SHELTER TRANSPORT ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
START aims to reduce the intake and euthanasia in high kill shelters in Central and Southern California in two ways; by providing spay and neuter assistance to low income residents and communities which will help by reducing the intake at the shelters and by transporting/relocating animals to our vetted partners in the Pacific Northwest where they will be adopted into loving families.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Spay/Neuter Programs for Underserved Communities
We fund 90-100 surgeries per month in several underserved communities such as Lancaster, Palmdale, Riverside and Porterville CA. for low income residents to get their animals sterilized. We also serve individuals on a case-by-case basis who are not in these communities that contact us. We have never turned a request down.
By spaying and neutering these animals, we are helping ensure that their offspring do not enter the already overpopulated and high euthanasia shelters in our area.
Joyce Newman Pitties Helping Kitties Fund
START provides $1,000.00 monthly funding to a local Cat 501C3 Rescue so they are able to pledge and rescue shelter
cats and kittens endangered of being euthanized.
Pay It Forward Grassroots Program
START provides limited seed funding ($50.00 to $1000.00) to rescue groups in email networking to help
rescue local shelter animals.
Wishlist Funding for Underserved Individuals
START provides funding to individuals outside target areas for spay and neuter, vaaccinations and emergency medical needs. We seek proper medical care and pay the vet directly.
Thank You Funding for Rescue Partners
We like to share funding with our rescue partners. Without them, these animals would not have a safe haven. Occasionally some animals are later diagnosed with medical or behavioral issues. This funding shows our appreciation to our partners and helps support them when they need it.
Beyond Borders
Beyond Borders is small program to help the dogs of Tecate, Tijuana, and Uruapan, Mexico and to save dogs from the South Korean dog meat markets. Dedicated and courageous rescuers assist in getting these dogs into the United States to be rehomed and ask as ambassadors. While what START does is a drop in the bucket, every life is precious and we do what we are able to.
START Transport/Relocation Program
START transports/relocates up to 150 animals from high kill shelters in California to fully vetted partners in the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) by utilizing our customized Animal Transport Vehicle 38ft RV known as "The Beast" . The Beast has two team long haul drivers, a pet attendant, an on call vet, wifi, running water, 86 crates, 2 AC units, emergency supplies to ethically transport our precious cargo.
START Adoption Program
START has a small yet vibrant adoption program. This consists of shelter animals that are either highly adoptable or can not go on transport because of age, medical or behavior. They are boarded at various board/train facilities. START brings those animals to optimum level by supplying medical, or training or proper homes for seniors and special needs animals.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of animals rescued
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
START Transport/Relocation Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Since START’s founding in 2011, more than 15,826 pets have been saved from high kill shelters by dedicated staff and volunteers and transported to vetted rescue partners in the Pacific Northwest.
Number of sheltered animals
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
START Transport/Relocation Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
These rescued animals; unable to go on transport for health, age, or behavior. They were at our preferred hands-on-boarding facility where they received love, medical/hospice, training or adoption.
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
START Transport/Relocation Program
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We received grants prestigous grantors: ASPCA, PetSmart,Pedigree Foundation,Mary Jo & Hank Greenberg Animal Foundation, Bissell Foundation, Greater Good, Schlinger Chrisman Grant, Athletes for Animals
Number of animal clinics/shelters improved as a direct result of the nonprofit's efforts
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
START Transport/Relocation Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
START rescues approx 100-160 pets monthly from Bakersfield,San Jacinto, Porterville, Tulare, Visalia,Delano,Modesto, Wasco CA, local shelters/rescue groups, Tecate/Tijuana Mexico shelters/rescuers.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
START's main focus is transport/relocation and Spay/Neuter. We have a robust small adoption program. All require applications, home checks & adoption contracts (with a return option for life)
Number of Spay/Neuter Surgeries preformed to low-income or underserved population
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors, Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people
Related Program
Spay/Neuter Programs for Underserved Communities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
START's Spay/Neuter Program provides Low/No Cost services to underserved CA communities including Bakersfield,Riverside, Delano, Porterville, Palmdale, Antelope Valley, plus individual requests.
Number of area Spay and Neuter programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Seniors, Economically disadvantaged people, Homeless people
Related Program
Spay/Neuter Programs for Underserved Communities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
START's S/N programs serve Riverside, Porterville Antelope Valley, Palmdale, Bakersfield, & beyond. We also sponsor special Spay/Neuter days/events. We respond to as much need as we can.
Number of outreach "Beyond Borders" programs and who they serve
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Beyond Borders
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Decreasing
Context Notes
START's "Beyond Borders" program assists dogs from Tijuana & Tecate Mexico. The program also helps rescue dogs from the meat markets of South Korea with the courageous assistance of rescuers there.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Currently, START provides spay and neuter assistance for low income, homeless populations in underserved communities for over 1,400 animals annually in Riverside, San Jacinto, Lancaster, Porterville, Delano, CA. Our goal is to increase that number and locations so we can assist more local residents in the sterilization of their animals.
