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Lakeside Friends of the Animals (LFA) is proud of its accomplishments for the year 2009. Here is a summary of those accomplishments for each of LFA's animal assistance programs: MISSION During this reporting year, 62 dogs/cats belonging to poor Mexicans received subsidized emergency medical care for illnesses and accidental injuries. Services included consultation, surgeries, medication, and whenever necessary humane euthanasia. In this same year, 264 pets were sterilized at no cost to their owners. In this same time period, Lakeside Friends of the Animals A.C. purchased 115 FELV testing kits which were used for cats at the Animal Shelter. Each cat entering the shelter singly was tested while those arriving in litters had one from the litter tested. (Test results for one kitten in a litter are representative of the conditions of all litter mates, the same). In all close to 200 cats were able to have FELV status determined. Unfortunately in this year we saw an increase in the incidence of this serious disease after having enjoyed a decrease in recent years. ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL SHELTERS:background for reporting data During this reporting year, two (2) successive rounds of Grants for Assistance to Shelters were in effect. The first round of Grants was already in progress at the opening of this reporting period (April 1, 2009), and ended April 30, 2009 to be replaced by a second round of Grants initiated on May 1, 2009. Not all grantees participated in both rounds and for those that did; the terms of their grants were not necessarily the same in both rounds. In all, assistance to animal shelters included over 75,000 pesos of food purchased, 155 sterilizations performed, 50 immunizations and physical improvements to kennel facilities .
During this reporting year, the following shelters received assistance of one type or another through our grant programs: OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS In the Fall of 2009, a new brochure was published and disseminated in order to increase public awareness of Lakeside Friends of the Animals. Also, Lakeside Friends of the Animals had a feature article in the magazine, Pagina. In November, the Board of Directors hosted a dinner to honor Anita Strehlow of Anita´s Animals for her contributions to the animal community. Attendees included the Board of Directors,
at least one representative from each Grantee agency, primary patrons of Lakeside Friends of the Animals and members of the local press. Articles covering the event with information on our organization appeared in two local papers, The Guadalajara Reporter and Ojo Del Lago. In December, a full length article written by President Elyn McEvoy which outlined our programs was printed in Ojo Del Lago. In its emergency care and sterilization programs for pets of Mexicans with limited means, Lakeside Friends of the Animals has enjoyed the patronage of The Animal Clinic of Drs. Ladron De Guevara in Riberas del Pilar. By extending medical services to us at a greatly reduced cost, The Animal Clinic has enabled Lakeside Friends of the Animals to provide quality care to more animals than we would otherwise be able to help.
Lakeside Friends of the Animals also owes a debt of gratitude to Ms. Barbara Hess and her employer, Geoffrey Kaye of the Animal Store. Whether scheduling appointments for sterilizations, doing intakes for emergency care, arranging for feline leukemia testing or keeping records Ms. Hess´ assistance is vital to the operation of many of our programs. WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE Each year we see animals in need. Mexicans of limited means are coming to us for help; non-for profit animal shelters such as Anita's Animals, the Animal Shelter and several other small shelters look to us for assistance. Please help us so that we might continue to help them. Lakeside Friends of the Animals is committed to carrying forward with its programs thereby "Speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves." | |