Golden Rescue ...About Second Chances

Financial Summary for Year ending December 31, 2010

2010 was a difficult but successful year.  Our revenues are inching towards the half million mark and were 18% greater than 2009.  Our veterinary fees and dog supplies continue to be the largest expense, increasing $100,000 from 2009.  The average cost per dog went from $1,171 to $1,458 and our total number of dogs in program reached an all time high of 221 in 2010.

Our two largest revenue sources were a) donations totalling $269,101 and b) adoption fees totalling $64, 991.  Donations, in kind, from veterinarians totalled over $110,000 in 2010.

Some highlights from our audited financial statements:

Any excess cash is placed in interest bearing deposits.

Our two largest expenditures were veterinary fees and dog supplies ($322,122) and fundraising costs of $47,772 (down from $61,906 in 2009).  Fundraising costs included Golden Rescue merchandise, booth rentals, and venue fees (golf, picnic).

We incurred additional professional fees for audited financial statements* and a short term purchase of the services of a professional fundraiser ($22,883 from $5,961 in 2009).

*two year audit performed by GO LLP
 

Our Board of Directors submitted reports at the Annual General Meeting on May 30^th ~ highlights include:

Operations:

As of December 31, 2010, 1,525 Golden Retrievers have come into our program since our inception in 1990.  221 entered our program in 2010.  This was an increase of 31 dogs over 2009.

2010 Statistics:

• 77 were females, 144 were males
• 62 were over the age of seven years old
• 95 or 43% came into our program not spayed or neutered
• six were abandoned
• 48 came from humane societies or animal shelters ~ several of which were seized due to neglect
• 16 were born into rescue from two pregnant females brought in from puppy mills
• one was from a U.S. kill shelter
• nine were returned into our program from past adopters
• 15 were from puppy mills/backyard breeders
• 126 were surrendered by their owners

At the end of 2010, only 28 dogs still remained in foster and the majority of those were placed into forever homes in early 2011 (our placement rate for dogs that could be placed in adoptions was almost 90%, which has increased by over 15% from the prior year).  We ended the year with 12 dogs from 2010 in forever foster homes (all but one were senior dogs considered in end care). 

Events:

Golden Rescue participated in many events throughout 2010 ~ All About Pets, GR’s Car Rally, Woofstock & Walkathon, Dog Days of Scugog, Niagara Dogfest, Puppy Pawlooza, Kempenfest, GR’s Golf ‘Fore’ Gold, and Bala Cranberry Festival.  We also participated in a couple of Santa Claus parades, LCBO tag days, had a booth throughout December at The Pickering Markets, and held a picnic in Ottawa and Toronto.  GR also celebrated its 20^th anniversary.

Volunteers:

Golden Rescue would not be able to function and give so many Goldens a second chance at life had it not been for all its supporters and volunteers. Our event and volunteer coordination teams were expanded and they lead our efforts at all external events.  Our volunteers manned our booths, raised money, and created awareness and goodwill.  Our operations team expanded and grew in all areas such as general inquiries, intakes, fostering, and placements.  In 2010, teams were created for transport, follow-up calls, buying, website and web coordination, fundraising, marketing, database management…to name a few.   

Social Media Outreach: 

Facebook continues as Golden Rescue’s strongest social media tool.  We have grown to over 700 followers.  Our Twitter followers have also grown to approximately 600.

Legal: 

We amended our release and adoption forms, reviewed our bylaws, and dealt with a variety of issues arising from the surrender of Goldens.

Marketing & Advertising: 

We produced four 16+ page Guardians, a gatefold brochure, and a 2010 calendar, as well as a YouTube video called Rescue Me which increased our online presence.  We also started the creation of a new logo and a foster handbook. Discussions with Remax resulted in a partnership program which will raise extra funds through Remax agents’ charitable donations program.

Communication & Fundraising:

Our goal was to leverage communications to raise both awareness and funds.  We focused on issues management resulting in (a) the successful recruitment of new board members, (b) provincial integration of Golden Rescue, and (c) creation of content for eblasts, newsletters, volunteer outreach, etc.  Fundraising approaches resulted in the recruitment of new corporate sponsors for the golf tournament, creation of a holiday e-blast and video, In From the Cold campaign that raised $30,000, and the early stages of a grant-application program.

