QCA animal rescue makes desperate plea: ‘We are at risk of losing our shelter’
A Quad-City area animal shelter still is in dire need of funds, according to an email plea that was sent Sunday from It Takes a Village in Muscatine.
“I have some very sobering news to share.,” says Meagan Koehler, president and founder of It Takes A Village Animal Rescue & Resources, 1510 Grandview Ave., Muscatine. “We are at risk of losing our shelter facility. Over the winter we experienced a devastating distemper outbreak that resulted in the loss of 13 precious lives (mostly puppies), as well as completely draining our financial resources.”
If the shelter closes, she continues, the organization will continue its mission as a foster-based rescue. “But we would not be able to continue saving lives at the level we are now, our spay/neuter/vaccine clinic operations would be permanently halted, and our community Pet Care Pantry would close, in addition to other resources provided to our community via our physical location.”
“In 2021, operating as a foster-based rescue, we were able to adopt out 205 animals. Last year, in 2023, with our full shelter facility, we were able to place 679 animals into loving forever homes. The difference in the number of lives saved is staggering,” she says.
In the rescue/shelter world there is a known period of “slow months,” Koehler says. “Adoptions are slow, donations are less, volunteers are harder to find. Every year we build our resources on the funds we secure during the peak summer months to offset this barren time frame. We have our biggest fundraising events, adoptions are happening daily, the whole organization is buzzing, and generosity is flowing. This is enough to sustain our mission and programs during the slow months.”
But this year, the distemper outbreak consumed the rescue’s resources, and there are still almost two months to go until peak season begins.
“Running our animal shelter requires our dedicated and trained staff, the leased facility we are in (as well as the electricity that lights it) and of course the financial resources to feed, medicate and care for the animals inside,” she continues. “It costs us $30,000/month to keep the shelter doors open. That doesn’t even account for the clinic that provides timely and affordable access to crucial veterinary services or the animal science and education program that provides hands-on learning experiences for the children in our community.”
“We are in trouble. We are desperately seeking support from our community.”
How you can help
It Takes a Village seeks money donations. “We have the hands on deck. We have the knowledge and capability,” Koehler writes. “What we need is the funds to pull us through this crisis, to bridge the gap to our busy summer season. We are desperately hoping you can help.”
Donations can be made online, in-person or mailed. To make an online donation, visit here.
“We genuinely appreciate all the support we have received from our amazing Village,” Koehler concludes. “We hope our mission and accomplishments have inspired you to help us continue our life-saving work.”
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