Each month we rescue 100-160 animals from overcrowded shelters and transport to relocate them to our vetted contracted rescue partners in the Pacific Northwest where they have a better chance at being adopted due to less animal population.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
START's transport relocation program is at the heart of the work being done by staff and volunteers and thus all efforts are built into the organization's annual budget with targeted fundraising goals to ensure its sustainability set by the governing board yearly. Contributions from individual donors make-up approximately 35-45% of the current START Transport/Relocation Program and 50% of the Spay/Neuter Program. Giving rates have increased by 2% every year since START's founding. START's fund development team maintains a small robust database of active supporters whose passion for animals direct their philanthropic giving interests. Through targeted fundraising efforts and direct communication with executive staff members, these relationships are cultivated and new ones formed to ensure the sustainability of our key projects.
To increase and diversify revenue to the efforts and other key initiatives of the transport program, START has developed a social enterprise component of the organization funding strategy. START has a vigorous promotion campaigns, including "Buy A Seat On The Bus", where donors buy seats for dogs and cats to be rescued and recieve a bus ticket, and then later on, a handwritten thank you card with a photo from the dog or cat they saved. There is also the "In Celebration" promotion, where donors can gift a donation for any circumstance or ocassion. "Remember Me, I Live in Your Heart", contains a virtual candle that can be lit in memory of a pet also includes individual web page with photos and stories that can be shared.
START supporters have been able to purchase T-shirts on the organization website. Other merchandise including mugs, tote bags, caps, and other branded items have been added. START supporters are now able to purchase donated goods at the START Resale For Rescue Store opened December 2016 in Sherman Oaks, CA. All proceeds fund our lifesaving programs so come check out the wonderful treasures and/or donate your new or gently used items. Shop and Save Lives! 4521 Van Nuys Blvd, Sherman Oaks, 91403.
START has a Growth & Sustainability Administrator whose primary task is to seek major gifts from foundations and high-profile individuals while also constructing proposals for consideration for public sources like government agencies at the city, county, state, and federal levels.
Our robust website contains member discounted offers that benefit START as well as National Resource Guide which also contains Financial Aid listings. In March 2017, START launched “The Beast," a 38-foot motorhome that was retrofitted into a state of the art Animal Transport Vehicle for our Transport/Relocation Program.This was done to increase transport populattion while also providing comfortable and sanitary conditions. This project took over nine months of careful research and construction by an animal transport specialist.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
START's capabilities for meeting our goals are simple. We have no overhead. We have one paid full-time employee.
We are a small group of six that does amazing things. START is very much like "The Little Engine that Could" Our donors are not only from California, that are National and International. They are a very loyal and dedicated group of people. We have transported/relocated approximately 1,500+ animals per year, and that is only the transport numbers.
Our capabilities are our passion, what else could explain our success with so few people involved?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Nearly eight years later, our START Transport/Relocation Program has transcended our wildest dreams, filling us with great pride to motivate us even further. Over 11,500 Dogs and over 600 cats have been saved and rehomed in the Pacific Northwest!!! We would like to increase the number of monthly life saving transports from one to two regular transports. Each transport saves between 100 to 160 lives. the Beast, our Customized RV securely fits different sized crates to insure safety and maximum use of space and utilize team drivers and a Pet Attendant to provide for the animals needs while on transport.
START will continue to achieve this by adding more transports between California and Pacific Northwest receiving partners with more space to accommodate Southern and Central California's ever growing population of unwanted dogs and cats. We are also seeking more rescue partners to receive our animals.
We have provided annually over 1,300 spay and neuter procedures. Additionally, we have reached out to those in need, helping them with medical bills so they can continue to keep their pets. We have rescued from the streets and shelters of Tijuana and Tecate Mexico, several hundred very lucky dogs. We saved South Korean dogs from the dog meat factories and flew them in to California to act as ambassadors and spread the word.
We want to continue this work, opening more doors and saving more lives and help people to keep their companion animals.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
SHELTER TRANSPORT ANIMAL RESCUE TEAM
Board of directorsas of 11/28/2022
Mr. Steve Spiro
Rene Ruston
Coldwall Banker
Phillip Gharabegian
Fox Sports Media Group
Talitha Davies Wegner
Davies - Wegner Law Offices
Christina Snyder
Philanthropist, Public Speaker
Dean Anthony Theodore
Entrepreneur
Linda Raznick
Co-Founder of The Rutter Group/Philanthropist
Ellen Lavinthal
President, Animal Alliance
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Not applicable -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/14/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.