Luvnpupz Proposal

Community Building

TABLE OF CONTENTSExecutive Summary.........................................3

1. LuvnPupz Overview..................................6

2. Luvnpupz structure....................................7

3. Development Plan.....................................8

4. Our work in action.....................................9

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Luvnpupz is a local non-profit home based animal rescue. Working with an average of 300 dogs/puppies each year, we have determined that in order to continue to serve the community, we need a central location to facilitate donors, volunteers, and community outreach.

Mission: To increase community outreach programs, donor relations, and community involvement.

Solution: To provide a central location, close to public transportation, to facilitate Luvnpupz activities and community service.

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1. LUVNPUPZ OVERVIEW

Luvnpupz is a 501(c) 3 shelter-less, home based organization with a network of caring people who provide foster homes, donate needed items, volunteer with us, and much, much more. As the need in West Michigan grows, we've come to a point where we need a community space. Being a shelter-less organization, LNP depends on caring foster homes to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome about 300 dogs/puppies each year. We are looking for a central location to receive/store donations, process adoption paperwork, where fosters can pick up supplies, and we can have our vet come for basic wellness care & urgent foster medical needs. We would also like to have a place for some community outreach programs such as a pet food bank and training programs.

Mission statement: We are a non-profit animal rescue, while we practice the three R’s (rescue, rehabilitate, re-home), we also make sure any animal adopted is spayed/neutered to reduce the overpopulation. Finding the perfect home is always our goal.

Company history: Luvnpupz was founded in 2013 by Carri & Craig Shipaila as a foster based rescue. We have a Board of directors of 5 people. We specialize in puppies, but we also take in other animals, big and small, in need of dire medical and emotional attention.

Markets and services: In 2017, the Kent County Animal Shelter has the highest euthanasia rate in the entire state. There is an increased need for foster/rescue operations in Kent County in which Luvnpupz is uniquely qualified to address.

Operational structure: We are a 100% volunteer & foster based organization with roughly 21 foster families and a dozen volunteers for events, reference calls, and home checks. We are 100% funded through donations, grants, and events receiving no government funding.

Financial goals: We are 100% funded through donations, grants, and events receiving no government funding. Having a central location will allow us a central location to accept donations and focus on a development plan to increase donation and community support.

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2. LUVNPUPZ STRUCTURE

Luvnpupz is a 100% volunteer & foster based organization with roughly 21 foster families and a dozen volunteers for events, reference calls, and home checks. We are 100% funded through donations, grants, and events receiving no government funding.

Adoption Process: Luvnpupz’s has a very through adoption process. Dogs that come in to the rescue will be fully vetted, socialized & spayed/neutered prior to adoption. Families interested in adopting through Luvnpupz go through a three part application process. Each family provides personal and vet references and has a home check completed prior to approval. Once approved, families can attend “Meet & Greets” at local pet stores to visit the puppies and see if a puppy CHOOSES THEM. Even once families are “approved” we ensure it’s a good match with both the families and the dog’s needs being met.

Need: Luvnpupz currently rescues 300 puppies/dogs each year. With in-home fosters spread out all over the greater Grand Rapids area, we are in need of a central location for donation processing/storage, foster families to pick up supplies, a place to bathe & work on socializing dogs in foster. This will also provide office space to processing paperwork/vet records, work on donation development, make phone calls, and hold volunteer meetings. In addition, LNP works with three local veterinarians who would be willing to come to this space in order to provide limited wellness care, other medical needs for animals in our care reducing our medical costs.

Community Benefits: There has been an increased need in Kent County for animal related community services. In 2017, the states average euthanasia rate was 14% for all open admission shelters. According to the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance, Kent County’s euthanasia rate was 39% that year. While the rate has decreased over the last several years, the shelter contributed the decrease to transferring adoptable animals to local rescues. Luvnpupz pulls mostly from high-risk shelters. With a central location, Luvnpupz will be able to increase it community impact on adoption rates community wide. In addition, we plan to offer community programs such as a pet food pantry, wellness care for the public animals, and education and training programs which will help reduce the surrender rate of owned pets.

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3. DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Luvnpupz is 100% community funded. With increased demand, as well as taking on cases with high-medical costs, our organization needs a place to meet to further develop our donor & community engagement.

Increased Volunteer Involvement: Having a central location with office/meeting space will allow additional volunteers of offer their services. This will include building/expanding our donor database, socializing & training dogs in our care, processing in-kind donations, as well as a number of other administrative tasks.

Increased Donations: This physical location will allow a central drop off location for community members to drop off in-kind donations such as food, treats, supplies, and other items. Donations are currently received at weekend events limiting drop-off hours. This would also provide us with a safe location for donors to ship items purchased off our online wish lists.

Community Development: Once our organization is settles, we hope to offer increased services to the community.

o Pet food pantry: Many of our local pet owners are facing financial hardship forcing them to choose between feeding their families and feeding their pets. Many times, this leads to surrender of a healthy animal. Many of these pet owners simply need a little support to get back on their feet without surrendering their animal. There are currently two pet food pantries in the Kent County area. However, due to demand they are unable to fulfill the demand in the community.

o Training & Education Programs: Pet owners often reach out to Luvnpupz asking for assistance rehoming a dog due to behavior issues. Many times, these issues could be addressed with simple positive reinforcement training or by offering educational information to the pet owner. Addressing these issues with local pet owners will help prevent unnecessary surrender of healthy animals.

o Wellness Care Clinics: As a way to prevent disease and pet overpopulation, Luvnpupz would be able to offer wellness care clinics to local pet owners.

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4. OUR WORK IN ACTION

Meet Stinger

Three years ago, a puppy got worldwide attention, after he was stung by hundreds of bees. The dog, later named Stinger, was found clinging to life. He was surrendered at local veterinary office and later taken in by West Michigan rescue, Luvnpupz. Stinger ended up having an allergic reaction to the stings. He was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Pemphigus, as well as mange. After receiving expensive, emergency treatment, Stinger went into foster care.

“I don’t know, it’s kind of a blessing. You just get to love on this animal," said Stinger's foster mom, Kelly Decker. Stinger now lives with Decker at her home in Wyoming, eating prescription food and treats. He's also completely deaf and blind in one eye, so Decker uses hand signals to communicate with him. And while Stinger has become a bit of an ambassador for other animals in need, the burdens of stardom haven't seemed to have affected their lives too much. Decker hasn't adopted Stinger, but rather, takes care of him as a permanent foster, with Luvnpupz handling the medical bills.

Meet Ghost

The 6-month-old dog, named Ghost, was found with a note attached to her collar while roaming around streets in West Michigan. "I am lost and looking for a home," read Ghost's note, which was written in red marker on a recipe card. "My owner had a stroke and cannot care for me. Please do not take me to a shelter." We took her in with the hopes of locating the desperate owner. After an unsuccessful search, being fully vetted & spayed, Ghost was able to have her “happily ever after” with her new adopted family.

Ghost and Stinger are only 2 of the hundreds of dogs Luvnpupz helps each year. To continue our efforts, we are in need of a central location where our volunteers can meet.

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