Donor Opportunities

Your generous gift of cash or securities to the Washington Animal Rescue League, founded in 1914, will allow us to continue helping animals in 2012 and for another century.  Kind donations from animal lovers like you ensure that thousands of dogs and cats find a new home through our state-of-the-art shelter and receive compassionate medical care from our veterinary staff who specialize in animal shelter medicine.  The League’s Medical Center also helps thousands of people—those low-income pet owners who have nowhere else to turn and bring their friends to us for reduced-cost or free veterinary care.

Unlike most other animal shelters, the League receives no taxpayer funds as we do not request or accept municipal contracts.  We must, therefore, continually seek private support to help approximately 7,000 animals annually.  Your thoughtfulness makes our sheltering, rescue, and clinical programs possible.

In that spirit, we present some opportunities for funding specific projects at the League.  We hope you will consider helping us finance all or part of one of these critical initiatives.

Gifts to the League can be funded with gifts of cash, stock, or other assets.  Please contact us anytime. 

We can help you determine which project is right for you and show you tax-wise methods of making a significant gift to help the 7,000 animals we help every year.

Your thoughtful gift of $10,000 or more in 2012 entitles you to become a 2013 member of the League Leaders, our new annual-fund donor group.  The League Leaders offers its members limited benefits—including special recognition at League events as well as in our publications.  Names will also appear for one year on a special plaque in our lobby, where tens of thousands of visitors pass through our doors every year.

Please help us help more animals this year—and forever!

Sheltering and Adoptions

$130,000 – The sheltering staff seeks this very large donation to pay for a customized van for transporting animals to and from adoption events and bringing animals to the shelter from puppy mill busts and natural disaster sites.  We also would use the van for accepting dogs and cats from other shelters so they can be adopted here at the League. FUNDED WITH A $60,000 DONOR CHALLENGE GIFT FROM DR. SHARI BARTON IN HONOR OF HER BELOVED CANINE COMPANION CASSIE, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MANY OTHER LEAGUE FRIENDS, INCLUDING MS. MARIE BURKART, PHILIP L. GRAHAM FUND, LEONSIS FOUNDATION, LIFE 4 ANIMALS THRIFT SHOP, MILLER & CHEVALIER, DR. & MRS. MATTHEW A. PARKER, AND MR. RICHARD J. PERRY, JR.  DECEMBER 2010.

$48,000 – Although Hill’s generously provides the League and many other shelters nationwide with its Science Diet pet food for use with shelter animals, we must purchase additional food.  A gift of $4,000 would buy pet food for all shelter animals for one month.

$15,000 – The League must annually purchase a number of supplies for the shelter, such as cleaning materials, to care for our 2,000 shelter animals each year.  A gift of this amount would underwrite an entire year of supplies and a contribution of $1,250 would cover these expenses for one month.

$10,880 – The League’s dog parks, where all the shelter dogs are exercised multiple times daily, require upgrades.  The League wishes to purchase approximately 10 benches at $700 each (totaling $7,000), seven umbrellas at $340 each (totaling $2,380), and six pet waste stations at $250 each (totaling $1,500).  A gift of $10,880 can provide all of these items or smaller donations can buy them separately. FUNDED BY DR. & MRS. MATTHEW A. PARKER!  APRIL 2011.

$8,190 – Ten new computer workstations at $819 each are needed by the League, including by adoptions staff for running sheltering software, adding animals’ stories to Petfinder.com and our website, as well as communicating with potential adopters.  FUNDED BY OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY VENDOR AND ITS CEO: PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL AND ROLF AARON LA MAR.

$5,000 – Our dogs would love a year’s supply of harnesses and martingale harnesses. These harnesses and collars protect sensitive necks, especially on excitable dogs, who tends to pull—even choke themselves—when going for a walk. A gift of $5,000 would give each dog their own favorite harness or collar.
$4,000 – The annual cost of transporting animals to the League from other shelters, puppy mill rescues, and natural disasters includes vehicle usage, gasoline, cages, etc.

$2,000 – Our training and behavior specialists need special treats for our special dogs.  These treats are used to encourage positive behavior while here at the shelter so that dogs who are waiting for homes will fit better into those homes once they arrive.  These efforts reduce our return rate due to behavior issues.  FUNDED BY AN ANONYMOUS DONOR!  AUGUST 2011.

$1,500 – The shelter would like to install security cameras at a number of locations on the property.

