ANIMAL RESCUE FUND OF THE HAMPTONS INC

Since 2011, the number of homeless animals placed with new families by ARF has doubled from 641 to over 1300. in 2018. Additionally, ARF actively seeks to reduce the number of feral cats in our local community where there is no municipal program in place to address the issue. ARF's long-range goal is to address the root issues of animal overpopulation in the communities we serve outside of New York, as well as in our local community here on the East End of Long Island. Our goal is to be a regional leader in the national effort to end euthanasia of adoptable animals in the the nation's shelters.

Through strategic partnerships with rescue organizations across the nation and Puerto Rico, ARF has become a regional leader in the transport of homeless cats and and dogs to Long Island, where loving homes are abundant. Marketing and a people-focused adoption process have sought to remove unnecessary obstacles to adoption. Offsite adoption events, online applications, evening business hours, and a strong presence online and in social media has fueled our success to save more lives. In achieving this dramatic growth, ARF has placed a renewed emphasis on the quality of life for all the animals in its care while waiting for adoption. Recognizing that the needs of rescued animals or growing increasingly complex in terms of both health and behavior, ARF began implementation of a daily enrichment program for dogs and cats along with a basic obedience program for all dogs in the shelter in 2019. Additionally, All animals with a length of stay over two months receive targeted attention form all departments - medical, behavior, marketing, and adoptions - to hasten their successful adoption. To address the root causes of animal overpopulation, every animal adopted from ARF is spayed and neutered.

ARF has repeatedly invested in itself over the last ten years to support this dramatic increase in lives saved. It has acquired a mobile adoption unit, a mobile spay/neuter clinic, and a rescue transport vehicle. It has also completely renovated its medical facilities, including its intake and quarantine spaces. At the same time, ARF has invested in new technology to communicate with its constituents and manage their relationships with the organization. Behind all these efforts is ARF's Board of Directors who work with senior staff to set the organization's annual adoption goals and support ARF's mission as both donors and volunteers.

ARF's focus on length of stay has already seen a significant increase in the adoption of animals who have lived at the shelter over six months. The success of this initiative will allow us to increase the number of lives saved annually without a significant increase in operating cost or need for additional space. This model will be key to long-term sustainable growth.