as animal cruelty specialists from the Houston Police Department. And the organization’s online support skyrocketed, said Heffernan. “Facebook and social media have been the things that have gotten us down the road,” she replied when asked what worked best in building her organization. “We have over 3,000 [Facebook] followers now; these followers spread our message

17

and help us raise money for the animals. Social media also attracted the interest of traditional media as well.” The outpouring of support from local citizens and the cooperation of the District Attorney’s Office and other government agencies allowed Heffernan and her colleagues to add other preventative measures at the site, such as signs educating potential animal dumpers of the legal consequences and a billboard asking for help in identifying these criminals. Even more recently, highway crews installed an eight-‐foot-‐high fence, making it nearly impossible for people to dump in the area out of view of passersby. Next, Heffernan and her colleagues plan to focus on outreach by canvassing local neighborhoods with flyers on animal abandonment, dog fighting, and similar crimes. Structure of Nonprofit Before applying for 501(c)3 status, the proposed organization will need a name and mission statement (“How to Start a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization”). It will eventually require a board of directors and a strong online and social media presence. Names: Potential organization names include:

1. San Antonio Pet Dumping Awareness Initiative 2. End Pet Dumping San Antonio 3. Responsible Pet Owners for South Texas

Mission Statement: The mission of this organization is to promote responsible pet ownership and reduce instances of animal cruelty in San Antonio through education, outreach, and community initiatives. Board of Directors: Invite local leaders from nonprofits and businesses operating in the animal care/rescue sector to serve on the board of directors. Board members will help network and fundraise within the community and recommend projects and partnerships for the organization. Online Presence: Set up a website and Facebook page for the organization. Establish strong Facebook and Twitter followings; incorporate search engine optimization strategies to build online awareness; develop e-‐mail newsletter campaign for contributors; and incorporate other social media channels, such as YouTube and Vine. Implement Visual Projects that Increase Awareness. San Antonio needs widespread initiatives that educate residents on the penalties affiliated with pet dumping and that enlist bystander help in identifying these criminals. One way to achieve this is through informative signage strategically placed in popular dumping areas. Signage While some parks in San Antonio currently maintain anti-‐pet dumping signage, according to Lisa Norwood of SAACS, many do not. English-‐ and Spanish-‐language signs could be added at county and city parks, as well as in neighborhoods with high incidences of pet dumping (see Figure 1). At each location, two types of signs could be added: one to educate people and one to encourage bystander engagement in reporting pet dumping.

18

Educational Signs (see Figure 2): These signs will educate people on the legal consequences of abandoning their pets and identify organizations that can help them to properly relinquish their pets. The upper half of these signs will list misdemeanor charges affiliated with abandoning animals. The bottom halves will list several regional shelters, including SAACS, and their contact information.

Engagement Signs (see Figure 3): These signs will inform bystanders which local number to call (311) and what information to report when they witness an animal abandonment or dumping in progress. According to Officer Houghton, bystanders must identify the vehicle license plate number of any perpetrators in their reports and preferably provide descriptions of the criminal or criminals. While the 311-‐phone service allows people to report crimes unanimously, bystanders should leave their contact information for their eyewitness accounts to effectively help in any criminal proceedings.

According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), people reporting animal cruelty crimes should also provide the location, date, and time of the incident and the names of other people who witnessed the crime. Furthermore, HSUS recommends that, if possible, bystanders use their phones or other devices to take video or photographic documentation (“Report Animal Cruelty”). Visual documentation will help to strengthen any resulting case. Brochures Tri-‐fold brochures printed on quality stock paper will also support the education and outreach objectives of this organization. These brochures will include greater details than the signage regarding city and county animal care laws. They will also list many more local shelters and nonprofits and provide details on low-‐cost spay and neuter clinics and similar programs in San Antonio. Additionally, the brochures will educate people on local leash laws and the related citation penalties and, much like the signs, inform readers of what to do and who to call when they witness a person dumping one or more pets. Lastly, the brochures will direct people towards the organization’s website for further resources. These brochures may be posted within parks to support signage coverage. They can also be used in neighborhood and park canvassing operations and handed out during outreach events. Additionally, they may be added to existing literature and handouts available at regional shelters. Organize Educational Presentations and Event Appearances. Effectively transforming local ideologies on pet care depends on education in the classroom and the community. Under the guidance of its directorial board, this organization will develop educational programs oriented towards children, adolescents, and low-‐income communities and neighborhood groups. Outreach presentations will educate viewers on local animal care and cruelty laws and explain that abandoned pets suffer, sometimes horribly. In addition, these presentations will outline alternatives to pet dumping and provide people with literature on local resources and agencies willing to help them. Secondly, this organization will set up booths at community health and wellness fairs and neighborhood street events, where volunteers will hand out brochures and talk to people about the issues and how best to address them. By

