Our Work
Thank you for your support during our recent auction!
You helped us raise $6,372 for new vehicle wraps for the MCAS transport vans … 91% of our $7,000 goal!
All proceeds raised by Friends of Multnomah County Shelter Animals (FMCSA) are used for a variety of projects that directly impact and improve the lives of local shelter animals. We fund projects that reduce the number of homeless pets, increase adoptions, and improve the quality of life for animals in the shelter at Multnomah County Animal Services.
Transport Vehicle Wraps
MCAS transport vehicle graphic wraps are in need of replacement, rebranding, and renewed outreach messaging. Friends recently hosted an online auction to raise funds to replace the current vehicle wraps which are now 8-9 years old and deteriorating; most vehicle wraps last 5-7 years. The pressing need for a rewrap presents new opportunities to promote vital services for licensing and lost and found pets in the community. Friends originally donated these transport vans to MCAS, which have served the pets and people of our community well for many years, and we are happy to be renewing them with updated messaging and branding in the coming year. MCAS hopes to complete the project by the end of June 2022, and we will share pictures of the completed work here!
Matching Donations for Kitten Triage Program
Each year since the inception of MCAS’s kitten triage program, hundreds of kittens have been saved, cared for, socialized, and adopted into loving families. FMCSA donates generously to this program. In 2019, our $10,000 matching gift reinvigorated the second half of the fundraising campaign, helping to raise a total of $44,336 to save kittens.
Read more in this article from The Outlook.
Spay & Neuter Trailer
Realizing early on that spaying/neutering would be a critical factor in decreasing euthanasia, FMCSA purchased a mobile spay/neuter trailer. Later, when it was no longer being used on the road, the trailer was utilized to pilot the Kitten Triage Program. This program kept kittens separate from the rest of the shelter population and allowed for the provision of direct, lifesaving care for kittens as young as newborn.
Cattery Improvements
Until FMCSA purchased new cages, cats up for adoption were housed in small, 24” x 24” metal cages that clanged and echoed. The litter box was unnaturally close to the cat’s food, water, and bed. The inability to hide or escape in such a small, sterile space—compounded by the noise—caused even more stress on these poor felines, often turning even the most affectionate cat into a hissing recluse or a depressed lump. Thanks to a very generous donation from FMCSA, new cages were purchased and the entire cat adoption area was remodeled to give the cats more room, quieter space, natural light, and— best of all—separate litter box quarters!
Dog Kennel Privacy Inserts
A good portion of the dog kennels consists of chain link fencing, including the play areas where dogs go for a break or to meet potential adopters. Privacy inserts prevent dogs from seeing each other, which reduces stress and improves their overall sense of well-being while in the shelter environment.
ACT Van
In 2012, MCAS started the county’s first ever Trap-Neuter-Return program called ACT (Apartment Cat Team). The idea behind the program was to give people living in low income apartments and mobile home parks the tools to care for feral cats rather than bring them to the shelter where they were almost immediately euthanized. The ACT van was used extensively for 6 years to educate people and transport cats to and from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon for spay/neuter surgeries. The van was vitally important in implementing this new program and was not budgeted through the county. Without FMCSA, the program would likely have not been piloted.
Transport Van
In 2013, FMCSA donated a much-needed van for transporting adoptable animals to various outreach events and offsite adoption venues, thereby increasing their chances for finding forever homes.
Creature Comforts
We provide the dogs, cats and other shelter animals with a variety of enrichment items to make their time at the shelter more pleasant. Items include everything from dog and cat toys to “Adopt Me” vests, dog beds, potty pads and more.
Parade Float Trailer
Pitbulls are one of the most common dogs in the animal shelter and also one of the most misunderstood. To create a way to show off these dogs to the public, MCAS began “Pitties In Pink” and went on the parade circuit. Every year, MCAS builds a float, adds some volunteers and a few pitbulls, then enters several local parades—including the Starlight Parade. This enables thousands of spectators to see lovable pitbulls—sometimes dressed in pink tu-tus—serving as ambassadors for the breed. Without FMCSA purchasing a float trailer for MCAS, this super cool, invaluable breed promotion would not be possible.