United Animal Nations

TO BRING ANIMALS OUT OF CRISIS AND STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN PEOPLE AND ANIMALS.

REDROVER RELIEF - IN 2023, REDROVER RELIEF PROVIDED GUIDANCE, REFERRALS, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 5,358 GOOD SAMARITANS, ANIMAL RESCUERS AND PET OWNERS, HELPING THEM OBTAIN EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE FOR ANIMALS IN LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS. REDROVER RELIEF CASE MANAGERS AWARDED 539 REDROVER RELIEF GRANTS, TOTALING $188,517 FOR THESE ANIMALS IN CRISIS. REDROVER RELIEF CASE MANAGERS ALSO WORKED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES TO HELP FLEEING VICTIMS GET THEIR PETS TO SAFETY. REDROVER'S SAFE ESCAPE GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FUNDING FOR URGENT BOARDING AND VETERINARY CARE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS' PETS, PROVIDED 13,681 SAFE NIGHTS OF BOARDING TO 336 PETS, GIVING 298 GRANTS, TOTALING $312,695. IN ADDITION, REDROVER RELIEF AWARDED 25 SAFE HOUSING GRANTS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS, TOTALING $1,104,655. REDROVER TAKES A LONG-TERM APPROACH TO HELPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND THEIR PETS THROUGH THESE SAFE HOUSING GRANTS BY GIVING SHELTERS THE FUNDS AND GUIDANCE NEEDED TO CREATE PERMANENT PET HOUSING ON-SITE, ADJACENT TO, OR OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION'S SHELTER SO THAT FAMILIES MAY BRING THEIR PETS DIRECTLY TO THE SHELTER. ALSO IN 2023, REDROVER CONTINUED ITS COLLABORATION WITH GREATER GOOD CHARITIES ON THE DON'T FORGET THE PETS (DFTP) PROJECT TO PROVIDE IN-DEPTH SUPPORT ON CREATING PET HOUSING PROGRAMS TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY (AND INTERNATIONALLY!). THIS PROJECT INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE, TRAINING WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS (IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL), A DOWNLOADABLE TRAINING HANDBOOK, AND A "COACHING" PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS. FUNDING RECEIVED FROM PETSMART CHARITIES IN 2023 CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE DFTP PROJECT.

PUBLIC EDUCATION & OUTREACH - USING OUR QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP COMPANION MAGAZINE, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, DIRECT ANIMAL CAUSE MAILINGS, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, SPEAKING AND TABLING ENGAGEMENTS, BROCHURES AND OTHER MATERIALS, REDROVER EDUCATED MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE FOLLOWING: REDROVER'S PROGRAMS, SPOTTING AND REPORTING ANIMAL ABUSE, THE LINK BETWEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ANIMAL ABUSE, THE IMPACT OF PUPPY MILLS ON ANIMALS, AND THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING PETS FROM ANIMAL SHELTERS AND ANIMAL ADVOCACY. VOLUNTEERS AND REDROVER STAFF HELPED SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR WORK AT 52 EVENTS AND CONFERENCES. IN MARCH 2023, REDROVER SENT A LETTER TO FREDDIE RODRIGUEZ, CHAIR OF THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE CA STATE ASSEMBLY, IN SUPPORT OF AB 781. THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DESIGNATE EMERGENCY SHELTERS, WARMING CENTERS, AND COOLING CENTERS THAT ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WITH PETS, AND REQUIRE PET EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION BE MADE AVAILABLE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES. IN AUGUST 2023, REDROVER JOINED MORE THAN 50 ANIMAL WELFARE AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO SEND A LETTER TO MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES URGING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PROVIDING FOR UNHOUSED PEOPLE WITH PETS (PUPP) ACT (HR 3957). THE PUPP ACT WOULD HELP REMOVE A COMMON BARRIER TO SHELTER AND SERVICES FOR VULNERABLE VETERANS, INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES, WHO GAIN STRENGTH FROM THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS, BY CREATING A GRANT PROGRAM (OPERATED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN CONSULTATION WITH HUD) TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO ELIGIBLE ENTITIES. THE FUNDS WOULD ENABLE EMERGENCY SHELTERS TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS WITH PETS, INCLUDING PROVIDING BASIC VETERINARY SERVICES. FINALLY, REDROVER SENT A LETTER TO CA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM IN SEPTEMBER 2023 REQUESTING THAT HE SIGN AB 1215, WHICH WOULD RE-ESTABLISH THE PET ASSISTANCE WITH SUPPORT (PAWS) PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PET OWNERS UTILIZING HOMELESS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS IN CALIFORNIA. IN 2019 AND 2021, THE NEWSOM ADMINISTRATION APPROPRIATED TEMPORARY, ONE-TIME FUNDING ADMINISTERED AS A COMPETITIVE GRANT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. NEARLY HALF OF APPLICATIONS TO THE ONE-TIME PAWS GRANTS WERE UNFULFILLED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING, THE MAJORITY OF THEM FROM SHELTERS SERVING MORE RURAL AREAS. AB 1215 WOULD DELIVER CONSISTENCY AND EQUITY IN CODIFYING THE PROGRAM, EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE SHELTERS ACROSS THE STATE TO ACCESS AND IMPLEMENT PET ASSISTANCE. THE BILL ALSO CLARIFIED THE GRANTS' ELIGIBILITY TO COVER EMERGENCY VETERINARY SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR ANIMALS OTHER THAN DOGS AND CATS, ADDITIONS DIRECTLY RESULTING FROM CONSTRUCTIVE CONSULTATION WITH SHELTER PROVIDERS AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

