Ed Smith spoke with Tami Becker, who handles marketing and PR for Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets and Nora Hart, the Secretary of the Board from Greece Residents Assisting Stray Pets.
-Tami talked about some of the history of the organization and how they are a rescue organization but they don’t have a physical shelter, they rely on volunteers and members of the organization to foster pets until they are adopted.
-Tami talked about how they are at capacity right now and can’t accept any more pets. She says there has been an increase in people surrendering their pets.
-Tami says that most rescue shelters for pets are at capacity across our community.
-GRASP is working to do more community outreach and get more people to be foster parents for the cats and dogs that they take care of.
-Tami and Nora explained the foster program and how it operates.
-Tami then explained the adoption process they have in place to try to ensure animals go to appropriate homes.
-She said that during the pandemic they could do adoption events at local pet stores so they had to have people go to the foster parent house and they found that actually works better. The animal is typically more relaxed and the people looking at the animal have the opportunity to see it in a natural environment.
-They cover the cost of medical care for the pets, spay and neuter services and they provide the foster parents with the supplies needed to care for the pets.
-Tami says they are able to do this with generous donations from the community and through fundraising.
-Tami gave a preview of their upcoming golf tournament event and Nora talked about the Painted Paws event.
-All of the money raised will stay local.
-They both encouraged people to donate, volunteer or become a foster parent.