PAWNOTE: WE WILL NOT BE SHUTTING DOWN OUR ONGOING SPAY/NEUTER PROJECTS. ANIMALS LIVES MUST BE SAVED NO MATTER WHAT.

The Facility Drawing

Narrative Statement

Project Information

By taking the time the time to consider the ever growing number of unwanted animals. and the ever growing number of new homes built and of families moving in and out of the community we must look at the realistic number of animals that will be abandoned, abused, dumped, forgotten and become unwanted. This facility will serve both the humane needs of humans and safety of animals. We will provide services that have never been offered in this area before.

1. Low cost spay/neuter and health care

2. Adoption assistance and humane education

3. A forever home sanctuary for feral and unwanted animals with special needs. (We will not be taking in owner release animals and will not allow animal dumping).

4. An animal food pantry with a directory for human food pantries.

5. A directory of animal friendly housing and other services.

6. Programs to help people and their companion animals stay together to help end dumping, owner release due to moving, allergies and so forth.

7. Programs to introduce the connection between animal abuse and domestic violence.

8. Community Involvement Opportunities

9. School, church and children’s groups/clubs and orgs. Humane programs.

10. Volunteer and Community Service fulfillment Programs.

11. Children’s literacy and humane education programs

12. Training Programs

13. Recycling Programs

14. Opportunities for School functions and field trips

15. Sponsorship and Partnership Opportunities.

16. Advertising and Co-Op Opportunities.

The facility as well as our Event Area, forever home animal housing area, storage units and our founding families on site home will be placed on a minimum of 10 acres to be located inside Bates County MO.

(No permits or other requirements are needed in this area. There are no ordinances pertaining to our proposed project).

The Facility

25,000 square foot of space will be used to house a thrift shop, museum and a low cost spay/neuter and heath care clinic.

Thrift Shop –

Every Non Profit Organization needs ongoing funding. Whiskers and Tails must have funding for our projects, programs and of course to be able to continue to provide ongoing daily care for our forever home special needs animals.

Inside of this thrift shop we will accept items that will be donated by the members of the community. These items will be sold at an affordable price.The monthly income from the sale of those items will go towards maintenance of the building, utilities, insurance, animal care, spay/neuter, office equipment and needed supplies for daily operations and for our ongoing projects and programs.

We will accept items such as clothing, shoes, suits, coats and jackets, shoes, purses, ties, hats, jewelry, hair accessories and other accessories, small and large furniture in good condition, small appliances and electronics, puzzles , games and toys, household decorating items, household miscellaneous, lamps and other lighting, bathroom items, outdoor furniture, toys, garden items, books, tapes and cd’s. We will hold sack sales, holiday specials and events .

The thrift shop programs include senior and adult volunteer opportunities and one of our out reach programs includes free clothing and other items for victims of fire, flood and other natural disasters for residents that have companion animals . Persons that are unemployed may receive a one time gift of free clothing and other items if they can show proof of the altering of their companion animals. They will be given a directory of human services as well as a directory of animal friendly housing and other services. A card for the monthly food pantry is included in this program.

The Museum

You are probably wandering how a museum fits into the design of a humane facility? By incorporating culture, history, facts and fun we hope to draw a diverse crowd of visitors from all over the world. As a humane organization we can introduce the serious issues that surround our four legged friends in the animal world to children, adults, seniors and even people from other countries. It is surprising how many people live in the world today that do not know how the horrible fate that awaits so many animals every two seconds of every hour of every day.

Our visitors will have the unique opportunity to see and hear things that they might not otherwise get the chance to know about. Inside of the museum our visitors will find antiques, collectibles, dolls, all sorts of memorabilia, dishes, jewelry, clothing, one of the largest holiday collections in the world. Pictures, family history and an entire section dedicated solely to animals. Statues, stories, pictures, art, stuffed animals, science of animals, history of animals, memorial garden and so much more. We want to teach everyone what it is really like inside the world of animals.

For over forty years my Mother had collected several wonderful items that meant so much to her. It was her life long wish to open a museum to share her wonderful collection. When she passed away from Emphysema in 2003 she did not want her things to be sold to strangers. I have chosen to dedicate this museum to her memory and allow her dream to be realized. She loved animals and gave so much to them while she was alive. Proceeds raised through the museum will be used for maintenance, education and humane programs and projects.

The Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Health Care Clinic By providing a service like this we are definitely meeting one of our biggest and most sought after goals. To decrease overpopulation there fore dropping the number of animals being born into an already overcrowded world of unwanted animals. Special discounts will be offered to people living outside of city limits that are willing to help the animals that are sadly and cruelly dumped on their property.

This service will not only decrease over population it will help to save literally hundreds of thousands of animals. By altering animals you are not only providing a healthier life for them you are helping to stop the vicious cycle of abuse, dumping, abandonment and free to not so good home situations where animals are given to complete strangers who in turn dump them , abuse them or inhumanely kill them as soon as they become pregnant again.