$1,200 – This amount would pay for one year of automatic uploads to Petfinder.com.  Petfinder is currently the League’s largest single source of adoption inquiries and automatic uploads will help more animals get adopted quickly.  This will also save valuable staff time and allow the public to view our animals faster than ever before.

$900 – The shelter, adoptions and training staffs all need walkie-talkies.  Right now, we are seeking 30 units at $30 each.

$500 – Adoptions staff needs new digital cameras for taking photos of animals and adding them to our Web site. FUNDED BY WENDY WERTHEIMER IN HONOR OF THE LEAGUE’S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.  DECEMBER 2010.

$500 – A video camera can assist us with canine training and animal behavior evaluations.  FUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF GIGI CASTLEMAN IN MEMORY OF HER DOG KAYNE!  DECEMBER 2009.

Medical Center

$45,000 – The League must purchase a number of veterinary pharmaceuticals to care for the 7,000 animals we see each year.  A gift of this magnitude would underwrite an entire year of medicines and other necessary pharmacy items, whereas a donation of $3,750 would cover these expenses for one month.

$35,000 – Thousands of animals are assisted by our shelter, Medical Center and vaccination clinics when they receive vaccines and other preventatives.  This amount would pay for these essentials. A contribution of $2,917 would pay for them for one month.

$34,000 – A new ultrasound machine would allow us to diagnose many types of cancer, as well as many diseases such as liver, kidney, heart, intestinal and bladder disease.  Discounted by General Electric down from $49,000.  FUNDED BY DR. PHYLLIS HUENE!  NOVEMBER 2009.

$32,000 – Treating more than 7,000 animals a year in our shelter and Medical Center means an array of tests necessary for our cats and dogs.  This amount would cover one year of medical laboratory fees, while a gift of $2,667 would pay for laboratory fees for one month.
 
$20,000 – A new X-ray machine will vastly improve the quality of our X-ray images, especially for larger dogs.  X-rays are one of our most frequently used diagnostic tools.  Combined with our current digital X-ray processor, this machine would allow us to make much more accurate diagnoses of respiratory, heart, lung, urinary tract, gastro-intestinal, orthopedic, and other diseases.  FUNDED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF GIGI CASTLEMAN IN MEMORY OF HER DOG KAYNE!  DECEMBER 2009.

$14,400 – A Class 4 Therapeutic Laser is an innovative piece of equipment that would revolutionize our ability to treat animals with hip dysplasia, wounds, trauma, back pain, ear infections, dental disease, and a multitude of other conditions that are among those we see most often.

$10,000 – A digital dental X-ray machine is vital for doing proper dental procedures including evaluations, extractions, repairs and cleanings.  It would also allow us to better evaluate teeth in borderline condition and would result in fewer extractions. FUNDED BY A DONOR WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS! FROM JIMMY-BOY (WHO WAS ADOPTED FROM THE LEAGUE) IN HONOR OF DR. MARK SMITH! SEPTEMBER 2010.

$7,800 – The League offers monthly, free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats.  These cats come to us via local trap-neuter-release groups tending to feral cat colonies.  Each clinic sterilizes 50 cats and offers vaccines.  One female cat and her offspring, left to breed at will, can produce more than 400,000 kittens in just seven years.  A year’s worth of clinics costs the League $93,600.

$3,630 – Many of our Medical Center team members are studying to become Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) through an accredited online program at Penn Foster Career School.  This practical, respected program is an excellent value, but still a financial stretch for many of our employees.  To help them achieve this goal, which will be so advantageous to the League, we have established the WARL Vet Tech Scholarship Program, through which we will reimburse 50% of tuition costs for selected employees.  Reimbursement for one future LVT is $3,630.

$2,900 – The League offers monthly, free spay/neuter clinics for the pit bull pets of city residents.  Each clinic sterilizes 20 dogs and offers vaccines.  Pit bulls all too frequently crowd shelters around the nation, including our area.  The more we spay and neuter these dogs, the more we help not only them, but also other shelters and the animals for whom they care.  A year’s worth of clinics costs the League $34,800.

$2,500 – A new capnograph would help us better monitor patients under anesthesia.  This equipment is vital in making sure no organ damage occurs while animals are under anesthesia.  FUNDED BY DONATIONS COLLECTED BY JUDI ZIEGLER FROM HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY!  NOVEMBER 2010.

