Previously known as: North Arkansas Central Society for the Prevebtion of Cruelty to Animals
EIN: 80-0104376
Submission Type: Form 990-N
Year: 2008
As this year has gone by, the finances needed to operate a local public shelter have steadily declined. We have been asked occasionally questions such as: 1) "Well, you get money from the state right?", 2) "You get money from the ASPCA right?", 3) "You can get all those grants right?", 4) "You're getting money from the stimulus package right?" Wrong on all counts. When we say that we are 100% public donation sponsored that is exactly what we mean. 1) The state does not support this or any other shelter in any way. Very little money from the state comes to this area at all simply because there is not a large enough voter base here to make supporting this area of the state a priority for government officials. What little does make it our way does not go to animal shelters... 2) The ASPCA is a New York City only organization. They give less than 1% of what they take in from you back to local shelters around the country. No other SPCA anywhere in the country is in fact affiliated with the ASPCA... 3) The sad fact is that out of thousands of grants available in this country, only 3 are specifically oriented to Arkansas. Grants such as the well known Bob Barker spay/neuter grant are in fact re-imbursment grants, which means you pay up front and are then re-imbursed by the foundation. In other words, if you don't have the front money, you can't use the grant. Others, only qualify you if you put in as a collaborative with other shelters and organizations. As we are all to well aware, no two shelters in this area will work together even long enough to apply for these grants... 4) Not one penny of the government stimulus packages is designated to go to animal shelters, simple as that...
No one seems to want to believe these facts, but they are the facts nonetheless. Once again, this shelter has been supported almost entirely by one single person since the beginning of the year. This person is donating his entire social security check to the shelter each month just to keep the doors open and the animals fed. What little donations are coming in are being used almost exclusively for vaccinations, veterinary expenses, and the fuel required to continue to serve the community.
Because of this, and until donations get back to what they were this time last year, the shelter will provide only contracted services. This means to cities and counties with which we have a contract to provide animal sheltering services. We will continue to provide all of our Human / Pet related services and will continue to accept new cases as needed, however, for the time being, we simply cannot afford to take more animals from the general public.
So what does that mean for you? Without the public support required to help us keep the shelter operating, we can no longer work for the public. What can you do about it? #1 you can contribute. Also, when you are faced with a stray dog or cat problem, you can call your local county offices, (namely the county judge) and complain that we can't take your dog or cat and that arrangements need to be made between the county and us to once again handle the problem. Other than that, you can call the other local area shelters and hope against hope that they will help you.
Sorry if this sounds rude and not-caring, we do care, we always have, but the simple fact is, without support it doesn't matter if we care or not...