REDROVER RESPONDERS - IN 2023, REDROVER RESPONDERS DEPLOYED 15 TIMES. WE HAD 2,861 VOLUNTEER HOURS AND HELPED A TOTAL OF 2,076 ANIMALS. IN JANUARY, WE SENT A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS TO MISSISSIPPI TO ASSIST THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES WITH THE SHELTERING AND CARE OF 170 CATS RESCUED FROM AN ALLEGED CRUELTY SITUATION. IN JUNE, THE REDROVER RESPONDERS TEAM WAS ON THE GROUND IN MISSOURI HELPING NATIONAL MILL DOG RESCUE CARE FOR 127 DOGS TRANSPORTED FROM A COMMERCIAL BREEDING FACILITY IN ANOTHER STATE. IN 2023, WE CONTINUED OUR TWO NEW REDROVER RESPONDERS INITIATIVES: COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND COASTAL CATS. FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, OUR VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE HANDS-ON SUPPORT WITH PROJECTS DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE OFTEN ISOLATED, AT-RISK, OR UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. IN 2023, WE HELPED WITH 6 DIFFERENT PROJECTS, INCLUDING A SPAY/NEUTER AND WELLNESS CLINIC IN ARIZONA AND BUILDING OUTDOOR ENCLOSURES FOR DOGS LIVING ON CHAINS IN RURAL SOUTH CAROLINA AND MICHIGAN. FOR COASTAL CATS, REDROVER WORKS WITH PARTNERS TO PROVIDE PROACTIVE SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY CATS IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AT RISK FOR HURRICANES AND SEVERE FLOODING. IN 2023, WE COMPLETED TWO COASTAL CAT PROJECTS IN FLORIDA. ALSO IN 2023, WE CONTINUED OUR MEMBERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE AND SHELTERING COALITION (NARSC). REDROVER RESPONDERS STAFF HELPED AN ADDITIONAL 608 ANIMALS BY PROVIDING REFERRALS, ADVICE, OUTREACH, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. REDROVER RESPONDERS STAFF ALSO PROVIDED 3 SPECIALIZED TRAININGS THAT COVERED TOPICS SUCH AS EMERGENCY ANIMAL SHELTERING. IN 2023, WE TRAINED 66 VOLUNTEERS THROUGH OUR ONLINE VERSION OF OUR VOLUNTEER TRAINING WORKSHOP.

REDROVER READERS - IN 2023, REDROVER READERS TRAINED 92 PEOPLE ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE READERS CURRICULUM IN 10 WORKSHOPS. THE UNIQUE, ANIMAL-THEMED, LITERATURE-BASED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAM IS ALIGNED WITH ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS AND HELPS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND ANIMALS AND PRACTICE EMPATHY THROUGH STORIES AND DISCUSSION. THIS YEAR, 16 READINGS TOOK PLACE ONLINE AND IN CLASSROOMS, REACHING AN ESTIMATED 2,054 NEW CHILDREN AND ADDING TO THE ESTIMATED TOTAL REACH OF 123,361 CHILDREN. KIND NEWS MAGAZINE REACHED 275,913 CHILDREN IN 2023 THROUGH PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DIGITAL DOWNLOADS, AND NEARLY 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN SINCE WE ADOPTED THE PUBLICATION IN 2017. OUR REDROVER READERS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED A NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH FOREST SCHOOL IN SOUTH TEXAS AND ADDED SEVEN NEW DIVERSE AND NATURE-BASED BOOKS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGION. WE WRAPPED UP THE EARLY AGES GATHERING TO LEARN EMPATHY THROUGH STORIES (EAGLES) PILOT PROGRAM WITH OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM PARTNERS, THE SACRAMENTO NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH CENTER (SNAHC), AND WERE INVITED BACK TO CO-CREATE CURRICULUM WITH THEM FOR ANOTHER FIVE BOOKS FOR THE EAGLES PROGRAM. ALSO IN 2023, WE STARTED WORK ON A MAJOR PROJECT TO ENHANCE THE ONLINE ORDERING EXPERIENCE FOR KIND NEWS MAGAZINE, WHICH ALLOWS SPONSORS AND CUSTOMERS TO MORE EASILY ORDER NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS AND RENEW PAST ONES. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONSULTED WITH A MARKETING PROFESSIONAL AND UPDATED OUR OUTREACH MATERIALS AND HONED OUR OUTREACH STRATEGIES IN 2023.