19

attending community events, the organization will also generate supporters and build interest in its initiatives at the local level. Build Support and Involvement at the Neighborhood Level. The success of this organization depends on community and citizen collaboration. To further solidify this bond, the organization will work with communities and neighborhoods with parks and other areas that people frequently target for pet dumping. Using local volunteers, neighborhood watch-‐like groups will operate within these pet-‐dumping hotspots to further deter criminals. With the logistical assistance of the organization, volunteer members will establish patrolling schedules and pass out brochures at parks and other hotspots. These initiatives will bring neighbors and area residents closer together in support of a common cause while simultaneously helping to cut down on local crime. These park watch groups could be modeled after The National Sheriffs’ Association’s Neighborhood Watch Program. According to The National Sheriffs’ Association’s website, creating an effective watch group requires five major steps (“About Neighborhood Watch”). These steps include mapping out target areas and crime patterns, building partnerships with local law enforcement, assessing the needs of the neighborhood, selecting and training volunteers, and implementing meaningful projects. These steps will serve as guidelines in creating park watch groups. Future Initiatives. The above four project phases represent the potential beginning work of this organization. As the organization grows and develops, it can identify and implement new initiatives, such as renting billboards to increase interest and support and installing cameras to catch perpetrators at major dumping sites. Once the organization achieves nonprofit status and builds a volunteer base, it can develop major fundraising campaigns and help adopt out strays found wandering popular dumping sites. In the future, the organization may even add boarding kennels and work with fosterers to alleviate the number of pets in San Antonio without forever homes. Cost and Materials The following provides an estimate of the costs and materials needed to implement the first four phases of this plan:

• Signs: The largest cost affiliated with this project includes that required to create custom, durable road signs. A 30-‐inch-‐by-‐30-‐inch square sign should provide enough space for the necessary text (see Figure 2 and Figure 3). According to RoadTrafficSigns.com, a rigid aluminum sign of this size costs $78.65 apiece. An order of 20 reduces the price per sign to $51.65. An initial run of 20 signs with anti-‐graffiti laminate and mounting equipment costs $1,802.45. Estimate: $2,000 first run (10 education and 10 engagement signs)

20

• 501(c)3 Status: The second largest cost includes that affiliated with applying for nonprofit status. Incorporating within the state costs approximately $100, according to Petfinder.com (“How Much Will It Cost?”). Applying for federal tax-‐exempt status will cost $400 for an institution with average gross receipts less than $10,000 per year over a four-‐year span. However, because of the complexity involved in filing an IRS Form 1023, many online sources recommend hiring a professional. Some Web-‐based template services charge a fraction (as little as $500) of the fees that most attorneys and accountants request for similar work (Woodward, “How Much Will It Cost”). Estimate: $100 state incorporation, $400 federal incorporation, $600 filing fees Total: $1,100 one time

• Brochures: The third cost affiliated with this plan includes brochure printing.

Based on orders from three online printing services (UPrinting.com, PrintingForLess.com, and PsPrint), an order of 2,000 8.5-‐inch-‐by-‐11-‐inch brochures will cost between $275 and $400. 2,000 brochures will provide enough to post at parks and dumping hotspots and to hand out at events. Total: $300 first run

• Website Hosting: Lastly, website hosting costs approximately $100 a year.

Design of website and social media pages will be handled in-‐house. Total: $100 per year

Schedule of Implementation The success of this proposal depends on the immediate implementation of certain phases in order to pursue and achieve other stages. With the acquisition of initial start-‐up costs, the timeline of implementation would begin with:

• Applying for state and federal incorporation as a nonprofit. Since it takes up to a year to receive nonprofit status from the government, undertaking this step early will set up the organization for long-‐term success.

• Developing a website, Facebook page, and online identity. • Designing and printing brochures with necessary information. This

stage requires collaboration with local nonprofits to determine exactly what information these brochures should include.

