The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust awarded $745,000 to central Indiana animal welfare organizations hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mandated shutdowns, reduced operations, and falling revenues stressed organizations even as needs among pet owners surged during the pandemic. Job losses and housing insecurity made it difficult for many pet owners to pay for food, basic wellness care or spay/neuter surgeries.
President and CEO Gene D’Adamo said the trust’s recent grant funding is intended to expand organizations’ abilities to meet the demands created by the pandemic and begin to return to normal operations.
“Obviously COVID changed everything, the way almost every organization had to approach its services and animal welfare groups were hit hard as well,” De’Adamo said.
Larger grants will go to FACE Low-Cost Animal Clinic, FIDO, Friends of Indianapolis Animal Care Services Foundation and IndyHumane. The Trust also is providing smaller grants to 11 area organizations, including:
- Cats Haven
- Every Dog Counts Rescue
- GSD Rescue Indy
- Heaven After Hell Rescue
- Helping Paws Adoptable Animals
- Humane Society for Hamilton County
- Humane Society of Johnson County
- Indy Neighborhood Cats
- Lost Pet Alert (IndyHumane)
- Low Cost Spay-Neuter Clinic
- Paws & Think
Since 2012, the trust has invested nearly $7 million in animal welfare in Indiana.