Rotary Club of Sandpoint donates $3,000 to BTAA helpline

▶️ Listen to this article now.

PONDERAY — The Rotary Club of Sandpoint has awarded Better Together Animal Alliance a $3,000 grant to help fund the organization’s helpline.

The helpline prevents the unnecessary surrender of animals and supports pet owners with things like pet food or supplies, low-cost or free spay/neuter services, veterinary care for sick or injured pets, advice with behavior, rehoming, and more. In 2020, BTAA experienced a record number of requests for assistance through the helpline assisting 2,400 animals compared with 1800 in 2019.

“Sometimes, a person calls the helpline thinking they will need to surrender their pet, and they are devastated,” Mandy Evans, BTAA executive director, said. “When our helpline administrator tells them we can help with their pet-related needs, they are often emotional and relieved. We are lifting an enormous weight off of a person.”

The pandemic and rising housing costs have impacted people in a variety of ways, and with over 68% of American households having pets, the need for services like the helpline is increasing, alliance officials said in a press release. BTAA expects to serve 3,000 pets through the helpline in 2021, which is solely operated by donations from the public and grants.

Ken Wood, Rotary Club’s president, said, club members are thrilled to support the alliance through the donation.

“When our volunteer board of directors were considering this donation, you could feel the passion our members had for helping to keep families together with their pets during these challenging times,” he said. “Knowing that these funds will assist over 200 local families was a major deciding factor for our club in giving this gift. We appreciate all that Better Together Animal Alliance does in our community and it is an honor to assist this incredible organization."

BTAA serves a wide range of people through the helpline and every call is case by case. In Robert’s case, he had just paid his mortgage when his dog, Molly, was injured while playing outside. She had a large, deep cut on her back leg that required emergency medical attention. He was unable to pay his regular veterinarian a quoted $600 expense because he only had $.38 in his bank account. He called the BTAA helpline desperately seeking care for Molly, and staff made arrangements for Molly to get the care she needed and helped Robert cover the cost. Molly never entered the shelter, and Robert and his daughters said they are grateful for the alliance’s support.

On average, the helpline spends $13 per pet served through the helpline. The $3,000 contribution from The Rotary Club of Sandpoint will provide assistance for up to 230 pets. In addition to helpline pets in need, the impact goes far beyond helping animals because it also helps people.

“With people more isolated than ever, pets are a critical part of people’s health and wellbeing. We know that pets make people healthier, and people who have pets live longer, happier, and healthier lives. When we invest in people’s pets, we’re also investing in people.” said Evans.

You can hear more about Molly’s story online or visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org for more about the organization's mission, impact, and programs.

Better Together Animal Alliance is an animal welfare organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of dogs, cats, and the people who love them. BTAA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is not affiliated with the county or city and receives no tax support. Located in Ponderay, BTAA serves Bonner, Boundary, and Kootenai counties. Programs focus on supporting people and their pets to prevent unnecessary owner surrenders, sheltering lost pets, and providing a safe and enriching environment for pets to stay while they wait to find new homes. BTAA assists approximately 2400 stray or surrendered animals every year and over 6000 pets through it’s community-based programs.

Information: bettertogetheranimalalliance.org