My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been a volunteer with The Animal Support Project (TASP) for over three years. I believe strongly in their honorable mission of working directly with owners to keep animals living with the families that love them. TASP’s assistance reduces the number of animals surrendered and/or euthanized for an owner’s lack of funds during a tough time. In extreme cases, pets enter the TASP foster/adopt program where they live out their lives in safety, comfort and love. In 2019, TASP assisted 415 cats, dogs, ferrets & snakes. Out of the 159 dogs,130 stayed home; of the 249 cats, 235 stayed home. It has been very rewarding helping families care for their beloved family member. A few examples follow.

TASP’s short-term foster program helps owners bridge a gap in time until they can care for their pet again. In Spring, a college student was in need of assistance until the semester ended because his roommate was severely allergic. He had tried several other local organizations, but was told they did not have such a program, or he would have to surrender his pet. Although he only had this cat for a few weeks, this determined young man persevered until he was finally referred to us, and we welcomed his adorable 3 month old male cat, Jet. By the time little Jet arrived, this responsible young man had ensured he was up to date on shots, dewormed and litter trained. He also brought his own carrier, food, toys and treats, was well versed on his habits, temperament and routine, and visited him when he could to maintain their bond. It was quite enjoyable to have the opportunity to provide the happy ending this pair deserved, and it was a pleasure, and still brings a smile, to see the special spot reserved for Jet in the typical cramped college student’s car for their long car ride home together.

In support of our foster-to-adopt program, I accept surrendered pets into our program, and foster them for varying times or transport them to another foster’s home. I also spend time walking, exercising and socializing dogs in boarding awaiting a foster. This year while doing so, I also met a German shepherd that had been waiting in boarding for a very long time. Such a handsome charmer, he touched his new mom’s heart when she heard his story and she started meeting us when i would pick him up to go out and about, walking and trying new things. It was such a pleasure watching them bond during the period of time he was being properly vetted by TASP. After waiting 10 years, Mr. Ben went home, sweet, home, and is very loved and treasured.

In addition to providing care to owned animals whenever possible, TASP also fosters dogs surrendered when the owners are overwhelmed by life changes and can’t logistically manage care for their pet. In January a senior male beagle, Darryl, joined TASP when he was signed over to a local animal hospital by an elderly widow who couldn’t care for him anymore and didn’t have any family to help her. Poor guy was Lyme, Ehrlichia and Leptospirosis positive. He also had a bad UTI so the plan was to wait until he was feeling well enough for neutering prior to adoption. Unfortunately that day never came because he was diagnosed with Stage 2/3 kidney disease. After visiting him a few times for walks and socialization, and since he had already touched my heart with his joie de viv (regardless of his situation), he became my hospice foster. This sweet, social beagle, with the cutest little hop, fit in quickly with my crew of senior hound mixes. When not glued to my side, he joined them on their reconnaissance perimeter scent checks and eagerly helped them on surveillance, defending the household from any possible perceived threat at the front bay window. He had up and down days but was always very joyful and lovable, and he deserved every extra snuggle and appreciated every walk we fit in. In fact, even at his last vet visit in August, when his blood tests showed there was no longer any hope of keeping him comfortable, he was still slowly wagging his happy tail.

And then we have unique pets that require a particular combination of housing and owner skill sets that cause them to remain in foster care for an extended length of time. We provide love, encouragement and security while helping them become their best selves, taking whatever time it takes to learn their individual personalities and enhance their hidden potential. One such story involved three large dogs – The Mountaineers, Sonny Boy, Junebug and Maude. Their owner was a previous TASP client, the guy in a very rural neighborhood that everyone brought animals to when they could no longer care for them. As with many well-intentioned pet-loving people, life happened, and a series of losses reluctantly forced him into the position where he needed help without judgment. Over the years of helping him care for both his own and stray animals, trust and friendship grew and a bond was created. This gentleman truly loved these animals and they truly loved and trusted him. We are proud to say that when he passed away his year, he knew TASP would keep its word and be there to care for his three remaining super senior dogs. So one evening, after being coaxed out with treats and canned food, they went directly into a foster area prepared just for them. They had been in mourning, but started enjoying supervising daily activities from a distance right away. Sonny Boy was the first to eat hand-fed treats and was a sucker for ear massages (and had a not-so-secret crush on his foster.) The girls were a lot less trusting of humans but not a bit mean or aggressive. They were soon groomed and vetted. Sadly, Sonny Boy had a malignant tumor but you would never have known it from his perpetual smile and wonderful temperament. He had a grand time in his new digs until he passed just a little while ago. After another shorter time adjusting to life without their main man, Junebug and Maude continue to thrive, are healthy and good natured and pretty darn close to being adoptable to the right understanding family.