• Networking with area shelters and nonprofits to distribute brochures. • Coordinating with SAACS and San Antonio Parks and Recreation to

present signage project. • Purchasing signs and implementing project with approval and

support of SA Parks and Rec. • Establishing presence within the community at health and wellness

fairs and similar events. • Developing school and community group presentations.

21

• Networking with school and neighborhood associations to organize and present informational sessions and discussions.

• Organizing volunteer park watch groups at the neighborhood level. Personnel This proposal lays out a plan for an independently operating organization that will grow and evolve while addressing critical pet-‐ and animal-‐related issues in San Antonio. However, a large portion of the success of this organization depends on cooperation with other community entities, including government institutions, existing nonprofits, and citizen groups.

For example, the signage project focuses on the installation of informational signs in public areas. The City of San Antonio and the SA Parks and Recreation Department might reject the installation of signage in city parks for any number of reasons, such as the cost or time required for sign maintenance or a divergent opinion from the messages expressed in these signs. However other projects, such as the distribution of informational brochures, depend less on the cooperation of local institutions and more on the outreach efforts of this organization and its volunteer force.

The need for more informed citizens on pet care and positive pet ownership practices exists throughout San Antonio; thus, the most effective solution to this problem is a unified front of cooperating agencies and individuals. Any nonprofit will need to collaborate with other regional organizations already working within this field to effect change, both locally and widespread. Feasibility The feasibility of this proposal is mixed. Certain components were based off of successful initiatives developed by other organizations, such as the work of Stop the Crosby Puppy Massacres, while other projects were loosely modeled according to expert input, including that provided by The National Sheriffs’ Association regarding establishment of neighborhood watch groups. Other portions of this plan will pave new or lightly treaded ground.

Building this organization and implementing its individual projects will take time. However, I see it as a necessary next stage in the evolution of pet ownership ideologies in San Antonio, an evolution that began a decade ago with the overhaul of SAACS and the implementation of a plan to one day make San Antonio a no-‐kill community. I believe that many San Antonians, maybe even a majority, will support the agenda and initiatives of this organization because of their similar support for a no-‐kill pet community. Benefits The advantages to implementing this plan far outweigh any disadvantages. I believe that as humans, we each possess an intrinsic responsibility to help those individuals and creatures incapable of caring for themselves. That responsibility extends to domesticated animals that lack the innate abilities to survive alone in the wild. And while the City of San Antonio and its partners and citizens are moving in the right

22

direction in terms of improving the culture of pet care in the region, they still need assistance and support in achieving their ultimate objectives. This proposed plan adds one more resource to the community and one more piece to the puzzle needed to create a more caring, pet friendly city. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS San Antonio needs an organization dedicated primarily to educating people about the importance of responsible pet ownership. With so many groups devoted to saving stray dogs and cats in San Antonio, the city needs an entity to focus almost exclusively on the other side of the issue: the human involvement that resulted in these dogs and cats running loose or abandoned in the first place. SAACS officials agree in the importance of pet ownership education. “As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to know what the laws are here in the City of San Antonio governing your pet,” said Lisa Norwood. “The old ‘I had no idea that it wasn’t ok to abandon my pet in this city park’ is not an excuse that is going to fly. Our cruelty investigators, and our officers too, are holding more people responsible; as a result, there’s been an increase in citations given to people.”

Informing citizens of the pet-‐related laws and resources in their communities serves as a critical step in solving the growing nationwide epidemic of unmanageable stray dog and cat populations found in both urban and rural areas. In the United States, approximately 10,000 human babies are born every day. According to Animals Abused & Abandoned, Inc., some 70,000 puppies and kitten are also born every day (“Addressing a Pet Overpopulation Tragedy”), contributing to a massive imbalance in the number of potential pet owners verses the number of available pets and ultimately adding to the widespread population of homeless dogs and cats in America. San Antonio needs the initiatives outlined in this proposal, if for nothing more than to build a safer, happier community for the people and pets that live here. As a San Antonian, I want to see my community and its inhabitants work together towards a common goal that benefits us all, resulting in a better place to live and work. As a pet owner, I believe that dogs and cats offer important camaraderie and kinship by contributing to our overall happiness and the happiness of our families. As a compassionate, ethical person, I recognize that domesticated animals suffer when set loose in the wild, and I advocate that they deserve more than abandonment and likely death because of our own hardships and misguided beliefs.

