If it weren’t for BCC, I would never have adopted my beloved cat Jupiter. He was the sweetest cat and the greatest joy of my life! His adoring eyes would follow me from room to room. So, every time I hear about a stray or abandoned cat in need of rescue, I always think about Jupiter – and want to help!
Dear Friends,
Never has the need for rescue been so great or our veterinary cost, due to serious health issues and volume, been so high. We exceeded our 2021 budget for veterinary care in September. By the end of October our expenses had exceeded last year’s by more than $36,000, despite the considerable discounts received from our dedicated team of veterinarians.
Yet, we remain firm in our mission to provide for the feeding, shelter, and care of homeless, abandoned, and feral cats; to educate the public about the importance of spay/neuter population control, responsible pet ownership and kindness to animals; and, to establish an ongoing community network to achieve these goals.
2021 has been a very busy year for us! We have accepted more than 264 cats and kittens since January 1, some of which require a high level of veterinary care and socialization to become adoptable. In the same period, we adopted out over 194, bringing the total adoptions since we opened our shelter in 2011 to more than 2,516! We currently have more than 160 cats and kittens under our care in foster homes and in the shelter. Our shelter manager receives daily requests for rescue assistance from people facing eviction because of related Covid-19 job loss, people finding and feeding stray cats living outside, and local animal control agencies.
The high volume of intakes results in financial challenges that our adoption fees do not even begin to cover. As a non-profit, no-kill, volunteer-driven program with just one paid shelter manager, we receive no municipal funding from any town, and many state programs have been eliminated. Our operating costs in all areas – shelter maintenance, supplies, and veterinary care – continue to increase.
We have implemented additional fundraisers to make sure we can still accomplish our mission, despite the high bills, but we can’t do it without your help! Thank you in advance for your support, generosity, and compassion. If you have given to us recently, please accept our heartfelt appreciation.
Sincerely,
Margaret Johnson
President
or send a check to:
Branford Compassion Club
P.O. Box 768
Branford, CT 06405