CCAS expects to see a community more knowledgeable about the importance of spaying and neutering, how to properly care for a pet, and the responsibility that lies with the pet owner when deciding to adopt. There needs to be a paradigm shift that pets are forever and CCAS can be the catalyst for change. By spreading these educational messages in a constructive and encouraging manner, CCAS expects to see an increase in pets being spayed/neutered, an increase in the number of pets being cared for properly, and more people being informed on how to be a responsible pet owner so they are able to keep their pet. CCAS fully supports the notion that pets are a commitment for the lifetime of the pet. CCAS expects to improve not only the well-being of Cape Coral’s pet population but it will serve its residents in an encouraging way. CCAS will help owners identify ways in which they may be able to keep their pets rather than having to surrender them.

In addition to our brick and mortar building, we will take our message to the streets. By purchasing a mobile unit, CCAS will be able to support its mission by spreading our message throughout Southwest Florida and educating the public. The mobile unit will be seen all over Southwest Florida at schools, festivals, city events, parks and sporting events. Using the mobile unit, CCAS will deliver educational messages including: • Importance of spaying and neutering. • Trap -Neuter-Release (TNR) programs so that feral cats do not compound the problem of homelessness. • How to choose the right pet for your home/family. • Educate children on how to properly treat and respect wild and domestic animals. • Educate adults on the dangers of leaving pets in hot automobiles, and water safety near pools and canals. • Educate the community on the signs of dog-fighting and how to report suspicious activity. • Separate the facts from the myths regarding dog breeds. • The importance of vaccinations • Education regarding puppy mills, private breeders and shelters.

Mayor Coviello of Cape Coral invited CCAS to participate in the U.S. Mayors’ Conference Better Cities for Pets Grants Program. The City, a variety of business leaders, and the community at large strongly supports the effort of having a no-kill animal shelter to serve approximately 180,000 residents. The Cape Coral Special Populations, which operates next door to the soon-to-be constructed shelter, independently held a fundraiser to benefit CCAS. Students from a local elementary school solicited funds for CCAS in front of a grocery store. CCCAS has over 3,000 Facebook followers that positively engage with us via social media, XX number of people receive our online monthly newsletter, and on average xx number of people attend our monthly meetings. CCAS has garnered generous financial and in-kind support to get the City’s very first animal shelter built. In just over two years, CCAS has raised an astonishing $1.6 million of a $2 million goal . We have a regular source of more than 255 supporters plus a very active group of approximately 75 volunteers. Our signature fundraisers – a golf tournament, a Decades Party and annual ball –are very successful ventures. CCAS has received overwhelming positive support for the City of Cape Coral to have its first no-kill animal shelter.

Reducing pet euthanization is certainly a long and arduous task. Lee County Domestic Animal Services collects and reports data. As we see the numbers of euthanization drop at our local county animal control, we will know we are making progress.

The Cape Coral Special Populations, which operates next door to the soon-to-be constructed shelter, independently held a fundraiser to benefit CCAS. Students from a local elementary school solicited funds for CCAS in front of a grocery store. CCCAS has over 3,000 Facebook followers that positively engage with us via social media, XX number of people receive our online monthly newsletter, and on average xx number of people attend our monthly meetings. CCAS has garnered generous financial and in-kind support to get the City’s very first animal shelter built. In just over two years, CCAS has raised an astonishing $1.6 million of a $2 million goal . We have a regular source of more than 255 supporters plus a very active group of approximately 75 volunteers. Our signature fundraisers – a golf tournament, a Decades Party and annual ball –are very successful ventures. CCAS has received overwhelming positive support for the City of Cape Coral to have its first no-kill animal shelter. We broke ground on the first phase of Cape Coral Animal Shelter in fall of 2018 and expect to open doors in fall of 2019.