Douglas Animal Welfare Group (DAWG) has received a $9,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help its spay/neuter program. DAWG helps the Douglas County Animal Shelter alter more than 140 animals per year in its quest to proactively fight the area's pet overpopulation problem.
The program, in conjunction with the shelter, offers free spay/neuter services for pets at the Douglas County shelter.
"We are excited to receive financial help with pre-adoption spay/neuter surgeries," said DAWG president Laura Winking. "We hope that our program will soon become a model for other agencies across the country."
DAWG was founded by Cherie Owen in 2001 to help end pet euthanizations in Douglas County. The all-volunteer, non-profit organization works directly with the Douglas County Animal Shelter and has about 70 active volunteers who exercise shelter dogs and cats every day of the year, organize fund raising and adoption events and transport animals to area veterinarians for spay/neuter and other health-related procedures.
In September DAWG facilitated 17 dog adoptions and four cat adoptions. Volunteers logged more than 500 hours at the shelter.
For more information about DAWG and its programs, call (775) 267-7325 or visit www.dogrescue.com.
PetSmart Charities, Inc., is an independent 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raises awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promotes health relationships between people and pets. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities has funded more than $70 million in grants and programs benefitting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store pet adoption program, has helped save the lives of more than 3.4 million pets. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working to help find a lifelong loving home for every pet, visit www.petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.
