Operation Kindness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Kindness, founded in 1976 in Carrollton, Texas, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and the oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. All their income is derived from donations from individuals and businesses, adoptions, fundraising events and the sale of pet-related merchandise.
An average of 150-200 animals are cared for daily, with 60-80 more animals placed in foster homes. Operation Kindness finds homes for 2,300 dogs and cats each year.
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[edit] Mission
The mission of Operation Kindness is to provide a caring, no-kill shelter for homeless or unwanted cats and dogs until they are adopted into responsible, loving families. They accomplish this by:
- Providing high-quality veterinary care to the animals in their shelter and in foster homes.
- Dedicating their efforts to finding caring, responsible families who will make a lifetime commitment to the animals they adopt.
- Educating the public about responsible pet care and the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.
- Participating in coalitions that share the goal of eliminating animal overpopulation and euthanasia as a means of animal control.
[edit] Programs and services
[edit] Adoptions
Potential adopters are thoroughly interviewed by trained adoption counselors so they can match people with pets that best meet their needs and ensure that the individual needs of each animal are met. Animals are vaccinated, given worming medication and checked for external parasites. Dogs are tested for heartworms and started on preventive if heartworm negative or treated if heartworm positive. Cats are tested for FeLV and FIV.
[edit] Spay/Neuter
All animals adopted from Operation Kindness are spayed or neutered. Operation Kindness is a member of the Spay Neuter Your Pet (SNYP) coalition and distributes low-cost spay/neuter information to the public.
[edit] Habitat for Hounds
Operation Kindness distributes donated dog houses for dogs in low-income neighborhoods who are living with inadequate or no shelter.
[edit] Education
The Operation Kindness staff and volunteers frequently speak to community, school and youth groups to educate on pet overpopualtion, the importance of spaying/neutering pets, responsible pet care and kindness to animals.
[edit] Nursing Home Visits
Operation Kindness staff and volunteers take dogs and cats to area nursing homes to visit with residents, providing them with flowers, friendship, the opportunity to cuddle with the animals and recall pets of their own.
[edit] Donations
There are many ways to donate to Operation Kindness:
- Automatic contribution: money is withdrawn from a donor's checking account each month.
- Special events: donors holding special events (birthdays, scout meetings, etc.) can request that their guests bring cash donations or items the shelter needs for daily care of the animals
- Volunteer: people can volunteer their time at the shelter or become a foster home for animals.
- Grocery shopping: select grocery stores in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area donatate a percentage of sales when customers use their reward cards.
- Old cars: donate old cars.
- Kids & Operation Paws: elementary and middle school students sponsor a homeless animal at the shelter for a small donation.
