How YOU Can have a Powerful Impact on our Shelter Crisis

The most powerful way we can impact the shelter crisis in this country is to fund spay/neuter. It’s as simple as that.

And yet, for too many shelters, finding that funding is not simple. Chasing grant money takes time and is often not possible for municipal shelters who often need the funding the most.

WWLDO has created a simple grant program, called InstaSnip, for our partner shelters (shelters we have visited and maintain a relationship with). And while, currently, InstaSnip is only available for our partner shelters, it’s a concept that any shelter or rescue, anywhere, could start.

How InstaSnip works:

One of our partner shelters reaches out to request an InstaSnip seed grant.

We find out how many shelter dogs they would like to spay/neuter annually, the contact information for their veterinarian, and the average cost of surgeries.

We set up an InstaSnip fund at the veterinarian’s office for the shelter ONLY for spay/neuter surgeries. The initial InstaSnip grant is normally between $1,000 and $3,000.

We provide the shelter with tools to use via their social media/newsletter/mailing list to invite the public to contribute to their InstaSnip Fund.

It’s that simple. Really.

InstaSnip is a ‘seed’ grant that the community can grow.

100% of contributions go to spay/neuter dogs. Period.

The money is available immediately.

There are no lengthy applications.

There is no question about how the money is spent.

It doesn’t matter if the shelter is a nonprofit or a municipal organization.

Spaying and neutering shelter animals enables them to move out of the shelter faster, enabling the shelter to save more animals.

Make Spay/Neuter Easy for Your Community

It should be easy to help your shelter or rescue pay for spay and neuter. The easier it is, the more likely it is that the public will participate.

Any shelter or rescue could establish a fund at their veterinarian’s office and invite the public to contribute to it.

Be sure to clearly communicate exactly how they can do that.

Why Create an InstaSnip Fund?

Why do it this way? Why not just give the money to the shelter?

• Because municipal shelters are not always in control of how donations are spent, especially when they have to be funneled through government accounts.
• Because too many shelters struggle to build trust with their communities and the InstaSnip process makes it clear exactly how the money will be spent.
• Because this takes the responsibility of raising funds and budgeting funds for spay and neuter off the shoulders of the shelter staff.
• Because this assures the veterinarian that they will be paid for their services at the time that they are offered. (Many shelters/rescues carry large balances thanks to the patience and generosity of veterinarians.)

Making InstaSnip a Reality

We are so grateful to Jennifer King, ASPCA, Mutt Nation, and Patty Larson whose contributions have funded our InstaSnip program and enabled us to hit the ground running. In just six weeks, we’ve given over 40K in InstaSnip grants.

If you’re one of our shelter/rescue partners and you have not reached out yet to ask for an InstaSnip grant, contact Patty@wwldo.org.

If you’re not one of our shelter/rescue partners, consider establishing an InstaSnip spay/neuter fund of your own at your vet’s office, and invite the public to contribute to it.

If you’re a nonprofit that supports a shelter, consider establishing an InstaSnip spay/neuter fund for your shelter at the veterinarian’s office and invite the public to contribute to it.

Bottomline: We need to fund spay/neuter, and we need to make it easy for donors and for shelters. As long as we do not, our animal crisis will continue to grow.

Until each one has a home,

Cara

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Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues was published in January of 2025. It is filled with stories and ideas to help everyone be part of the solution. You can buy a hardback or paperback copy for yourself and/or buy a copy for a shelter or rescue through our website. It is also available on Amazon in paperback and ebook. We are seeking opportunities to present the ideas from the book and facilitate discussions on how we can collaborate to find solutions for our shelters. If you have a dog-hearted group that would like to connect, contact Cara@wwldo.org.

To see our Emmy-nominated, award-winning short documentary, Amber’s Halfway Home, click here.

Did you know we have a podcast? I’m working at getting regular episodes up, including the audio version of the new book, and interviews with shelter heroes we meet. Find the podcast on Spotify and other podcast services.

For more information on any of our projects, to talk about rescue in your neck of the woods, or partner with us, please email cara@WWLDO.org.

For links to everything WWLDO, including volunteer applications, wishlists, and donation options, check out our Linktree.