Over the past decade we’ve worked toward an ambitious goal: saving 90 percent of the animals that come through our doors. Month by month we’ve inched toward that goal, building momentum with each new advance. This year we’ve surpassed it, placing 91.2 percent of the animals in our care.
Your generosity has fueled our progress. As we have reduced intake and found more proactive ways to help both people and animals, we’ve been able to devote more resources to the needs of individual animals while still providing exceptional care for the population as a whole.
Over the past 18 months we’ve invested in expanded behavior programs, advanced medical treatments, foster care, and post-adoption support to help even the most challenged animals get a second chance.
As a result of these new investments, our humane euthanasia rate dropped from 16.6 percent to 8.8 percent in the past year.
But that incredible advance is not all we have to celebrate. This report includes highlights from each of our program areas — and you’ll find accomplishments and aspirations worth cheering throughout.
Your support makes it all possible. Thank you.
More than 91 percent of the animals in our care during FY15 were placed in the community. As a result, euthanasia fell to its lowest level ever.
Animal Humane Society achieved a Placement Rate of 91.2 percent during the 12 months ending June 30, 2015. Placement Rate is calculated using the Asilomar Live Release Rate formula, which is calculated by dividing total live outcomes (adoptions, transfers, and returns) by total outcomes (total live outcomes plus euthanasia). Companion animals surrendered for end-of-life services (owner requested euthanasia) are excluded from this calculation.
Over the past decade, Animal Humane Society’s Placement Rate has improved dramatically, from 59 percent in FY07 to more than 91 percent in FY15. Our efforts to help more animals become adoptable through medical, behavioral, and foster programs have reduced euthanasia by more than 76 percent.
The number of companion animals in our shelters increased by 8 percent in FY15.
AHS helps thousands of dogs, cats, and critters in need find loving homes each year — and no animal is ever turned away. AHS takes in every animal surrendered to us regardless of its health, age, breed or behavior. This commitment to open admission guarantees shelter and care to thousands of animals that would otherwise have no safe refuge.
OTHER INTAKE PROGRAMSAlthough the focus of our work is companion animals, we also partnered with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota to provide emergency care for 1,474 injured and orphaned wild animals. In addition, 1,946 pets were surrendered for compassionate end-of-life euthanasia, a program for pet owners with limited incomes who can’t afford the same service at a private-practice veterinarian. Animals served by these two programs are not included in the companion animal intake, placement, and euthanasia statistics in this report.
The number of companion animals placed increased by 18 percent in FY15.
The number of companion animals euthanized decreased by 42 percent in FY15.
AHS is committed to taking in every animal in need. Unfortunately, some animals come to us with severe or untreatable illnesses or behavior issues that prevent us from placing them in the community. If we cannot help an animal become healthy or suitable for placement, humane euthanasia is the most compassionate alternative. AHS has not euthanized a healthy animal for any reason since 2011. There is no time limit for animals in our care.
In FY15 we helped 18,977 animals find new homes through adoption — more than any other year in the organization’s history.
Adoption centers in all five sites got a colorful new look in FY15, with glass doors and bright colony rooms that encourage visitors to engage with animals. New retail fixtures and comfortable seating areas provide an inviting space for customers to complete adoptions. The adoption process has also been overhauled to provide a more pleasant, personalized, and informative experience.
Our behavior modification programs helped 687 dogs and 611 cats prepare for adoption, overcoming challenges from fear and aggression to litter box problems.
AHS veterinarians performed 12,078 sterilization surgeries on animals in our care, ensuring that every dog, cat, and rabbit is spayed or neutered before going to its new home.
More than 350 foster volunteers cared for 2,685 animals who needed time to recover from surgery or medical treatment, grow old enough for adoption, or prepare for a new home.
Animal Humane Society offers programs to serve all stages of an animal’s life.
The AHS Pet Helpline (952-HELP-PET) handled 34,188 incoming calls, facilitating surrender appointments and providing free caring and compassionate advice and resources to help with everything from solving behavior problems to finding pet-friendly housing.
AHS offers more than 70 family-friendly pet training classes each week, along with one-on-one training and socialization sessions, therapy animal courses, playgroups, and rabbit agility classes. In FY15, 1,261 pets attended classes through AHS’s Training School.
Animal House, our pet boarding facility in Golden Valley, was home last year to 2,971 pet guests, including dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and other small animals.
Kindest Cut, operating in partnership with AHS, performed 13,340 spay/neuter surgeries and treated 2,126 patients in their wellness clinic, all at reduced costs for people in need.
Aiding animals in critical situations is core to AHS’s work.
