MEHS Mother's Day Challenge
Springtime is always a challenge for Metro East Humane
Society--usually in the form of a large number of unplanned litters of
puppies and kittens. But, early 2008 has been an especially
challenging time for MEHS because of the downturn in the economy and
rising fuel costs. In fact, MEHS' day-to-day
operating expenses have increased nearly 50% over previous spring
seasons, but donations have decreased almost as much.
Compounding problems, the shelter became a temporary home to nine small
dogs that were rescued from a puppy mill in central Illinois. And, as
temperatures rise, so will the number of calls made to the MEHS Humane
Investigation hotline for animals in distress. In order to address all
of these challenges, which become very costly, MEHS needs your help.
MEHS is issuing a special
Mother’s Day Challenge
to meet these ever-increasing needs.
The nine dogs taken from a puppy mill in late April are
getting ready for new, loving homes. The response of potential adopters
was overwhelming. But so was the cost of their care. The rescue of
those nine dogs meant nearly $100 in fuel costs and humane investigator
salary just to bring them to the shelter. Once there, each received a
complete health check, tests for parasites, and treatments at a cost of
about $60 per animal. Two of the dogs were heartworm positive, which
means an additional $300 in treatment costs. Before they go to homes,
each dog will be spayed or neutered, implanted with a microchip and
provided a leash and collar, at an additional $75 per animal. Add in
costs to feed and care for the animals during their brief stay at MEHS,
and the total comes to more than $1,600 – far short of the $1,125 MEHS
will receive in adoption fees for the nine dogs.
All of this will multiply over the next few months as
literally hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens pass through MEHS
on their way to permanent, loving homes.
Just in time for Mother's Day,
MEHS is asking local residents to dig deep and help meet those needs
while remembering a special woman in your life.
Please consider the four-legged mothers and their offspring
in need of care by making a gift to MEHS in honor of your mother. To
make a Mother’s Day gift to MEHS, please mail a donation made payable to
MEHS, along with the name and address of the woman you would like to
honor, to:
Metro East Humane Society
Atttn: Mother's Day Donation
8495 State Route 143
Edwardsville, IL 62025
If you would prefer to make an online donation, please go
to our How To Help page
and click on the Donate button. After making your online donation,
please also email
info@mehs.org with the name and address of the honoree.
We will send a Mother's Day card telling her of
your kind gift.
If you have any questions, you can contact Charity
Laleman at MEHS by calling (618) 656-4405.