$2,000 – Our veterinarians have been using our new ultrasound machione to make some tough diognoses on cases involving cancer, heart disease, and other acute conditions. Since we have such a superb ultrasound machine, we’d like to send all our veterinarians to an intensive course for formal ultrasound training. The tuition is $2,000 per veterinarian.

$2,000 – To keep all our medical equipment running smoothly and prolong its life, the League must pay for approximately $2,000 of equipment maintenance each year.

$1,800 – Two syringe pumps would enable us to control pain more precisely, especially for cats and post-op patients.  They are $900 each. FUNDED BY TANSY & DENNIS BLUMER! OCTOBER 2010.

$1,800 – A new surgery light is needed.

$1,600 – A new blood pressure machine would help us monitor our surgery patients and examine incoming animals with vision loss, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, and those in shock.

$1,400 – The League offers weekly low-cost vaccine clinics for both cats and dogs.  We have increased the frequency of our low-cost vaccination clinics from monthly to weekly to accommodate the growing demand for these services.  Every Wednesday evening, walk-in clients receive standard vaccinations, microchips, and parasite treatment, all at very affordable rates.  A year’s worth of clinics costs the League $72,800.

$1,250 – An annual fund for new veterinary texts would help the medical staff stay more current on veterinary care issues.  Approximately 10 books for $125 each.

$1,100 – One hundred battery-operated thermometers at $11 each are needed for our thousands of animal patients.

$750 – A double fluid pump allows us to control the rate at which intravenous fluids are given.  FUNDED BY THE MENNA FAMILY IN MEMORY OF SPARKY!  JANUARY 2010.

Humane Education

$4,000-$6,000 – Ten to fifteen bus rentals per year at $400 each will permit us to transport children from their schools to the League and back. 

$4,000 – Ten “Humane Classroom Library in a Box” kits will consist of 15 to 25 titles that highlight positive relationships between people and animals.  Each box of 25 books costs roughly $400 and would have a name plate that acknowledges the donor.  Titles would be appropriate for grades four and five. 

$1750–five underserved children will attend the third annual Caring Kids Camp at the League on scholarship, August 1-5 . The children, ages 9 to 12 years old, will interact with shelter animals, travel to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary and Days End Horse Farm,  visit with working dogs and their partners, meet bats, reptiles and learn about wildlife in the community.  Campers develop a greater sense of empathy, learn the importance of speaking up for those who can’t, and enjoy visiting many animals.  The camp has openings for 15 students and we are hoping that at least five of those spots will be filled with scholarship campers.

$1,700 – One-hundred hardback copies of Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee, which costs $16.99 retail, would be given to school libraries and individual children along with a discussion guide. This book is currently given to inner city youth participating in anti-dog fighting programs in other cities.

$1,000 - Photo development for approximately 1,000 prints per academic year—as well as photo albums, matting, frames and enlargements—are needed so that photos of schoolchildren visiting with dogs in their classrooms and images of children and animals taken at the League will be displayed at the schools and given to the students.

$600 - Would-be photographers need disposable cameras to capture images of animals in their homes and neighborhoods.  For the past two years, we have worked with a local photographer who instructs students on camera usage and then gives them a disposable camera to be used in our medical center and shelter.  The results have been a huge body of emotional work.  Students have captured the joy of a dog kiss, the frightened eyes of a people-weary puppy, and the irresistibility of a basket of kittens.  One of this year’s education programs asks students to capture the images of animals outside of the shelter by photographing family members, neighbors and friends with their cats and dogs. They can also shoot pictures of strays and other animals in the community. 

General Expenses

The League also seeks support for many other expenses including vehicle repair and maintenance, landscaping, uniforms, laundry, computer hardware and software, staff training, advertising, and more.  We can provide you with details on these amounts if you would like to know about helping us pay for our expenses in different areas.

Our List of Donor Opportunities changes on a regular basis and is updated online monthly at warl.org/opportunities.  Please let us know if you would like to support the League through a restricted donation for one of these needed items.  Of course, we also always welcome unrestricted support as well as donations for our endowment.

For more information, please contact Rob Blizard, Chief Development Officer, at 202-375-7754 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .

Updated December 2011

Donor Recognition
Plaques for our Honorary/Memorial Wall are available for donations of $1,000 or more. Pavers set into the sidewalk in front of the shelter are available for donations of $2,500 or more. Other donor recognition opportunities are available for businesses and individuals.