ELIZABETHTOWN – Watch, apply, hopefully win. Repeat.
That’s the basic formula being used by Bladen County Animal Control Manager Karen Suggs to bring much-needed vaccinations to the shelter. So far, it’s worked once.
Bladen County Animal Control was the June recipient of a national vaccination grant courtesy of GreaterGood.org and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., in partnership with The Animal Rescue Site™. The grant is valued at $4,115 and represents a total of 700 canine vaccinations — a portion for parvo and distemper, and a portion for bordetella (also known as “kennel cough).
“This was the first time we’ve received the grant, and it’s a great time of year for it to come,” Suggs said. “It’s going to help us a lot.”
She added that she learned of the grant through an educational webinar series hosted by GreaterGood.org and BIVI. Presented by well–known veterinarians in the shelter space, the series provides general information, fast facts, and answers to common questions that shelter veterinarians and shelter staff frequently experience.
“Animal rescue organizations like the Bladen County Animal Control are charged with the daunting task of keeping the animals in their care healthy and happy until they find forever homes,” says Albrecht Kissel, president and CEO for BIVI. “We hope that by sharing our expertise and providing financial support to these organizations, they are better able to fulfill their missions.”
Immediately following each webinar, participants are provided access to a special vaccine grant application. Only those who attend the webinar will be provided with this opportunity, and application questions pertain to the webinar content. GreaterGood.org will award vaccines each month as part of this program.
“This grant is tremendously important for us because we have a limited budget for vaccinations,” Suggs said. “Since that budget is bases on the previous year’s numbers, we have to pull money from other areas when we get more animals than we did (the previous year).”
Suggs added that she plans to watch the webinars and apply for additional grants every month.
“Partnering with BIVI on this program means that we are able to provide groups like Bladen County Animal Control with the tools needed to succeed,” says Liz Baker, Executive Director of GreaterGood.org. “We look forward to seeing the impact the program will have on the lives of local shelter pets in the Elizabethtown area.”
To learn more about Bladen County Animal Control, visit http://bit.ly/2affTy0.
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.