The clinic will adamantly promote spay/neuter to everyone. Our low cost health care program will be of great benefit to companion animals whose families are low to no income. Shots, general health care, wounds minor injuries and similar health care needs . Core prices will be set for each service and a payment plan can be set up on an as needed basis for major health issues or situations.

The Lobby Most all public places have a waiting area or some type of foyer that their visitors see when they first walk through the doors. Ours will be a Special Use Lobby. Visitors will find warm, inviting benches placed near our memorial garden that will just beckon them to come and sit down so that they can take in the full effect of their surroundings.

The Lobby of the Facility

Large bulletin boards framed in glass show case animals that need homes, help and love. No Free to Good Home Ads allowed here. Only posts that ask for references and the aniamls must be altered prior to adoptions and each home must be visited. Advertising panels that promote the animal safe products of our sponsors and donors.

Statues of animals whose lives were changed by people that cared. Wish lists, humane resources and information as well as animal related items for sale displayed in beautiful glass cases.

Large canisters will stand in convenient locations to collect dry and canned food for our monthly In Lobby food pantry. A calendar of humane events and important dates will let our visitors know when it is National Spay/Neuter Day, National Dog Bite Prevention week and so on. Restrooms will be conveniently located and the entrances to the thrift shop and museum and clinic will be clearly marked by a path made out of large paw prints.

The lobby will host all of our humane outreach programs. Humane Education, Adoption assistance, Children’s Literacy and Humane Education Hour, Animal food pantry, Training and opportunity Programs as well as our monthly humane spot clinics. Keeping with the promise to use every square inch of this property to raise funds we will invite other non profit organizations to rent space in our lobby for a small fee to share a World Care Weekend.

This program will combine all charitable needs in one place. Organizations that help gather food, clothing, fans or heaters, that help pay utilities, that rescue animals or work with the homeless and the youth will be able to display their goals and mission and raise funds right along with us for an entire weekend. Entertainment, food, prizes, games and a vast array of activities will bring us all together to help both our four and our two legged neighbors.

Proceeds raised from this event will go towards emergency care of any animal found by a good Samaritan. For example – an animal hit on the road, one found in a trap, one that has been dumped and so forth. .

The Event Area – I find it horribly frustrating to take precious time away from our rescued animals and our humane work to find just the right location to hold a fundraiser than have to rush the night before to set everything up and than rush the night of the event to take it all down and than on top of all of that hard work and great effort to raise the funds to help animals have to turn a huge chunk of it over to someone who has done absolutely nothing but rent us a small out of the way space. In the design of this facility we incorporated an Event Area. Why pull people away from the organization? They should see where you are and get to know about you and what you are doing. See first hand where their donated funds are being used and what they are being used for.

It will serve so many purposes and will help us to keep those hard earned fundraising dollars right where they should be – in the programs and projects that they were meant for instead of going into the hands of someone who could care less.

The event area will be used to hold auctions, dances, fundraisers, dinners and other events. When not in use by our organization it can be rented out for weddings, meetings or other activities. All funds raised from renting it to others will be used for all humane projects and programs as well as for maintenance of the property and facility and for the purchase of office and cleaning supplies. It will have two bathrooms, a small kitchen and food prep area and a platform that will be used as a stage or speakers stand. Its capacity should be limited to around 400 people.

Forever Home Animal Housing Area and Clinic Adoption Housing Area – The forever home animal housing area will be 2500 square foot. It will have a heating and air conditioning unit, two bathrooms for the volunteers, a kitchen area for prescription food storage and preparation as well as for the volunteers to have their breaks. It should also have a laundry area, large office area, storage area and of course the animal housing its self. This will include an indoor natural habitat of grass, dwarf trees and dirt. Mini apartments with window seats, cabinets and lots and lots of windows. This will be a free roaming controlled environment. A socialization and play area and grooming area. Absolutely no cages.

The Clinic Holding /Housing area will also be 2500 square feet with two bathrooms, a grooming and socialization and play area. Apartments with cabinets to hold supplies, a storage area for food, litter and cleaning supplies. A visitor’s area for perspective adopters to fill out paper work and meet the animal that they are considering adopting. One side will be for cats and kittens only while the other will hold puppies and dogs.

PAWNOTE:

NO ANIMAL WILL BE EUTHANIZED SIMPLY BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS UNADOPTABLE. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE OWNER RELEASE ANIMALS AND WE WILL NOT BE A DUMPING FACILITY FOR UNWANTED ANIMALS.. PROGRAMS WILL BE PROVIDED TO HELP MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FIND GREAT NEW HOMES FOR ANIMALS THAT THEY CANNOT KEEP. RESIDENTS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ANIMALS THAT THEY HAVE. THE ANIMAL HOUSING AREA WILL BE FOR ANIMALS THAT ARE BROUGHT IN FROM EMERGENCIES THAT HAVE NO ONE TO CALL THEIR OWN.