These stories represent just a small percentage of the work TASP has performed this year, but they are reflective of commitment to our mission and illustrate how a void in the animal rescue world is filled.








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I am very proud to be a volunteer with The Animal Support Project (TASP). Unlike the vast majority of other nonprofit animal organizations, adoptions are neither the primary focus nor an expected revenue source. Rather, TASP performs crisis intervention directly with owners to keep animals living with the families that love them. In extreme cases where no other solution is possible and space is available, they will foster and re-home animals. They are this region’s ONLY all-volunteer, all-species companion animal safety net, and their actions reduce the numbers of animals surrendered and/or euthanized for an owner’s lack of funds during a tough time.

A few examples, out of the many performed this year, follow.

Two weekend days were set aside for the first time this year to hand out free Seresto dog and cat collars to low-income families. Several recipients also received coupons for free vaccinations/spay/neuter, and when necessary transportation for the procedure was also provided. Although there was no charge, several people donated whatever they could, and one woman even walked miles with her and her mother’s cats in the sweltering heat to ensure their beloved cats received their collars. (A volunteer drove them back home.)

Two of the successful dog adoptions this year began with calls concerning a young pitbull abandoned at a private boarding facility and a blind senior miniature pinscher who had been surrendered to a local shelter three times. These wonderful dogs deserved so much better and received love, stability, training and confidence during their stay in the TASP program. Happily after a thorough application, reference and home visit process (but no adoption fee), both are now living a happy, secure life with families that adore them.

One crisis that was averted this year concerned a desperate owner with a young chihuahua mother. The mama was not well enough to satisfy her newborn nursing pups and had stopped eating herself. It was unlikely they could survive much longer. The mother and three puppies were all rushed to a TASP vet before being closely monitored and nursed back to health in foster care. The mama will soon be returned to the family that loves her after she is spayed. Her owners will also receive some training and education, supplies and tools to make her return a success. The puppies will remain with TASP until they are vetted and adopted.

While, these examples represent just a small percentage of what TASP has accomplished this year, they demonstrate how TASP stays true to its mission, and by doing so, continues to earn the respect they so rightfully deserve.

Although I have admired The Animal Support Project’s (TASP’s) mission and respected their dedicated volunteers for many years, I only recently volunteered to foster when their co-founder, Mitch Valerien, died unexpectedly leaving seven senior dogs behind.

My experience with TASP has been truly wonderful. Not only do they continue to provide food, supplies, preventative medicines and cover veterinary costs, they helped make Sadie’s transition into my home as seamless as possible for her and my own dogs and cats. Melinda replaced my four foot gates with taller ones to ensure Sadie (who is a scent hound) could not clear them, and built a kennel in case it was necessary to separate any of them outside in the short or long-term. She was also available over the telephone and here in person to answer questions, provide guidance and oversee meets and greets, both on-leash and off. This ease of access, positive support and responsiveness increased all of our confidence quickly, and made for a very smooth transition that has been easy to maintain. These actions represent just a glimpse of the larger picture of services TASP routinely provides to help meet a wide range of personalized needs.

It is amazing how much this small, dedicated team of volunteers accomplishes both on their own, and through partnerships with other like-thinking people and groups/organizations. Award of The Top-Rated Non-Profit Badge would not only acknowledge and honor TASP’s good works, it would also help spread the word about this critical organization. In turn, that will ultimately bring about more success stories of families, once struggling, now able to keep and care for their beloved animals.

(I have attached pictures of the kennel and one of the gates so you can see examples of their work. l have also included pictures of Sadie when she recently passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, and Sadie with my boys, Shadow and Midnite. ❤️