PRESS RELEASE: From Hay to Spay

Media Contact:
Maureen Clancy Pelisson
970-729-0706
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From Hay to Spay – The Telluride Animal Foundation Begins Donating Funds Raised at the Telluride Thrift Store

$60,000 Raised in Three Months

Telluride, Colorado – February 8, 2012 – tellurideanimalfoundation.org  – Today the Telluride Animal Foundation announced that $60,000 has been raised since they opened the doors of the Telluride Thrift Shop, three months ago. The funds raised at the store have been donated to numerous organizations on the Western Slope and beyond to cover everything from hay donations to horse rescue groups to a donation to help Second Chance Humane Society in Ridgway with the purchase of a new adoption mobile.

The Thrift Shop is run 100% on volunteer support and donates all proceeds to animal causes after expenses have been covered. The founders do not draw a salary and the store has covered its yearly expenses in the two months since the store opened.

The Telluride Foundation sponsored its first adoption day on February 11 outside the Thrift Shop and nine dogs and cats found homes, the animals came from Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary in Crawford and Hoof & Paw in Nucla.

“The support has been tremendous, we knew Telluride cared about animals but now we realize how deep that commitment goes,” stated Katja Wichland, co-founder of the Telluride Animal Foundation. “We operate as a 100% volunteer non-profit and are thrilled to be able to donate the money raised to helping animals in need.”

Flush with funds received through store sales, the Telluride Animal Foundation has been able to support rescue groups in the area with ongoing donations. Hoof and Paw in Naturita needs help to cover the day-to-day costs of running their rescue including food, spay/neuter, and veterinary care. For Pets Sake in Cortez, Colorado, another grantee, recently started the Feral Cat Project where they identify colonies of feral cats, trap, neuter and return them to the same location and continue daily feeding. This is a process called TNR (trap-neuter-return) that has been adopted successfully all over the country.

Black Canyon Animal Sanctuary in Crawford, Colorado receives support to cover the costs of spaying and neutering their rescue animals. Second Chance Humane Society in Ridgway, Colorado received funds to go towards the purchase of a new adoption mobile. And, Telluride Animal Foundation donated 2000 bales of hay in January alone to individuals and rescue groups on the western slope.

Horse rescue groups like Dream Catchers in Olathe are feeling the love this week after receiving a donation of hay from the Telluride Animal Foundation. “In the winter months it’s especially daunting for some groups to figure out how they’re going to feed the horses they have let alone take in any more rescue animals,” Wichland said. “We wanted to be able to reduce that burden for people and the rescue groups that are doing all they can with facilities already at capacity.”

Recently, Soul Dog Rescue, headed by volunteers across the country, spayed and neutered 57 dogs in two days through a donation from the Telluride Animal Foundation. And, the next clinic will be held in March with a significant donation that hopes to cover the costs of spaying and neutering more than 300 dogs.

There are always great items available for purchase at the Thrift Store from gear and household items to clothing for everyone. The store accepts donations of gently used items and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. To volunteer or donate, contact Katja or Josh through tellurideanimalfoundation.org or at the shop (970-728-1100).