Stuff you need

 

I've been thinking about writing this piece for a couple of months now, because I KNOW there are things we use at The Waystation that make life easier that a lot of people with a lot of dogs could probably use. About half of these suggestions came from friends. The others I sort of stumbled onto. 

First, get yourself a really sturdy dustpan. This puppy is metal, 17 inches wide, and totally rocks. You can use it to scrape crates out, too. Get two and you have a kennel equivalent of oven mitts. 

Then add a tile scraper. This bad boy is used to wedge under tile and adhesive to get it off a floor, and it works great for getting up most of any stubborn stuck on poop. 

Stall mats. They're heavy carbonized rubber, around 3/4" thick.  We use them in our platform kennels to cut down on drafts, protect the wood, and make a more comfortable surface for the dogs. Around $40 for a 4x6 heavy stall mat. They also come in 2x4 size.  Do not get the ones with a pattern on one side. Flat smooth surfaces are easier to clean. Dogs CAN gnaw off a corner, but it takes a very long time and a lot of determination. These won't tear up quickly. I like the larger ones because there are fewer seams when you put them down, but the smaller ones are easier to handle.

How hot is your kennel?

 

In the wake of the dog show tragedy where 12 dogs were killed when the van they were in overheated, I got to thinking about the heat and The Waystation. What would happen if the AC cut out on a hot day when the dogs were put up? Usually we'd lose power at the house at the same time and I'd know, but what if the AC malfunctioned? What if The Waystation lost power alone? What if I weren't home?

So I went in search of something that would monitor the temperature and power status in The Waystation and notify me if it were too hot or too cold.  First on my list was that it had to work without a telephone line (we've been cell only for years) and without WiFi or internet access. That eliminated a lot of choices.

Here are the ones I checked out: 

Get the emergency wallet card.

 

 

Number of cards

 

 

 

But don't want to deal with the paperwork? You probably ought to talk to us. 

At Risk Intervention (ARI) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt public benefit charity run by a group of smart geeks and nerds who  provide infrastructure, support, advice and fundraising tools to other groups and individuals. Our primary core competencies are innovative fundraising (ain't free but won't cost you anything), information products, legal advice and limited pro bono representation, and slack in the rope logistics support. We also run The Waystation, a rescue-only short term kennel that helps area rescue groups, shelters and transports.

 Establish a time period and procedures for claiming ownership of a stray dog if the dog is not coming from a shelter. Recommend a two week period. 

Here’s how it happens: you know this family that’s fallen on tough times, finances are tight, yadda yadda. Something bad happens to their dog and as much as they want to, they

These programs require no effort on your part once you sign up. You enroll your organization, then ask your supporters to use the program. Once THEY enroll, they don’t have to do anything else. Your group must be a 501(c) 3 to use these programs except for igive.com.

Before you start, get the following together so you won't be running around like a nutcase. In fact, while you're at it, print off a couple of extra copies of your 501(c)3 Letter of Determination and stick that and copies of the other stuff in a fundraising folder.

 Ready to learn to write grants? It's easier than you think with our free FIVE MINUTE GRANT WRITER course. Sign up and every day for a few weeks you'll get one short five-minute task to complete. When you're done, you'll have a skeleton grant that you can flesh out for almost any request for proposals. Click on the ONLINE COURSES link on the top menu to sign up!

Then there's everything else that goes along with running a rescue. Need a great adoption or foster contract? We know where to send you. Wading through the Form 1023 for your group 501(c)3? Got resources for that, too.

Want high tech fundraising but can't afford it? Talk to us. Our fundraisers aren't free -- the proceeds help us buy more custom programming -- but they don't cost you anything. Here's how it works:

We set up a fundraiser for you. Could be a voting calender contest, an interactive building game, a fund-me-for-a-day program -- lots of choices.

If your group is looking for long term help in building your community and fundraising, we have programs for that. Our regular partners get reduced fees on online fundraiser like the voting calendar, the Christmas tree, and others, as well as monthly professional newsletters, legal advice, and coaching from our event and online auction specialists.

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