EVERETT — A broken leg, a deep gash, a gouged eye.
Although treatable, these types of injuries sometimes mean the end for animals brought to the Everett Animal Shelter.
The shelter has limited dollars for procedures beyond spaying and neutering and routine medical care.
They’ll have a little more to work with, thanks to the work of a dedicated group of animal lovers.
The nonprofit Animal Rescue Foundation raised $30,000 for the shelter and pledged an additional $20,000 for each of the next two years.
That’s on top of another $40,000 already given earlier to pay for surgical equipment.
This money will pay for casts on broken legs, amputations, X-rays and extensive wound repair. Those are medical treatments and procedures that fall outside of the shelter’s budget.
“During these tough economic times, we are very grateful and fortunate that ARF has been able to make such a gracious donation and allow us to continue doing all our great work for the animals at the shelter,” said Shannon Delgado, shelter manager.
ARF was formed in 2005 by a group of shelter volunteers who wanted to help reduce the number of animals euthanized and make more animals adoptable, said the nonprofit’s president, Amy Ferguson.
“Shelter volunteers saw animals that could be adopted out if they could have a simple procedure,” she said.
That’s also the aim of the shelter, which hired a veterinarian, works with private rescue groups and spays, neuters and microchips animals.
However, since the shelter can’t turn animals away, there are always some that are too sick or injured to be adopted.
The nonprofit is an all-volunteer organization. They raised the money by holding events such as wine tastings and silent auctions, Ferguson said.
They also hold adoption events at a local pet store and the adoption fee is donated back to the shelter.
The nonprofit is “small and mighty” — less than 10 people did most of the fundraising work.
“We can do things the shelter can’t do,” she said.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com
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