Dear Friends,
What can you do in just 365 days? At ARF, we expanded 1,517 families through adoption of precious shelter dogs and cats. We dried numerous tears helping pet guardians in need overcome obstacles to keep beloved pets by their sides and out of shelters. We united more than 50 Veterans with shelter-to-service dogs and trained them to utilize the priceless tool of unconditional love in dealing with PTSD symptoms.
We dramatically changed the lives of animals like Knight, a handsome but severely underweight 2½-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback mix with pulmonic stenosis; a congenital heart defect requiring immediate surgery. Instead of perishing in an overcrowded shelter, Knight is recovering from successful lifesaving surgery and preparing to live his best life with lots of snuggles from his new family.
Knight, thousands of other animals, and those who love them had an amazing year to remember — because of ARF and because of you!
I hope you’ll join our dedicated staff and hundreds of committed volunteers, celebrating both the fantastic achievements in this report and your partnership in saving lives and connecting hearts.
Thank you for offering the gift of hope and healing, each and every day of the year.
With sincerest gratitude,
Elena Bicker, Executive Director
Timeline of Fiscal Year 2021-2022
July 2021: Kirk finds a home after 455 days.
July 2021: ARF assists a plane of animals from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
August 2021: The PAWS Act is signed by the President.
September 2021: The brand-new Pets and Vets Center officially opens.
October 2021: Our team rescues 20 animals from an overcrowded home.
February 2022: Mobile clinic resumes visits to the VA to provide free care to Veterans’ pets.
March 2022: First local shelter to re-open for drop-in adoptions.
June 2022: Mel finds a home after 386 days.
Rescue and Adoptions
rescued cats and dogs
rescue runs
adoptions
Throughout 2021-22, our rescue team continued to leverage our relationships with partner shelters across California, and dive into action where we are needed most.
Queenie, an extra-special Calico kitten, was rescued from a facility in the path of the McFarland Fire, which claimed 122,653 acres in Shasta and Trinity Counties. Born with non-functional eyes, this incredible, young kitty spent two months in foster care recovering and learning how to be brave.
In another extraordinary rescue run, our team welcomed a plane of dogs and cats from a struggling shelter in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Willy, a precious Chihuahua mix who arrived on that flight, received emergency surgery just 10 days after entering our care.
Pets and Vets
Veteran and dog teams in training to be service dogs or emotional support animals
free veterinary exams provided to Veterans’ pets
bill signed into law to provide service dogs to Veterans
The isolation and stress of the last few years has affected everyone — but perhaps our Veteran population most of all. In response, we increased the number of training classes offered to Pets and Vets teams as they work with their canine battle buddies towards graduating as service dog teams. Based on its success, our innovative Pets and Vets program was the model for the creation of the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act.
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement a pilot program that pairs Veterans with service-related mental health challenges with canines training to be psychiatric service dogs. It passed the Senate without amendment and was signed into law by the President of the United States in August 2021.
“This program is truly a blessing.”
– Pets and Vets program member
Volunteering
After months of limited volunteer opportunities during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year we re-opened applications for new volunteers — and the public was eager to donate their time and energy to animals in need! With more than 47,000 hours logged (not including fosters), our volunteers proved time and again how passionate they are about saving lives.
active volunteers
volunteer hours
“Volunteering gives me a really good feeling. I started small but the opportunities built up!”
– ARF Volunteer
This year, more than half of our shelter population spent time in volunteer foster homes. This incredibly important program allows staff to focus time and resources on animals in our facility, while also giving dogs and cats relief from shelter stress in a home environment.
foster animals
of animals spent time in foster homes
days of foster care
Clinic and Community Programs
A cornerstone of our lifesaving work, our clinic team worked hard this year to ensure the health of every dog and cat who entered our care. Tackling medical issues ranging from dental surgeries to bone infections, they’ve seen it all.
In addition to our shelter guests, we provided more than 800 veterinary exams to the public through our free wellness clinics for Veterans’ pets and the ARF Emergency Medical Fund (EMF)®.
veterinary exams provided to EMF clients’ animals
pet dental procedures performed
spay/neuter surgeries performed for shelter and community animals
From veterinary care to pet food — and everything in between — a bit of help can make all the difference. Our community assistance programs ensure pet guardians receive the help they need, with the end goal of reducing surrenders to overburdened municipal shelters.
These efforts are made possible in part by Purina, who generously supplies us with high-quality pet food — not only for FoodShare clients, but also for the thousands of animals who make up our shelter population.
families served by our Pet Safety Net
of pet food and litter donated by Purina for shelter guests and FoodShare clients
“ARF’s support means we can both eat this month!”
– ARF FoodShare Client
Financial Breakdown
Revenue
- Individual Gifts & Bequests:
- $6,976,507 (72%)
- Grants, Corporations, & Foundations:
- $686,474 (7%)
- Program Fees:
- $432,691 (5%)
- Sales:
- $506,980 (5%)
- Special Events (net):
- $1,046,579 (11%)
- Other:
- $30,844 (<1%)
- Total: $9,680,075
Expenses
- Animal Care and Adoptions:
- $2,940,226 (35%)
- Veterinary Clinic:
- $2,324,952 (28%)
- Community Outreach Programs:
- $1,786,984 (22%)
- Fundraising:
- $559,597 (7%)
- Administration:
- $690,283 (8%)
- Program Development Fund:
- $1,378,033 (N/A)
- Total: $9,680,075
Thank You
Thank you for your continuous support. This fiscal year 2021-2022 Impact Report is a mere snapshot of the life-changing impact we’ve had on thousands of animals and people over the past year.
From finding loving homes for homeless dogs and cats to providing critical support to pet guardians who have run out of options to pairing military Veterans with the perfect canine battle buddies to assist them in their day-to-day lives, everything we accomplish is only possible because you make the choice to save lives.