No More Homeless Pets in Alachua County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2005
Contact: Sharon Yeago
386-454-3950; 386-266-8372 cell

PET RESCUE GROUPS CONTINUE TO SET RECORDS

GAINESVILLE, FL - For the second month in a row, and a first ever for Alachua County, the Maddie's Pet Rescue Project of Alachua County announced today that it's partners have successfully prevented the euthanasia of any healthy adoptable shelter animals during March. Through the dedicated efforts of Alachua County Animals Services staff and other Maddie's partners, all healthy adoptable pets housed at the shelter have found either permanent homes or foster families in Alachua County. The coalition of partners, Alachua County Animal Services, Alachua County Humane Society, Gainesville Pet Rescue, Haile's Angels, Helping Hands and Puppy Hill Farm, have been working steadily since 2002 to accomplish this goal. "The County Commission is very pleased and proud of the results being attained with the help of the Maddie's Fund," stated Alachua County Commission Chair Cynthia Chestnut.

"It was only a matter of time before the efforts of the Maddie's Pet Rescue Project partners and the Alachua County Animal Shelter staff would prove that working together to end euthanasia in our county was not just a dream," stated Cheryl Gibson, Gainesville Pet Rescue's Executive Director. The most recent "Lucky Pets" adoptathon held on March 12th and 13th at the Oaks Mall helped find homes for a record number -- 135 -- dogs, cats, puppies and kittens. The next adoptathon, Dog & Cat Dayz of Summer will be held in late June, also at the Oaks Mall. In the meantime, Maddie's partners still need the support of the community to ensure that the successful goals continue to be met. This is the time of year when a great number of puppies and kittens find their way into the world. This presents a major challenge to the Maddie's partners as they attempt to find permanent and foster homes for these young animals during Spring and Summer, traditionally a time of high birth rates for these animals.

Maddie's Fund,® The Pet Rescue Foundation, (www.maddiesfund.org) is a family foundation funded by PeopleSoft Founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl to help create a no-kill nation. The first step is to help develop programs that guarantee loving homes for all healthy shelter dogs and cats throughout the country. The next step will be to save the sick and injured pets in animal shelters nationwide. Maddie's Fund is named after the family's beloved Miniature Schnauzer who passed away in 1997.

For more information about Maddie's Pet Rescue Project of Alachua County, please call 352-373-5855 x 15 or visit www.maddiespetrescueofalachua.org.