Grants Assist in Mitigating Rising Veterinary Costs and Pioneering Approach to Behavioral Health 

Medical Grants 

In 2025, Rescue Village received a significant boost to its operations through a $30,000 grant from the esteemed Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, aimed at enhancing our mission of providing exceptional veterinary care to the vulnerable homeless animals that seek refuge at our facility. Over the past few years, particularly since 2021, the costs of vital medical supplies, including essential items like vaccines and syringes, have seen a drastic increase. With a growing number of animals needing comprehensive care, such funds are crucial to ensuring our veterinary clinic continues to offer essential medical and behavioral services — integral components of our life-saving mission. Notably, in 2024, the Robert H. Reakirt Foundation Equities also extended their support with a generous grant of $15,000 dedicated to the initiative titled “Preventative Health Care for Rescued Animals: A Critical Standard of Care.” 

As per the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, it is imperative for shelters to deliver species-appropriate preventive healthcare, encompassing vital treatments like spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, general surgical procedures, and parasite control.  

During 2024, our dedicated team at Rescue Village provided medical care for a remarkable 3,155 animals, and as we progress into 2025, that number continues to grow. By ensuring that each animal receives the necessary medical attention they deserve, we not only safeguard their health but also play a vital role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases within our shelter. Moreover, this proactive approach helps mitigate the issue of animal overpopulation. Rescue Village takes on the significant responsibility of offering comprehensive medical care to homeless animals, and thanks to the unwavering support from our donors, we can ensure these animals are healthy and ready to thrive in loving new homes. 

Behavioral Health Grants 

In 2024, the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust awarded Rescue Village a $30,000 grant, helping fuel our innovative behavioral health program. This initiative centers on understanding and addressing the nuanced behavioral health needs of our shelter animals in tandem with their medical requirements. Early in 2025, the ASPCA joined forces with us to enrich our behavioral health efforts by contributing another $30,000 grant. 

At Rescue Village, we have developed a collaborative behavioral health model that brings together our clinical and shelter department staff, allowing us to more effectively address the complex behavioral health needs of our animals. Each animal—be it a dog, cat, or barn animal—has a meticulously maintained behavioral health chart that accompanies their medical records. Our staff diligently documents objective behavioral observations, tracks individual progress, and equips adopters with insightful behavioral information, thus fostering a more profound understanding of their new pets. Daily behavioral health observations are recorded by shelter personnel, while our medical staff leverages these insights, along with their assessments, to support animals with more significant medical and behavioral challenges. This thorough monitoring system enables us to spot behavioral trends and address any emerging concerns proactively, employing targeted medical or training interventions. The open lines of communication between our teams guarantee that each animal receives holistic and continuous support. Furthermore, dogs that exhibit more complex training needs can benefit from GoodPup training scholarships, which their new owners can access at no cost. 

Foster Families Provide Medical Foster Homes 

The vital work we accomplish is supported by generous grants dedicated to our foster program in 2023, including a significant contribution from Faith Pescatore and a grant from the Pedigree Foundation. 

Our foster program plays an essential role in ensuring the well-being of our animals. When a veterinarian determines that an animal requires additional time before being considered adoptable due to health or behavioral issues, we prioritize placing that animal in a suitable foster home. These foster placements significantly alleviate stress, offering personalized attention and enrichment for animals facing behavioral challenges linked to the stress of shelter life. This is particularly critical for those with urgent needs, such as bottle-fed kittens, dogs recovering from heartworm treatment, or animals healing from surgeries. Our dedicated foster volunteers are invaluable partners in this process; they keep us informed about any medical or behavioral challenges their foster animals encounter and help us provide tailored, responsive care. 

These grants hold immense importance for Rescue Village for several reasons: 1) our medical budget for 2025, dedicated to caring for thousands of homeless animals, has surpassed one million dollars, necessitating year-round fundraising efforts to meet these expenses; 2) when applying for grants, the scrutiny we face from funders is intense, as they want to ensure that their contributions are utilized effectively. The granting of these awards boosts our confidence, affirming that we are on the right path toward achieving our mission. 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community and the organizations that believe in our cause. Together, we can create a lasting impact on the lives of the animals we serve! Thank you for being a part of this journey toward creating a brighter future for them.