Judging by the number of happy, pampered dogs parading the streets on a given day in Maine, and the passionate dog people we’ve encountered left and right, it seems pretty close to dog paradise over here.
Many dogs in other areas aren’t so lucky. The need is extremely high in higher populated states such as Texas, or California. These states account for the highest euthanasia numbers in the country. Smaller states, such as Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee are also known for harboring high-kill shelters.
The logistics of getting dogs out of said shelters and over to the New England corner of the country are complex and costly. It involves screening for certain diseases more prevalent in the south, quarantine, and, of course, transport.
As you can imagine, there is a limit to the number of rescue dogs we – a husband and wife, not an organization – can home and the related expenses one household can shoulder.
To be able to do more, becoming part of the organized rescue crowd is in order.
Sure, there are so many animal rescues already. But there is still a never-ending stream of dogs in dire need of homes. Even more cats.
The good thing is that we don’t need to invent the wheel here – merely do what others are already doing. Do the work. Set up a foster network. Rally others to the cause. Gain traction on social media. Not to forget one crucial piece: secure funding.
Many rescues choose to become a 501(c)3. This is where we may want to do things a bit differently and off the beaten path. It is true that there are certain advantages to being a non-profit.
However, the state of Maine offers an interesting option that is neither an LLC nor a non-profit 501(c)3. The L3C only exists in certain and is a low-profit corporation with a charitable objective.
Instead of spending many hours fundraising, writing and applying for grants, and depending on donations, we’d rather work on making our own funding through building a business. One that does not intend to make a profit but rather to spend said profit on rescuing dogs and cats from overpopulated shelters, one by one.
An added benefit of this approach is that we are not competing for grants & funding with non-profit rescue organizations. People who are wanting and doing the exact same thing. Double win!
The initial step: building a blog and an online shop. By providing informative articles and merchandise, the aim is to create something of value that people want to read and/or purchase.
To keep up with our progress, share your expertise, or ask a question, don’t hesitate to drop us a line!