2020 Impact

In our organization's first year of operation the animal sheltering community (and the rest of the world) faced one of the most challenging years in recent history. The year 2020 brought a shift to new approaches in animal sheltering and re-evaluation of the role animal welfare organizations play in our communities. Despite the change and turmoil, the Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations achieved many significant accomplishments!

In 2020, we:

• Formed Missouri Coalition of Animal Care Organizations, the first statewide animal welfare collaborative in our state

• Hosted five Coffee with the Coalition webinars with over 100 unique attendees from states across the country and beyond, including participants from Florida, California, and even Mexico

• Supported the Sedalia Animal Shelter in a hoarding response effort by organizing the placement and initial vetting of over 75 cats through partnerships with a dozen organizations from Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas

• Dispensed over $3,000 in grant funding to seven organizations

• Advocated to state officials in response to COVID-19 to request that animal services be classified as essential and to expand public access to veterinary telemedicine

• Created a group on Facebook, the Missouri Coalition Animal Transfer Network, which had over 1,000 animals posted in less than eight months in need of transfer to licensed organizations

• Welcomed six of the most forward-thinking organizations in Missouri as member organizations (Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA), Animal Welfare Alliance, Cat Assistance Team Sedalia, Center for Animal Rescue and Enrichment of St. Louis - CARE STL, Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, Pawsibilities Are Endless)