Our Shelter Is Struggling. We Need Your Help!
The past few years have been hard on our shelter. Costs are rising astronomically, our building is aging, and our finances are stretched to the breaking point. In short, there is a real possibility that MOAS may have to close this fall. But there’s still time to turn this situation around. With your help, we know that we can avoid closing, but we need you and others who care about our shelter to act right now.
MOAS has always operated on a shoestring budget. Why? Because animal shelters aren’t designed to make money. We take in animals in need, regardless of whether they are pregnant or nursing, injured, terrified, or sick. Our adoption fees don’t even begin to cover the costs to care for, medicate, and spay/neuter these animals because we want them to find loving homes as soon as possible. We even fund transports to the north where they’ll have a better chance of being adopted. We also provide low-cost spay/neuter and vaccine clinics as a public service and to reduce the number of animals that have to come to our shelter in the first place. But we can’t increase our prices without pricing out the people who depend on our services the most.
While our contract with Madison and Oglethorpe Counties covers over 20% of our budget, the vast majority of our funding comes from donors, grants, and the services that we provide to the community.
Unfortunately, inflation is high, and many of the supplies we must have to operate now cost 40% more than they did just a few years ago. What we bring in just can’t keep up. We have cut costs, deferred maintenance, and done everything possible to make ends meet. But our funds are being drained faster than we can replenish them. To keep our doors open, we need you to help us save our shelter!
How Can You Help?
Here are just a few of the ways that you can help. Have other ideas? Feel free to email Director Juli Huth or any of our board members.
Make a personally significant financial contribution to our General Fund here. Donations to our Guardian Angel Fund are also appreciated, but because they’re earmarked for medical emergencies, they’re less flexible than our General Fund.
Become a sustaining member of the shelter at a level that is appropriate for you or consider increasing your monthly support if you are already a member. Learn more here!
Share information about our fundraising campaign with everyone you know, whether that’s in person, on social media, etc.
Buy a ticket or become a sponsor for our 11th Annual Bark & Wine Fundraiser on August 15, 2026. We are continuing to accept donations to be used for raffles, our silent auction, and our live auction at this year’s event. Feel free to drop items off at the shelter or a volunteer can pick them up.
Host fundraising events independently. Consider hosting events with your employer, church, civic groups, school groups, etc. No amount is too small to make a difference!
If you own a business, consider becoming a corporate sponsor of the shelter. More information about this program will become available soon, but you can contact Board Member Erin Thon (ethon@moaspets.com) for more information.
Speak to your county commissioner about why MOAS is important to you and explore options with them for supporting the shelter. As we continue to work with the counties, we know they will value input from their constituents.
Use our spay/neuter clinic and our low-cost vaccine clinic. While we keep costs low, these are two of our most reliable sources of regular income, and they support an important community need.
Donate food and shelter supplies. You can view a list of the specific items we need most here.
Consider donating any services that you are able to offer. For example, we are always in need of plumbing, automotive maintenance, and other general maintenance services.
Adopt, foster, and/or encourage your friends and contacts to adopt and foster. While increased income is essential at this critical time, we never forget that our mission is to save as many animals as possible.
