Women Working Together for Animals generates $59,000 for SPCA Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 18, 2015) – Women Working Together for Animals at SPCA Tampa Bay, a membership-based group that unites women in service and advocates for the animals in SPCA Tampa Bay’s care, has selected a capital improvement project to support through their “Kitty Fund.” The group raised $59,000 in 2014 and selected a project to support at the annual Splurge event on March 5.

The group will provide $34,000 for renovations to SPCA Tampa Bay’s admissions and intake building. Visitors to the SPCA’s admission and intake building include owners who are surrendering a pet, owners who are requesting euthanasia for a severely ill or injured pet, owners who are being reunited with a lost pet, and community members who are bringing a stray animal or injured wildlife for care. The renovations will provide more privacy to the pet owners, animals and SPCA staff during the intake process.

The remaining $25,000 of the “Kitty Fund” will establish a medical care fund for SPCA Tampa Bay. This medical care fund will allow SPCA Tampa Bay to provide more advanced medical treatment for the animals in SPCA Tampa Bay’s care, such as biopsies of tumors to check for disease, dermatology care for difficult skin conditions and management of advanced dental disease. The medical team estimates it will provide advanced care for an additional 80-100 animals annually.

Women Working Together for Animals at SPCA voted to fund this capital improvement project after hearing presentations from two SPCA Tampa Bay departments that made compelling cases for projects in need of funding. After the proposed project presentations, members voted for which capital improvement project to fund.

“Every year our members have a tough decision on the project to fund as they are both equally important for the welfare of the animals in SPCA Tampa Bay’s care,” said Gretchen Gallagher, senior director of mission advancement at SPCA Tampa Bay and founder of Women Working Together for Animals at SPCA Tampa Bay. “We are motivated to recruit more members and work even harder to raise funds in 2015 so our fundraising efforts can go even farther next year.”

Women Working Together for Animals at SPCA Tampa Bay selected the project for funding during its annual Splurge event, which took place at member Ethel Buns-Bergerman’s waterfront home on Boca Ciega Bay. Members and guests enjoyed appetizers, beverages and socializing with one another while raising money for SPCA Tampa Bay through chance prize drawings and recruiting new members.

Projects previously funded by the Women include the purchase of a 2014 new cargo van for SPCA’s Animal Cruelty Investigations Team, renovations to the adoption dog kennel that improves the health and stress levels among the dogs and creates a more inviting adoption environment, and the creation of two cat colony rooms that help reduce stress in cats, improve their health and increase adoptions and several items for the Veterinary Service Department.

Women Working Together for Animals at SPCA Tampa Bay was created in 2010 with a mission to build an influential force of women to develop resources, unite in service and advocate for the animals at SPCA Tampa Bay and the people who love them. The group generates funds through membership dues, boutique sales and hosting four fundraising events throughout the year. Currently, Women Working Together for Animals at SPCA Tampa Bay has more than 100 members and has raised more than $150,000 to date.

About SPCA Tampa Bay

SPCA Tampa Bay accepts all pets surrendered by their owners and sick or injured stray animals. Owners are required to make an appointment but no fee is charged for admission, though donations are strongly encouraged. The organization’s mission is to improve the community by promoting humane care, preventing animal cruelty and reducing pet overpopulation. Community services include animal cruelty investigation, lost/found pet assistance, animal admission and ambulance transport for sick/injured strays. Located on 10 acres in Largo, SPCA programs include pet adoption, free pet behavior help, Sniff University training for dogs and cats, children’s summer camps and more. Founded in 1940, SPCA Tampa Bay is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization. More than 7,500 animals are admitted each year. For more information, visit www.spcatampabay.org.

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