23

Works Cited

“Abandoned pets.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., 30 Aug. 2009. Web. May 17 2013. “About Neighborhood Watch.” USAonWatch.org. The National Sheriffs’ Association’s, n.d. Web. 23 June 2013. “ACS Asilomar Report 7/1/2013 To 7/31/2013.” Official Website of the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, 6 August 2013. Web. 15 Aug. 2013. “ACS Quarterly Reports: Second Quarter FY 2013.” Official Website of the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, n.d. Web. 10 July 2013. “ACS Quarterly Reports: Third Quarter FY 2013.” Official Website of the City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. City of San Antonio Animal Care Services, n.d. Web. 19 Aug. 2013. “Addressing a Pet Overpopulation Tragedy.” Animals-‐Abused.org. Animals Abused & Abandoned, Inc., n.d. Web. 19 June 2013. Aldridge, James. “San Antonio Awards Animal Defense League Pet-‐Shelter Contract.” San Antonio Business Journal. American City Business Journals, 3 June 2013. Web. 17 June 2013. Baker, James. “Success in San Antonio.” Animal Sheltering. The Humane Society of the United States, Apr. 2013. Web. 25 July 2013. Davis, Vincent T. “Multipurpose Pet Adoption Center Unveiled.” mySanAntonio.com. San Antonio Express-‐News, 28 May 2013. Web. 9 June 2013. -‐-‐-‐. “Thousands of Unleashed, Unloved Animals Roam S.A. Streets.” mySanAntonio.com. San Antonio Express-‐News, 5 Aug. 2013. Web. 8 Aug. 2013. “Euthanasia: The Compassionate Option.” PETA.org. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), n.d. Web. 28 July 2013. Flores, Joseph. Animal Cruelty Specialist Officer at City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. Personal Interview. 11 July 2013.

24

Fucci, Robert. “Legislature Makes Change to Eldridge Bill Protecting Abandoned Pets.” Sudbury, MA Patch. Patch.com, 25 July 2013. Web. 8 Aug. 2013. Heffernan, Rhonda. Co-‐Founder of Stop the Crosby Puppy Massacres. Personal Interview. 14 June 2013. Horswell, Cindy. “Liberty County Woman Killed by Dog She Had Adopted.” Chron.com. Houston Chronicle, 1 July 2013. Web. 31 July 2013. Houghton, Audra. Animal Cruelty Specialist Officer at City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. Personal Interview. 11 July 2013. “Houston Woman Clings to Life After Mauling by Stray Dogs.” CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc., 24 July 2013. Web. 31 July 2013. “How Much Will It Cost?” Obtaining 501(c)(3) Non-‐Profit Status. Petfinder.com, n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2013. “How to Start a 501c3 Nonprofit Organization.” wikiHow.com. wikiHow, n.d. Web. 25 Aug. 2013 Nichols, Gavin. Program Officer at San Antonio Area Foundation. Personal Interview. 7 June 2013. Norwood, Lisa. Public Information Officer at City of San Antonio Animal Care Services. Personal Interview. 11 July 2013. “Pet Statistics.” ASPCA.org. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), n.d. Web. 19 June 2013. “Report Animal Cruelty.” HumaneSociety.org. The Humane Society of the United States, 22 Aug. 2008. Web. 6 June 2013. Rosales, Erik. “Pack of Stray Dogs Attacks and Kills 70 Animals.” KMPH.com. KMPH FOX 26, 20 May 2013. Web. 31 July 2013. “Texas Penal Code – Section 12.34. Third Degree Felony Punishment.” Law and Legal Research. OneCle.com, 11 Aug. 2007. Web. 28 July 2013. “The Top Ten Reasons for Pet Relinquishment to Shelters in the United States.” PetPopulation.org. National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy, n.d. Web. 30 June 2013.

25

“V.T.C.A., Penal Code § 42.092. Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals.” AnimalLaw.info. Animal Legal & Historical Center at Michigan State University College of Law, n.d. Web. 15 May 2013. Willson, Stacia. “Dogs Chew on Car, Terrorize San Antonio Neighborhood.” KHOU.com. KHOU 11 CBS, 23 July 2013. Web. 10 Aug. 2013. Woodward, Ben. “How Much Will It Cost to Get 501(c)3 Tax Exempt.” NonprofitElite.com. Nonprofit Elite, 4 Aug. 2012. Web. 12 Aug. 2013.

Documents

Grant initiative proposal