Upright Canine Brigade Inc
ME is NOT a Death Sentence!
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Update 01/15/2020: Our out reach program, the UCB Buffy Project has been very successful thanks to our members that have contributed to fundraisers like Network for Good on Facebook. We have managed to support 84 dogs and 1 Kitten with life saving management tools such as feeding chairs and neck hugs, prescription food, paying for medical bills, transportation fees and adoption fees. We have been an essential partner to rescues and shelters by networking these animals on social media to find homes. Our next mission is to work closely with breeders to ensure continuity in breeding excellence. Our researchers tell us they are within a couple of years of unveiling a breeders test for megaesophagus. In this year 2020 we will be focused on exhibiting at national dog shows and presenting at breed specific clubs and events. This will be a new arena for our organization and we hope to make an impact. Education has been has been at the forefront of our success.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Calendars For Research
Each June in honor of Megaesophagus Awareness Month, the UCB holds a calendar contest on our facebook group. The top 12 dogs or cats with the most likes under their photo receives a month on the calendar. This is our 3rd year holding the contest. We have generated over $6500 towards megaesophagus research programs. In 2016 we sent $830 dollars to Washington State University for the study of megaesophagus, under the direction of Dr. Jillian Haines. In 2017 we sent $2,170.00 to the University of Missouri for their study of megaesophagus under the direction of Dr. Carol Reinero. In 2018 we donated $3500 to Dr. Leigh Ann Clark from Clemson University for the study of genetics and megaesophagus dogs. Each year we double the amount of calendars ordered. We hope to achieve $50,000 for research of megaesophagus.
The UCB Buffy Project - Shelter and Rescue Assistance for Animals with Megaesophagus
In late 2017, the Upright Canine Brigade Inc. developed an assistance program for shelter and rescues with megaesophagus animals under their care. We have been able to supply as of this date (March 2018) four life saving Feeding Chairs, 9 life saving neck hugs, provided prescription foods to 3 dogs, contributed to a vet bill, and paid for two adoption fees. We offer one on one mentoring to fosters and caregivers by our team of experienced caregivers. We network the animal through our every growing social media network so they may find a permanent forever home. We hope to do more with this project in the coming years.
Megaesophagus and Myasthenia Gravis Brochures and Posters
Each year we print and distribute brochures on megaesophagus and myasthenia gravis. We also print and distribute a poster on megaesophagus explaining what it is and the difference between regurgitation and vomiting. Our team members attend pet fairs and veterinary conferences throughout the year where these items are handed out free of charge. These brochures and posters are also personally distributed to vet offices throughout the world by our members. Our corporation pays for shipping and there is never a cost to our members.
Exhibits at Pet Fairs and Veterinary Conferences
The Upright Canine Brigade Inc. exhibits at several events throughout the year. We attend one of the largest veterinary events, the ACVIM Forum each year. This will be our 4 year attending. There we meet with vets from around the world and hold a live feeding demonstration. We also attend a smaller veterinary conference in Delaware, the Penn Annual Conference. We exhibit at Pet fairs across the country; in Huntsville AL, Fredericks, MD Edison and Voorhees, NJ. Our non-profit corporation pays for all fees for booth space and supplies necessary to exhibit. More on our website caninemegaesophagusinfo.com/upright-canine-brigade/
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.
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
The UCB Buffy Project - Shelter and Rescue Assistance for Animals with Megaesophagus
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Over the last 5 years we have been able to help 132 different rescues and shelters with animals in their care with megaesophagus. We have provided food, management tools and pd for medical expenses.
Number of animal adoptions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
The UCB Buffy Project - Shelter and Rescue Assistance for Animals with Megaesophagus
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Over the last 5 yrs we have see 77 animals be adopted. We have assisted with that through sharing these animals on our social media platform and working along side of the rescues and shelters.
Number of animals provided with long term care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In our support group, Upright Canine Brigade on fb, our membership has grown over the last 5 years. We provide 24/7 support for animals with ME. Many of our members are from vet referrals.
