Photo: Flickr Creative Commons
A tiny rescue organization on the western edge of Vancouver Island, Canada, started a nationwide campaign to win one of Pepsi’s $10K grants to help their overcrowded shelter…and won.
Cowichan Cat Rescue opened its doors in 1999 when some members of the area realized there was no care or services available for the community cat colonies that were emerging. Twelve years later, the organization provides TNR (trap,neuter, return) services (including provisions when winter weather hits), and adoption/fostering programs.
CCR has been working diligently to launch the newest addition to its program: a spay/neuter clinic aimed at those who are living below the poverty level. The recent grant from Pepsi is the golden ticket that will finance the program for an entire year. Their goal is to sterilize 100-150 cats, depending on the number of additional donations received throughout the year, at a fee of $15 per cat.
This is the second time CCR has vied for the annually-presented grants, and this year they decided to take it to the next level. They knew there were many larger rescue organizations that would garner far more of the public votes needed to win the awards. Individuals started contacting people they knew all across Canada, asking them to spread the word, make some calls, forward e-mails, and get the word out any and every way. The “little rescue that could” picked up speed and soon thousands were casting votes and generating excitement about the possibility of the small nonprofit taking home one of the grants. CCR had faith the campaign would be successful…and depended on it to help fund the new spay/neuter clinic.
Lo and behold, the underdog (or undercat, as it were) pulled ahead and landed in the top three, which was all that was needed to receive the grant. They plan to launch the clinic August 1st, with the first cats receiving spay/neuter services in September.
“Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
~Margaret Mead
Good for you Canada! Better for your cats. Keep up the good work.
Love the story and this picture of the Russian Blue. My daughter has one that looks very much like the cat pictured here!
Shared, Congrats to Cowican Cat Rescue… Bangle Bear is just purring away : )
Congratulations to them. What a beautiful cat.
That’s Vancouver Island. Victoria is a city. But, good stuff on them!!
Awesome! Wonderful news for the kitties!
Calling Vancouver Island – Victoria Island is a very common mistake. YAY! Cowichan Valley it is an amazing community on many many levels!