From Almost Home – to Home

I have a favorite rescue organization, and I’ll make no bones about it –

Almost Home Foundation. This is a local group, and one I’ve volunteered with for the past six years. I’ve been fortunate to witness this amazing group of caring people evolve in their progress, from it’s beginning of a small number of dedicated individuals to the calvary of caring people involved in it today. And the growth will surely continue at astounding rates.

Almost Home Foundation’s mission:

Almost Home Foundation is a nonprofit, all volunteer, no-kill animal rescue funded solely by private donations. We have no paid employees. Almost Home Foundation is committed to reducing the number of homeless and unwanted companion animals through education programs, spay /neuter programs, and the responsible re-homing of dogs and cats through adoption programs. Almost Home Foundation does not have a physical building to house animals. We rely on volunteers who dedicate their time, homes and hearts for our animals until permanent, loving homes can be found.

Adoptable animals in our care will be kept as long as it takes to find a suitable home. Almost Home Foundation does not discriminate against animals based on age, breed, color of fur or physical disability.

Our ultimate goal is to eliminate the need to ever have a healthy adoptable animal euthanized.

Almost Home Foundation’s members take this mission and it’s individual tenets very seriously. Animals that come to the organization are, also, all taken very seriously – and cared for with respect. Every single person involved in this organization works on a voluntary basis; there are absolutely no paid members, only volunteers. That means, however someone contributes, they do so from the heart, with no other motive.

Pets are rescued from the streets of surrounding towns, as well as from high-kill shelters elsewhere; they are cared for lovingly in foster homes until their forever home is found. Adoption events are held every Saturday;  the work involved in finding potential adopters, communicating with those who express an interest, and ensuring potential homes will be suitable goes on every day of the week.

The animals under Almost Home Foundation’s wing are not only afforded a safe haven, but thousands more will be rescued from horrible lives or untimely deaths in the years to come. Since 2005, Almost Home Foundation has already placed well over 5,000 dogs and cats in loving homes! From it’s humble beginnings, this organization has established itself as a trusted, ever-growing establishment within the community.

As wonderful as this organization is, for all the work accomplished and forever homes found, there is much more to do. With the tremendous pet overpopulation situation that exists these days so many, many more pets are in need of safe haven, of secure futures. Our brave souls who handle the emails and calls from desperate high-kill shelter workers and animal control officers – they are all too heartbreakingly aware of the dire, enormous needs.

Since the first days, the founders have had a goal in mind; not only to rescue and re-home, but to work toward securing the funding for, and to build, a physical shelter. With housing, we could accept more pets. That many more dogs and cats would have a chance at life. The organization has the volunteer base, the working business plans, the respect of the community.
It now needs the funds to build that shelter.

This is where you, my friend, can help. You may not have any money to donate – relax, I’m not asking for any. All I ask is that you vote for Almost Home Foundation in the America’s Favorite Shelter contest.

Currently, our organization is sitting quite nicely in the top ten; that could obviously change at any time, not to mention by the end of the contest. The more votes, the more likely we’ll have a chance to win one of the weekly prizes, if not one of the top three.

I offer a simple plea: go to the America’s Favorite Shelter contest, and vote (if you are in the U.S. or Canada). The link takes you straight to the Almost Home Foundation’s page, to save you time.

Thank you!

Thank you, also, to care2.org, the ASPCA and Adopt-a-Pet for hosting this contest!