Number of research studies that use methods that alleviate or minimize potential pain, suffering, or distress and enhance animal welfare for the animals used
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Calendars For Research
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Please refer to the many research projects we support at vet schools across the country on our website caninemegaesophagusinfo.com/research-studies/
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?
The Upright Canine Brigade was born one day from one post on Canine Megaesophagus Support Group. "I'm mad as hell and I can't take it anymore" began the post. There were common themes echoed in every post from frustrated members. Pet parents were frustrated with the veterinary community. Too many were being told to euthanize their beloved pets from the onset of diagnosis. Many vets were unaware of life saving management techniques. The general public was not aware of the disease. Pet parents did not know the signs and symptoms of the disease. Some dogs struggled for years before a simple x-ray confirmed the diagnosis. Many times vets were not testing for an underlying primary disease that could cause the ME. In that post, this grass roots group first formed. We set out to educate the general public on signs and symptoms and educate the veterinarian community on management techniques. One of our main goals is to get this disease off the "rare" list. When a disease is perceived as "rare". less attention is given to it. Our groups on facebook were growing at an accelerated rate. It became obvious to the members that this is not as rare as once thought. We wanted veterinarian schools to research and study on possible cures and management solutions and we wanted to support that research through participation and also monetarily. We also wanted to offer a superior level of compassionate support for pet parents going through this trying time with their pet. We recognize that their are many ways to manage the disease. Members are asked to keep an open mind. While a bailey chair may be the best option for most dogs, it may not be for others. Depending on the severity of the ME and the size of the dog, other options can be used with great success. Members are encouraged to work along side their vets, who ultimately know the dog's medical history the best. We wanted to offer a website that is both compassionate and educational. A "one stop" site to stop in for information and inspiration. In the future we would like to hold webinars with veterinary leaders in megaesophagus research in order to gain knowledge of the struggles they face with the disease. Update: In 2020 we will be focused on breeders. We will be presenting at breed specific clubs and exhibiting at national dog shows in anticipation of a breeders testing kit to be unveiled in the next couple years. Our goal is to educate the breeders of the importance of providing the test to the consumer.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The Upright Canine Brigade utilizes our S H A R E program to achieve our goals. S for Support: We established our own facebook group for sharing of ideas and offering support to our members. We seek to educate our members on the disease and diseases that can cause ME. We began a program called hashtag #WordWednesday. Each Wednesday we would create a different topic to discus and links for learning. On Sunday the hashtag is #SuccessStorySunday. We encourage our members to share their success stories for the week. It could be a simple as a "no-regurge" day or for those suffering from myasthenia gravis, a good walk without having to sit. We are the creators of the hashtag #barketlist challenge. Every dog needs a good bucket list. This has been a morale booster program. Fun to do and each participant nominates another to accept the challenge! We also offer support on our website, caninemegaesophagusinfo.com. This is a word press format whereas readers are able to ask a specific question concerning the disease. Our website is full of inspiring stories of success, triumphs and tributes from the dogs that have paved the way for others by sharing their experiences. H for Headlines: We knew we had to make "noise"! The internet and social media is a wonderful way to reach the masses. We encourage our members to start a facebook or instagram account for their dog, get a write up in their vets newsletter about ME, contact news organizations in print and TV for an interview. The UCB is actively on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Our web viewers can see all the links under our "press room" tab from our website. A for Awareness: The UCB has set up shop at different pet and vet venues around the globe. We are an active participant at the ACVIM Forum each year. We interact with hundreds of vets during our exhibit. We hold a live bailey chair demo and distribute research documents. We have established an awareness month, the month of June. We hold a Calendar Contest the whole month of June and the post is shared hundreds of times through facebook. R for Research. Our group participates in research and study projects with Washington State U, University of Missouri and Clemson U. Through Calendars For Research Fundraiser we have raised funds for these projects. All the current studies are under our Research and Studies tab from our website. E for Education: We have created and distributed thousands of client brochures on ME and MG as well as a vet poster entitled "Got Regurge?" describing what megaesophagus is and the signs and symptoms. We are hoping to earn a grant to enable us to hold live webinars with some of the brightest minds in the veterinary community. This would give us a better insight into the disease as well as the struggles and challenges the veterinary community endures with ME. Update 01/15/2020 We will be focused on breeders this year and the importance of providing a breeders test to the consumer when available.