Storage Buildings Needed for Chemicals, Food, Litter, Supplies, Large Donated Items, Facility Vehicles, Tools and Maintenance Items. We are planning on building several storage buildings that will be located in various locations on site. Because it is not allowed and it not safe to store chemicals near the animals we require storage buildings for these donated items. Several buildings will be needed to accommodate each different category.

1. Chemical storage – paint, gas, cleaning supplies, oil, propane, bleach, laundry soap, fabric softener, paint thinner and parasite control items.

2. Food Storage – dog and cat food must remain in a clean dry place. We usually have several pallets of food donated every few months not to mention the food that will be donated for our food pantry.

3. Litter Storage – Several pallets of cat litter are also donated and this item creates a huge amount of dust. It cannot be near food, animals or chemicals.

4. Building and Grounds maintenance – Lawn mowers, weed eaters, shovels, rakes, bags, trash barrels and so forth will all be kept in this building.

5. Recycling Center – This building will be used to accept donations of newspaper, plastic bags, aluminum cans, radiators, and the like. Some of these items will be cashed in to purchase our ongoing supply of prescription foods for our special needs animals.

6. Auction /Thrift Shop Inventory – Sometimes large items or an overabundance of items are donated to be used to sell in fundraisers. Space will be limited in our thrift shop and our event area and having a place to store these items will allow us to accept more instead of having to turn down things that could help us in the near future.

7. Facility vehicles and trailers and golf carts. – No organization could operate properly without a vehicle to pick up donated foods and other items. Many individuals and non profits have been the victims of theft or vandalism. We plan on keeping our donated vehicles and trailer under lock and key at night and when not in use to safe guard these precious items.

8. Supply area – Carriers, crates, cages, kennels, fencing, excess food and water bowls can be stored in this area when not in use. Keeping our animal housing areas clean and uncluttered.

There is a possiblity of using one large building with petitions if the state will allow it.

The Land its self will be around 10 acres or more and each and every square inch will be used to raise funds that will help us to continue our humane projects and programs for years to come. By renting small sections for camping, family reunions and so forth. We will also have a path for dog walking and there will be a small park with a garden, gazebo and more.

Paw Note :

By having a larger facility we will have the room to be able to have large groups for our volunteer programs as well as an addition of more volunteers for our day to day operations. In the space that we have now there is barely room for more than two at a time. This often means that vital projects cannot be completed in one day. More volunteers would increase our ability to accomplish so much more. This means more humane efforts and more lives saved, helped, rescued and so forth.

I HAVE BEEN ASKED MANY TIMES WHY WE WILL NOT TAKE IN OWNER RELEASE ANIMALS IF WE SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE AN ALL INCLUSIVE ANIMAL ASSISTANCE FACILITY....STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT FOR JUST ONE MOMENT....LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE A HUGE JOB TO DO AROUND YOUR HOUSE. LEAKY PIPES, WINDOWS THAT ARE FALLING IN, A ROOF THAT HAS HOLES IN IT OR WHATEVER. YOU SIT BACK AND LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND MAYBE YOU ARE COMPLETELY ALONE IN MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET ALL OF THOSE JOBS DONE. IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL HAVE A HUGE MESS ON YOUR HANDS.

WHEN YOU HAVE A HUMANE ORGANIZATION YOU ARE FACED WITH THE SAME THING. YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND MORE TIMES THAN NOT YOU START OUT ALONE AND WITH NO MONEY. AS WE BUILD OUR FOUNDATION, OUR REPUTATION AND OUR FUTURE WE DO NOT HAVE LARGE FUNDS COMING IN. WE ARE NOT OVER LOADED WITH PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP US WITH THE ANIMALS. WE ARE ALONE AT THIS POINT.

SOME ORGANIZATIONS MIGHT TAKE IN A TON OF ANIMALS AND THEY USUALLY END UP IN BIG TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO CARE FOR OR EVEN HOUSE THEM PROPERLY. ANIMALS NEED MEDICAL CARE, PHYSICAL CARE AND THEY MUST BE KEPT CLEAN. A FEW PEOPLE CANNOT POSSIBLY DO THIS FOR HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS. THAT IS WHY THIS ORGANIZATION WILL NOT EVER TAKE IN OWNER RELEASE ANIMALS. THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY OF THEM THAT NEED A PLACE TO GO.

WE DO HOWEVER, PLAN ON MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS KNOW THAT WE ARE THERE. WE WILL HELP WITH THE ADOPTION PROCESS, THE SPAY/NEUTER PROCESS, FOOD WHEN IT IS NEEDED AND SO MUCH MORE. IT IS OUR GOAL TO FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THE ISSUES THAT LEAD TO OWNER RELEASE AND DUMPING. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE OF YOU THAN THERE IS OF US. WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.

WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AROUND. WE WANT TO HELP IN THE MOST POSTIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAYS. WE CAN DO THAT WITH YOUR HELP.