Last October, we became aware of a company called Matchmaker Pet, which purports to be an online dating service for pets. On October 5, 2011, the two principals of the company, Ingrid Johansson and Raf Khoury appeared on an episode of the CBC television show Dragon's Den requesting financial support for their company.  In that episode, which you can view at http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/2011/09/matchmaker-pet.html, Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications, endorsed the company and pledged services at a value of $150,000 in exchange for a 50% share of the company.

Since this episode aired, the internet is replete with critics of the company, who, like us, are of the opinion that this concept may promote the irresponsible breeding of pets. It is unclear whether or not CBC and/or Arlene Dickinson remain supporters of this company; however, currently we can confirm that Matchmaker Pet remains up and running and we feel obligated to express our concerns.

As one of the country's largest single breed rescue organizations, we understand all too well the unfortunate reality of backyard breeders, puppy mills, and the consequences of irresponsible pet ownership. We work tirelessly to secure loving homes for our Golden Retrievers in trouble and are of the opinion that this service is counterproductive to that which we (or any shelter or rescue organization) seek to eradicate.

In our view, those who support this company (including the many organizations that advertise or sell products on its website) may not have considered the real impact that this concept might have or contemplated the horrible outcomes that often befall pets conceived in a haphazard manner. While we hope that CBC and Arlene Dickinson have retracted their support, we encourage those organizations that are associated with this company, including amazon.com, Kong, Pedigree, West Paw, and others, to consider that of the two million dogs that find themselves in shelters and rescue organizations each year, approximately one million are euthanized (source: K9 Rescue Me) and ask themselves whether it is socially and ethically responsible to support an organization that is, by design, adding to the pet population.

From your concerned Golden Rescue board of directors

Golden Rescue’s brand new LOGO

The proud and beautiful Golden and the shadow of a helping hand – it says a lot about what we do.

You’ll be seeing our new brand everywhere soon – on our website, the Guardian, and at all our events. It’s the result of much discussion, collaboration, and generous help from many artists including the marketing team at GoodLife Fitness. Because we’ve had too many different looks in the past, we knew that it was time to get a consistent ‘look’ to ensure our message gets across every time.

You’ll see three taglines used with the new image and these will be used depending on our audience.
About Second Chances is our official tagline and will be used most often when speaking to our supporters and volunteers who well understand what Golden Rescue is all about. And for those who are new to what we do, Heal. Foster. Adopt. or Finding Forever Families will send a clear and definite message about our mission.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support. A picture may be worth a thousand words but it’s your help that makes it come alive.

To put it simply…it’s great fun. And you don’t have to have any particular skill…it’s something that everyone with a sense of humour and adventure can do.

Without giving it all away, you will receive a package at the start line. In this package will be a number of cryptic and hilarious clues that, when read carefully, will direct you along an interesting and scenic route to your final destination ~ the party. The rally is not about speed. There are no points given for finishing first. You can navigate the route as fast or as slow as you want.

During the rally, you will have to answer questions that can be found along the route ~ things you would see from your car (and some require getting out of the car). Some of these questions are very easy but some are tricky and devious. You will be asked to find things (like in a scavenger hunt). You might be asked to count bridges or railroad tracks, find certain farms, and answer some questions that might require some googling or calling someone. You will also get more points when you pick up playing cards along the way that will determine a poker hand. To get these cards, you may have to do some goofy things along the way. We often describe our Goldens as ‘goofy’ so we want to ensure the goof-factor is in the rally too.

The rally ends on a beautiful property right on Georgian Bay where there will be a fun ‘finish line’ party with food, libations, and a live band ~ RadioFlyer…they’re fantastic. It’s during this party where the real laughter starts as rallyers compare their answers, relate their stories about getting lost, and share their embarrassing and funny moments. One year, you were asked to go to a particular store and tell a knock- knock joke. One team did just that ~ they walked into the store, told a knock-knock joke to the proprietor…only to find out they were in the wrong store. It was pretty funny when their request for a poker card was met with a bewildered, vacant stare.

The top three winners will be recognized at the party and awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals. Although there are no cash prizes (it is a charity fundraiser after all), the bragging rights are what all rallyers covet. This is a fantastic way to see some of Ontario’s most beautiful scenery while exercising your brain and funny bone (not to mention raising money for our Goldens). So, rev-up your spring with a fun activity!

p.s. We recommend not doing this rally solely with your spouse unless you can wallpaper a small bathroom together ~ either get friends involved or put together two teams.