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Upright Canine Brigade was formed October 9, 2012. We incorporated in 2015 and received our non-profit 501(c)(3) status in July of 2015. This has opened many doors for us. We have been actively earning funds from Amazon Smile, Amazon Associates, Chewy.com, ResQwalk, Wagtail Farms, and various other smaller fundraisers. We do rely on donations from our members and the general public. Since this is a very expensive disease to manage on a whole, we seek to find fundraisers that are easy on the purse strings for our members to participate. We've been successful in meeting printing and shipping costs of our brochures, posters and calendars. We've been able to afford entry fees to various events, website and business fees. In the future we look for more affordable ways for our members to contribute and apply for grants for future projects. Update 01/15/2020 During 2017, 2018 and 2019 Facebook partnered with Network For Good to allow our members to choose Upright Canine Brigade as a charity for their Birthday Fundraiser. We are pleased to report that our members answered the call. We received $278.01 in 2017. We received $3,666.38 in 2018 and in 2019 we received $10,418.33. We those funds we have been to support 84 dogs and 1 Kitten in rescues and shelters by provided medical expenses, food, feeding chairs, neck hugs, adoption fees, and transportation fees. This has been our main source of income for the UCB Buffy Project-our outreach program for shelters and rescues with megae animals. We are still pursuing grants to help our program further.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have accomplish quite a great deal over the last 5 years. We have established a grass root campaign that has blossomed into a full fledged successful non-profit organization. We have helped thousands of dogs and cats and their people through what can be a scary diagnosis. Our volunteers have teamed together to create a warm cocoon around the newly diagnosed, offering support and encouragement. Even those who have lost their beloved pets stay on in the group to inspire others and offer hope. There is help and strength in numbers. It has been a great honor to work with these devoted pet owners. We have gathered all the best information from reliable sources for our website. It truly has been a labor of love. All the best practices from our groups are there along with self help videos and links for more information. Branching out and meeting with some of the brightest stars in the veterinary community has helped us help others to navigate through this sometimes treacherous disease. Contributing to research programs through our calendar fundraiser has given this community a sense of pride and hope for a better future for our pets. "Getting the word out" about the disease is an ongoing project that we will continue with our client brochures and vet office poster. We hope to add to our agenda more vet conferences throughout the year. We hope to encourage more members to attend pet and vet events throughout the globe since this is not a disease we see just in America. We hope to spread our knowledge with a series of webinars featuring veterinary specialist from around the world. We have connected with some of the most prestigious specialist and institutions in the world. We would love to share with the world what they know. We desperately need to find funds to start The Buffy Project: Assistance Program for Rescues and Shelters with Megaesophagus Animals. This is the one area that we strongly feel needs to be addressed. Megaesophagus pets are dumped at shelters or surrendered at rescues at a high rate. Many are euthanized without given a chance. We feel with education and financial assistance available, these shelters and rescues will be prepared to take on the challenge. Our goal is not to become a "rehoming site" since it would be impossible to properly fully vet a potential adopter but rather to assist the rescue or shelter in the management of the disease with "one on one mentoring" and financial aid for the first crucial year or until an adoption occurs within that year. Providing life saving tools such as a "bailey chair" and a "neck hug" would also be provided free of charge. Any adopter would be better suited to be checked out personally by the rescue organization. We could, however, assist in sharing the pet on social media for a potential furever home. Update: The UCB Buffy Project has been a huge success. To date 01/15/2020 we have helped 84 dogs and 1 Kitten with megaesophagus by providing; food, medical assistance, management tools.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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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
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Upright Canine Brigade Inc
Board of directorsas of 01/10/2022
Mrs. Donna Challender
Upright Canine Brigade Inc.
Term: 2015 -
Mr. Robert Challender
Upright Canine Brigade Inc.
Term: 2015 -
Heather Wagman
Upright Canine Brigade Inc.
Donna Challender
Upright Canine Brigade Inc.
Robert Challender
Upright Canine Brigade Inc.
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