What is Partners For Pets?

 In a nutshell, here goes... 

   Partners For Pets Humane Society, (P4P),  was founded in 2002 to rescue dogs and cats at  animal control facilities or “pounds” that have high kill and low adoption rates.  P4P does not take animals from individuals.  We only take animals from the pound as they have a very limited time and are in danger of euthanasia.  I realized, after a trip to the pound to find some kittens for my kids, that all the animals I left behind would be dead in a few days.  They only had, at most, 7 days to get out.  The animal control did few adoptions and there was no rescue groups taking the animals.  Buckets of collars were on top of the gas chamber where the animals were euthanized.  Since 2002, P4P has “pulled” over 7000 dogs and cats out of the local pounds.  In 2010, we adopted 1102 animals to new homes.  In 2011, we rescued and rehabbed 939 dogs and cats.     

   P4P is a not for profit, 501 c)3), tax exempt charity registered with the Internal Revenue Service.  We are licensed as an animal shelter with Illinois Department of Agriculture. An existing building on a private property outside Troy, IL was converted to the shelter we use today.  While it is not particularly pretty or fancy it serves it purpose to keep the animals safe until a permanent home can be found.  The shelter can hold 36 dogs and 12 cats at one time.  The purpose of P4P is to help the animals. 

   P4P has 24 licensed foster homes.  Volunteers sign up to keep a dog or cat in their home until the animal is adopted.  Foster homes are so important to help the rescues at our shelter.  It provides one more place for a pound dog or cat to go when the shelter is full and a quiet place for a scared animal.  All expenses to foster is paid for by P4P such as food, vet bills, and the foster license.   

   Our shelter is not open to the public so adoptions are done each weekend at the O’Fallon or Glen Carbon Petsmart.  All of our animals are listed on our website at www.partners4pets.petfinder.com to help get them adopted. Adoptions can be arranged during the week by calling our main number at (618) 540-PETS (7387).  P4P also participates in the cat program through the Luv-A-Pet adoption center at the Glen Carbon, IL PetSmart store.  A total of 10-15 cats and/or kittens are kept during the week at these locations.  

   Each week a P4P staff or volunteer goes to one of the animal control/shelter facilities in the metro area and "pulls" dogs and cats as space permits.  As soon as a space is open we get another from the pound to go in that spot.   Priority is given to sick, injured, frail, and terrified animals.  Cranky dogs and cats are also given a chance.  Animals that have used up their time and in danger of euthanasia are also pulled.  A dog with a broken leg that is trying to bite due to pain will be taken immediately to the vet for care.  A puppy with parvo will be treated and in most cases cured.  A 5 pound chihuahua that is terrified and trying to eat everyone in site will be pulled and taken to a quiet place at the shelter to calm down.  An elderly dog with multiple medical problems and no hope for recovery may be taken so we can sit with it when it has to be euthanized instead of dying at the pound.    

     The rescued animals at the shelter are immediately vaccinated, wormed, and provided some TLC.  As soon as the veterinarians schedule permits or as needed, the animals are provided medical care such as heartworm/FIV and FELV checks, microchip, rabies vaccinations, health checks, and spay or neuter.  Any other medical care that is needed is provided such as heartworm treatment, dentals, parvo treatment, antibiotic therapy, fracture repair, hernia repair, eye surgery, bladder stone removal, etc. 

   Partners For Pets works with two great vet clinics-Horseshoe Lake Animal Hospital and St. Louis Veterinary Clinic.  Both vet clinics are very rescue friendly and do what they can to help the animals at our shelter for a reduced cost.  Both do low cost spay/neuters for our rescues since we do between 15 and 20 spay/neuter surgeries a week.   

     P4P has one, full time shelter manager/adoption coordinator and 3 part time shelter staff to care for the animals at the shelter.  All other positions, including the director, is volunteer.  We have 40 or so great volunteers that help at the shelter and adoption events, write grants, do fund raising, help with paperwork and accounting and foster animals. Funding to care for the animals is obtained from adoption fees, donations, grants, fund raisers and alot of prayers.  We receive no city, state, federal or county government funding.