AHS’s Humane Investigations unit responds to reports of possible animal cruelty or neglect throughout Minnesota. During FY15, our humane agents received 1,534 requests for assistance and opened 529 formal cases. Investigations took AHS agents into 64 Minnesota counties, impacting the lives of 4,666 animals.
AHS collaborates with more than 150 animal welfare organizations in Minnesota and other states. More than 60 rescue organizations assisted AHS by taking in 708 animals that required specialized long-term care. And when other animal welfare facilities are too crowded or are unable to place animals, they call AHS for help. In FY15, we took in 7,214 animals from 114 organizations.
In addition to caring for domestic animals, AHS partnered with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota to provide emergency care for 1,474 injured and orphaned wild animals.
Animal Humane Society works with individuals and organizations across Minnesota to create a more humane world for animals.
Community Outreach offers education programs and free or low-cost services that empower low-income pet owners and improve the lives of pets in under-served communities. These programs served more than 2,700 families in Frogtown and East St. Paul. As a result, 1,481 animals received free spay/neuter surgeries and 1,015 pets received care at free wellness clinics.
AHS offers programs that foster humane values and compassion for animals, including day camps, a youth club, scout programs, and other activities for kids and families. Our educational programs served 12,160 people, including 2,253 students through programs in schools and 1,010 in summer camps.
A new Community Cats program, launched in October 2014, focuses on reducing euthanasia and providing alternative solutions for feral and free-roaming felines through return-to-field and trap-neuter-return programs. This served 592 cats in its first year.
The support of loyal donors and friends makes our work possible.
Volunteers are critical to our success. A total of 2,483 volunteers contributed 163,515 hours at all five of our sites to help AHS achieve its mission.
Every gift makes a difference. In FY15, 46,932 individual donors contributed more than $6.4 million to Animal Humane Society. In addition, donors who included AHS in their estate plans contributed more than $2.4 million in bequests.
More than 9,000 people and 3,000 pets attended the Walk for Animals on May 2, raising more than $1 million to support AHS. Our two other signature events, Wine Dinner and Whisker Whirl, raised an additional $520,325.
Launched in 2015, The Pack is a new group of young professionals that gather to learn about, take part in, and advocate for the work of AHS while creating an environment for animal lovers to share ideas and build relationships.
Community support continues to grow online, where 4,169 Animal Advocates, 83,247 Facebook fans, 4,574 Twitter followers, 4,965 Instagram followers, and 3,721 YouTube subscribers shared their passion for AHS.
The Minnesota Charities Review Council’s Standards of Accountability state that at least 70% of an organization’s annual expenses should be for program activity with not more than 30% for management, general, and fundraising expenses combined. Animal Humane Society exceeded this standard by directing 74% of our expenses back into programming for the animals and our community.
For the 12 months ended June 30, 2015
SUPPORT AND REVENUES |
|
| Adoption fees and program revenue | 5,468,361 |
| Contributions | 6,447,057 |
| Wills and estates | 2,422,821 |
| In-kind contributions | 335,162 |
| Special events and promotions | 1,072,664 |
| Investment gain (loss) | 65,950 |
| Dividend and interest income | 122,912 |
| Other | 221,290 |
TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUES |
16,156,217 |
EXPENSES |
|
| Program services: | |
| Rescue and outreach | 1,000,639 |
| Adoption and surrender | 9,478,771 |
| Pet services | 765,695 |
| Supporting services: | |
| Management and general | 1,212,438 |
| Fundraising | 2,710,591 |
| Total supporting services | 3,923,029 |
TOTAL EXPENSES |
15,168,134 |
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS |
988,083 |
Tom Hoch, Chair
Carolyn Smith, Past Chair
Maureen McDonough, Vice Chair
Paul Kaminski, Secretary
Scott Schroepfer, Treasurer
Scott Aebischer
Dr. Trevor Ames
Dr. Bianca Fine
Lisa Goodman
David Gutzke
John Huber
Jim Lane
Cyndi Lesher
Jodi Lux
Lia Melrose
Susan Palombo
Dr. Ned Patterson
Damon Schramm
Tim Taffe
Tina Wilcox
Donna Zimmerman
Janelle Dixon, President & CEO
Janelle Dixon, President & CEO
Eileen Lay, Chief Operating & Financial Officer
Lisa Bonds, Chief Advancement Officer
Kathy Mock, Chief Government Affairs & Community Engagement Officer
Animal Humane Society serves animals and people in the seven-county metro area and beyond from its facilities in Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, and Wright counties. The Humane Investigations unit provides services throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin.